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Sunday, November 15, 2015
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Reintroduction Day 21: 03/09/14
Well this is it, my last blog post about the JJ Virgin Elimination Diet. I have done all of my tests: eggs, dairy and corn.
I am so glad that I started this diet, it was quite a challenge but after the Elimination part, I felt amazing. The Reintroduction part was eye-opening and I believe that in the future I will notice more of my symptoms and reactions to foods. I think this diet has allowed me to continue forward with the tools I need to keep myself healthy and make good decisions about what to eat.
I think my biggest challenge going into this diet was not really knowing what to eat. That is the most frequent reaction that I got when I told people about the diet: "what do you eat?!" I would like to compile a list of meal options so that anyone else beginning the diet won't feel so overwhelmed.
Breakfast:
-Vegan and Paleo Muffins
-Paleo Granola
-Breakfast Smoothies
Lunch:
-Salad with Orange Chicken
-Chickpea Quinoa Salad
-Hummus with rice cakes or vegetable sticks
-Rice Tortilla with Refried Beans
Dinner:
-Kale and Lentil Soup
-Stir-Fry Greens
-Orange Chicken
-Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs
-Paleo Chicken Pot Pie
-Butternut Squash Soup
-Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
-Whole Foods Quinoa Burgers and Squash Salad
-Beef Stew
-Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lo Mein
-Oven-Roasted Vegetables
-Stuffed Peppers
-Lettuce-wrapped hamburger
Snacks:
-Celery with Almond Butter
-Apples with Almond Butter
-Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds
-Carrot Sticks
-Good Beans
-Coconut Date Rolls
-Sweet Potato Fries/Chips
Not exactly sugar-free...
-Chocolate Chip Cookies
-Egg-Free Coconut Macaroons
As you can see, there was a lot that I was able to eat. I enjoyed taking the time to make all of these new recipes, each one was a challenge! My absolute favorite day would be: a smoothie with muffins for breakfast; rice tortillas with refried beans for lunch; paleo chicken pot pie for dinner. Just thinking about it makes me want to make those pies again, but they took the longest of all the dinners that I made!
For the future, my plan is to avoid the elimination foods 90% of the time. I think that I will generally do my best to eat clean, of course I will always be gluten-free, but I think I will try to not eat too much dairy or corn. Of course sugar will be my biggest struggle, I definitely was challenged by trying not to eat that. As I have said, now that I have gone through the diet, I am so much more sensitive to reactions to foods. There is no way that I can get away with eating three string cheeses in a day or a whole bag of candy, I feel it all throughout my body in headaches, grogginess, bloating and digestive slowness. It just isn't that worth it to me to eat foods that make me feel so bad, I would rather feel great and have enough energy to truly enjoy everyday and be able to do everything I want!
I hope that documenting my experiences doing the JJ Virgin Elimination Diet will help anyone who is thinking about starting the diet or struggling to follow it.
I am so glad that I started this diet, it was quite a challenge but after the Elimination part, I felt amazing. The Reintroduction part was eye-opening and I believe that in the future I will notice more of my symptoms and reactions to foods. I think this diet has allowed me to continue forward with the tools I need to keep myself healthy and make good decisions about what to eat.
I think my biggest challenge going into this diet was not really knowing what to eat. That is the most frequent reaction that I got when I told people about the diet: "what do you eat?!" I would like to compile a list of meal options so that anyone else beginning the diet won't feel so overwhelmed.
Breakfast:
-Vegan and Paleo Muffins
-Paleo Granola
-Breakfast Smoothies
Lunch:
-Salad with Orange Chicken
-Chickpea Quinoa Salad
-Hummus with rice cakes or vegetable sticks
-Rice Tortilla with Refried Beans
Dinner:
-Kale and Lentil Soup
-Stir-Fry Greens
-Orange Chicken
-Spaghetti Squash with Meatballs
-Paleo Chicken Pot Pie
-Butternut Squash Soup
-Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
-Whole Foods Quinoa Burgers and Squash Salad
-Beef Stew
-Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lo Mein
-Oven-Roasted Vegetables
-Stuffed Peppers
-Lettuce-wrapped hamburger
Snacks:
-Celery with Almond Butter
-Apples with Almond Butter
-Roasted Spaghetti Squash Seeds
-Carrot Sticks
-Good Beans
-Coconut Date Rolls
-Sweet Potato Fries/Chips
Not exactly sugar-free...
-Chocolate Chip Cookies
-Egg-Free Coconut Macaroons
As you can see, there was a lot that I was able to eat. I enjoyed taking the time to make all of these new recipes, each one was a challenge! My absolute favorite day would be: a smoothie with muffins for breakfast; rice tortillas with refried beans for lunch; paleo chicken pot pie for dinner. Just thinking about it makes me want to make those pies again, but they took the longest of all the dinners that I made!
