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Sunshine Juice and Raw Cleanse

Healthy Living, Raw Foods

Sunshine Juice and Raw Cleanse

3 Comments 14 May 2013

Today is my last day on a 10-day juice cleanse. At our April Raw Foods Potluck we all pulled our calendars out and found 10 days that would work for everyone to juice. It was great to cleanse with a support group. We even made extra juice and shared our recipes, both the yummy ones and the flops. I’ve really enjoyed making fruit and veggie juice combinations, and I have a new favorite, but first I have a great cleansing tip to share with you.

I’ve done juice cleanses and raw cleanses before, but I’ve never had one as easy and enjoyable as this one. I’m sure a lot of it was the support of my friends, but I also used a new supplement. In the past I’ve experienced some mighty detox symptoms while cleansing…headaches, flu-like symptoms, lethargy…and lethargy doesn’t work with my lifestyle. I teach kindergarten all day and 4-6 fitness classes per week, so there’s no time to feel tired. But this cleanse has been the easiest one I’ve ever done, and I really think the difference is that I used Garden of Life’s RAW Cleanse.

I highly recommend this raw, vegan, and gluten-free product. I used it in conjunction with juicing, but you can use it with a solid meals as well. There are three easy steps to this 7-day cleanse. Step 1 is Toxin Defense which is a packet of powdered oral and intestinal probiotics that are swished in the mouth with water and then easily swallowed. Step 2 is Organ Detox in the form of 3 capsules taken at breakfast and lunch. It removes environmental toxins and supports healthy liver biotransformation. Step 3 is Digestion & Elimination. It’s a powder that you mix in water and drink before bedtime. Don’t let the name scare you! It will not send you running for the bathroom in the middle of a meeting the next morning. It’s a very gentle product that uses flaxseeds and chia seeds to absorb the toxins your body is releasing, draws water into the colon, and uses coconut fiber to get things moving out.

For 10 days I have eaten nothing but juiced fruits and veggies and have felt fantastic. On the days that I taught fitness classes I added a scoop of Raw SunWarrior Protein Powder or two teaspoons of Earthrise Spirulina to my juice right before the workout. (I wasn’t interested in running the risk of passing out in front of a room filled with BodyPumpers!) I am very much looking forward to eating some solid food tomorrow, but in just 10 days I’ve noticed a difference in my skin, energy level, waistline, and general outlook. I really needed this cleanse!

Now for the Sunshine Juice! When I found golden beets at Whole Foods, I remembered Diane Elbin of The Whole Gang making us a delicious juice called Golden Joy at a gluten-free blogger’s get together. I made a few modifications to her recipe to create this Sunshine Juice.

Print friendly recipe

Sunshine Juice

by Heather inspired by Diane Elbin

Ingredients:

  • 5 golden beets, peeled
  • 15 organic carrots
  • 3 organic oranges
  • 2 inches of ginger

Directions:

1. Juice all ingredients.

2. Pour juice through a fine-mesh strainer to remove extra pulp.

Yields 4 cups

If you can’t find golden beets, you can substitute red beets to make a Red Sunrise instead. Both are equally delicious.

Readers, dish!

Need a good juicer? I love my Omega VRT350S! 

 

*Note: I am not a medical expert or a nutritionist, and I have no connection with Garden of Life. I am not giving medical advice. I am solely sharing my experience.

This recipe is shared at: 5-Ingredient Mondays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Raw Foods Thursdays, Wellness Weekends, Healthy Vegan Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays

My New Favorite Gluten-Free Tortillas

GF Product Reviews

My New Favorite Gluten-Free Tortillas

22 Comments 07 November 2012

Let’s face it. Good gluten-free tortillas are hard to come by. Not only are there very few options, but the options we do have provide challenges. Memories of soft flour tortillas are but a distant memory for those of us who have lived gluten free for more than a few years. But those memories are soft and sweet, aren’t they? Don’t get me wrong. I’m very thankful for brown rice tortillas, but they do not behave at all like flour tortillas. They are tough, thick, and difficult to maneuver. They break easily and completely disintegrate when they come in contact with moisture. Wraps crack, burritos ooze, and pinwheels are just not even an option.

Until now.

Would you believe that these tortillas are gluten free?

They are thin like flour tortillas.

They bend like flour tortillas.

But they are completely gluten free.

And they come in plain, fiesta, and spinach flavors.

The spinach tortilla wrapped perfectly around my egg salad.

Most gluten-free wraps fall apart after the first bite.

But these pass The Bite Test.

And The Squeeze Test.

