Daily Forage - gluten free

Where Are You Emotionally on Your Gluten Free Journey?

... Something to Ponder Periodically!

Do you ever think about where you’re at emotionally with your gluten-free lifestyle? Or maybe you feel like you have to think about it too much. Being gluten-free impacts every part of our lives. I believe that all-too-often when someone refers to gluten-free, the eating and (lest I say it) “diet” aspects are what most often are being referenced. But there’s so much more to it than that (as you probably already understand). Changing our eating patterns, sometimes dealing with certain food withdrawals (yes this is real), adjusting our social habits, always being mindful of cross-contamination issues, explaining (sometimes repeatedly) the importance of being gluten-free to family and friends all impact our lifestyle. Sometimes this can be a load, right? 

Where we are at emotionally can, and often does, greatly affect our attitude and our actions. Maybe it’s time to stop and ponder for a few minutes how you’re really feeling emotionally about what being gluten free means to you. Maybe you’re doing just fine and life feels good, really good. Your health is better, you’re maneuvering through new eating styles, and finding new social experiences with others who have common lifestyles has fallen into place. That’s great! But if being gluten-free is causing you to feel like you’re sacrificing too often, you’re choosing to “skip” the social events because they’re too difficult, or you’ve got some mild (or not so mild) resentment hanging around, taking a look at ways to work through those feelings is probably a good idea. So you can move forward.

1ST ANNIVERSARY GREAT GLUTEN FREE BASKET GIVEAWAY - NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED!

... We're Celebrating Our 1st Anniversary and We Want to Share Our Celebration with YOU.

We're giving away a GREAT prize basket filled with wonderful gifts and delicious products. To help us celebrate, many of the gluten-free companies of whom we've shared product reviews about during our first year have graciously contributed items to help fill our basket. One lucky entrant will be the winner of our First Anniversary Great Gluten Free Basket, valued at over $200.00, filled with over 23 items from companies like King Arthur Flour, Enjoy Life Foods, Red Apple Lipstick, Breads From Anna, Earth Balance, I Eat Different, and Justin's All-Natural Nut Butters.  

Don't miss your chance to win this great basket full of gluten-free goodies! Read below for info on how to enter. 

Here is a detailed list of our basket items:

Life in Pictures Series by I Am J The Blog

... And We've Been Featured!

Just a quick post sharing our excitement about being part of this great series. IamJtheBlog has put together a month-long series featuring bloggers in the gluten-free community. We're all sharing our stories through pictures. Daily Forage is Series Feature #24. It's very fun to visit each day's post and learn more about the folks who are "walking the walk and talking the talk" and helping to influence and positively impact our world. Be sure to check out IamJtheBlog.

Safe food is a journey ... Thrive!™

Summer Salad with Tuna, Blueberries, and Cashews

... Let the Salad Season Begin!

With the warm weather months gaining momentum, my desire to prepare hot meals declines dramatically. I like to serve lighter meals when it is hot outside. Playing with my salad recipes and mixing things up a bit gives them a new springtime twist. And using albacore tuna packed in water as a base is one of my favorite salad platforms. Since it is important to not consume too much tuna*, I like creating a tuna salad that is packed full of as many good-tasting and good-for-me extras as possible. This salad fulfills those requirements nicely while staying within my gluten free, dairy free lifestyle. Each serving of this tuna salad provides about 18g of protein from the tuna and cashews (both also contain healthy fats), rich antioxidants provided by the sweet and colorful blueberries, and great fiber from the crunchy cabbage. And let’s not forget about the lycopene contained in these rich and vibrant tomatoes. Your tastebuds, and your body, will be thanking you.

What Gluten Free Snacks Will You Be Eating This Summer?

... Here’s a List of Great Grab-N-Go Snacks for Your Busy Schedule!

With the busy on-the-go months coming into full swing here in the next few weeks, or perhaps you feel like you’re already in the middle of them, having healthy and quick gluten-free snacks on hand is a must. We’re often at baseball games, soccer games, sitting at the beach, playing poolside, enjoying outdoor picnics, and so many other activities. Or the kids are just at home all day ... and hungry! 

Having snacks on hand that are quick and easy to make, will travel well, and will be a healthy addition to your busy lifestyle is not an impossible feat to achieve. I’ve put together a list of “safe” gluten-free snacks that will keep you and your traveling companions or playmates feeling satisfied, energized, and worry-free. 

