A Happy Parent is a HEALTHY Parent!

While this isn't a parenting website, it IS about being healthy and happy.  When my kids behave, I feel HEALTHIER and HAPPIER!!

Remember my post about a parenting webinar?  Since it also included some great parenting books, here is the link: FREE HELP WITH PARENTING!  Amy McCready of Positive Parenting Solutions presented, and it was hosted by the amazing 100 Days of Real Food.  I hope some of you took the opportunity to watch and participate!

While there are certainly other factors involved (more sleep on my part for example), my kids have been behaving beautifully!  Amy McCready had a lot of advice, and more than that, she discussed the WHYS of children's misbehavior.  Everything is based on Adlerian Psychology.

In this post, I'll simply discuss the CAUSE of children's behavior AND one SOLUTION (Positive Parenting Solutions has many).

The cause is simple, and consistent!  The cause of ALL misbehavior is a child's need for BELONGING and SIGNIFICANCE.  Amy says that if a child misbehaves, you should imagine that he or she has a BIG SIGN on his or her chest that says "I want to belong and feel significant, but I don't know how!"

She says this is the root of every tantrum, argument between siblings, and other misbehavior.

Amy's first SOLUTION is called "Mind, Body, and Soul" Time.  The prescription is 10 minutes per session, 2 sessions per day, per child.  There are only a few stipulations:

a) you must spend the time one-on-one with each child

b) you need to give this child your complete attention, be "emotionally available", available to them in "mind, body, and soul"

c) do whatever they want - play, color, walk, build, talk,...

d) label the time as your "special time" for example, with a start and finish

In my ways of moderation, I would say you could try to do this for one session a day, or even in moments whenever you can, or once a week!  The MORE the BETTER, but the main idea is that giving your kids simple ONE-ON-ONE time gives them the sense of belonging and significance that they NEED, and CRAVE.

If you give them that, your payback will be GREAT!  You won't believe the CHANGES!

I've only just learned specifically about this "MIND, BODY, AND SOUL" TOOL this afternoon as I was completing "Session 1" offered for a free trial at this link: VIDEOS, ARTICLES, AND OTHER INTERACTIVES FREE for 14-DAYS.

The positive changes in my kids I think have been happening gradually, and in some ways immediately, after participating in the webinar last month.

Currently, she is offering a FREE ON-DEMAND WEBINAR (I think like the one I watched, but probably without live Q&A), so you can hear first hand all of her well spoken explanations.

Even if it's been a while, I bet she is offering another webinar -- so still check it out if you're interested!

I'll end with a quick quote from Amy that may entice you:

"We’ll talk a lot about behavior in the course – good and bad.  We’ll teach you how to get more of the positive behaviors you want – cooperation, listening the first time, independence, sibling harmony, self-sufficiency and more.  And – we’ll teach you how to get less of the annoying, frustrating, maddening behaviors you don’t want!"

COMMENTS: Do you get sick of repeating?  What helpful techniques and tricks have you found that work?

Awesome Website -- 100 Days of Real Food!

Tonight I simply want to share a SUPER website!  Have you ever considered eating healthier?  Since you're reading www.fresh-you.com, I know the answer!  100 Days of Real Food is a fabulous resource!

It is strongly based on the works of Michael Pollan:

And mainly, as far as I know, the website is specifically based on Food Rules and In Defense of Food.  Food Rules, by the way, is awesome!  Talk about concise -- there are, I think, 64 rules, each with a page or so explanation, and that’s it!  Good rules too!  If you began following just ONE of these rules, you would be doing yourself and your health SO much good!

Here are just a few examples from Food Rules:

• Don’t eat foods your grandmother wouldn’t recognize as a food -- like packaged products, such as Twinkies.
• Don’t eat foods with ingredients a 5th grader couldn’t pronounce -- avoiding nasty chemical preservatives so common in many foods today.
• Don’t eat anything with a face -- avoid animal products...this is can be a healthy option :)

100 Days of Real Food therefore focuses on WHOLE foods and eliminating processed foods from one's diet.  Both excellent choices for your health!

