Gluten Free Hot Cereal

Fall is just around the corner, which means winter is coming soon. During the cooler months, people tend to want to eat hot cereals. Many people start eating oatmeal for breakfast. However, when you have Celiac disease and cannot have oats, oatmeal is off limits. So, what CAN you eat on those cold mornings?

Along with a hot cup of coffee, I usually eat hot quinoa flakes. Quinoa flakes takes only 90 seconds to cook in the microwave, and the heartiness of the cereal keeps you full for hours. I add a touch of organic brown sugar and a serving of craisins to the cereal, just to give it some flavor. It's pretty darn good! The brand that I recommend is Ancient Harvest. Most supermarkets carry this quinoa cereal. You can find it in the natural foods section, with all the gluten free foods. Yes, this cereal is gluten free.

I also recommend gluten free rice and shine cereal, if you're not a fan of quinoa. This hot cereal is also gluten free, but, does take a little longer to cook. This hot cereal keeps you full for hours, and I also add some organic brown sugar, and craisins. The brand to look for is Arrowhead Mills. This cereal is more difficult to find, but, you can find it in most organic and natural food stores. You can also find it online as well.

There is also the option of Buckwheat hot cereal by Pocono. I am hesitant to mention this one, because some Celiacs are sensitive to Buckwheat. I happen to be one of them. If you are able to tolerant buckwheat, I do recommend this cereal. Add some fresh blueberries to the cereal. The fresh fruit gives it a very nice flavor.

These are all amazing alternatives to oatmeal. During those cold mornings, when you don't have time to prepare a big breakfast, prepare any of these hot cereals, and enjoy the warmth and fullness that the cereal provides you.

Celiac disease and Dating.

Dating can be quite exciting. You are getting to know someone, and hoping to make that special connection. However, when you have Celiac disease, dating can be a tad challenging. It's common sense that if someone cannot handle that you have Celiac disease, that you shouldn't date them. However, when someone rejects you because of the fact that you need to be gluten free, it can be heart-crushing. Does this mean that you should only date fellow Celiacs?

Not necessarily. A good person will understand that you need to be gluten free. They will go above and beyond, in order to make sure that your needs are met. Dating someone that isn't Celiac, can be have its own challenges, but, it does work out.
I've been with my boyfriend for over a year and a half. My gluten free lifestyle hasn't been an issue in our relationship. My boyfriend goes above and beyond in order to make sure that I'm comfortable. He reads labels, and makes sure that my food isn't cross-contaminated. I haven't had an issue with cross-contamination. His family also goes above and beyond in order to include me.
As far as my gluten free lifestyle, I don't push it on him. He can eat what ever he wants. I don't expect him to be gluten free, just because I am. I wouldn't want him to be gluten free just because I have to be gluten free.

I wasn't always this lucky. Before my boyfriend and I got together, guys wouldn't even ask me out because I had to be gluten free. They saw me as being too high maintenance. They didn't want to deal with it. While that did hurt me, there wasn't anything I could do about it. I knew that the right guy would except me for who I am.

Folks, it doesn't matter if the object of your desire is Celiac or not Celiac, as long as they accept your gluten free lifestyle, they are worth taking a chance on.

Review: Desert Essence Organics Shampoo and Conditioner

Recently, I decided to try a gluten free shampoo and conditioner. I should have started using gluten free shampoo and conditioners over 2 years ago, when I was diagnosed Celiac, but, none of my doctors told me about the non-food aspect of being gluten free.
I drove down to my local gluten free specialty shop, and I found shampoo and conditioner by Desert Essence. I looked on the back of the bottle, and it said gluten free on it. It's very hard to find soaps that actually say gluten free on it. I was relieved when I found it. I picked out the Red Raspberry scented one, and went home.

After testing the product for a week, I am quite pleased. When I was using my regular shampoo and conditioner, it always made my scalp itch. With the Desert Essence shampoo and conditioner, my scalp has stopped itching. My hair is much smoother, and shiny.

The products are a bit pricey, but, Desert Essence is worth it. I'm making Desert Essence my go-to product from now on.

