Gluten Free Oats

Long before the fancy cereal flavors hit the supermarket shelves of it was cans and boxes of oatmeal that has rocked a supermarket floor. Each child has had a had tried bowls and bowls of oatmeal, and this ritual is also extended to those who suffer from celiac disease. Thus, we find gluten free oats widely available on the market today.

Despite recent scientific studies that conclude that oats are safe for most celiacs, those who are skeptical about the validity of this claim can still enjoy their gluten free oats. If you are willing to give it a try with a meal of oats usually just for the sake of argument to verify whether the hypothesis is true for you, experts say to eat only half to three quarter cup oatmeal, every day. But for children you can serve more than a quarter cup per day.

Most people wonder about the term gluten free oats. What this simply means that the FDA related the gluten free labels on products containing less than 20 ppm of gluten. So when you come across a gluten free oatmeal package, it simply means that the gluten content is minimal and is not completely gone. It was reported, that there where consumers have reacted with even that small amount of gluten. These are extreme cases of celiac disease. However, we also know that when you eat gluten free oats, people still may experience oat peptides and complications related to celiac disease, but either go unnoticed or is misdiagnosed to some other condition. The main issue is the complications of celiac disease is that it is difficult to determine the cause. That's why the doctors will be amiss in explaining the essential details of how gluten free oats may or may not affect your health.

The best thing you can do about your diet is to have an open mind and be up to date with the news. The medical industry and scientific breakthroughs are always so fragile and changing. So you can learn in the next half hour or so that the digestion of gluten free products do not do any good to you. But until you get your hands on such news, You will have no choice but to follow, those fantasy worded advices: "stay healthy: eat certified gluten free oats, only.”

Gluten Free Foods

Gluten is a protein found mainly in wheat, rye, barley, malts etc. It is popularly used as a food additive in the form of flavoring and stabilizing. Consuming gluten free foods are particularly important to people that suffer from Celiac disease, gluten intolerance or dermatitis herpetiformis. Patients with celiac disease will suffer injuries to the lining of the intestines if gluten is consumed. This can then lead to weight loss, bloating, abdominal cramps and mineral deficiencies. Therefore it is important for these patients to eliminate gluten from their daily diets giving time for the linings of the intestine to heal.

People tend to become depressed that they are left with having to fore-go their favorite foods due celiac disease of gluten intolerance. However that’s not the case as the list of gluten free foods is quite long with more being introduced into the market. Vegetables such as avocado, beans, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, pumpkin, spinach and watercress are just a handful of gluten free foods vegetables available for consumption in the market. Fruits too are natural and therefore are classified as gluten free foods and include a long list of which apples, bananas, lemons, mangoes, oranges, pineapples, strawberries and raspberries are the most popular.

Many of us love a good steak or our daily share of meat. Meat and poultry are naturally gluten free foods. However it is important to remember that they should not be cooked or mixed with oil that was used to cook breaded items. So long as the cooking methods and accompanying ingredients are gluten free, the following types of meat are considered gluten free foods: beef, buffalo, chicken, duck, goat, goose, lamb, pork, rabbit, turkey, quail, veal and venison.

Eggs and most dairy products are also gluten free foods. If you are following a diet that is gluten free you can safely consume butter (but check for any additives that contain gluten), cheese (except for blue cheese), milk, yoghurt (plain and unflavored) and eggs.

The trickiest part in gluten free foods comes when you have to pick grains and flours. Since bread, pasta, and other products produced out of wheat, barley, rye and oats contain gluten, you need to be extra careful in picking grains and flours. However items made from the following grains and flours are considered gluten free foods: brown rice flour, corn flour, flaxseed, rice, rice flour, soy flour, corn meal, buckwheat, cottonseed, almond flour etc.

Shish Kabobs

Do you have children? They love to eat grilled food, too. A fun and healthy alternative to burgers and hot dogs for them is to make shish kabobs. Shish kabobs are easy to make and healthy for children and adults. 