There are many tips and tricks, recipes and more available on the website!

They also offer a 10-day pledge which might be just the thing you need to jump start your way to a healthier you!  10-Day Pledge

Lisa Leake, the author, is a mom, so a lot of the suggestions and tips are kid-friendly.  This is an example of just one of the website's tabs!  Real Food Tips

The comments in her posts are also rich in quality as there is a large community that reads and participates in 100 Days of Real Food!

I was thrilled in January when I saw that this awesome website recommended www.fresh-you.com as a “REAL-FOOD BLOG”!  SO COOL!!  At the time, I wasn’t familiar with the website, and now I am a regular visitor/reader/lover of the site!  THIS list alone is a GREAT resource:

It’s been a pleasure to help more and more people (many who came from 100 Days of Real Food) become more and more healthy and happy!  Every time you “like” a picture, post, recipe, or other information that you enjoy from www.fresh-you.com, you help someone else discover my website!  That means I can make someone else healthier and happier, and that is what I really want to do!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! ...Thank you TOO to the angel who recommended my website to 100 Days of Real Food!

COMMENTS: Which other healthy living blogs do you love?  Please SHARE, so we can all enjoy them too!

Natural Nut Butters are Neat-O!

So what is the big deal about nut butters?

Well, look at it this way, if you make the SWITCH from traditional Jiffy, Skippy, or Peter Pan, you convert your spread from the equivalent of YOUR FAVORITE CANDY BAR to an oh so healthy HANDFUL OF NUTS!!!

That's a pretty BIG DIFFERENCE and SURPRISE to many, but it's true!

It is one change that can really improve your diet!

Here are some benefits of of natural peanut butter!

Have you found any NATURAL nut butters that you love?

There are lots of great ALMOND butter brands (Marathona at Costco), another varieties include sunflower butter, cashew butter, and Tahini (sesame seed butter ... I mostly use this for HUMMUS).  Click HERE for a basic and delicious HUMMUS recipe!

They are SO beneficial!  You can have all the benefits of a HEALTHY fat with none of the sneaky (AND ALWAYS THERE) added SUGAR and no HYDROGENATED OILS (trans fats).

 Just start with NATURAL PEANUT BUTTER!

If you can find a product that you love, you can have a super-nutritious food on hand all the time!

They usually require stirring -- try flipping the jar up-side-down a few days before you open it, and you will send a lot of the oil to the bottom!

Costco has a great product with a RED lid, that USED to even be ORGANIC, but with the peanut shortage, the jar size has increased and conventional (non-organic) peanuts are currently used.

Heinen's, as well as farmer's markets (particularly Sirina's at Crocker Park in Westlake), and Whole Foods, all make delicious peanut butters in their stores!

Marc's carries a brand called, ...I think Joey's, which is pretty good, and for a decent value.

RECIPES to try:

Healthy Friendly's Peanut Butter Cup Sundae

4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Eggs

Hearty Oatmeal  (great with or without cocoa!)

• Peanut butter scoop -- on it's own!
• A big scoop with an apple, biting some of each with each bite, or dipping apple slices
• OR you can scoop the core out of an apple, and then fill it in with peanut butter!

• Peanut Butter on Whole Wheat Toast

Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

• Peanut Butter and Banana Mini-Sandwiches (two banana slices and PB in the middle, served with a toothpick!)
• Ants on a Log (celery slices topped with PB, and raisins for ants!)
• Peanut Butter Roll (whole wheat tortilla or Flatout flat bread spreaded with PB and rolled up, warm in microwave for 10 sec, or serve cold)
• Pasta with a Peanut Sauce (coming soon!)

Happy snacking!

COMMENTS: How do you like to eat your peanut butter?

Silicone Makes Me Smile: Top 5 Reasons Silicone Bakeware is Super!

