My day yesterday included:
Blue skies and palm trees
Lots of watermelon eating.
Okay, you got me. I didn’t eat all of these.
But I went to town on this beauty.
Why can’t it be watermelon season year round?
Also included: Skylar putting her dolls down for a nap.
If only I could put her down for a nap. She’s apparently a chip off the old block and seems to need only a fraction of the sleep other kids seem to need. “But I’m not tired, Mommy.”
When I was her age I actually slept. And liked it.
I passed this sign on my run.
Even though I didn’t stop off for a cocktail all hot and sweaty mid-run…
…I did come home and make a snack with Dark Rum Caramel Sauce + Triscuits + Chocolate Chips
I used to live on Triscuits + Peanut Butter and lots of vodka on the rocks with marschino cherries. <– Actually, that was a pretty common “dinner” from ages 21-26.
Unbalanced? Yes.
Wonderful memories that I’d never trade? Yes!
You only live once, may as well make the most of it.
And I made the most of this snack.
I really can’t eat these Triscuits anymore, though. It’s a major bummer because I love them so much and they are such a versatile cracker. I laid off them for at least five years, and tried them again a month or so ago, and then re-tried them this week, and they are a no-go. I suffered major GI distress from them.
I can tolerate some gluten again and am less sensitive overall because I’ve healed my gut, but as I mentioned about nuts yesterday, I really can’t tolerate nuts. Or the gluten in the Triscuits.
Good thing I enjoyed these because no more.
Not worth the tummy ache and all the other gluten “poisoning” symptoms like pounding headache and major GI issues. Ugh.
But I encourage you to try my little snack.
I will be eating my own version of Homemade Mary’s Crackers from now on
Easy and you can bake them in the oven.
Vegan and Gluten Free. <— key
And with the Dark Rum Caramel Sauce you can dip fresh fruit like apples, pears, peaches, bananas (or veggies like sugar snap peas, carrot or zucchini sticks) into it, too.
Everything tastes better with dark rum + caramel
Funny the gluten in White Chocolate Blondies with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting does not bother me. I’m not just saying that. It really doesn’t if I eat say one blondie per day.
I think the way in which wheat is processed and milled and way in which certain foods are processed and made definitely effects whether or not I can tolerate it.
Food allergies, intolerances, and sensitives are such tricky beasts!
From my earlier post, thanks for the compliments about me in my new tshirt. Yes, I am digging it! Thanks again, Callie!
And it was fun to read about what’s been making you feel foxy lately. Or a lil sassy!
Questions:
1. Are there any foods that you are no longer including in your diet for whatever reason?
Some people eliminate foods on account of food allergies or intolerances.
Some people stop eating meat or animal products because they have moral or ethical issues with it. When I was in Mexico City and saw all the meat in the markets, all the blood and slaughter, it really reinforced my commitment to a plant-based diet. I just do not have it in me to see dead chickens hanging upside down and say, gee, I think I’ll have chicken today. Not that I was close to that or planning on it but it was one of those life moments I just won’t ever forget.
However, to each her own! I truly don’t care what anyone else does or eats, but for me personally, it’s a no go.
Some people no longer feel certain foods are “healthy” choices. Again, to each her own what you deem “healthy”, but I actually believe in an moderation approach. So even if a brownie isn’t “healthy”, I still include it in my dietary path. In moderation.
I look at the big picture, the forest not the tree, and don’t sweat the small stuff or obsess about one brownie, one cookie, one this or that, when the overwhelming majority of my diet is “healthy” and balanced. I am also not really into ‘healthifying’ desserts.
2. What did your day include that was fun or made you smile?
Mine included restocking my fresh produce. It’s the little things sometimes.
Last reminder for the Glass Straw Giveaway. Winner announced Friday.
All of the foods I don’t eat are because of food intolerances, except for meat. But that is a taste/texture intolerance. BLECH!