Shish kabobs remind me of those scenes in old movies when they roast the meat over the spit. Unlike the scary unmentionable meat being turned over by cowboys, we put our favorite meats and vegetables on a stick and add some flavor.

Kabobs cook just like that unmentionable meat in the old days. Kabobs can be cooked on wooden skewers and can be eaten without utensils, making them popular with all children who eat them and to the mothers who have to clean them. Metal skewers can be too hot to touch, if you have little ones, use wooden skewers. They are much cheaper and can be discarded later.

When working with wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before putting them on the grill. A skewer that is not saturated with water will burn on the grill and can cause flare ups.

Now that the safety issues are out of the way, let's begin to have fun creating these yummy tasting shish kabobs. There are allot of combination that you can make with your favorite foods. Choose from lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp, fish and pork. For vegetable choices, be sure to use the vegetables that are can stand up the heat without getting soft and falling apart. Some of the most common choices are tomatoes, peppers and onions.

Cut the meat and vegetables into one inch cubes. It's easier to cook, if all the food on the skewer is of smaller size. Round vegetables such as tomatoes do not need to be cut into squares. Just make sure that the tomato is the same size as the rest of the food. Select items for the kabobs, with similar cooking times on the same skewer. For example, it does not take long for a shrimp or scallops cook on a hot grill, but chicken or beef, will take longer to cook. Zucchini will take longer to cook than the a cherry tomato. Zucchini also takes the heat better. If you want your tomatoes on a skewer, consider adding one to each end of the kabob a few minutes before the meat is done cooking. 

To reduce the cooking time for chicken, boil boneless chicken breasts for about twenty minutes before cutting into cubes. By parboiling you are helping to prevent cross contamination. It is also a good idea to include a single type of meat on skewers. When it comes time to put your shish kabobs together combine the chicken with a variety of vegetables.

When using raw meat, prepare the kebabs the night before and chill them with or without marinade. If you marinade, be sure to drain any excess away before grilling. Let the skewers come to room temperature before placing them on the grill to aid in faster, more even cooking.

I love shish kabobs. They can be used as an appetizer or a main dish on a bed of rice for the children. As a snack or main attraction, they are delicious. By mixing the meat and vegetables, you can enjoy the shish kabobs at any time without getting tired of the same foods. Shish kabobs are easy to make, are gluten free and healthy.

Gluten Free Lunch Ideas

Lunch Ideas

1) Gluten Free Sandwich, use gluten free bread, mayonnaise, chicken, beef, or ham, tomatoes, avocados and lettuce.

2) Apple with almond cheese slices (almond cheese can be found at Fred Meyers, Whole Foods or New Seasons)

3) Apples, grapes, cherries, oranges, blueberries, bananas, oranges, starfruit or jicama.

4) Cleanse shakes, Purification Shake Recipes or Lunch in a Blender

5) Green Mix Protein Shake, Mix 1 scoop Greens First with 1 scoop Whey Pro Complete or 2 scoops Cleanse Shake.

6) Homemade Probiotics Yogurt

7) Almonds, cucumbers, baby carrots, celery, sugar snap peas, broccoli or cauliflower

8) Gluten Free Soup, homemade (chicken, beef or vegetable) or canned (Amy's, Wolfgang Puck or Gluten Free Cafe)

9) Green Salad, Chef Salad, Taco Salad, Gluten Free Pasta Salad or Cobb Salad

10) Gluten Free Wrap, use gluten free tortillas with mayonnaise, chicken, beef or ham, tomatoes, avocados, cheese and lettuce.

11) Gluten Free Crackers, Nut-Thins, Cheese Crackers, Terra Chips or Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers

12) Larabar Snack Bars

For more ideas check out my gluten free recipes.

Subway Gluten Free Bread

 

I just got an e-mail from Subway, they are now serving their gluten free bread. Click on the gluten free link to find participating Subway locations and you can get a 50 cents off coupon through the link too. Also on Wednesday, July 20 when you buy a gluten free sandwich they will give you a regular 6 inch sandwich for free.