1. Easy to clean (especially when there aren't a lot of little cracks, the smoother the better!)

2. Impossible to burn (nearly!, may be used in up to 450 degrees)

3. SO versatile!  From baking to freezing! ...to crayon making!

4. Cools very quickly

5. Available in so many awesome SHAPES, from hearts to snowflakes!  Also, wide variety of pans -- bread, bunt, brownie, cake, cookie sheet (awesome!!!), and all the many cupcake options!

See for yourself...

MUFFINS!  Below are Pumpkin Muffins (recipe coming one of these days!)
Today, you can try Chocolate RASPBERRY Kiss Muffins!

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FUDGE! For Chocolate PEANUT BUTTER Fudge click HERE!

COOKIES!  Try these CRANBERRY COOKIES or 4-INGREDIENT Peanut Butter Cookies

 

Even ICE CREAM!
Cafe Mocha Ice Cream recipe COMING soon!  This one is Mint Chocolate Chip!




Just wanted to throw this one in (actually made of rubber...)
It's a  STRAP WRENCH -- a plumber's tool, awesome for opening jars,
anything you have trouble opening!

Silicone OVEN MITTS are also great -- NOTE: you sort of have to use them fast,
sometimes the heat comes through after a while.

FREEZING fudge, pureed fruit, diced herbs, pesto, and who knows what else!
Here is a link to CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE!

These "POACHING pods" are awesome!  No more mess!
 Check out THIS POST for a quick video!

And a FUN NON-FOOD use -- crayon making!!
HERE is a post about HOW to do it!  SO fun and EASY!

 

COMMENTS: Do you use any non-kitchen items IN the kitchen, or any kitchen items OUTSIDE the kitchen (for non-food stuff)?

Baking...Crayons!!!

The possibilities are endless!

We've already tried eggs, snowflakes, and shamrocks!

It's hard to mess this one up!

CRAYON BAKING is a really FUN KITCHEN Activity -- involving PANS and the OVEN, but not eating.  Baking sweets and non-sweets with kids is a wonderful activity, but you can also have just as much fun WITHOUT involving food :)

Silicone bakeware is a great way to go -- so many shapes, and they come out beautifully!!

CLICK HERE for more on SILICONE BAKEWARE and its many USES!

Kids have so much making something themselves, and seeing how it turns out!

Why else is it great?  It is pretty much REDUCING, REUSING, AND RECYCLING!!

(Great song by Jack Johnson!)  And AWESOME, very CREATIVE!! video for KIDS HERE!

Ok, so take your old crayons...they're already all out of this box for us!  My mother-in-law is excited to share an old can of crayons from when my hubby was a kid for making more new crayons!

1. Tear off all the peels.

2. Choose a shape!

3. Fill your tins.

You can make "rainbow" or "tie dye" or combine similar colors, or complimentary colors, or whatever you like!

 

4. Bake at 220 degrees for 22 min or so ... keep watching, when everything is melted remove from oven, let cool, remove from pan, and enjoy!

They look way "cooler" once they are cooled (on the underside that you can't see until you remove them).

See these beauties below ... I thought I messed these up because I left them in too long.

Now, I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong!

 

 

COMMENTS: Do you have any other fun projects to share?  Perhaps they involve the kitchen, but not food!

We Gotta Chill!

This could be the start to some sort of chocolaty relaxation post...

Instead, it's about CHILLING foods properly!

There are 4 C's (C-sound actually :) for keeping foods safe to eat!

CLEAN, SEPARATE, CHILL, and COOK

We've discussed the importance of cooking to proper temperatures, and here is a link to that post: SOME LIKE IT HOT!

We work so hard to prepare food for our families and ourselves!  Why waste that effort with unnecessary illness?

CHILLING -- Cold temperatures SLOW the growth of illness-causing bacteria!

1. Refrigerate LEFTOVERS and other perishable foods within 2 hours.

2. In summer, when it's really hot, cut time to 1 HOUR!

3. Your frig should be NO warmer than 40 degrees, and your freezer should be 0 degrees or colder.

4. Make sure your frig isn't TOO STUFFED.  Air must circulate in there to keep things cool (therefore SLOWING BACTERIAL GROWTH!).