But what about with a juicy filling like Pam’s Easy Chicken Tacos?

Chicken slow cooked in salsa provided the perfect test of durability. Served both taco and burrito style, this Fiesta Tortilla held up despite the moistness of the filling.

Not only can these tortillas bend without breaking, they can roll.

Tightly.

A perfect almond butter and jelly snack.

I think we have pinwheels in our future!

So who makes these gluten-free wonder tortillas?

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery now makes three types of gluten-free tortillas, which are also dairy free and nut free.  Rudi’s Plain Tortillas, Fiesta Tortillas, and Spinach Tortillas are equally delicious. I can’t even choose a favorite, and for this picky cat that’s saying a lot.

Readers, dish!

  • Have you tried Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas?
  • Have you found a gluten-free tortilla that you love?
  • What is the hardest filling to wrap in a gluten-free tortilla?

(Disclaimer:  I have no connection to nor was I paid by Rudi’s Bakery. I did receive complimentary samples sent for me to taste and review. I do not give positive reviews just because the product was free but will always give my honest opinion.)

Raw Foods Thursdays 8/30/12

GF Recipes, Healthy Living, Raw Foods, Raw Foods Thursdays

Raw Foods Thursdays 8/30/12

2 Comments 30 August 2012

Thanks for coming to Raw Foods Thursdays!  The goal of this event is to learn from each other as we improve our diets with raw foods.  Whether you are 100% raw, high raw, or you are just looking for more creative ways to eat more plant-based foods, this event is for you!

We all have different reasons for learning about raw foods.  My passion for raw foods began with a simple invitation to a raw foods potluck.  It took one meal together for us to become the Raw Foods Potluck Girls.

Dallas, Heather, and Diane

We were just a few friends who were excited about eating well, sharing good food, and learning more about raw foods.  A vegetarian, a conscientious meat eater, and an experienced raw foodie made for a diverse, creative team!

Since then, we’ve learned so much from each other, raw foods cookbooks, blogs, websites, and restaurants; and we’ve created some amazing raw foods events.  If you haven’t already visited these summary posts of our raw foods potlucks, please check them out!

We are so excited that the inspirational talent of our Raw Foods Trio will be leaving tomorrow for an incredible raw foods experience.  While the other two of the triad will remain here in reality (sigh), teaching elementary school, we will be living vicariously through Diane, who will be attending Living Light Culinary Institute, a culinary school in California focused on gourmet raw vegan cuisine.  I am SOOOOOOOOO jealous, but I can’t wait for Diane to come back and teach us everything that she learns.  Or maybe Diane should just host the next Raw Foods Potluck Feast.  We may be skipping September’s Raw Foods Potluck, but October is going to be a blowout!

Until then, I’m depending on YOU!  What raw foods recipes you have to share with us this week?

Here’s how you can participate:

  • Simply link up a raw foods recipe (see What is Raw Food?), mention Raw Foods Thursdays, and link back to this post so your readers can join in the fun!
  • Please link to the recipe, not to a blog’s home page, so we can all find your raw foods recipe.
  • You may link up a recipe that you’ve made in the past. Just make sure to share something different each time you participate.
  • Be sure to leave a comment letting us know who you are and what you’re sharing.
  • Feel free to use the Raw Foods Thursdays blog badge created by the lovely, talented Heather Peters!

What are Raw Foods Meals?

  • Plant-based meals that are not cooked.  Dehydrators may be used no higher than 118 degrees.  (The raw foods community has differing views on temperature, but the range is between 104 and 118 degrees.)
  • Raw Ingredients: vegetables, fruit, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, gluten-free sprouted grains, beans, and oils.

What isn’t raw?

  • Anything cooked above 118.
  • Anything processed.  If it comes from a can or a package that lists more than one ingredient, chances are it’s not raw!

This week I created a Sweet Heat Beet Salad.

What do you have to share?


Finally a Good Gluten-Free Beer

GF Product Reviews

Finally a Good Gluten-Free Beer

22 Comments 18 July 2012

The Husband has never had a gluten-free beer that he’s liked.  Ever.  He’s tried New Grist, Redbridge, Estrella Damm Daura, but he usually can’t take more than a few sips before his attempt comes to an end.  The taste test is over.  He just can’t do it.  They just taste like bad beer.

I, on the other hand, have never tasted any beer that I’ve liked.  ALL beer tastes bad to me. In fact, it’s worse than bad.  To me, all beer tastes disgusting.  Therefore, I do not review gluten-free beers.  If I did, I would proclaim that they all tasted like dirt.