The gluten-free sandwich buns come prepacked and individually wrapped. The same worker prepares the sandwich from beginning to end and is trained on how to cut the sandwich buns with a pre-wrapped knife for one time use, to avoid cross-contamination. The bread is made of egg whites, corn starch and tapioca starch.

You may be interested in checking out Subway’s U.S. Allergy Information and Subway’s Canada Allergy Information.

Check out my list of Gluten-Free Restaurants.

Mom's Place Gluten Free Review and Giveaway

I had the opportunity to try out Mom's Place Gluten Free products, let me tell you that everything they sent me was delicious. One of my reader's will win a gift box of Mom's Place Gluten Free Products.

Mom's Place Gluten Free sent me Lemon Cornmeal Pancake Mix, Classic Deep Dish Pizza Crust Mix, Grandma's Cinnamon Snicker Doodles Mix, Microwave Chocolate Cup o' Cake and Taco Seasoning. Everything tasted so good. My family just loved everything they sent us, they kept asking for more. The pancakes were light and fluffy. The deep dish pizza crust was the best gluten free pizza crust I have ever tasted. The snickers doodles were Divine. I usually will put a piece of bread in with cookies to keep them soft, but I did not have to do that with these cookies. The cookies remained soft and sweet. They were very good as well. There is sugar in these products for those of you who eat sugar free. I highly recommend Mom's Place Gluten Free. I give the Mom's Place Gluten Free 5 stars out of 5.

Mom's Place Gluten- Free is the collaboration of three ladies, that have vast experience in the homemaking field. When they started looking into the availability and economy of providing gluten-free meals and treats for their families and friends, they realized there was a real need for affordable and tasty varieties of these food products. After much research and testing, the idea of Mom's Place came to fruition with the ladies forming a partnership dedicated to the following principles:

•Fulfilling the needs of the gluten-intolerant community

•Giving mothers and caregivers a healthy and affordable option for their families

•Relieving the burden and stress of those feeding the gluten-intolerant

•Mentoring those in need of improving homemaking skills

•Preparing a new generation for a healthy and productive future

 

Mom's Place Gluten Free has a variety gluten free products to choose from:

Mixes

• Breads


• Breakfast


• Cookies/Cakes


• Dinners


• Dips, Sauces and Soups


• Kids Stuff

Staples

• Baking Supplies


• Flour


• Spices

Baking Tools, Pasta and Recipes.

 

 

Now for the Giveaway
One of my reader's is going to win a Gift Box of Gluten Free Products from Mom's Place Gluten Free.

Entries
1) Follow me on Google Friend Connect. (1 entry)
2) Subscribe to my RSS Feed, E-mail and/or my Newsletter (in the blue box on the right hand column). (1 entry each)
3) Follow me on Twitter. (1 entry)
4) Tweet about this giveaway daily and/or post on your Facebook. (2 additional entries a day) You can use this for an example,
"#Win a Gluten Free Gift Box @superglutenfree from
@momsplacegf #giveaway http://goo.gl/fb/hSbPP, Ends 6/12".
5) "Like" my blog on Facebook and/or Networked Blogs. Make a comment while you are there. (1 entry each)
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9) Add my blog to your blog roll. (2 entries)
10) Add my button to the side bar of your blog. (3 entries)
11) Sign up for any of these Ways to Earn Money, through my links. (posted on my other blog) (5 entries each)
12) Check out my Squidoo Lenses and/or create your own Squidoo Lens. (3 entries each)
Please leave me a comment on one of Squidoo Lenses while you are there as well leave me a comment on here telling me you checked out my Squidoo Lens.

That gives you several entries for this giveaway. Enter as many of them as you want. Leave a comment here on my giveaway post for each entry with your e-mail address.This Giveaway is available for USA Only.

Giveaway goes through till June 12, 2011.

