Gluten Free Lentil Snaps

These little snacks are pretty tasty! I was skeptical at first because I thought they would just be baked lentil pods, which didn't entice me at all. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they're actually light, crisp, and airy. They're obviously made from an extruded lentil dough... like a cheese puff. I also tried their lightly salted Snapea Crisps, but I wasn't as impressed with those. They didn't have as much flavor. The Lentil Snaps have 120 calories per container (3 servings per container), 6 grams of fat, 85 mg of sodium, 5 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fiber. They do warn that they are made in a facility that also processes wheat, milk, soy, shrimp, and fish.

My Food Allergy Addiction

I'll admit, when I got my diagnosis of multiple food sensitivities/allergies I felt like someone was taking away my favorite toy! All I could think about was all the food I wasn't going to be able to eat. Initially I lost weight, because I wasn't eating. I didn't know WHAT to eat. No egg, no dairy, no wheat, no rye (that's an easy one to avoid), and no oats. Of course that did leave fruits, vegetables, meat, and nuts... and I like those things, but I like pasta and cheese and all manner of baked goods too. So here's the thing, it's just not easy to change a life long relationship with food over night. You see, these foods I can't have anymore, but still crave, I've been eating many of them since I was a little kid. Even though it's been a few years since my diagnosis, I still struggle. I'm not perfect. I'm doing better, but I cave to my cravings from time to time, and I pay for it. Thankfully I have a husband who is supportive and is often my voice of reason when I get those cravings, but even he gets tired of my roller coaster with food. His most frequent response to me when I admit I've eaten something I shouldn't is, "I don't want to hear it later." And I get it. I do. It's hard to see someone hurt themselves over and over again because they choose not to make the right choice. It was that cycle of "I know I shouldn't have it, and I know it will make me sick, but I'm going to eat it anyway" and then, in fact, becoming ill that made me realize something. What I live with, and what many other people with similar issues live with is not entirely unlike what a recovering alcoholic goes through. We have something we enjoy, that gives us comfort, and makes us happy, but also makes us sick. No, these foods may not make me act differently when I eat them, not in the way a drug or alcohol does, and they may not destroy my relationships with other people, but my temptations are everywhere. They're on every shelf in the grocery store,  at every restaurant, every gathering, every event, and even in my own house. It's a battle I fight everyday, so where's my 12 step program? I suppose I could seek out a Food Addicts Anonymous group (and they do exist), but I don't really fit their profile. I'm not a closet eater. I'm not a binge eater. I don't have an eating disorder. Or do I? Addiction is the continued use of a substance or behavior despite adverse consequences. Granted, I wouldn't say I have a food addiction in the traditional sense, but some foods, for whatever reason, are now suddenly harmful to me, yet I still want them..Thankfully, some cravings aren't as prominent as they used to be, mostly because I'm tired of feeling like crap, but they haven't all just disappeared because I can't have them. I suspect it's something I'll have to live with for a long while. So, for now, instead of being angry about it (which usually leads to me saying, "F@#% it! I'm eating it anyway"), I'm going to surrender to it. Before you can slay the beast, you have to acknowledge that it exists, right?

Hello. My name is Kim, and I have a food allergy addiction.

Food Allergy Facts

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE):

• Food allergy affects 1 in every 13 children (under 18 years of age) in the U.S. That’s roughly two in every classroom.
• Food allergies may be a trigger for or associated with other allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases.
• Although childhood allergies to milk, egg, wheat and soy generally resolve in childhood, they appear to be resolving more slowly than in previous decades, with many children still allergic beyond age 5 years. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish are generally lifelong allergies.

 Get a full list of statistics and references here.

Food Allergy Facts

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE):

• As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies. 
• An estimated 9 million, or 4%, of U.S. adults have food allergies.
• Nearly 6 million or 8% of children in the U.S. have food allergies with young children affected most.
• Boys appear to develop food allergies more than girls.

 Get a full list of statistics here.

Dole Frozen Banana Dippers

All I can say is, "I love these things!" They come with or without almonds. I prefer the almond. They're like little bon bons without the dairy! I put them in my lunch and pop them in the freezer when I get to work. When it's time to eat, I take them out and by the time I get finished with my lunch they're the perfect consistency. Fresh out of the freezer, they can be a little firm, so you might want to let them hang for a bit before eating them. They are tasty, refreshing, and cheap! They cost about $3 for a box with 6 packs, and each pack has 4 banana slices. You can find them in the frozen fruit section of your grocery.

Go Picnic Hummus & Crackers

www.Gopicnic.com

I have heard about (in fact I've even blogged about), but never actually seen Go Picnic products near me... let alone try them... until recently. I have to admit I was giddy to find these in the Houston airport. Knowing I was going to be traveling for a while, I grabbed one to keep in my bag.