For the future, my plan is to avoid the elimination foods 90% of the time. I think that I will generally do my best to eat clean, of course I will always be gluten-free, but I think I will try to not eat too much dairy or corn. Of course sugar will be my biggest struggle, I definitely was challenged by trying not to eat that. As I have said, now that I have gone through the diet, I am so much more sensitive to reactions to foods. There is no way that I can get away with eating three string cheeses in a day or a whole bag of candy, I feel it all throughout my body in headaches, grogginess, bloating and digestive slowness. It just isn't that worth it to me to eat foods that make me feel so bad, I would rather feel great and have enough energy to truly enjoy everyday and be able to do everything I want!
I hope that documenting my experiences doing the JJ Virgin Elimination Diet will help anyone who is thinking about starting the diet or struggling to follow it.
Reintroduction Day 20: 03/08/14
I have been enjoying my healthy meal plan for this week! As usual, a kale smoothie and granola for breakfast. Then I had a nice salad with grilled chicken and some hummus and rice cakes. For dinner I had a quinoa sweet potato burger from Whole Foods. Feeling good!
I am a little sad that I won't be blogging as often once this is over. I have really had a lot of fun taking pictures of everything and sharing all of my recipes and experiences. I will have to continue posting any new recipes I try!
My new favorite restaurant ever is Life Alive, in Cambridge, MA and Lowell, MA. I didn't go out to eat the entire time I was on the elimination diet. This was mostly because I don't have transportation to go to any restaurants, but also because I knew that I would only be able to order salad and most likely it wouldn't even be organic so I didn't see any point in paying for a salad. Anyway, at Life Alive, I was actually able to order a nice well-rounded meal and it was already Elimination Diet approved!
I got a quinoa with delicious steamed dark greens, carrots, mushrooms, beets and broccoli flowers on it. I had olive oil and vinegar as a dressing and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in a restaurant. I ordered a delicious tropical smoothie with almond milk, coconut oil, bananas and pineapple.
After dinner, we walked to a gluten-free bakery called Violette which was absolutely adorable. They had so many delicious options and even had some vegan desserts. Violette also makes their own chocolate hazelnut spread which is amazing and vegan!
I am a little sad that I won't be blogging as often once this is over. I have really had a lot of fun taking pictures of everything and sharing all of my recipes and experiences. I will have to continue posting any new recipes I try!
My new favorite restaurant ever is Life Alive, in Cambridge, MA and Lowell, MA. I didn't go out to eat the entire time I was on the elimination diet. This was mostly because I don't have transportation to go to any restaurants, but also because I knew that I would only be able to order salad and most likely it wouldn't even be organic so I didn't see any point in paying for a salad. Anyway, at Life Alive, I was actually able to order a nice well-rounded meal and it was already Elimination Diet approved!
I got a quinoa with delicious steamed dark greens, carrots, mushrooms, beets and broccoli flowers on it. I had olive oil and vinegar as a dressing and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in a restaurant. I ordered a delicious tropical smoothie with almond milk, coconut oil, bananas and pineapple.
After dinner, we walked to a gluten-free bakery called Violette which was absolutely adorable. They had so many delicious options and even had some vegan desserts. Violette also makes their own chocolate hazelnut spread which is amazing and vegan!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Reintroduction Day 19: 03/07/14
Finally a day without any testing! Nearly froze to death waiting for the bus at the grocery store, but made it back with a week's worth of elimination diet food. I don't want to continue feeling awful after I eat things so I want to just go back to eating what made me feel so good!
Here is a delicious roasted vegetable dinner that I had one night this week. Just drizzle some vegetables with oil and a little salt, they are so delicious!
Here is a delicious roasted vegetable dinner that I had one night this week. Just drizzle some vegetables with oil and a little salt, they are so delicious!
Reintroduction Day 18: 03/06/14
Testing corn is progressing the same, still not much of an improvement in the headache department. Not feeling very well after lunch at all. I can't wait to be finished with testing so that I can eat the foods that don't make me feel terrible. All of this experimentation is quite challenging and tiring.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Reintroduction Day 17: 03/05/14
Now every time that I eat corn it feels like my head is in one of those clamps you find on a work bench. Right on my temples there's a tremendously uncomfortable pressure that makes me want to go cross eyed and also take a long nap. The chips and popcorn are no worth it and I almost want to just stop testing them.
I thought that I might do a little blog post about the supplements behind this diet. I eat really well, but I also take some supplements to bring my body to 110%!