Before

After

But the Husband is a good taste tester.  And the only reason I’m doing a post on gluten-free beer is that the Husband finally found one that he enjoyed.  Not only was it good gluten-free beer.  He proclaimed it to be really good beer — gluten free or not.  Now that says something.

So if you are a gluten-free friend who likes beer, and you miss the taste of a good one, you might want to read on.

When we were at Posana in Asheville, the Husband hesitantly ordered a Brunehaut gluten-free amber ale.  It’s a Belgum import that won a gold medal at the 2011 US Open Beer Championships.  Our waiter insisted that he would like it because of the yeastiness.

Of course, I knew from every other taste test since age 21 that I wouldn’t like it despite the accolades.  I decided to stick to a tried and true cider.  I was glad that Posana carried Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider.

But the Husband loved this beer.

 And you might too.

So next time you see this bottle, give it a shot.  And let me know what you think.

Readers, dish!

Friday’s Find: Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice Treats

GF Product Reviews, GF Recipes

Friday’s Find: Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice Treats

19 Comments 06 July 2012

Happy Friday!  I have a Friday’s Find and a bonus recipe!!  I’ve enjoyed Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice for years.  In fact, it was the first gluten-free cereal I found that actually tasted like cereal instead of sand.  Most crispy rice cereals contain barley malt, so it’s a pleasure to find one that is gluten free and tastes delicious.

I’m a big supporter of Attune Foods, because their products are made with “simple, pure ingredients that help you feel your best everyday”.  You can see my past reviews here of their Corn Flakes and Probiotic Chocolate Bars.

But this post is all about the Crispies!  Recently I had a chance to sample two of the other cereals — Rice Twice and Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice!  Do you remember the days of Cocoa Pebbles?  No, me neither (winkie face), but these are so much better.  And so much better for you.

The short list of ingredients in even the sweet, chocolately cereal doesn’t prohibit me from enjoying this treat cereal.

Ingredients:  organic brown rice, organic evaporated cane juice, organic brown rice syrup, organic cocoa powder (processed with alkali), natural flavors, organic caramel color, sea salt, organic cocoa butter.

As soon as I opened the box and munched on the first handful, I knew that I had to make rice crispy treats.  Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats.  But in keeping with Attune Food’s philosophy, and my own personal quest to make yummy things just a little bit healthier, I had to toss out a few traditional rice crispy treat ingredients including the marshmallows. Especially the marshmallows.

Are you still here, my friendly felines?  Yes, you can make Rice Crispy Treats without corn syrup-drenched marshmallows!  See?

And you can do it with ingredients that you believe in.  Just start with the Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal of your choice and add in these simple ingredients:  SunButter, agave nectar, and flaxseed meal maybe even a touch of cinnamon.  This simple recipe worked beautifully with all three Crispy Rice products.

Just mix the ingredients together by hand and press them into muffin tins.

I loved this recipe with Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal.  But if you’re looking for a treat that will knock your socks off, I’d make these with the Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice Cereal!  Pure decadence without the junk.

Ooh, and one more thing.  To top it off, add a dollop of Sunbutter.

Print friendly recipe

Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice Treats

by Heather

Ingredients: 

Directions: 

1. Prepare 12 muffin tins by lightly greasing them with coconut oil.

2. Heat SunButter and agave nectar in a large saucepan on low.  Stir until lumps have melted and set aside to cool.

3.  In a medium bowl, mix Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice Cereal and flaxseed meal.

4.  Fold the crispy rice mixture into the SunButter mixture until combined.

5.  Scoop into muffin tins and press with the back of a spatula.

6.  Let cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

7.  Pop out of the muffin tins and serve with a dollop of SunButter on top.

Yields 12 treats

If your local grocers don’t carry Erewhon Cereals, you can order them through Amazon right here:

Readers, dish!

  • Have you tried Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice cereals?
  • Which one is your favorite?
  • When is the last time you had a Rice Crispy Treat?
(Disclaimer:  I have no connection to nor was I paid by Attune Foods. I did receive complimentary samples sent for me to taste and review. I do not give positive reviews just because the product was free but will always give my honest opinion.)
This post was shared with:

GF Product Reviews, GF Resources, Healthy Living

Gluten-Free Lunch Tips for Kids!

No Comments 03 July 2012

I’m sharing my top tips for gluten-free lunches for kids at Zema’s Madhouse Foods today.  I’d love it if you’d head on over to check them out!  Click and enjoy!

And while you’re at it, check out Zema’s gluten-free delicious ancient grain superfood mixes!  I reviewed the Rosemary-Millet Focaccia Bread just last week and loved it!  You can see my review here.