Giveaway Rules: All entries must be received by 11:59pm PST on June 12, 2011. A winner will be chosen by random.org. I will notify the winner by June 13, 2011 via email (please respond within 48 hours). I will also announce the winner on my blog. Leave a comment for each entry. Be sure and leave me your Twitter user name and Blog URL of your post. Leave me your e-mail address or make sure it is visible on your blog so that in the event that you win this giveaway I can contact you.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".

My Favorite Gluten Free Foods

Here is a few of my favorite gluten free foods.

• Bolthouse Farms Smoothies (usually sold by the mixed salads at the grocery stores) 


• Amy's Gluten-Free, Non-Dairy Spinach Pizza 


• Amy's Bowls, etc. 


• Organic Bistro Whole Life Meals 


• Alexia Sweet Potato Julienne Fries 


• Perky's Crunchy Flax Cereal (they also have Rice Cereal) 


• Nut-Thins Crackers I like the Pecan and Almond Crackers 


• Jeannies Coconut Macaroons  


• Honey Gardens Raw Honey 


• Rice Dream Original Rice Milk 


• Imagine Chicken and Beef Stock/Broth 


• Bob's Red Mill Flours, Xanthan Gum and Baking Products 


• OrganicVille Ketchup (Gluten-Free and Sugar-Free) 


• Terra Chips 


• LARABAR Snack Bars 


• Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers 


• Udi's Gluten-Free Foods 


• Jensen's Bread and Bakeries 


• Namaste Gluten-Free Foods (mixes) 


• Mixes From The Heartland Inc.

You can look at my store to see more examples of gluten-free foods.
Lisa's Amazon.com Store

Triumph Dining
for your Gluten-Free Grocery Guide, Restaurant Guide and Dining Cards.

What are some of your gluten-free foods?  I would love to hear them.

Have a great weekend everyone.
Lisa's Gluten-Free Advice and Healthy Living

Bob's Red Mill on the News

Here is a great story, you have to read this.

This is what giving is all about.

Bob's Red Mill makes the News.

Read the article at ABC News
Way to go!! Thank-you Bob.

I love the products. Now I have an even bigger reason to love the company.

Bob gives his company to his employees.

Watch the video at Celiac in the News

Bob's Red Mill produces more than 400 products, including a full line of certified gluten-free products and an extensive line of certified organic products.

Check out Bob's Red Mill

Bob's Red Mill ESOP Information Page

Do you have a Blog? Add it to "Top 100 Blogs and Websites".

After you check out this interesting story come back to my website for more useful information.

http://www.lisasglutenfree.com/

Baked Chicken with Vegetables

Here is one of my families favorite dinners. Baked Chicken with Vegetables.

1 whipped Egg in a cereal bowl.
1 cup of Brown Rice Flour on a plate.
Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder to Taste mixed in with the brown rice flour.
4 - 6 pieces of Chicken Breast.

Dip the Chicken in the egg and then in the flour mixture.

Place the chicken in a 9 x 13 cake pan that has 2 tbsp. Olive Oil and Butter.
(The Flour soaks up the olive oil and butter)

Cover with ten foil. (uncover chicken the last 10 minutes so that the chicken can get brown on top).
Bake 350 Degrees for 30 - 40 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside.

Serve with Steamed Vegetables and a Salad and enjoy.

Check out this Gluten-Free Magazine.

Living Without Magazine

Gluten-Free Hawaiian Pizza

Here is an easy Gluten-Free Hawaiian Pizza to put together. And the crust has no sugar in it.

I bought bag of "Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix". It makes two 14" crusts.

The instructions are to mix 1 1/2 cups of the Pizza Crust Mix with
1 tsp oil and 1 1/4 cups water.
Then beat with electric mixer for 3 minutes and the consistency will be that of cake batter.

Scrape the batter onto a greased pizza pan and spread it to at least 14 inches.
Then Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes.
When I took it out of the oven it had risen about a 1/2 inch.