5. Store food in SHALLOW containers, so they'll chill FASTER.

6. THAW frozen food one of 3 SAFE ways: 1) in the frig, 2) in a sealed plastic bag in cold water (change water every 30 min), or 3) in the microwave.  NEVER OUT on COUNTER!

7. Always MARINATE in frig.

8. Know WHEN to throw food away -- OFTEN you can't tell by SMELL or LOOK if your leftovers or other refrigerated foods have gone bad (HARMFUL BACTERIA has begun growing).

Here is a chart of various food items from foodsafety.gov : STORAGE TIMES for the FRIG and FREEZER

COMMENTS: Have you ever had the 24-hour flu?  MOST cases are from food-borne illness!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Eggs!

Happy Easter!

These are a fun treat I made for the kiddos for Easter -- Ha!  They don't realize they are healthy!

Right before bed, my 6YO asked, can we have a treat AFTER breakfast tomorrow?!  She was thrilled that of course she can!  We'd even go wild and let her eat candy before breakfast, but if she is happy to have breakfast first, fine with me!

PS- for the record, all 3 kids had candy BEFORE breakfast!  Still, it's nice that they're learning that it's smart to eat FOOD BEFORE treats!  What a lovely day we enjoyed!

Ok, so for the FUDGE!

Simply grind 1/2 c oats in a food chopper to form a flour.

Next stir together:

1/2 c oats
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa (you can reduce this and increase the oats so it's not as strong a flavor :)
3/4 c NATURAL peanut butter

Just mix and mix with a spoon and maybe a knife to cut through the peanut butter.  After a few minutes, a very thick FUDGE will form!  Fill container with mixture, flattening down solid.  You can use any container -- tonight I used a silicone cupcake pan!

Now freeze mixture for about an hour, and enjoy!

I got this basic idea a long time ago from the darling Chocolate Covered Katie!  She makes a million versions, I'm sure this one is similar to something she makes!  Check out her site for more delicious ideas at www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com !

COMMENTS:  Does the Easter Bunny come to your house?  What are your favorites that he brings?!

Four Fun Freezer Foods!

The FREEZER helps make healthy foods YUMMY and CONVENIENT!

Here we have a DELICIOUS SORBET -- super easy!!  Just let some frozen fruit thaw a bit, OR defrost in the microwave for a minute, blend, and QUICKLY enjoy!

Below is a Raspberry Sorbet (1 c frozen raspberries + 1/4 c 100% tart cherry juice)

Tart cherries contain high levels of MELATONIN, so they help you sleep!
You can get juice almost anywhere, and Gordon Foods has a huge, delicious bag of frozen, unsweetened tart cherries, yum!  Those are another awesome frozen treat!  You can pop 'em in your mouth one by one -- we are out, and my mouth is watering now!

These little gems are from Trader Joe's, and I have also seen them at Whole Foods.  DOROT's Chopped Cilantro!

Each frozen cube is a teaspoon of frozen herb -- I love the CILANTRO because that's all you need, perhaps, 2 cubes, to make a dish taste FRESH out of the garden!  There is also BASIL, but I usually use a lot more basil at once, still they're awesome!

This is a bag of frozen hunks (made by me!) of canned pumpkin puree.  This is awesome for baby food and baking...think muffins, cookies, cakes!  I (my husband I think!) found a super deal on Amazon for ORGANIC CANNED PUMPKIN!  I gotta tell ya -- I got 2 cases (24 cans) of it for $20 total!  It's organic!!  I SO wish I bought more!  We found the deal on slickdeals.net -- if you like finding bargains, check the website -- but be warned that it's really dangerous to your wallet at Christmas time!

PROCESS

• Scoop out whatever size you think will be useful to you, mine are maybe 1/4 c (though I didn't measure!) onto a plate or cookie sheet, some people use ice cube trays.  I also love to use my silicone cupcake pans!  
• Freeze.  
• Remove from freezer and fill in a freezer bag, as shown below, if that'll work best for you for storage in your freezer.  
• Now, like the spices above, you can pull out a pumpkin (or other puree) hunk in a flash and pop it into whatever you're making!