Friday’s Find: Zema’s Madhouse Foods

GF Product Reviews, Healthy Living

Friday’s Find: Zema’s Madhouse Foods

3 Comments 22 June 2012

I stopped my weekly Friday’s Find posts, because I was having a difficult time finding products that met my standards for a healthy, gluten-free diet.  Gluten-free junk food is no longer something that I get excited about.  But today’s Friday’s Find really gets me meowing, because finally there’s a company that creates baking mixes that taste great and fuel the body well.

Jill Motew, founder of Zema’s Madhouse Foods, has developed a line of ancient grain, gluten-free baking mixes that have more than caught the attention of this gluten-free cat. They have me laser-pointer mesmerized.  Currently, Zema has 4 baking mixes available online, and it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be finding these mixes at a market near you.

I had an opportunity to sample Zema’s Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Crust Mix, and I pounced on it.  I was happy to review it because they use ancient grains and superfoods. (Insert superhero music of choice here.  Mine is always this.)  Plus, all of the mixes are vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free.

I was prepared to go wild and design an amazing pizza for you that featured Zema’s pizza crust, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Zema’s Tomato Herb Focaccia recipe which is printed on the back of the package.  So I followed the focaccia recipe precisely, and this is what emerged from my oven.

I’m so glad that I followed the directions (which is not one of my strong suits).  The intricacies of the crust are so unique that I’m relieved that I didn’t ruin it by smothering it with a nut cheese and overpowering the flavor with olives and artichokes.  The sturdy, chewy crust had a mildly sweet taste, possibly from the millet flour.  The substantial crust would definitely support heftier toppings, but I’d go easy on the layering as the bread flavors hold their own.

What’s in Zema’s Rosemary-Millet Focaccia & Pizza Crust Mix?  And why is it so great? Just look at the seeds in the whole grain flours.

I’ve sampled and reviewed a lot of gluten-free mixes, but I’ve never found one as nutritionally sound as this one.  Here are some of the benefits of the ingredients:

  • Millet Flour - one of the most easily digestible ancient grains and a great natural source of protein B-vitamins and minerals
  • Sorghum Flour - a high protein, gluten-free flour with a wheat-like taste that’s high in soluble fiber
  • Quinoa Flakes - one of my go-to protein sources because it’s a high quality, complete protein
  • Flaxseed Meal – an incredible plant-based source of alpha-linolenic acid, which converts to heart-protective Omega-3 fatty acid. It contains fiber which promotes intestinal health and is a rich source of lignans which are phytoestrogens thought to protect against breast, prostate, and colon cancers.
  • Chia Seeds – the superfood that fueled me through my marathon training because of its concentrated energy and nutrition.  They were the featured ingredient of my Raw Energy Gel.  They contain even more Omega-3 fatty acids than flaxseeds, reduce inflammation, and decrease risks for cardiovascular disease.
  • Hemp Seeds – contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary to maintain healthy human life.  Wow!  That’s why I sprinkle them on almost everything!  But have you ever had focaccia bread with hemp seeds?  If not, you’re missing out.
That’s why this mix is so unique and so incredibly good for you.  You can find the above information and more from Zema’s Ancient Grains 101.

Bottom line?  This is a delicious crust that has my full support.  Worth ordering online until they appear in your local market?  Definitely.  Here are the three other mixes that Zema currently offers:

If they’re as incredible as the Rosemary-Millet Focaccia Mix, then we all have something to look forward to!

Readers, dish!
  • Have you tried any Zema products?  What did you think?
  • Do you use gluten-free mixes?
  • What makes a gluten-free mix work for you?
  • What’s your latest gluten-free find?

(Disclaimer:  I have no connection to nor was I paid by Zema’s Madhouse Foods. I did receive a complimentary sample sent for me to taste and review. I do not give positive reviews just because the product was free but will always give my honest opinion.)

Friday’s Find: Attune Probiotic Bars

GF Product Reviews, Healthy Living

Friday’s Find: Attune Probiotic Bars

21 Comments 15 June 2012

“What matters most is what’s inside.”  I love that line from Attune Foods.  It’s true about people, and it’s true about food.  Attune believes in using pure and simple ingredients that make you feel good from the inside out. So do I.  That’s why I love their products.  And recently, I’ve tried a new one.

I take a probiotic in capsule form daily.  But lately I’ve been eating Attune Probiotic Bars. They are little gluten-free chocolate bars packed with 6.1 billion CFUs of clinically supported strains of probiotics.  They come in three different flavors:  Milk Chocolate Crisp, Mint Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate.

