I know you have heard a lot about gluten-free and may not know exactly what it is so I have decided to define it for you as well as show you some products that look delish and are gluten free to boot! Maybe you will decide to rid yourself of gluten as well.
I have tried many a gluten free product some good, some awful, and some great. It really is a taste preference. I am sure if you are strict about your gluten you would get used to even the worst tasting of product. Here is Wikipedia’s definition of gluten-free: A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes foods containing gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat (including kamut and spelt), barley, rye, malts and triticale. It is used as a food additive in the form of a flavoring, stabilizing or thickening agent, often as “dextrin”. A gluten-free diet is the only medically accepted treatment for celiac disease, the related condition dermatitis herpetiformis,and wheat allergy.

I went on a little search for some yummy looking gluten-free items so here they are:

Gluten-Free Snack Kit

Glutino Gluten Free Snack Kit is a perfect way to start off your gluten free diet. All of your major sweet cravings are included so you nothing is left out. I think I am going to get this one for myself it looks that good.

Risotto Alfredo

Lundberg Organic Risotto Alfredo is making my mouth water right now! It may just be the Italian in me but when you say Alfredo I drool.

Chocolate Banana Gluten Free Bars

Glutino Chocolate & Banana Organic Barsis maybe not a flavor everyone enjoys but it is one of my absolute favorites. Banana and chocolate make the world a better place.

Organic Gummy Bears

Let’s Do Organic Gummi Bears Classic are organic and gluten-free! Can you say yummo!! I know the gummy bears are mentioned above but it doesn’t hurt to mention them again.

Baked Salt & Vinegar Kale Chips

Kale is actually one of my fave leafy greens. I am not sure why but I think it has to do with the fact that I can throw a bunch into a boiling pot of water and then just snack away. It goes well with other veggie mixtures and stirfrys. I don’t think it has any particular taste but either way I am down with it. In an effort to creatively snack I decided to attempt some homemade kale chips since they are all the rage. They came out super delish I must say!

Ingredients:
1 bunch organic kale
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp seasoned sea salt
1 tbs organic white balsamic vinegar
1 plastic freezer bag

Directions:
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces.
3. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner or paper towel. 4. Put kale pieces in a large Ziploc bag and add half of the oil first. Massage the kale gently to make sure the leaves are covered then add the rest of the oil.
5. Add the vinegar and sea salt. Massage the leaves gently until they are covered with the mixture.
6.Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 15 to 25 minutes or until desired crispiness.

I am such a fan of squash and am always looking for new recipes for it! I eat some kind of squash at least once a week. I stumbled upon this recipe when looking for low calorie meals last night and it sounds super yum! Stuffed acorn squash sounds like it is going to be my new fave dish.

Ingredients

1 medium organic acorn squash, halved  and seeded
1/2 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon organic extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 teaspoon sea-salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground organic pepper, divided
1/4 cup chopped organic onion
1 clove organic garlic, minced
1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons organic tomato paste
4 cups chopped organic  chard leaves (about 1/2 large bunch chard)
3/4 cup canned organic white beans, rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped kalamata olives
3 tablespoons coarse dry organic whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note)
3 tablespoons grated organic Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1.Cut a small slice off the bottom of each squash half so it rests flat. Brush the insides with 1/2 teaspoon oil; sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place in 8×8 inch dish.  Preheat oven at 450 degrees. 

2. Bake squash until fork tender about 20-30 minutes.

3. .Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add garlic; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

5. Stir in water, tomato paste and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

6. Stir in chard, cover and cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

7.Stir in white beans and olives; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat.

8.Once squash is done baking position rack in center of oven; preheat broiler.

9.Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a bowl.

10.Fill each squash half with about 1 cup of the chard mixture. Place in a baking pan or on a baking sheet.

11. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture.

12.Broil in the center of the oven until the breadcrumbs are browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Homeopathic Weight Loss Formula

As a part of my New Years resolution I of course said I need to get into better shape. I have started my diet and work out routine but I decided to see if there was anything out there to help give me a jump start. I used
Botanic Choice for all of my vitamins so I started to look there first. Weight Loss pills make me nervous and I never know what is really in them.
Botanic Choicelisted all of the ingredients and what they were used for. I always appreciate the breakdown of words and ingredients when I am putting something in my body. It gives you a sense of secuirty. I also like how
Homeopathic Weight Loss Formula also says best if used in conjunction with exercise and a low calorie diet. No myths about magical pills that will just get rid of the weight for you, you must make an effort.
I have been using them for about a month now and so far in conjunction with my diet they seem to be working. I have lost weight and already fit into at least one pair of pants that were too small for me just a few months ago. I am going to keep on with this routine and hopefully before summer I will be back in better shape for all of the new bathing suits I must have!

Use Web Code BEAUTY & get 30% off any order, PLUS Free Vitamins for Hair & Vitamin C Cream ($30.98 value). Expires 2/28/2011

Look and feel your best as you lose unwanted pounds. This safe, effective natural weight loss supplement is made from essential herbs providing your body with energy to help you achieve your goal.

