How to Properly be on a Gluten Free "Diet"

          First off, I'd like to note that the title of this post is directed towards people who have the option

of eating gluten, but choose to go gluten free to lose weight. Celiacs: you guys are already pros at this,

so consider yourself excused from today's lesson. Or you can stick around- I love your company

regardless.

  

          So as I'm sure most of you have noticed by now, gluten-free stuff is everywhere. Today, there

are more choices than ever when it comes to gluten free cookies, cakes, muffins, breads, you name it- it

comes in gluten free somewhere. On one hand, this is great news for those going gluten free. We can

indulge in our chocolate cake cravings, bring a PB&J sandwich to work, and even give in to a maple

glazed donut or two.

                 On the other hand...

Gluten free "replacements" of foods are really not any better for us. 

You see, most of the grains used to make gluten free goods, such as corn and rice, have much less fiber 

than their gluten-ey counterparts like whole wheat. No fiber= no bueno.

Think about it... by eating your standard gluten free muffin, you will run into a lot of processed, white, 

starchy stuff mixed with sugar whereas with a diet allowing gluten, you can eat a hearty oat bran muffin 

with lots of fiber and nutrient rich grains. In other words: don't expect to lose weight on a gluten free 

diet if you regularly eat gluten free muffins, cookies, cakes, etc. The fact that they are gluten free does 

NOT make them anything other than sugary sweets. 

If you want to lose weight on a gluten free diet, the key is going for foods that are naturally gluten 

free like vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, organic fish and lean meats, brown rice, quinoa, etc. Go 

about it more like a "real food" diet rather than a "gluten free diet" because "gluten free" infers that you 

will still be eating processed, sugary, sodium filled foods- none of which will help your waistline go

down a size. Look at your elimination of gluten as being an elimination of cookies, cakes, white breads, 

donuts, all those bad guys that sneak into your closet every night and sew your clothes a little tighter.  

                   I'm no nutritionist, but I can tell you that if you follow these steps when getting groceries at 

                   the supermarket, you will be making healthy choices...

• Spend 75% of your time shopping around the outside edges of the store. This is where your fresh veggies, fruits, meats, and dairy products will be. Unfortunately, this is also where the bakery usually is too, but just ignore that part. Otherwise, go hog-wild when it comes to getting fresh and wholesome goods that are naturally gluten free. This is the area of the store where you won't have to bothered with analyzing nutrition labels! Hooray!
• Think to yourself, "Will this benefit my body's overall health in any way?" If the answer is yes, go for it. If the answer is no (the food is just for taste), sneakily place the food in someone else's cart and run away quickly. This way, you'll be buying/eating those GF triple fudge chocolate chunk brownies vicariously through an innocent bystander, without the added calories! The perfect solution! 
• If you do find yourself needing some gluten free bread (use sparingly), go for the multigrain type. Udi's makes a really great multigrain bread, and so does Rudi's... (when in doubt, just buy from the company whose name ends in "-udis", and you're golden).
• Don't stress. If you try too hard, you're gonna end up with a kitchen filled with uber-healthy foods that taste like sandpaper and look like rabbit turds. I've heard it helps to move from eating gluten to being gluten free slowly, so that your body (and taste buds) have some time to adjust. If you don't suddenly shock your system, you are more likely to stick with the healthier diet for longer. 

Happy Gluten Free-ing!

Healthy Snacks for Movers & Shakers

            As students, we are pretty much busy all the time. We squeeze homework and studying in  

between classes, club meetings, gym sessions (maybe), hang out sessions (definitely), and sleeping. How  

are we supposed to fit eating into this tight schedule, let alone eating healthily?? Well, it's easier than you 

think. Being the super artsy person that I am not, I've made a little collage of snacks that a. take about zero 

minutes to prepare  b. will be fitting for any food budget and  c. will make your tummy happy. 

one. {Green Tea} Ok so I know green tea isn't a food, but it has too many health benefits to be unmentioned-- speeding up metabolism, burning fat, and maximizing exercise output are just a few perks to making this your morning drink of choice.

two. {Almonds} It's all too easy to choose to snack on that big bag of M&Ms stashed in your desk, but by simply replacing this with a big bag of almonds you will be saving yourself an obscene amount of sugar and fat. And don't try to tell me that almonds have fat therefore they aren't good to eat: yes, they have fat but it is the kind of fat that your body honestly needs. 