Some of these snacks are pre-made grab-and-go products, and some are easily put together at home.

Red Apple Lipstick Product Review

... My Lips Cannot Stay Sealed Any Longer!

Lately I’ve been mentioning Red Apple Lipstick quite a bit on Daily Forage, Facebook and Twitter. Honestly, there are so many great things happening with Red Apple Lipstick, I’ve simply felt a need to share my enthusiasm for what’s taking place. Here is a company that has a great product line of gluten free lipstick, more about that in a moment, and is making a HUGE name for themselves. Jay Adam Harper, the owner and creator of Red Apple Lipstick, as well as being one of the most positive, enthusiastic, and energetic people I’ve ever known, is taking this company places. Nearly everyday there’s more news that Red Apple Lipstick has been honored with this award, or been invited to be part of that event, etc. And for GOOD reason. The entire line of Red Apple Lipstick is worth putting in the spotlight.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with the Perfect Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Waffles

... Perfect for the Mom Who Doesn’t “Waffle” About Being Gluten-Free!

This waffle recipe will make up the perfect waffles for a Mother’s Day Brunch or a leisurely Sunday breakfast They also are great for a quick re-heat breakfast for rushed school day mornings, midday waffle sandwiches, and even a late night snack. These waffles were one of the first gluten-free, dairy-free recipes I created two years ago when our world had just been turned upside down. It truly has been a saving grace recipe. I’ve done a bit of tweaking to improve it over time, but the basic recipe hasn’t changed. I make a double batch almost every week. The waffles freeze very well, and can be easily re-heated in the microwave from frozen in just a minute and half. This is my kind of recipe ... do the work once ... reap the benefits all week! They are loaded with protein from almond flour, brown rice protein powder, and my latest additions of chia seeds, and whole flax meall.* We like to garnish them with peanut or nut butter and syrup. To dress them up a bit, try adding some fresh fruit, a light dusting of powdered sugar, and some candied pecans. And for special occasions adding a dollop of dairy-free whipped cream is the perfect topper.

Red Apple Lipstick Puts the Polish on the Little Black Dress Project

... The Lip “Polish” that is!

Congratulations to Red Apple Lipstick for being chosen as the lipstick of choice (out of thousands of lipsticks on the market) for the Neil Hammond Agency 4th Annual Little Black Dress Project.  

Every model at this fun “Audrey Hepburn” themed event was not only donning her little black dress but was also polished for the limelight in varying shades and color combinations of Red Apple Lipstick under the expertise of Professional Makeup Artist Andrea Schutter. 

While the event took place May 9th, in Texas, I’m sure this is just one of the forerunners of the success to come for Red Apple Lipstick. Red Apple Lipstick, you are definitely all dressed up and have places to go! 

To read more (and see fun photos) of this Little Black Dress Project, click Red Apple Lipstick Steals The Show at the 4th Annual Little Black Dress Project . 

Safe food is a journey ... Thrive!

The Gluten Glitch Children's Book Review

As a wanna-be children’s book author, I have never been satiated with the number of children’s books I hoard. For a brief period of my life I was lucky enough to work managing the children’s department of a well-known chain book store. I coveted my time there, and was often found parked in the corner of that department during my lunch break (instead of eating lunch) enjoying the newest titles that had been recently delivered. Much to my disappointment, that gig didn’t last nearly as long as I would have liked. But I hold those memories quite fondly in my heart. 

So when I come across a children’s book that has fun illustrations, a catchy character, and shares with its readers an important message ... well, that’s like whipped cream on the top of a chocolate brownie to me! I’ve recently found such a book! 

CNN's Wolf Blitzer Interviews Celiac Disease Panel

... More Visibility During Celiac Awareness Month (May)!

 

May is Celiac Awareness Month and discussions are even more a-buzz in the air about what it means to have Celiac Disease and/or be living a gluten-free lifestyle. With each year that passes, the gluten-free community is gaining much needed visibility as to the importance of proper understanding, diagnosis, cross-contamination issues, and lifestyle techniques. This ten-plus minute Q&A interview between CNN’s anchor, Wolf Blitzer, and his guest panel including John Snyder, MD - Dir. of Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National Medical Center, Vanessa Weisbrod - Executive Editor of Delight Gluten-Free Magazine, and Sarah Marx - CNN Production Assistant, is well worth taking the time to watch. Great to see the visibility!