All of my actual food intolerances are of foods I actually really love, which just makes it sad. I think my list right now is : soy, gluten, almonds, whey, cheese, onions, citrus, xanthan gum….that’s all I can think of right now so hopefully that’s it! I’m thinking about cutting out dairy completely to see if that improves anything. Well, starting slowly I might cut out everything except for yogurt before cutting it out completely. Because that’s going to be the hardest one for me!
im so happy i found out i couldn’t have gluten… before my diagnosis i didn’t actually realize that i wasn’t feeling the best that i possibly could..i had migraines and often had stomache issues..but i never thought too much into it..i never thought it was caused by something i ate! since eliminating it though… omg..a world of difference!!!
glad you figured it out and yes world of difference!
Meat and fish haven’t been part of my diet for more than 4.5 years now. I’ve found that animal products are hard to digest for my body. Lately I’ve also reduced my dairy intake, as it also has negative effects on my tummy. I felt so sick after having some greek yoghurt. Yuck! No more.
But I don’t think I’ll ever be a full-on vegan. I’ve tried it a few times and it didn’t feel right for me. I like to have some eggs and cheese on occasion. All in moderation!
I also try to go easy on sugar and other sweeteners. I love sweets, but they don’t love me back. Too much of it, and I feel sick and horribly thirsty.
I am sorry to hear of your tummy troubles! Sensitives can really really be the worst. I am very sensitive like you, and I am also vegan. No meat and no dairy is very important to me. I also am free of gluten and processes foods in general. I went to the market, which always makes me happy!
How can people tell if they’re gluten sensitive or not? Just curious…like GI issues I guess?
see my next post, i discussed this towards the bottom
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/07/grocery-store-shuffle.html
That’s interesting about the nuts! Especially since most raw vegan books/cookbooks/sites used nuts SO much for creams, crusts, sauces, etc. I love nuts (and the nut butters) and eat a LOT of them..oof! I’m pretty sure it doesn’t agree with me :( I’ve always wondered how others could tolerate them so much….interesting!
I don’t include animal products in my diet & also try not to include them in other areas of my life.
I could say I don’t care what other people do, but I do. I think it’s ridiculous that Americans consume so much bad food that that in and of itself can easily cause a debt crises. I also think it’s crazy that by us gorging ourselves on meat and cheese we are using more resources than we should and taking away food and water from others, in other countries. But I don’t have kids & I HOPE I only live once!!
If the Hindus are right, I’m depressed, because all I can think of if I come back, is that I am going to be very thirsty!! People with children, maybe, should consider their food and environmental choices just a bit more, because their immediate bloodlines will be affected. Of course we are all related to each other, but in the States, it seems like it truly hits home when it is you or your family. If it is a brown family in another part of the world, well, we don’t see them, so it’s easy to blow off while buying 400 dollar shoes.
Oh, also!! Of course I don’t think it’s cool to kill animals either!! To say I think it is others people’s right to kill them, to me, is kind of like me saying that it’s okay for people to kill other people, or your kids. But if ya eat them, then it may be more likely they kill you in the end…….Since 2/3 of peeps in the States are overweight and milk & cheese are addictive. And ICK on factory farmed junk which is probably 99 percent of what is available.
can you believe i actually hate watermelon! yes it’s true but its definitely a fruit i would be fine living without forever haha, i know i know don’t judge me. everyone loves it!
I haven’t really cut anything out of my diet, but I have started incorporating more vegan and vegetarian meals.
My day included time at the beach! I drove 20 min up the shore to a nice sandy beach. Too bad the biting flies didn’t allow me to stay very long, but it was fun while I was there! And then I drove all up the coast to see the Apostle Islands. All this afternoon, after working all morning. And then I sewed! My day included all kinds of fun stuff!
I’m glad you got to enjoy that delicious treat one last time! Even though it gave you G.I issues…. This may sound weird… and I have yet to get to the bottom of it but I love and crave apples like mad. However, after I eat them I feel incredibly tired…. drastically tired. Like I could pass out at my desk at work or fall asleep ion the spot wherever I was. It is strange and alarming at times! I get thgat way with grapefruit as well… it is so so so weird. I crave both apples and grapefruit but the thought of eating them scares me because I know they will make e crash hard. I don’t know what the problem is but I have had to eliminate those two dear fruits . Booo :(
I am TRYING to cut out sugar…
Oh my…
It’s not going well!