Take it out of the oven.
Spread half of a small jar of Organic Pasta Sauce. (6 oz worth).
5 oz. of Canadian Style Bacon.
1 can of sliced black olives. (6 oz.)
1/2 can of Pineapple Chunks. (10 oz. worth)
1/2 oz of both Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Mozzarella Cheese. (a little more or less)
For those of you that can't have dairy products, you can use cheese alternatives.
Example, Almond Cheese for one.

Then put the Pizza back in the oven for 15 minutes at 450 degrees.

Take out of the oven, slice it up and enjoy.

I tell you it was very yummy. I wasn't sure what to expect from this Pizza Crust Mix, but it turned out really, really good.

How to Eat Healthy and Gluten Free

This is the plan I like to go by and I think it is a good one.

Try to eat organic foods when possible, they have more nutrients in them.

• Eat Alkaline Foods. Foods that don't produce acid.


• Eat Enough Fiber. 30 grams a day.


• Watch your Glycemic/Blood Sugar Control. Don't eat too much carbs and sweets.


• Eat Meals of 40% Carbohydrates, 30% Protein and 30% Healthy Fats.


• Stay away from Gluten and Avoid Cross Contamination.


• Take your Vitamins/Minerals, Calcium/Magnesium, Zinc, EFA, Garlic, Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes, Antioxidants and Amino Acids daily. 


• Detoxification: Castor Oil Pack. You put castor oil on a special cotton cloth, (lay down on the couch or on your bed), then lay the cotton cloth on your stomach, then a plastic bag, then a towel, lastly a heating pad. Do that for about an hour. It is really soothing. Do this 3 times a week if not more.


• It is a good idea to do a cleanse or a fast every once in awhile to help your body get rid of toxins.


• Drink 8-10 Cups of Alkaline Water a day.


• Don't over eat, everything in moderation.


• Exercise 3 times a week for 30 minutes.


• Read your ingredient labels carefully at the grocery store.


• When you go out to eat tell the waiter you eat gluten-free.

What you can eat:

• Gluten Free Foods. Anything that you used to buy just replace them with gluten free foods. Gluten-Free Breads, Cereals, Pastas, Pizza, Desserts (like gluten-free ice cream).


• Steamed Vegetables. Eat a variety. Potatoes and Corn (unless you are allergic, then eat yams and sweet potatoes instead).


• Fruits


• Grains: Buckwheat, Millet, Quinoa, Basmati or Brown Rice Teff.


• Gluten Free Flours and Binding Agents: Brown Rice Flour, Arrowroot Flour, Tapioca, Potato Flour, Garbanzo Flour, Almond Meal Flour, Amaranth Flour, Buckwheat Flour, Millet Flour, Quinoa Flour, Sorghum Flour, Soy Flour, Tapioca Flour or Starch, Arrowroot, Cornstarch, Guar Gum, Potato Starch and Xanthum Gum.


• Legumes: Split Peas, Lentils, Beans, Pinto Beans, Mung Beans, Garbanzo Beans, and Azuki Beans.


• Fish


• Poultry: Chicken, Turkey and Eggs.


• Lean Meats


• Cheese (unless you are allergic to dairy) Almond Cheese,


• Sweeteners: Raw Honey, Stevia and Xylitol. I prefer Raw Honey.


• Seeds and Nuts. (unless you are allergic) Flax, Pumpkin, Sesame, and Sunflower Seeds. Almond, Brazil, Cashew, Sesame, etc.


• Butter and Oils: Butter, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Flax Seed Oil. Coconut Oil.


• Spices and Sauce: Salt, Pepper, etc, Herbs, Bragg's Liquid Amino


• Beverages: Alkaline Water 8-10 cups a day, Rice Milk, Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, and 100% Fruit Juice and herbal tea.


• Others: Vinegar, Pickles, Gluten-Free Baking Chocolate, Gluten-Free Baking Soda, Gluten-Free Baking Powder and Olives.