Here's what I like about these snack boxes, they're compact, nutritious, and they list all the possible allergens clearly on the side of the box. I tried the Hummus & Crackers. It comes with individual packets of gluten free Multi-Seed Crackers, Wild Garden Hummus, Power Play (roasted edamame, pumpkin seeds, and watermelon seeds), Baja Blend fruit & nut mix (habanera almonds, sweet & salty peanuts, and mango cranberries), and a piece of dark chocolate with sea salt. 

                          






The crackers are tasty and the hummus was delicious. I shared with my brother and sister during my trip and they were both impressed with the hummus. I had never had watermelon seeds and am not a fan of edamame, so I was skeptical of the Power Play mix. Soy beans just have the tendency to leave a gritty texture in my mouth, but these were toasted nicely and I found them at least tolerable. I was pleasantly surprised by the watermelon seeds. They were like delightful little puffs of toasted goodness. Overall, I preferred the Baja Blend to the Power Play. The habanero almonds were spicy but not overpowering, and the peanuts and cranberries balanced out the heat with some sweet. Now, I'm a huge fan of chocolate and of course I loved the dark chocolate with sea salt. It is a very rich chocolate so I wasn't disappointed that there was only one piece. It was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I appreciated GoPicnic's easy to stow packaging, and their products are high quality & worth the $5-$6 price tag. I would have easily spent more buying little bags of comparable components. I will definitely be seeking these out again!

Banana & Peanut Butter "Ice Cream"

I have seen this recipe floating around the interwebs for a while, and it was even recommended to me by a friend not long ago. It just took me this long to break down and give it a try. I really couldn't see how it was going to translate to "ice cream". It was actually really good. I added chopped strawberries to mine & was very pleased with the outcome. It was very creamy and did an excellent job killing that ice cream craving. 

If you're allergic to peanuts try a substitute like Sun Butter. You could probably skip the peanut butter altogether and mix in other ingredients that sound good to you. It's super easy to make!

Here's what I did. 

Ingredients:

2 bananas (over ripe is ok)

1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter

1 tsp cocoa powder (optional)

2-3 diced strawberries (optional)

Slice bananas & place in the freezer for a couple of hours. Blend in a good blender or food processor until creamy & smooth. Add peanut butter & cocoa. Mix thoroughly. Add strawberries or other add-ins.  Place in container & return to freezer to firm up.

Mine started to melt on me... It may not look appetizing here, but trust me, it was delicious! 

Chocolate Crack Cookies

I found the recipe for these little beauties somewhere on the interwebs, and I have to say they're amazing! These little gems are DAIRY FREE and FLOUR FREE! I was doubtful they would be any good, and I'm glad I was wrong! I'm not sure what they're really called, but I call them Chocolate Crack Cookies because the surface cracks when you bake them... and they're so good they're like crack!

Ingredients
3 egg whites, room temperature
1 1/2 semisweet chocolate chips
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
1 Tbsp corn starch
1/4 tsp salt

Stuffed Peppers

My apologies for the lack of picture to accompany this recipe.
This recipe came from Foodnetwork.com, and you can find nutritional information for this recipe at Yummly.com.

This is a very traditional stuffed peppers recipe, but it IS free of the top 8 food allergens. It can be changed up by substituting thyme and oregano for cumin and chili powder. Then add corn, black beans, and jalapeno peppers for a Tex-Mex flavor. I have also seen where people have substituted quinoa for rice, or go vegan and take out the meat.


Ingredients
1/2 cup rice
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
6 ounces ground beef
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 cups crushed tomatoes
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
4 red or green bell peppers

A Rant for the Dietarily Restricted

I hate people's views of gluten free/allergy free eating (especially the media). I don't have dietary restrictions because I'm trying to be trendy or heard it might help me lose weight. I don't do it to be difficult or because I'm a picky eater... I'm anything but. I have to eat this way because if I don't I get sick. Don't believe me, ask my husband. He's seen me doubled over in pain feeling like I wanted to die because the pain in my gut was so severe. He's seen me spend entire evenings in the bathroom over a slice of bread or cheese... ONE slice. He's seen me near tears because my entire body hurt... every joint... at the same time. It sucks. I still crave the same foods I used to eat, but if I want to feel like a normal human being, without joints that make me feel like an 80 year old woman with arthritis, without constant nausea, without severe abdominal pain that can literally last for days, then this is how my life has to be. I'm sorry if you don't understand it. I'm sorry for your ignorance. Just do me a favor & don't assume that you know my motivation behind ordering the way I do, or making the choices I do.