Brooke Annessa
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
I also can’t do gluten, it just does not agree with me although i tested negative for celiacs. I can handle everything else though, so GF it is for now but who knows if that can change down the line. I also used to get really sick from dairy but grew out of that too. It is interesting, our bodies’ responses to different foods. But I’m definitely into the moderation thing too, hand me a GF brownie once a day and I’m in!
I came across a few songs today that saved my day. To be honest, it wasn’t a good one, but music often revives me.
Glad you enjoyed a beautiful day full of watermelon!! :) Love you girl!
I no longer like mashed potatoes (the white kind). Will I eat them to be respectful? Absolutely. BUT, I honestly think sweet potatoes have a better TASTE!! call me crazy ;)
Yum, I’ve always loved Triscuits too! I ate a ton when I was pregnant! I can not tolerate glutein anymore either, although sometimes a slice of pizza sans cheese is worth the tummy ache ;)
I took my babies to the waterpark today, which they loved. Many smiles all around! :)
No gluten, soy, corn or meat for me. I had to lay off of dairy and eggs for a while when I was first healing my gut, but can have both in moderation now. Food Renegade has a great article today on the gut and psychological health. You should check it out!
Wowww those symptoms sound like no fun. I hope you feel better Averie! and yes, sometimes the little things matter so much! :D Today, I smiled b/c I was blessed enough to do yoga!! And hey, the fact that I have a body that’s healthy and I’m able to do all these cool things!!
I haven’t eaten any meat products for a long time, but lately I’ve been making an effort to cut back on dairy too. It just makes me feel better overall when I don’t have it!
My day included a kick butt spin class that made me sweat buckets!! That made me smile!
So true on watermelon, but they seem to be available in grocery stores much longer in CA than FL. For a good Triscuit alternative, try Gena’s juice pulp cracker recipe.
1. Animal products for ethical and health reasons. And refined sugar to stick to more natural sweets.
2. BDay flowers from hubby and sweet gifts.
“For a good Triscuit alternative, try Gena’s juice pulp cracker recipe.”– Really?
Was just replying to another commenter above you who wrote in…
“I wish there was a gluten free triscuit… that tasted like a triscuit! :) ”–
My reply: I spent YEARS trying to find sometihng too…but there isn’t. Marys Crackers are not triscuits. Nor are any of the GF/specialty crackers on the market. Sigh.
I too, loathe labels, but I have one severe one already attached to me – Celiac disease – so that means no gluten, ever! Then from your encouragement/blogging, I am now dairy free (for one month) and my skin has FINALLY cleared up. It’s a miracle. I don’t like red meat or chicken, so I don’t really eat meat either. I guess I’m gluten free, dairy free, but I eat eggs and seafood!
Hot hot hot day here, as with the rest of the country. I enjoyed reading outside!
you’re dairy free, gluten free, and meat free.
you go girl!
there are SO many people like you out there in food allergy communities I am a part of…just stay strong and keep on, keepin on!
Yum, everything looks delicious. Great idea with the Triscuits, I love simple but delicious recipes like this. And Skylar is adorable! :)
I used to LOVE triscuits – my favorite! I wish there was a gluten free triscuit… that tasted like a triscuit! :)
I am gluten free by choice, not diagnosis, because I feel better –> decreased “congestion” and the big one, inflammation (which means less joint pain for me!). I had some gummi bears the other day (they just looked SO good, my other favorite!) and I was SO achey the next day! boo :(
as far as meat, I still sometimes eat fish (I love a FRESH sushi). I first became a vegetarian at a very early age, and it was really just because the thought of what it is I am eating? grossed me out. that is still the main reason, although more and more it is also the ethics and treatment throughout the industry.
what made me happy today? a raise! (I increased the billing rate for a project – wee!). I also received a sweet email from an old friend – it was like a big hug.
“I wish there was a gluten free triscuit… that tasted like a triscuit! :)”–
I spent YEARS trying to find sometihng too…but there isn’t. Marys Crackers are not triscuits. Nor are any of the GF/specialty crackers on the market. Sigh.