I expected these probiotic bars to taste like a health bar.  But they taste like a bar you’d choose for a treat, not for your tummy!  Whenever I can’t believe how delicious something is I give it to the Husband to try.  I found him in the office pecking away at the computer. Not wanting to bias him with the label or my expectant face, I handed him a small square of chocolate and walked out of the room.  Less than a minute later he came to find me.  ”That’s really good chocolate.  Where did you get it?”

Passed the Husband test.

The Milk Chocolate Crisp Bar has little rice crisps that remind me of a Nestle Crunch. Those of us with gluten intolerance rarely find crispy chocolate bars that we can eat as they usually contain barley malt.  So this is a rare treat.

The Mint Chocolate Bar also has little rice crisps, but the cool, refreshing taste is the highlight of this bar.  It’s a perfect after dinner mint.

The Dark Chocolate Bar is velvety smooth and rich in antioxidants.  It’s made with 68% cocoa and is dairy free.

These simple bars have only 90 calories.  So they work well as a light snack, a pick me up, or an finale to lunch or dinner.  They’re little, but they pack a powerful flavor that will stop a sweets craving in its tracks.

I’m breaking my rule with this product.  Normally, if a label has ingredients that I can’t pronounce, I don’t eat it.  But thankfully these unpronouncable ingredients are probiotic cultures that I’m happy to eat!

Do you see anything that concerns you here?  I did.  That dreaded “manufactured on equipment that also processes…wheat” statement.  When questioned, Attune responded that the bars are run on a shared line with other products that contain wheat.  The machinery is then cleaned between production runs, and the bars are tested after they’re made to ensure they’re less than 5ppm.

Thank you, Attune, for being a company that we can rely on to provide healthy, delicious, safe food.

Readers, dish!

  • Have you tried Attune Probiotic Bars?  
  • Which one would you like to try?
Did someone say chocolate?
On Their Blogs By Their Hands: Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Fondue

GF Recipes

On Their Blogs By Their Hands: Allergy-Friendly Chocolate Fondue

8 Comments 14 June 2012

Fondue is usually out of the question for those of us who eat dairy free.  And, even if you’re just gluten-free, you often decline fondue at social events to avoid cross contamination. But what fun would life be without fondue?  Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  And where there are talented food bloggers who know how to work around food allergies, that way is so much easier.

I first met Kim of Cook It Allergy Free at this Gluten and Allergen-Free Expo.

She was introducing her Cook It Allergy Free iPhone and iPad App.  If you don’t already own this app, you need to!  It has hundreds of gluten-free recipes that you can customize to meet most food allergy needs.  With a tap of the finger you can find substitutions for eggs, butter, milk, yogurt, buttermilk, cream, sour cream, cream cheese, cheeses, nuts, nut butters, corn syrup, and soy.  So no matter what you’re allergic to, this app will help you find a way around it.

Imagine my delight when I heard that we were having Kim’s Chocolate Fondue for dessert at our blogger retreat!  I can’t remember the last time I had chocolate fondue.  But Kim’s fondue was dairy free.  I wondered how that would be possible since most recipes call for heavy whipping cream.  But she did it, and she did it with perfection!

Good thing Kim and I went on a long walk that morning before the dipping began!  I had such a great time getting to know Kim and hearing all about her family.  Kim is an energetic mom who loves health and fitness.  Love of kids, health, fitness, and sweets?  We have tons in common!  Her blog focuses on taking the mystery out of allergen-free cooking and giving tips to families who are dealing with children with food allergies.

But you wanted to hear about the chocolate…

We dipped and we sipped.  And I must say, Kim’s Chocolate Fondue is rich, decadent, creamy, and highly addicting.  We dipped strawberries, cherries, and bananas, but we had another special treat.

Yes, that’s Angel Food Cake.  And, it’s gluten free!  Come back tomorrow and I’ll tell you all about it.

But head over to Cook It Allergy Free for this simple dairy-free, gluten-free Chocolate Fondue recipe.  And download the Cook It Allergy Free App while you’re there!

Readers, dish!

  • When was the last time you had chocolate fondue?
  • What’s your favorite fondue dippers?

Need fondue supplies?

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A Curious Girl in the Gluten-Free World

I'm a curious girl, wife, teacher, friend, fitness fanatic, gluten-free foodie, health food nut, child of the King, and Mama Cat to two amazing little creatures. I love gluten-free cooking and baking and want to share my successes and failures with you. Follow me, and I'll take you on my gluten-free journey!

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