If you want to order the product online, visit: www.vitacost.com. They have it at a more reasonable price.

photo credit: http://images.iherb.com/m/DES-33707-5.jpg

Interesting Discovery

As most of you know, earlier in the summer, I began a series called "Celiac Spotlight," where I introduced a number of celebrities that suffer from Celiac disease. I recently learned about one more celebrity that has Celiac disease. Author Meg Cabot, has Celiac disease. She has not talked about it in detail, except in her blog. She mentions it in a 2008 blog post. In the post, she reenacts a conversation that she had with a friend of hers. She was telling her friend that she was diagnosed with Celiac disease. She mentioned to her friend how she cannot have gluten or wheat ever again.
 Her friend laughed, because she is a "wheat-a-holic." Cabot even mentioned that she loves her carbs. When she talked to her friend, she said that she was going to begin her wheat free and gluten free diet tomorrow.

Cabot's friend helped her throw out all her wheat and gluten food, and she began her gluten free lifestyle.

I have been a fan of Cabot's books for years. She writes so beautifully, and you can really relate to the characters in her books.
If you want to read more about Meg Cabot's Celiac coming out, visit:
http://www.megcabot.com/2008/04/the-c-word/

Positive Aspect of Being Gluten Free.

Many of you know my story. For those of you who don't know my story, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease 2 years ago. It has been one of the biggest lifestyle changes that I've endured (my back issue is the biggest lifestyle change, as it limits me physically). I'm pretty much known as the blogger that likes to gripe about all things negative, in terms of Celiac disease, and gluten free food.

Having Celiac disease is tough, yes. However, there is one thing about this lifestyle change that I have loved: learning about what's in my food. Before my diagnosis, I was eating food blindly. I didn't spend the time to learn what was in my food. I didn't want to know. I was ruled by my taste buds.

Now that I have Celiac disease, I am more aware of what's in my food. I read up on ingredients that are in my food. I make sure that they are genuinely gluten free, and wholesome. I also am ruled by one other rule: "If I cannot pronounce it, I cannot eat it."

When it comes to gluten free food, just because it is gluten free, it does not mean that it is healthy to eat. You could be consuming something that has a ton of unhealthy fats and carbohydrates.

Educate yourself about what is in your gluten free food. Make sure you are getting a good amount of nutrition. Do not eat food that contains ingredients that you cannot pronounce.

Restaurant Review: Outback Steakhouse.

Last week, I went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. I know, from previous visits there, that they are more than accommodating when it comes to those of us with Celiac disease. I go in, and requested a gluten free menu. They give me one, and I was seated. When my waitress came over, she was very pleasant. She went above and beyond to make sure I knew that they take dietary restrictions, and Celiac disease, very seriously. She was more than willing to answer any questions I had. The front of the house manager was even on hand, greeting everyone, and even stopped by my table.

The GF menu has numerous choices. It advises you on what to stay away from, in terms of sauces and sides. My only problem with the gluten free menu is that they don't offer the prices of the meals. You have to look at the regular menu for the prices.

Despite the fact that the gluten free menu did not have the prices, my visit at Outback Steakhouse was very pleasant. It's been several days since I have eaten there, and I have not been sick.

I would recommend Outback Steakhouse to all my fellow Celiacs, and those who are gluten intolerant. You will get the highest quality of customer service, and the best steaks in the world. Visit your local Outback Steakhouse, and bring your appetite!

photo credit: http://glutenfreeandfull.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/outback_steakhouse_ext.jpg

Been MIA for the past few days.

Hello fellow Celiacs!

Sorry for being MIA, I been dealing with some health issues. I have been dealing with moderate to severe back pain since February. I have degenerative disc disease in the Lumber 4, Lumber 5 region of my lower back. A few days ago, I received my first cortisone shot. Since the shot, I been very sore. I have been on painkillers, which has prevented me from writing anything halfway decent. 
I will be working on a few posts, in the coming days. I want to write a review of my experience at Outback Steakhouse. I also have a few other topics in mind, that are worth mentioning.

I will be getting back into blogging all things Celiac, starting sometime this week. 
I wish everyone a fantastic long weekend. 

-Shauna