ALONG COMES MARY

Let me begin by saying I am very pleased at the responce to my very first post on my brand spankin’ new blog! My friends have shown their support, as well as new peeps I have ‘met’ via Twitter & even some fellow bloggers have liked & followed the page–strangers actually stopped by, woo hoo! It was kind of random that the first post covered my gluten-free excursions in New York; I want this page to cover an array of topics that interest me as well as those around me, & those 2 subjects seemed like a good place to start. (Sort of ironic, though, that I state I am ‘Just another SoCal blogger’ & you know…my introduction is a story about NYC, lol).

In under 24 hours, I have had some of you e-mail me & want to know more about this whole ‘Gluten Free Lifestyle’, & I also found out it is getting some buzz since Disney Pop Girl, Miley Cyrus, announced this week shes on a GF diet. In Miley’s case, though, it sounds like its more for the dieting boost it CAN indeed give you short term; I don’t think she gets migraines & frequent bathroom visits (gross…sorry…but true!) if she decides to eat pizza. That brings me to the next hot topic….losing weight. Yes, I did notice I got extra skinny initially, but, I also think that could have been because I was actually able to feel GOOD again to get out & move. If you have an intolerance to wheat, that can also make you dangerously underweight since you are not keeping your nutrients in you. No fun. Now, I am about my average weight. I have discovered such an array of GF food & desserts….& desserts…already high in calories, but tend to be higher in GF products when it takes more alternative ingredients to make them, just sayin’.

So…what CAN I eat?! Well, like I mentioned in the previous post, at home, I pretty much eat the same things you gluten-eaters do. Markets are seeing the demand for GF products, & even mainstream stores like Ralphs are carrying cupcakes, bread & muffins now. I buy quite a bit at the local SoCal health food market, Sprouts. There, I can find frozen pizza, pad thai noodles, muffins, english muffins, breads, cakes, pretzels, sandwich cream cookies, pastas, croutons & cereals all GF (& yes, all those products I just listed commonly do have wheat & gluten in them). Another market that is really with it is Trader Joes; they will even give you a print out of all GF friendly foods in the store. Most recently, I found out their almond horns are GF as well as a special flouress chocolate cake! They also have pancakes & waffles GF in the freezer area. They are great too because you can find them in more suburban areas; being that I am originally from Santa Barbara County, it can be tougher to find some foods in the middle of nowhere, yet we had a TJ’s about a half hour away.
Whole Foods is another good resource; their delis usally are loaded with GF yummies as well as a knowledgable staff who are used to hearing, “These tofu sticks have tamari in them, so is there wheat??” all day long (& for the record, tamari is usually safe, but still always ask!).

With all these great resources…there is a downside. The sticker price. Unfortunetly, if you are stuck with an allergy, that doesn’t also mean you are wealthy. Yet, the manufacturers must have the wrong idea, since alot of these products are indeed more money. A GF pie can be $12.99. If you feel you have a problem digesting gluten, you should by all means not care about the cost as much as possible, though. I recommend even starting a piggy bank for your GF foods. Everytime you are considering a coffee drink, or something you don’t truly need from the mall, think of your loaf of bread or that pizza to eat when you get home from a long day.

I had mentioned I would pass on my favorite GF friendly places in SoCal, now that you know all about the NY hot spots! So, as promised….
*BJ’s Brewhouse: They even are making their famous Pazookie GF-option now, how awesome are they?!?
*Pei Wei: I always get the GF spicy shrimp, you can ask them for the menu though & see what else there is.
*Deanos Gourmet Pizza at LA’s farmers Market: They will do GF pizza or any pasta dish you don’t mind having spaghetti noodles used….my favorite is the alfredo!
*Chipotle: As long as you ask for corn tortillas, or a burrito bowl, you are good to go.
*Rubio’s: They are popping up all over down here, & I really like their tacos!

If you are serious about learning more, I also recommend Elizabeth Hassleback’s (Co-Host of The View) book, The G Free Diet.
Before I end this post (with plans for a new topic next time, promise!) I do want to make a shout out to all my friends over the years who have made sure I am comfortable when I have visited them in that they have made sure to have things I can eat at their homes for me; I have never gone hungry!;) That goes for when I am out with them, too, they always make sure to accomodate me & my pesky needs, & it truly warms my heart! Thank you!!! xo