To make a variety of healthy ice creams, freeze banana in pieces in a plastic container, or as described above!  Frozen banana provides a perfect BASE for ice cream -- great TEXTURE and SWEETNESS!  Coming soon ...CAFE MOCHA flavor!

 

COMMENTS:  Do you love your freezer like me?  Do you use it in any ways you'd like to share, so others can do it too!?

Chocolate-Covered Delights!

POLYPHENOLS, FIBER, PROTEIN, and CAFFEINE are the magical ingredients in these treats that'll help kick your cravings!

DISCLAIMER:
Many of my recipes -- you could eat all day long, as much as you want!  For example,  LARABALLS, CHOCOLATY GOODNESS, and POWER PUDDING!

Unlike MY recipes, THESE products are TREATS, best eaten as a substitute for something else, less healthy for you.  Like the coffee sticks you'll see below, they are a piece of sugary candy!  Still, having a coffee with one, is worlds healthier than any flavored coffee you might purchase at Starbucks!

These Dark Chocolate-Covered EDAMAME BEANS are so yummy, with some PROTEIN, FIBER, and a great crunch!  Trader Joe's also offers delicious chocolate covered ESPRESSO beans, which provide fiber, along with an energy KICK from the caffeine!  They are SUPER-YUMMY!

These dark chocolate PEPPERMINT STICKS are primarily sugar -- however, for 17 CALORIES, you can enjoy a lovely flavored cup of coffee!  It provides great flavor even with a good part of the stick remaining after I drink my cup!  Also, if you're going to splurge on candy -- this provides a great source of PORTION CONTROL -- individually wrapped treats -- eat one and walk away!

From Heinen's I think!

If you can't find this product, 1/2 of a red and white mint (or 1 peppermint Altoid) and 1/2 a square of dark chocolate also do the trick!

OR half of a small York Peppermint Patty!

They all give great flavor!  Plus, a lot of candy, with this method, or the stick, is left at the bottom, so you can have all the flavor, adding almost NO calories!



These Dark Chocolate-Covered BANANA BARS are yummy!  The inside is banana -- nothing else.

The chocolate ingredients are like that of many dark chocolates -- with some sugar and vegetable fat, but certainly beat milk chocolate!  Plus, these snacks as a whole are such a better choices than any candy bar!  From Heinen's I think!...both were gifts from a frequent Heinen's shopper!

 

For more on the many BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE and how to make sure you really get all those benefits click HERE!  For HEART Health and Chocolate click HERE!

COMMENTS: Does a small snack like this meet your craving, or are you left wanting more?  If you have frequent cravings a change in your diet OR more sleep may reduce your cravings!

Top 10 Reasons You'll Love Garmin Connect!

If you enjoy walk OR running outside, I recommend you invest in a Garmin GPS watch!  The sooner you do, the sooner, you'll be walking or running MORE and FASTER!!!  Runners likely need no further persuading, but walkers (perhaps those wanting to LOSE WEIGHT!)...MORE, FASTER walking = MORE, FASTER weight loss!

This is the watch I use:

and the corresponding Garmin website is Garmin Connect!

Top 10 Reasons Why YOU'LL LOVE Garmin Connect (and a GPS watch)!

It's SUPER-EASY and AUTOMATIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is what it does:

1.  MOTIVATES by showing your progress, increases in MILEAGE, per session, per week, per year!

2.  MOTIVATES by showing your IMPROVEMENTS in speed, pace, and heart rate!

3.  PACES you by providing a DISPLAY of whatever you want while you run: current pace or speed, average pace or speed, distance, time, etc., you can even have a rotating display.

4.  FREES you to run wherever -- you can head out the door with out a perfectly planned route set ahead of time.  Want to go 4 miles, head out for 2 and turn around, or wander around the neighborhood and stopping when you reach a distance of 4 miles.  No need to drive around measuring distance in a car, or even spending time planning with Mapquest or Google Maps.