I havent eaten fish in years but many times want to eat sushi…but don’t…not sure what I am doing on that front…
In college, I lived off of skim milk and lots of soy substitutes. (I was a “newbie” vegetarian, and loved the low calories in soy burgers!!) I literally went through a box of soy burgers and a gallon of skim milk every two days! And I thought I was so healthy.
Now, I know that I don’t feel my best on either of those things. I’ve cut out cow’s dairy almost completely, and much prefer the taste of almond milk now! And I avoid processed soy like the plague– my family has a huge history of thyroid issues, so I think it’s in my best interest to keep my body soy-free for the most part. I prefer my homemade veggie burgers now, anyway!
My day DID include a delicious chocolate cake for lunch– that I made with the NuNaturals stevia I won from you!!! Thanks! ;)
oh the choc cake with stevia…nice! glad you got your winnings :)
made me smile = I did a kick-butt Zumba class today, and then made dinner before I even made my lunch. Now dinner’s all ready to go when we’re hungry.
Thiose homemade Mary’s cracker look delicious. Skylar is a beauty and she looks just like you
thanks hon :)
Skylar is such a cutie! And those blue skies look amazing. It’s really hot, hazy, and humid here.
I don’t eat any animal products because of ethical reasons, and I try to avoid gluten because it makes me feel lethargic and bloaty.
My day’s been pretty average but tonight I’m painting pottery with my roommate to celebrate her finishing a class!
it makes me feel lethargic and bloaty too. i think for MOST ppl it does, if they are in touch w/ their bodies and watching for signs.
have fun tonite!
I don´t really use sugar, because it gives me a headache and I just don´t like it. Sounds weird, right? I love to bake, and I always use bananas and apple sauce, which is sweet enough for me. A little sugar here and there (like in chocolate chips) is fine, but I ate mango sorbet the other day and I felt horrible afterwards.
I made dinner tonight for the family (vegan, no gluten :D, although I am not allergic ;)) and they kept raving about it and helped themselved to second and third servings. This really made me smile :)
vegan and GF meals that the fam raves about = nice!
Well obviously sugar is no longer in my diet. I’m just super sensitive to it. This illuminates a lot of food by itself-any kind of dessert or processed product really. Then gluten and dairy both started giving my stomach massive pains…so they are gone. Which eliminates a lot of foods, too. But it really doesn’t bother me. I love to experiment and fine substitutes and replacements for recipes. My food illuminations have really opened my eyes to nutrition and cooking. I don’t think I ever would have fallen in love with it like I do now if I didn’t have the pain. (No pain no gain!) So really, my food sensitivities are a blessing :D
“I don’t think I ever would have fallen in love with it like I do now if I didn’t have the pain. (No pain no gain!) So really, my food sensitivities are a blessing :D”
I totally agree!
I would never have become the cook I am today had it not been for food all’s. A blessing in disguise in many ways!
I know we’ve discussed before – I used to LOVE triscuits and M&Ms. That salty/sweet combo is just so good. I was never a napper when I was a kid (still not now either)
There are a few foods I can’t include right now because I’m pregnant, but other than that all food is fair game. I guess I’m lucky as it seems so many people have trouble with gluten, dairy, etc.
We escaped some of the horrible heat in the pool today, which made me smile. :-)
Glad you enjoyed your snack, especially when you cant eat it in a long time! You can still eat the caramel-sauce though :D And it looks drink-able!
I became vegetarian when I was 12, simply because I felt sorry for the animals. I didnt care about my health! Then I became vegan when I was 18. This was both because i felt (and still do) it was the right thing to do (for animals, the earth and my own health), but sadly also because it made it easier for me to restrict my eating.
Now, I still am vegan, and I hope I will be for the rest of my life! I have a lot of food issues that I want to work out, but it has nothing to do with my vegan diet!
1. While I loathe labels, I am vegan for just about every reason there is to be vegan. And I completely agree with you on witnessing dead/slaughtered animals – it is absolutely horrifying and even if all my other reasons for being vegan suddenly didn’t matter anymore (which would never happen), I could never get those images out of my mind. I love eating a plant based diet and feel great doing so.
2. doing a little online shopping and spending time with family and close friends definitely made me smile today :-)