The market is full of gluten-free cereals these days.  This is a blessing for those of us having to follow a gluten-free diet.  I remember the days when there were very few options.  While some of those options were tasty, they got tiring.  It is nice to change things up every once in a while. 

(source)

Erewhon (now part of Attune) has a nice variety of gluten-free cereals that appeal to both kids & adults. 

• Crispy Brown Rice
• Crispy Brown Rice with Berries
• Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice
• Rice Twice
• Corn Flakes
• Strawberry Crisp

All of the Erewhon gluten-free cereals are certified gluten-free.  I was able to sample the Crispy Brown Rice, Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice and Crispy Brown Rice with Berries recently.  They are all very good, but I think that the Crispy Brown Rice with Berries is my favorite.  I added it to a bowl with Chobani Black Cherry Greek yogurt.  The cereal added a great texture to the yogurt and rounded the bowl out for a filling breakfast.  They even made a crackling sound when combined with the yogurt!  The Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice are a nice treat sprinkled on top of yogurt or used to make Rice Krispies treats.  The plain Crispy Brown Rice can be used for breading chicken or fish to make chicken nuggets or fish sticks.  Just crush them and treat as bread crumbs. 

Erewhon cereals can be purchased in many mainstream grocery stores across the US or online.  In addition to the Erewhon cereal, Attune also offers gluten-free chocolate probiotic bars.  Please note that Erewhon also makes cereal that is not gluten-free, so please make sure the product you are purchasing says “gluten-free” on the box. 

Have you tried any of the Erewhon cereals?  What did you think?  Do you have a favorite?

***The products reviewed in this post were provided to me free of charge.  The opinions stated here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Just wanted to take this moment to welcome my brand new nephew, Garrett James!  Born 8/16/2011 at 8:35 PM weighing in at 5 pounds 2 ounces.  Congrats to my sister and BIL, Kelly and Greg, and big brother, Noah! 

Aunt Kiki can’t wait to meet you!!

Well, if that doesn’t make me want a baby…..

We have a really cool state liquor store right up the street.  I like to go in there and browse the wine selection and will occasionally pick up beer for Aaron there.  A couple of years back they were just starting to carry Redbridge.  Things have sure come a long way – now they are carrying Green’s and Estrella Damm Daura.  I found Green’s Tripel Blonde Ale the last time I was in and couldn’t wait to try it. 

 

The bottle is rather large, so if you don’t have someone to split it with, make sure you are ready to drink 16.9 oz of beer.  Aside from the fact that I loved the taste of this beer, I love that we have so many choices now.  I don’t feel limited at all on the gluten-free diet now.  When I first began the diet in 2006, I felt very limited and even bitter at times.  Not only do we have options now, but we have good options.   Not just a product to make us feel like we are not missing out, but a product that we are happy and proud to choose!  More about Green’s:

Green’s Beers have been brewed in Lochristi, Belgium at the highly-respected DeProef Brewery since 2004. Inspired by strong European beers and developed to a closely guarded secret recipe, these specialty beers are brewed with a full body, crisp taste and a refreshing flavor, losing none of the taste but all of the allergens. Green’s Beers are suitable for both Vegetarian and Vegan diets. They have a full five-year shelf life due to bottle-conditioning with an authentic Belgian yeast.

Green’s Beers DO NOT contain any of the following allergens or products thereof: Gluten, Crustaceans, Eggs, Fish, Peanuts, Soybeans, Milk, Lactose, Nuts, Celery, Mustard, Sesame seeds, Sulfur dioxide nor Sulfites.

If your local store isn’t carrying Green’s, consider asking them to carry it.  The worst that can happen is they say “no”.  To find out if Green’s is sold near you, click here. 

This post brings me to a very important message: Don’t ever be afraid to ask for what you want.  This goes for everything in life, not just in following the gluten-free diet.  If you sit around waiting for things to happen or fall into your lap, sure, you might get lucky and have said thing happen.  But, you might not.  I used to be afraid to ask for what I want – afraid to make things happen for me – not anymore.  You have to be speak up, be vocal, be heard.  Be courteous & respectful and you are much more likely to get what you are asking for.   You still may not get what you what, but you can’t say that you didn’t try. 

Ten days.  Do you know what happens in 10 days?  The kidlets go back to school.  This week will be filled with orthodontist appointments, schedule pick-ups, teacher assignments & such.  It also means that sleep schedules need to get back on track.  Pssst….Jon, this means you!  School supplies have already been purchased for Hannah.  The PTO at her school offers a package deal for $25 – you send a check in before school ends the previous year & the supplies are delivered to the classroom – ready & waiting!  Best. Investment.Ever.  I just wish they did this for high school.  I don’t look forward to the days ahead that will included running from store to store looking for the right color & width dry erase markers.  