5. SORTS your data, "Activities",  by any parameter you choose -- PACE and DISTANCE are my favorites.  So you can see runs listed in order of your longest or fastest runs!

6.  REPORTS -- summaries of your data -- any way you like -- you may choose weekly, monthly, etc. reports, and you can choose how much of your data you'd like to be included, whatever range of data you choose: "last 30 days". "last year", etc  -- I always choose "All Days"!

7.  ALLOWS "ZEN running", and then you can analyze your workout afterward!

8. RECORDS mile lap SPLITS automatically, so you don't even have to press a button!

9.  SUMMARIZES each workout with one click -- you get a MAP of your route, a chart of ELEVATION and speed all through the workout, as well as lap SPLITS with fastest pace/speed and max speed for the lap.

10.  If you get stuck running indoors, you can also ADD workouts manually, so they'll be included in your totals!

And much, much MORE!  This should count as a reason because there is really lots more that this watch and website can do for YOU!)

It provides a calendar view, here you can also see weekly mileage:

Here is a view of the "Reports" -- choosing type of summary, and below you select time frame you want to view, such as "This Year".  I've run 2000 miles since my baby (almost 2 yr) was born!

This is a view of a single run.  Again, you can view splits, a map, elevation and speed charts, and you have a place to make notes, such as the weather, what you ate before, how the workout felt, etc.

BONUS TIP: if you do add a workout manually, add it from the "Activities" tab, rather than the "Calendar" tab.  For some reason, it only calculates pace when you do it this way.

I'm sure there is much more I could tell you about this awesome technology, but this is plenty to get you started!  Happy walking/running!  I'm sure this will get you MOTIVATED, especially if you are a "numbers person"!

OTHER Running Posts:
Some marathon tips, click HERE.

Some REFUELING tips, click HERE.

Some great running WEBSITES:

Running CALCULATOR and Training

Running race RESULTS

Running WEATHER

COMMENTS:  How do you get motivated?  Are you a "numbers person"?

Dr Oz's Pizza Popcorn!

This sounds fabulous!

They suggest making it in a brown paper bag in the microwave.  I used to do this, but for some reason, in the last few years, I've been making it on the stove.  You can check out my Lime-Pepper Popcorn and stove top directions HERE!

Also, on a cool blog I recently found, Anna's Adventures in Health, Anna makes popcorn in the microwave (as on Dr Oz!) with several different popcorn flavor combinations!  Check them out HERE!

She enjoys a cinnamon variety which I would like to try!  Plus, we both enjoy NUTRITIONAL YEAST flavoring -- which seems a little strange, but it has a sort of cheesy taste -- and it has tons of NUTRIENTS and NO saturated fat!

Ok, so here is the recipe!

Pizza Popcorn

3 Tbsp popcorn kernels
1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt (I suggest omitting)
1 tsp chives

Pop the popcorn how you choose.  For microwave, fold bag shut with a few narrow folds.  Cook for about 2 min; stop when the popping slows to a second or two between pops.  Or you can follow stove top directions HERE.  If microwaving, a bit of oil spray on popped popcorn will help spices stick.  If using cook/stove top, popcorn will be coated with some oil from cooking.  Mix in spices and enjoy!

The recipe makes 8 cups of popcorn and Dr Oz's audience loved it!  I hope you do too!

COMMENTS: Do you liked flavored popcorn?  Try anything unusual?  Have a stir-crazy machine?  We had one of these at my house growing up!

Easy OJ with Extra Creaminess and Fiber!

Easy OJ -- Too simple to even be a recipe, but still I wanted to share!  I only have my super-blender, a Blendtec (similar to a Vitamix), so you'll have to let me know how it goes with a regular blender!

Simply trim the orange of the orange peel (as you would for Orange Almond Biscottis...heck, why not make a batch you're y at it!  No waste!).

Then cut the orange in a few pieces., including the white of the peel -- nutritional BOOST of extra fiber!!

Add a large handful of ice, about 1 cup.

BLEND UNTIL SMOOTH and enjoy!