Foods to Avoid

• All Wheat (Gluten) Wheat, Barley, Barley Malt, Rye, Spelt, Semolina, Graham Flour, Wheat Starch, Wheat Germ, Couscous, Bran, Kamut, Bulgur, Durum, Triticale, Oats? Oats are not guaranteed from cross contamination. Alcohol (contains gluten).


• All Animal Milks


• Peanuts (allergies?)


• Caffeinated Teas and Coffees. I prefer herbal tea.


• Pork (it is hard for the stomach to digest).


• Shellfish (allergies?)


• Sugar and Sugar Substitutes

My Favorite Gluten Free Foods

• Bolthouse Farms Smoothies (usually sold by the mixed salads at the grocery stores


• Amy's Gluten-Free, Non-Dairy Spinach Pizza


• Amy's Bowls, etc.


• Organic Bistro Whole Life Meals


• Alexia Sweet Potato Julienne Fries


• Perky's Crunchy Flax Cereal (they also have Rice Cereal)


• Nut-Thins Crackers I like the Pecan and Almond Crackers


• Jeannies Coconut Macaroons 


• Honey Gardens Raw Honey


• Rice Dream Original Rice Milk


• Imagine Chicken and Beef Stock/Broth


• Bob's Red Mill Flours, Xanthan Gum and Baking Products.


• OrganicVille Ketchup (Gluten-Free and Sugar-Free)


• Terra Chips


• LARABAR Snack Bars


• Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers


• Udi's Gluten-Free Foods


• Jensen's Bread & Bakeries


• Namaste Gluten-Free Foods (mixes)


• Mixes From The Heartland Inc.

You can look at my store to see more examples of gluten-free foods.
Lisa's Amazon.com Store

Where to shop for gluten-free foods.

Grocery Stores

• Health Food Stores. Fred Meyer Nutrition Center, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, Trader Joe's, and New Season's Marketplace.


• Gluten-Free Markets, Specialty Stores and Bakeries.


• Farmer's Market and Co-oops.


• The Internet 

Check my "Resources" for more information on where to shop.
There are lots of gluten-free books and Internet sites that have great gluten-free recipes.

My other posts that are relevant to this post.
Gluten Free Recipes
Gluten Free Recipe Websites
Gluten-Free Flours, Binding Agents and Gluten
Gluten-free Baking Tips
Gluten-Free Breakfast and Snack Ideas
How I learned that I am Gluten Intolerant
Sweeteners

All the information that I have acquired over the years have been passed on to me by others, from the Internet, from my doctors and from my nature path. This is a accumulation of everything that I have learned over the years and the things that I have added to my website. It is all written in my own words.

Also I always like to reference these books:
"Prescription for Nutritional Healing"
"The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book"
"The Acid-Alkaline Diet"
"The Gluten-Free Bible"
"Living Gluten-Free for Dummies"

I highly recommend that you find a support group, like this one:
Gluten Intolerance Group
Just click on your state to find your local support group.

Make sure your medications are gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Drugs
 
I have lots of resources listed under my "Resources" on the top left side of my website.
Lisa's Gluten Free Advice and Healthy Living

Well that is it. I hope it has helped you learn what you need to do to eat healthy and gluten free.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Take Care,
Lisa

Gluten Free Bread Review

I tried Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Home Made Wonderful Bread Mix last night. It was very yummy. It does have sugar in it, in the form of evaporated cane juice. And it seems to stay nice and moist. It is not real dense like allot of other Gluten Free Bread's that I have tried so far.

I am getting to a funny part, which did not seem so funny at the time.
I was letting it cool on the counter top. I was busy on the computer and the next thing I know I look-up and my four year old had feed half of the bread to the dogs. Ohhhhhh. It was so good too. LOL. I will just have to get more later.

How many of you have funny stories like that about kids and dogs?
I would love to hear your stories.

I am going to make my home made chicken vegetable soup tonight. I will tell you how it turns out later. I will take a picture of it too to show to you.
It is very good.