Jon has taken a liking to Jell-O Pudding.  He loves to make it himself (YES!) and it isn’t nearly as unhealthy as the chips that he wants to eat all of the time.  Now, if we can just get him to make the rest of his meals.  Baby steps, right?  Oh, he also did his own laundry this week!  Progress!

Goal this week: Not eating more than 1 meal out.  Lately my meal plan has been in the toilet and I have been grabbing dinner out.  This needs to stop.  Not only is it expensive, but I have food at home, I have just been too lazy to cook it.  I think the key is prep.  If I prep what I can on Sunday & Monday, the rest of the week should be easier when I am tired. 

Sunday – Rotisserie chicken, baked sweet potato, steamed broccoli & salad

Monday -  Spaghetti with marinara sauce, steamed green beans & salad

Tuesday – Turkey tacos, corn, refried black beans & salad

Wednesday – Bourbon Chicken, brown rice, broccoli & salad

Thursday – Leftovers or breakfast for dinner

Friday – MYOP and salad

Saturday- Take-out

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This is the last call for the winner of the GF Bisquick – Please email me so I can send out your mix!   

The winner is….

• 34 Cybele Owen "Like"Gluten-Free-Is-Life on Facebook

Congrats Cybele! Please email me at Kim@glutenfreeislife.com

Have a great week!

 

Kim

After I sampled & reviewed Glutino’s new Genius bread in July, I received another loaf & letter from the company asking me to give it another try.  The sample they sent this time came from an ‘improved’ batch of bread.  Okay, I am game.  The bread was shipped frozen and had thawed by the time I had received it.  The letter that came along with the package recommended eating within one week for ‘optimal sampling’.

I left the bread on the counter (we run the A/C) overnight and made a sandwich to take the to pool that day.  I did not toast the bread for this sandwich, I just added deli turkey, cheese, mixed greens and spicy mustard.  The bread seemed more substantial than the previous loaf did, so I had high hopes.  The sandwich survived the cooler & trip to the pool.

I was impressed with the difference in this sandwich.  The bread held up much better and wasn’t nearly as dry.  The crusts were still dry and I ended up not eating part of them.  The bread was a little crumbly, but not nearly as bad as the first loaf.  The taste is really good, so it made for a nice sandwich paired with turkey & cheese.

Next up, toast.  I toasted the bread in my toaster oven & spread Earth Balance’s new coconut spread on top and was in heaven.  The bread held up very well, tasted great and is my preferred way to eat this bread.

All in all, this product was better than the first loaf that I received.  I went ahead & put the loaf in the refrigerator for storage so that it would last longer.

Genius bread can be purchased right now on glutenfree.com for $3.99/loaf!

I have been trying to incorporate more cross training into my half marathon training to help keep old (and new) injuries at bay.  One of my new loves is yoga.  Yes, I have done yoga at home, but never in a class setting before last week.  I am loving it!!  So, when I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing Bethenny’s Skinnygirl workout, I agreed because I knew that her previous workout (Body By Bethenny) was mainly yoga with some strength training mixed in.  I had done that workout a few times on Exercise TV and really liked it. If you’d like to start yoga too and need some gear, you can use this FootLocker promotional code to help you save!

Bethenny’s new DVD will debut on September 12, 2011 exclusively at Target and Target.com (SRP: $16.99).

More about the new DVD:

Three easy-to-follow yoga workouts, plus recipes from the Skinnygirl Dish and bonus stretch

 

SILVER SPRING, Md – Following the success of Body by Bethenny, celebrated author and reality TV star Bethenny Frankel returns with Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Workout,debuting on DVD from Acacia on Monday, September 12, 2011 exclusively at Target and on Target.com (SRP: $16.99). Bethenny is the star of Bethenny Getting Married? (the most-watched series premiere in Bravo’s history), and New York Times bestselling author of Naturally Thin, The Skinnygirl Dish, and A Place of Yes. Since people always ask Bethenny how she stays in shape, she created Body by Bethenny last year, and this creative-based follow-up features three yoga workouts (two 15-minute, one 20-minute) with instructor Mike McArdle.

 

As Bethenny says, “Life gets hectic—some days I have 30 minutes to work out, other days I have 45, and sometimes I only have 15. That’s why I designed the Skinnygirl Workout with three quick yoga segments that tone the entire body. You can squeeze in a segment every day, or do a couple several times a week—the most important thing is that you enjoy it.