With a power blender this is ready in less than a minute!  Otherwise, it should still only take a few min, I hope!

TIP: Sometimes blending more is easier for the blender -- I used 3 oranges and 2-3 cups of ice cubes! Adding a little water might help too.  If you add milk, it'll more of a smoothie.  Of course you could add all kinds of fruit, flax, wheat germ, chia, etc.  I was going strictly for OJ since my daughter wanted some and we were out!

COMMENTS: Do you have a super-blender?  If you do, what is your favorite thing to make with it?

Wonder about Wheat and Weight Loss?

"What is your position on wheat? Is it good for you, bad for you, essential for your diet? I know cutting out wheat is a big "fad diet" right now, but is there more to cutting out wheat than just weight loss? Are there potential problems, or is it necessary for your body to have wheat?"

Great Question!!

Big picture -- if you can eat wheat without symptoms, it is unnecessary to eliminate from diet -- you'll be missing out on lots of healthy foods and giving yourself a lot more work!  If, however, you do not feel your best, a change in your diet may really help!  READ ON!

WHOLE wheat, for many, our house for sure!, is a very healthy food -- as in it easily provides many nutrients that everyone needs!  It is a great source of FIBER, as well as a great combination of vitamins, minerals, and PHYTOCHEMICALS!  Fiber for one, has several ways to help with WEIGHT LOSS!  Click to see why!

That said, there are some people with a WHEAT ALLERGY (mostly children, and it's often outgrown), as well as those who are allergic to one protein called gluten found in wheat, barley, and rye, the condition is called CELIAC DISEASE (relatively uncommon, only a few in 100 people), and some have a gluten or wheat INTOLERANCE/SENSITIVITY (more common and more difficult to diagnose because symptoms may be delayed up to a few days!).

In individuals with these conditions, the body defends itself from what it mistakes as an enemy.  This causes inflammation that often negatively affects the WHOLE body.  Symptoms described below.

WEIGHT LOSS's association with wheat/gluten is often due to:

• The severe restrictiveness of the diet -- Resulting WHOLE foods diet!!
• Becoming educated about FOOD LABELS -- Click to see how!
• Hopefully eating less processed food -- Therefore eliminating many other substances harmful to your health
• If you do have Celiac Disease, you may very likely experience WEIGHT LOSS after you change your diet.  In addition to the first reasons listed, these individuals may lose weight as a result of the repair/healing of their body from the rest the whole body, immune and digestive systems especially, get from the absence of gluten in their diet!

Aside from often welcomed weight loss, overall changes in health, reduction in following symptoms are often LIFE-CHANGING!

If you experience SYMPTOMS of irritable bowel, such as unexplained bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, weight gain, joint pain, fatigue, asthma....as well as the traditional diseases that ail America, from diabetes to heart disease, you may want to see if you have a gluten or wheat intolerance.

You can test for this condition at HOME.  Simply, well it's not so simple, but it is straight forward: cut out ALL gluten for 2 weeks.  You must read labels carefully and you'll probably want to mostly eat at home.  If you are unsure about a product, or if you need to eat out, you can always call the FOOD company or restaurant to find out!

Laraballs, a yummy, fast, healthy treat in many flavors, are gluten-free!  

Try a NEW FLAVOR today!

Plus, here are some GLUTEN-FREE options:

Celiac Disease Foundation has a great website to further education you and get you started on a gluten-free diet: www.celiac.org and their Gluten-Free Resource provides many food companies and at the very bottom many other helpful websites.

You might also like Grains Galore! a post about MANY healthy grain options!

COMMENTS: Do you feel dramatically better?  Have your symptoms subsided?  Often, changes occur very fast, within a few days.

You may not even have a full blown allergy.  After giving your body the rest it needs (sleep will help too, but I'm referring to immune/digestive rest as described earlier), you may be able to re-introduce wheat into your diet without symptoms returning.  Though, as you'll see, you've probably cut a lot of unnecessary extras as well, so those might best stay out of your diet, at least for the most part!