Sweeteners

Image from Flicker brianazsweet

All About Natural Sweeteners

Agave Syrup (Nectar)

One source consists primarily of 92% fructose and 8% glucose; another gives 56% fructose and 20% glucose. The extremely high content of fructose can trigger fructose malabsorption, metabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia, decreased glucose tolerance, hyperinsulinemia, and accelerated uric acid formation. Low-carb diet advocate Dr. Michael Eades M.D. advises to "avoid it like death". Dr. Michael Eades MD - Agave Dr. Micheal Eades MD - Hyperinsulinemia and here is an article from Dr. Joseph Mercola who says that agave is far worse than high fructose corn syrup.

Brown Rice Syrup (Rice Syrup) Consists of 50%  soluble complex carbs, 45% maltose and 3% glucose. The glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream immediately, while maltose takes up one and half hours to to be digested, and the complex carbs take from two to three hours, providing a steady stream of energy.

Maple Syrup Sucrose is the most prevelant sugar in maple syrup. Has been used in baking, making candy, desserts or as a sugar source.

Stevia (Sweet Leaf, sweet leaf, sugarleaf or simply stevia) Stevia's taste has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar. It is a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternative. Good for obesity and high blood pressure. Stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose. It is a thousand times sweeter than sugar, so you only a very small amount.

Honey Produced by honey bees. Has no other properties other than honey from flowers. Pasteurized Honey It has been heated in a pasteurization process. In doing so reduces moisture level, destroys yeast cells and liquefies crystals in the honey. Excessive heat destroys the honey and effects the appearance, taste and fragrance.

Raw Honey Exists in the beehive or is extracted without adding heat. Raw Honey contains some pollen and may contain small particles of wax. Local allergy sufferers seek raw honey because it is thought to lessen the sensitivity to have fever.

Unfiltered Honey It is processed by very fine filtration under high pressure. It is very clear and has a longer shelf life. The heating process degrades certain qualities of the honey.

Xylitol Natural occurring sweetener, found in fruits and vegetables. It is roughly as sweet as sucrose with only two-thirds the food energy.

For more detailed information on these sweeteners look at:
Wikipedia - Sweeteners Wikipedia - Agave Wikipedia - Honey

I also found this great article on honey, Sugar Ah Honey Honey.

My Nature Path told me that I should use Honey, Stevia or Xylitol, since I am sensitive to all other forms of sweeteners. I prefer to use Raw Honey, myself.

Lisa's Gluten-Free Advice and Healthy Living

Gluten Free Breakfast and Snack Ideas

Breakfast Ideas
Gluten-Free, Low Carbohydrate and Low Glycemic Index Ideas

1) Apple slices dipped in almond butter
2) Apple with almond cheese slices (almond cheese can be found at Fred Meyers, Whole Foods or New Seasons)
3) Grainless Apple Pancakes
4) Cleanse shakes, Purification Shake Recipes or Breakfast in a Blender
5) Green Mix Protein Shake, Mix 1 scoop Greens First with 1 scoop Whey Pro Complete or 2 scoops Cleanse Shake.
6) Homemade Probiotics Yogurt
7) Handful of almonds with cucumbers or baby carrots
8) Chicken or Turkey Sausage with cucumber slices, grilled zucchini or other left over vegetables
9) Free Range Egg Omelet with spinach and tomato slices
10) Free Range hard or soft boiled eggs for a quick and easy breakfast.
11) Free Range scrambled eggs with guacamole salsa
12) To reduce the glycemic index of toast top with low glycemic index vegetables including mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes or avocado