three. {Apples} An apple a day keeps the doctor away: a true statement. The great things about this fruit is that they are naturally sweet-great for that sweet tooth that has been nagging at you. Pair an apple with some cheese slices or natural peanut butter and you're all set! 

four. {Spinach} You're natural instinct to spinach may likely be "why would I ever choose to eat spinach, voluntarily?". We are only human, and unfortunately we are kind of programmed to cringe at spinach. However, spinach can be made super delicious with two simple additions: cheese and turkey slices. Wrap the cheese are turkey inside the spinach and it turns from being a bland bunch of greens to being a seriously tasty snack. 

five. {Black Beans} I love black beans. So much so that they have made their way onto my top 10 favorite food list. It's so easy: open a can, enjoy the vegetarian goodness. Throw some in with scrambled egg whites and salsa for a satisfying breakfast, load up a brown rice wrap with a bunch of them, snack on them straight outta the can-- whatever floats your boat! These beans are super versatile and help improve digestion, give you some fiber, and supply you with some serious protein. 

six. {Oatmeal} I've been eating Glutenfreeda Banana Maple Flax Oatmeal for breakfast for the past few weeks, and I have to say, I have never felt more energized throughout the day than when I start it with oatmeal. All that is required is some gluten free oats, water, and a microwave. It doesn't get much easier. 

seven. {Avocado} Another one of my favorites. Like black beans, this creamy green fruit has oodles of healthy fats you need. Slice some as a toast topper, dice it up into an omelette, or mash it up with something spicy for guacamole. YUM

eight. {Berries} Step 1: Defrost mixed berries. Step 2: Put berries in a bowl. Step 3: Plop some fresh whipped cream on top. Step 4: Devour without guilt, only joy. 

nine. {Eggs} I storm through a carton of eggs like nobody's business. Eggs are cheap, versatile, easy to make, delectable, and a great source of protein! Fry one up in some olive oil and sea salt, scramble with veggies and cheese, boil a couple for a grab and go snack. In my book, eggs can do no wrong. 

Photo Credits: http://mypartea.net, http://foodphoria.blogspot.com, http://www.bakerella.com, http://www.flickr.com/photos/indiansimmer, http://blogcritics.org, http://eatlocal.wordpress.com, http://www.honeyandjam.com

Let's Get Physical.

While this blog is not necessarily a fitness blog, I would consider it to be a health blog. After all, isn't that why we're eating gluten free? To be healthy? It's for this reason that I'll be writing the occasional fitness/health related post. Maybe once a week. Fitness Fridays, anyone? 

About a year ago, I wasn't able to run a mile. Last night, I ran 5 miles. I credit my newfound ability to run long and far (at least according to me) entirely to my diagnosis with Celiac Disease. No matter how "healthy" I would try to eat in the past, the gluten in my foods was wearing me down: making me tired, unmotivated, malnourished, and just not good. Now that I'm finally eating foods that are actually nourishing my body, I feel myself becoming stronger every day. It makes me wonder why so many disease-free/naturally healthy people don't take advantage of all the magnificent things our bodies can do! Being sick for so long has made me appreciate and respect my body much more than I ever have. Has anyone else felt this way since going gluten free?

Sooooooo... how is this related to living gluten free in college?

If you're going to a university, there is a good chance that there's a gym at your school that you'll get free membership to as a student. Take advantage of this. Keep in mind that most gym memberships cost anywhere in between $20/month to $80/month which can really add up! Milk this free unlimited access for all it's worth and you won't regret it! 


As students, we spend a large amount of time abusing our bodies in one way or another; sitting hunched over homework for hours at the library, staying up obscenely late, potentially drinking past a normal amount, eating too much/too little, you get the idea. Between all this and the stress that comes with school, it is vital to make time for yourself to move your body. Whether it's for 20 minutes or 2 hours, you will feel 10 times better physically and mentally, guaranteed! 


I'll be posting more posts like this in the weeks to come, so stay tuned to some advice/tips regarding healthy snacking, decoding the gym, how to fit fitness into a busy schedule, and more!