 

I don’t believe in expensive trainers. I don’t believe in people yelling at you. I believe in realistic, sustainable fitness plans. This practice will leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and toned. Whether you’re a first timer or an experienced yogi, this is your workout—for every day or any day.

 

Welcome to the Skinnygirl Workout. Make it your own, be consistent, and have fun!”

 

Special Features: Bonus stretching segment (12 min.) and a recipe booklet from Bethenny’s Skinnygirl Dish.

 

Popular New York City instructor Mike McArdle has been teaching yoga for more than a dozen years. He is certified in Bikram yoga and Pilates and has also trained in vinyasa and power yoga. Bethenny has known Mike for several years, and he’s one of her favorite teachers because of his creative style and fun, flowing classes.

The other night I decided to give the yoga DVD a try .  I got out my purple yoga mat & instructed the kids to leave me in peace for 30 minutes (we all know that didn’t happen – it was like a free pass to come bug mom).  The workout started much like many yoga classes do, by warming up.  I was following along nicely and then all of a sudden things got complicated.  LOL!  I guess I didn’t appreciate that Mike wasn’t giving a lot of instruction on the poses in the beginning because I knew how to do them.  Once we entered territory that was unfamiliar to me, I got lost.  Not only lost, but upside-down down dog?!?  While I realize that this may not be an issue for those who have been practicing for years, it was for me.  LOL!  I modified and did what I could do and caught back up and completed the workout.

While I think that this is a good workout, I believe there needs to be some mention that this isn’t necessarily for beginners.  That, or possibly a section on the DVD with a more in-depth explanation of the advanced poses.  I realize that these are shorter workouts aimed at those with limited time, so that is why the ‘bonus’ section with step-by-step instructions would be a great idea.

Have you tried Body by Bethenny?  Is this new workout something that would appeal to you?  I would love to get to the point with my yoga where I could flawlessly move from pose-to-pose without cursing the instructor.    Perhaps my continued participation in classes at my gym can help me progress to that point.

 

**I received this DVD free of charge for review purposes.  The opinions stated on this blog are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

I am thrilled to be able to share with you an amazing offer to help get you & your gluten-free child(ren) ready for the upcoming school year.  Jules Gluten Free has put together an e-book with all kinds of useful tips (all ages, including college), lunch box suggestions, recipes and more.  For a limited time, you can get this e-book for FREE (normal price is $9.95).

Read below for more information:

Jules’ Back-to-School E-Book
If this is your first school year with a gluten-free student, this book is indispensable. Jules offers advice on how and when to talk to teachers, handling special occasions, creative and simple lunchbox ideas for mains, desserts and snack time; and college tips regarding roommates, dining hall issues, meeting gluten-free friends and more.

How do you get the e-book?  Simple.  Just follow the instructions:

To redeem this fabulous e-book, simply visit www.JulesGlutenFree.com.
Go to the Product page.
Click on the Back-to-School E-book and Add to your Shopping Cart.
(To go directly to the e-book, click here:  http://www.julesglutenfree.com/product-p/book-bts.htm)
At check out, use this coupon code:  2011BTSebook (case sensitive).  Hit Apply.
The value of this item will drop to $0.00.
Purchase and process the order.
An e-mail will be sent to you allowing you to download the e-book.
For questions, feel free to contact support@julesglutenfree.com.

This offer won’t last long – only until August 26, 2011, so make sure to take advantage of it while you can.  I just downloaded mine and browsed through it.  I have never made gluten-free flour tortillas, but I can’t wait to try the recipe that is included in this book!! 

If you would like to learn more about Jules and Jules Gluten Free Flour, read her guest post from earlier this year. 

Do you have a gluten-free child(ren)?  What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome regarding school?

As children grow, they become more independent.  This is our goal as parents, to teach our children the things they need to know about life to live independently,  happily & successfully.  If it was only that easy, right?

Every parent has their challenges with their child(ren).  Some of those challenges are more stressful than others.  Having a child that requires a special diet requires a lot of planning & control on the part of the parent(s).  As the child grows older & matures, some of this planning & control begins to transfer over to the child/teen.  Every family is different and may begin this phase at a different stage.  Some kids aren’t ready to take on the added responsibilities, while others run with it.

Then comes compliance.  Following said diet.  It is one thing to accidentally ingest gluten, it is another to purposefully ingest it.  Kids are not the only ones who may not comply with the gluten-free diet; I have read of many adults not complying as well.  I don’t understand, but then again, gluten makes me really sick.  However, knowing what I do know about Celiac Disease and the effects of gluten on my body, I don’t ever see myself eating gluten intentionally.