Snack Ideas
1) Fresh fruit, eat alone or with slices of almond cheese
2) Your favorite seeds and nuts (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pecans, hazelnuts or almonds.
3) Sunflower crackers with cucumber slices or rice cake with zucchini and alfalfa sprouts
4) Crunchy Granola
5) Rice cakes, rye crackers, topped with avocado, almond butter, alfalfa sprouts, cucumber slices, Hummus or almond cheese.
6) Make a fruit smoothie with Protein Powder..
7) Fresh Vegetable Sticks with Tahini, Hummus, guacamole or almond butter.
8) Whole grain muffins, cookies or cakes made as wholesome as possible.
9) Gazpacho Soup
10) Millet Pudding
11) Gluten Free Almond cheese garlic bread
12) Free Range hard boiled eggs are a protein source.
13) Grated fresh coconut and grated carrots with vegetable sticks or healthy crackers, etc.
14) Chickpea crunches or Soybean nuts. Soak and cook legumes, spread on cookie sheet, brush with olive oil or butter and sprinkle with natural seasonings and herbs. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.
15) Banana Chunks rolled in powered carob and or grated coconut.
16) Nut Butter Carob Balls or Halvah.

Other Ideas
1) Gluten Free Pancakes with applesauce
2) Crunchy Granola with Probiotics Yogurt
3) Millet Bread, Brown Rice Bread or Multi-Seed gluten-free bread with almond butter.
Some of these breads can be found at Fred Meyers in the nutrition center or at Whole Foods or New Seasons. For a more balanced meal eat with a Greens Mix Protein Shake.
4) Walrus Bread, Brown Bean Bread, Sandwich Bread with Almond Butter.
5) Probiotics Yogurt mixed with Crunchy Granola
6) Quinoa or brown rice porridge. For sweetness and some stewed apple, a few raisins and a sprinkle of cinnamon to quinoa or brown rice. Top with soy, rice or almond milk.

Gluten Free Baking Tips

1) Bake thoroughly

2) Cool Completely before storing

3) Keep equipment and work surfaces clean

4) Use parchment paper for sticky products

5) Xanthan Gum is worth the purchase; a little goes a long way!

6) Yeast Breads:
Need only one rising in the pan they will bake in; also use less flour, soupy batter.
Ingredients should be room temperature except for water which should be lukewarm, 110 degrees or less; too hot it kills the yeast, too cold the yeast won't activate.
Adding extra protein in the form of eggs, egg substitutes, or milk solids help the yeast work in yeast breads as does cider vinegar.

7) Replacing sugar with honey, use about half the amount of honey; consider extra flour to balance liquid characteristic of honey.

8) Honey is a natural preservative and baked goods containing it will last longer before turning moldy.

9) Gluten Free baked goods freeze well.

10) Mixes can be worth the investment for time saved and a successful finished product.

11) Flour blends give a better result.

12) Some people taste the "bean" in bean flours.

13) "Plan your work and work your plan"

14) Converting recipes: Use a blend of gluten free flours to replace wheat flour, and 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum for one batch of muffins, cookies, quick breads; and extra leavening like aluminum-free baking powder or soda up to 1 tsp. per batch of baked goods.

15) Bake at a lower temperature for a longer time to ensure shelf life.

16) Store products in the refrigerator to ensure shelf life.

17) Label storage containers in a consistent but different manner than products containing gluten.

18) Experiment and try to have fun; it's a new adventure and you will feel better eventually if you get the gluten out of your system.

Gluten Free Flours and Binding Agents

Gluten Free Flours

Almond Meal Flour

Amaranth Flour

Brown Rice Flour

Buckwheat Flour

Garbanzo Bean Flour

Millet Flour

Potato Starch

Quinoa Flour

Sorghum Flour

Soy Flour

Tapioca Flour/Starch

Arrowroot Flour

Teff Flour

Binding Agents

Arrowroot

Cornstarch

Guar Gum

Potato Starch

Tapioca Flour or Starch

Xanthan Gum

Gluten (to Avoid)

Wheat

Barley

Barley Malt

Rye

Spelt

Semolina

Graham Flour

Wheat Starch

Wheat Germ

Couscous

Bran

Kamut

Bulgur

Durum

Triticale
Oats ?  Oats are not guaranteed from cross contamination. 

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