INGREDIENTS:

•Betula alba – Common name: white birch. Encourages digestion and has diuretic properties.
•Cimicifuga racemosa – Common name: black cohosh, black snakeroot. Native to New England, this ingredient is frequently used for female hormonal issues.
•Crataegus oxycantha – Common name: hawthorn, white thorn, may thorn. This agent offers diuretic properties. Practitioners of homeopathy use the whole berry dried or crushed.
•Equisetum hyemale – Common name: horsetail, scouring rush. Most closely related to the fern family, equisetum hyemale offers cleansing.
•Rhamnus frangula – Common name: buckthorn, alder buckthorn. The bark is used for its digestive cleansing ability.
•Solidago virgaurea – Common name: goldenrod. Cleanses.
•Adonis vernalis – Common name: pheasants’ eye. Named after the unfortunate Adonis, of Greek mythology, from whose blood this plant sprouted. It promotes digestion.
•Apocynum androsaemifolium – Common name: spreading dogbane, bitter-root. From North America, this active aids digestion.
•Chelidonium majus – Common name: greater celandine, calandine. Found by old buildings and walls or forming hedges, this ingredient was used as a drug in the Middle Ages. Today, herbalists use it for digestive cleansing.
•Lycopodium clavatum – Common name: clubmoss, running pine, veg. sulfur. The part used is the spores of new plants. Has diuretic properties.
•Scilla maritima – Common name: squill. This plant originates from the sands of the Mediterranean. It energizes.

Botanic Choice’s Homeopathic Formula’s are made from ultra-high quality, all-natural ingredients that help your body help itself. Each remedy is safe and effective. Product components are officially monographed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States. Best when used in conjunction with a reduced calorie and exercise plan.

On my never ending mission to be in shape I find and read many health articles and blogs. I think it is interesting the differing sciences that can figure out how each body works and preform at its best. There are so many schools of thought and everyone seems to think they have the best plan. It’s difficult for me to know who is the “right one”. I prefer articles that gear it’s help with the use of science. After reading a few articles on what foods help keep your weight loss efforts in line I tried to get them all into one list using all of the information I read but “trimmed the fat” a bit.

1. Replace carbohydrates from sugar and refined grains with “good carbs” from fruits and vegetables. Orang-hued foods were found to be the most effective substitutes. Being that fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, they keep you full longer, high levels of antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene fend off the fat. You can get a good amount of beta-carotene from carrots, cantaloupe, squash and peaches.

2.About 25 percent of your daily calories should come from protein, but you should choose lean sources like poultry, fish, low-fat yogurt, and fat-free milk to keep your calories down. Protein helps to you boost your energy, aiding in calorie burning.

3.
Selenium can lower rates of abdominal obesity. Several foods contain selenium, so it’s difficult to know if you’re getting the recommended 55mcg per day. The best sources are nuts, whole grains, poultry and seafood. Foods rich in vitamin E, like nuts and seeds, will increase the effectiveness of selenium in the body. Natural Raw Organic Cashews

4.    Several studies suggest that alcohol is fine in small amounts, protects against weight gain. Data reviewed have suggested one 4-ounce glass of wine as the best bet. While one glass has great health benefits, having more is just going to add inches to your waistline.

5.

Eating good fats like monounsaturated and omega-3s make it easier to stay slim, these fats are found in fish, nuts, olive oil, & avocados examples of bad fats, like saturated and trans are found in butter, shortening, pre-packaged cakes and cookies.

Stony Brook University Medical Center presents “Food, Inc.” Dietician Suzette Smookler returns with more great FREE nutritional information. She will show the documentary “Food, Inc.” and open the floor for questions and discussion.

This is a great way for parents to get FREE Nutrition Knowledge!!!

We hope you can join us on Feb 9th at 7:00pm at City on a Hill Community Church (Connected to Middle Island Caring for Kids). Please RSVP to church office at 631-924-8617 if you plan on attending.

Thank you!
See More
Food, INC.
Time:7:00PM Tuesday, February 9th
Location:615 Middle Country Rd, Middle Island, NY 11953

Coconut Oil/Butter, 24oz, Sunfood Nutrition (raw, certified organic)

The medium-chain saturated fats in Coconut Oil are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet and daily skin care. Sunfood Nutrition’s Coconut Oil is made from certified organic coconuts grown in the Philippines. Coconut Oil/Butter consists over 90% raw saturated fats. They are a rare and important building block of every cell in the human body. Unlike long-chain saturated animal fats ,which have been attributed to creating poor health, Coconut Oil contains healthy, healing, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs support the immune system, the thyroid gland, nervous system, skin, and provide energy. The MCTs in Coconut Oil help increase metabolism promoting weight loss. MCTs are also known to have antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties. For this reason, Coconut Oil/Butter is one of the best dietary fat sources for an individual to ingest.

A Place of Our Own

Keeping your children and family healthy isn’t always so easy with all of our busy schedules. Going that extra mile to not serve all healthy meals all the time and keep everyone active isn’t always at the forefront of our schedules but the more our families know about healthy living can help us all make the right choices. If your children learn healthy habits young it is much easier to keep those habits through adult hood. Being healthy and staying healthy is much easier than it used to be. Health is something everyone seems to be interested in so why not cement the healthy living cycle by keeping everyone in the house in the know?

Product Description:
A Place of Our Own: Health and Nutrition DVD’s host Debi Gutierrez holds interesting discussions about health and nutrition with parents, caregivers and child care experts. The topics discussed are exercise, proper eating habits, avoiding obesity, sleep, diabetes, asthma and much more. A PLACE OF OUR OWN also includes 9 exciting activities you can do at home with your children to help them get them interested in health and nutrition. The earlier children learn about nutrition the easier it is for them to make the right choices for healthy living as they get older.