It's Gluten Day!

It's 7:13am and I'm eating cinnamon bread.  10 bites in and I'm not feeling any reaction so I must be okay with gluten.  Just kidding, we'll see what happens in an hour. 

Dairy Update

I was just talking with Rick and he told me that he stopped drinking milk a couple of months ago and his coughing has completely stopped!  You've probably heard him coughing over the past several years--he always sounded like he was going to cough up a lung, and I thought it was the cigarettes.  (He should still quit smoking.)  But interesting that it seems to be brought on by dairy.  And he always loved milk so much.

Adding back Dairy and Soy

I haven't blogged for a while.  During the last week, we added back dairy and soy, and I didn't have any reaction at all.  I was just a little worried about dairy but no symptoms.  I started the day with a little piece of jalapeno jack cheese, had gluten-free mac-n-cheese for lunch, and gluten-free pizza with veggies and cheese for dinner.  Unfortunately, Angel had problems each time she ate dairy throughout the day.

We added soy yesterday and ordered Thai food for dinner--lots of tofu in the curry and other dishes.  Everything was tasty and no reaction. Angel is done, but I'm looking forward to gluten tomorrow! Gonna start the day with cinnamon bread--yum.

Adding Back Eggs

It was so nice to wake up and have eggs for breakfast! I made a wrap in the morning with Brown Rice Tortilla and three eggs.
 
I had a great workout in the park and afterwards my snack was pineapple and pecans. Then we went kitty shopping for Roxy’s 10th birthday. We found the perfect little kitty that Rox named Cougar.

For Lunch, I had two eggs on Gluten free toast, this was SO good! I was waiting for egg day to have this bread because it is made with eggs, but no other elimination ingredients.
For dinner, Mom made an AMAZING Frittata with potato crust. It had spinach, onion, mushrooms and peppers and it tasted like it had cheese and bacon, even though there wasn’t. This is a must repeat recipe! I served mine with salad, butternut squash soup and gluten free toast. Mmm Mmm!!

No reactions what so ever, yeah!!! Eggs are great!

Back to the elimination diet for 2 days

This morning I had my usual protein shake and a slice of pumpkin oatmeal. I snacked on raspberries and celery with almond butter.

Lunch was some leftover chicken, beans and green sauce with some rice crackers. Paul found some rice crackers with no soy or dairy, woo hoo!
Snack: Pancake with almond butter and apple sauce

Dinner: Vegetable soup
Recipe for Vegetable Soup:
Blend chicken broth with 3-4 tomatoes, 2 chopped garlic clove, cilantro and chile pepper optional.
Add chopped vegetables, hard to cook first. Beets, then carrots and celery, then zucchini and cauliflower and broccoli last. Cook until desired tenderness. Top with fresh cilantro and onion.

Adding Corn Back

So it’s been 3 weeks of digestive rest from the common allergens and I feel great! But now it is time to add one food back at a time and observe for any symptoms. We chose to do corn first.

 

Lunch: black beans with roasted corn and red chile with corn tortilla chips on the side

Snack : pan fried polenta with onion, garlic and mushroom

Dinner : Chicken enchiladas with green sauce, fried green tomatoes and black beans with roasted corn

After dinner snack: Popcorn

I am unsure if I had a reaction or not. I had to blow my nose after I ate. Was that due to the spice or the corn?? Also, the next morning when I did sprints, I was phlemier than usual, I had to clear my throat a lot. So, I think I will retest corn again at the end of the diet and see if I get a similar reaction.

First Addition: Corn!

My Lunch Today

Yesterday, after 3 weeks on the elimination diet, we added back CORN.  The first thing I ate in the morning was a corn chip--yummy!  During the day, I had popcorn, corn chips, roasted corn, polenta, and enchiladas made with corn tortillas.  I have had no symptoms whatsoever.  We're back off of everything today and I still feel good.  I'm very glad to find out that I have no reaction.

Salmon Dinner

On Sunday, November 6th, we had a very nice dinner of Salmon, Quinoa, two types of mixed green salad, and a puree of Cauliflower and Parsnips.  We’re eating very well on this diet.  I’m still looking forward to adding some other things back in, though.

Feeling Good!

We're 2-1/2 weeks into the diet and I am finally feeling good.  My cold is almost gone and I think the diet has done some good things for me.  I've got good energy and I feel 'lighter' inside.  I've stopped craving bread, too.  We went out to dinner last night and the bread basket was right in front of me the whole night--I wasn't tempted at all.  I had Seared Ahi Tuna, Quinoa, and Sauted Rapini with Mushrooms.  I asked the chef to saute my vegetables without butter, and no sauce on plate.  It was really good.  The smell of the after-dinner coffee was tempting, but I did fine.  I'm exctied that we're only 3 days away from adding things back.  I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!

Day 15

Woke up early, had a good workout. I’m feeling good energy. I have also noticed that I look younger. Seriously, I do! I don’t have any bags under my eyes and my face isn’t puffy. I don’t know if it’s because of no caffeine or no alcohol. I think I sleep better without alcohol. So maybe I am just getting good ‘beauty sleep’ now?

Day 15 Menu:

• Breakfast: Protein shake and pumpkin oatmeal
• Snacks:  Apple with almond butter, pumpkin oatmeal
• Lunch: Hummus wrap with avocado, spinach, onions and grilled eggplant
• Dinner: Herb roasted organic chicken with roasted beets and blue potatoes and salad                  
• Snack: Pear with almonds and granola. Cinnamon tea

Finishing Out The Second Week—Days 13 & 14

I am feeling pretty good now. For about a week I wasn’t constipated but I wasn’t having as consistent BMs (bowel movements) as I usually do. Anyway, everything is finally back on track. I also have more energy now than I have since I started. And my workouts are becoming more vigorous again.

Day 13 Menu:

Protein Shake, leftovers throughout the day, and for dinner Ryan made some pasture raised chicken legs with mustard, onion and garlic and a salad. And I made some quinoa, with onion, garlic, cilantro and some Garam Marsala spices. Today I also made Pumpkin Oatmeal and I think it turned out rather well. It makes a good snack with some tea.

Pumpkin Oatmeal

• 16 oz can organic pumpkin
• 2 Tbsp ground flax seed mixed with 1/2 cup water, let sit 5 minutes
• 2 Tbsp brown rice syrup or agave (or more if sweeter taste desired)
• 2 cups gluten free oats
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Mix together the above ingredients and spread into an oiled 9” by 11” pan and top with granola. Bake at 375 for 20-25 min.

Day 14 Menu:

• Breakfast: Protein shake and pumpkin oatmeal
• Snack: Cashew Cookie Larabar,
• Lunch: Black eyed peas with quinoa and chicken
• Dinner: PIZZA!!! With marinara sauce, olive spread, grilled eggplant, garlic and onion. And I added hummus to mine. We also made beans in organic chicken broth with rainbow chard and black rice with avocado.