While the reaction may not be immediate, there are long-term effects that must be considered.  For those with Celiac Disease that either hasn’t been diagnosed or choose to ignore the diagnosis, they continue to damage their body. The villi (finger-like projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients) are damaged when the body mounts a defense against the gluten (which it can’t digest in people with Celiac Disease). If those villi are damaged or non-existent, they can’t properly absorb nutrients. The person can become malnourished, vitamin deficient, etc. Additionally, untreated, this can lead to a host of complications down the road, which can include cancer.

Teens often only see today, what is right in front of them.  They don’t see down the road.  I know that is how I was as a teenager/young adult.  I try to remember that as I parent my kids, while helping to guide them try to understand that the choices they make today can and will impact their future.

Sometimes, despite all the guidance, they make bad choices.  Jon made one of those the other day by eating a Pop Tart.  When he first told me about it, he prefaced it by telling me that I was going to be mad.  I told him that while I might be mad, I still wanted to hear what he had to say.  It took a while to register what he said.  At first I was mad, but that quickly changed to disappointment & concern.  I asked him why he ate it and he said that a friend had dared him to eat it.  I know that they are just teen boys and this is what they do, but that doesn’t change the fact that if this were to become a habit – eating gluten regularly – it could have some serious repercussions down the road.  Interestingly enough, he did not seem to have any ill effects, which didn’t help my case about why he had made a bad choice.  I guess I should be thankful that they weren’t experimenting with drugs or alcohol, that it was just a Pop Tart.

After I was able to collect my thoughts about all of this, I chatted a bit with Jon.  He has told me that he doesn’t believe he has Celiac and wants to be retested.  He went on to say that once he turns 18 he is not going to follow the diet and he will eat whatever he wants.  He is due for a GI follow-up, so maybe she can help him understand the importance of adhering to the diet.

While his compliance concerns me, I can only do so much.  I can educate him the best that I can and continue to support him until he turns 18.  I have to come to accept that there is a point where I will have to let go of the reins.

I know, I am goofy.  We aren’t having chicken for dinner, so I thought the title was appropriate.  Thanks to all who entered the Gluten-Free Bisquick* Giveaway! 

The winner is….

• 34 Cybele Owen "Like" Gluten-Free-Is-Life on Facebook

Congrats Cybele!  Please email me at Kim@glutenfreeislife.com

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I am now off to do some yoga with Bethenny’s Skinnygirl workout.  Review to come soon! 

 

*GF Bisquick was provided to me free of charge by Gluten Freely.

Today is about recovery.  Not just recovery from my long run yesterday, which really wasn’t long compared to last week, but still.  Sunday is recovery day.  I am also recovering from Hannah’s birthday and a tad too much wine last night.  Will I ever learn? 

In addition to trying to sleep in, which was an epic fail (I love that phrase, so I had to fit it in somewhere), I put yoga on the schedule for today and committed to nothing else.  Yeah, I would grocery shop, but no pool, no shopping, etc.  Sleeping in lasted until about 7 AM.  What am I, 75?  I feel like my grandparents getting up at the crack of dawn when I don’t have to be up for anything.  I meandered out of bed and to my coffee pot to make the coveted nectar of the gods.  Hannah presented me with my chores for the day.  What, she turns 9 yesterday and now she is in charge of delegating the chores? 

I love that Aaron has to build a deck today, Jon has “stuff” to do and Hannah has “no chores”.  LOL!  At least she put yoga & blog on my list along with shopping for her at Justice. 

I did shop online today thanks to my Ebates email.  Yes, I am a sucker, but this sucker saved some money and is getting money back. 

The day ended with a 75 minute yoga class, Chipotle and a glass of red wine.  I do have a message for Chipotle – please add plain avocados to your menu.  Those of us who can’t eat onions, but love avocados, can’t eat the guacamole and that makes me sad.  I do love that they have great gluten-free options and are usually very careful if you get the manager involved in your order. 

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Menu plan for this week is thrown together – lack of energy & motivation on my part.  I sure hope I win Shirley’s (Gluten-free Easily) giveaway of Stephanie O’Dea’s book on organization.

Sunday – Chipotle – spur of the moment after yoga class

Monday – Pasta with roasted grape tomatoes, chickpeas, goat cheese and fresh basil and salad

Tuesday – Tacos or Mexican pizza, black beans and salad

Wednesday – BBQ pork tenderloin, baked sweet potatoes, corn on the cob & salad

Thursday – Breakfast for dinner

Friday – MYOP (pizza) and salad

Saturday – Hannah’s sleepover – don’t ask me what I have done – I just know that I will be having a lot of coffee

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Don’t forget to enter the GF Bisquick giveaway – it ends tonight at midnight!