AM: probiotic, fish oil, multi vitamin, calm magnesium
PM: DIM+
Occasionally: Colloidal Silver and papaya enzyme
Let me tell you, papaya enzymes are my secret weapon, especially while testing these foods! Every time that I am feeling nausea or my stomach hurts I chew a few of these and it almost always goes away in a matter of minutes. I think that I have gotten it to be some kind of mental magic that just by chewing them my mind thinks "oh my stomach will stop hurting now" and then it does right away. I just love them they are just as chalky as Tums but not as questionable. ( Here's the kind I buy! )
The probiotic, fish oil and multi vitamin are just for maintenance. You know, for my hair and nails and skin, etc. The magnesium is fairly new, I also take epsom salt baths to get magnesium, but I've been drinking it for about a week now in the mornings. It is pretty good, I can't say I have noticed a huge difference yet, but I didn't really research this one, my mom sent it to me to start taking!
The DIM+ is to regulate hormone levels, which I really need since I am off the pill for the first time in two years. But, it also has a ton of fiber and really helps my digestive health which is totally great because it was definitely challenging during the testing weeks to feel good.
I thought that I might do a little blog post about the supplements behind this diet. I eat really well, but I also take some supplements to bring my body to 110%!
AM: probiotic, fish oil, multi vitamin, calm magnesium
PM: DIM+
Occasionally: Colloidal Silver and papaya enzyme
Let me tell you, papaya enzymes are my secret weapon, especially while testing these foods! Every time that I am feeling nausea or my stomach hurts I chew a few of these and it almost always goes away in a matter of minutes. I think that I have gotten it to be some kind of mental magic that just by chewing them my mind thinks "oh my stomach will stop hurting now" and then it does right away. I just love them they are just as chalky as Tums but not as questionable. ( Here's the kind I buy! )
The probiotic, fish oil and multi vitamin are just for maintenance. You know, for my hair and nails and skin, etc. The magnesium is fairly new, I also take epsom salt baths to get magnesium, but I've been drinking it for about a week now in the mornings. It is pretty good, I can't say I have noticed a huge difference yet, but I didn't really research this one, my mom sent it to me to start taking!
The DIM+ is to regulate hormone levels, which I really need since I am off the pill for the first time in two years. But, it also has a ton of fiber and really helps my digestive health which is totally great because it was definitely challenging during the testing weeks to feel good.
Reintroduction Day 16: 03/04/14
I can already tell that corn is not going to be a winner this week. Getting into bed tonight my joints and my back just feel so achey, like stiff and uncomfortable. Blah. I did enjoy eating popcorn last night and tortilla chips during lunch, but not enough to justify this. I have also noticed that this week so far I am having a lot more cravings for snacks. After eating a meal, I am not really satisfied and I just want to keep snacking and eating. Testing these foods has really thrown me off my regular diet and it's no fun!
Today, after class, I had a nice healthy snack! Apple slices with almond butter spread on them! It was really yummy, I love almond butter on anything! I could just camp out with a jar and a spoon and be in almond butter heaven!
Monday, March 3, 2014
Reintroduction Day 15: 03/03/14
Today is day one testing corn, I have popcorn and tortilla chips. I haven't had them yet, I am saving them for when one of my shows comes on tonight.
For dinner I finally made spaghetti squash lo mein! It was actually pretty good but the soy-free soy sauce definitely needs a little tweaking.
I used a 3lb. spaghetti squash, 1lb of chicken, 3 cups of broccoli, scallions, garlic, ginger and balsamic vinegar. I made it for four nights, so each serving has 276 calories, 33g carbs, 3g fiber, 31g of protein! I think that's pretty awesome, it took a bit of time between roasting the squash and also stir-frying the chicken. I still want it to taste more similar to regular lo mein. Of course after dinner, I roasted the seeds and had those! I think that next time I will rinse the seeds and then add the salt, it might stick better.
For dinner I finally made spaghetti squash lo mein! It was actually pretty good but the soy-free soy sauce definitely needs a little tweaking.
I used a 3lb. spaghetti squash, 1lb of chicken, 3 cups of broccoli, scallions, garlic, ginger and balsamic vinegar. I made it for four nights, so each serving has 276 calories, 33g carbs, 3g fiber, 31g of protein! I think that's pretty awesome, it took a bit of time between roasting the squash and also stir-frying the chicken. I still want it to taste more similar to regular lo mein. Of course after dinner, I roasted the seeds and had those! I think that next time I will rinse the seeds and then add the salt, it might stick better.
Reintroduction Day 14: 03/02/14
Just finished a really delicious lunch: a rice tortilla with refried beans! Yum! I like to cut them into little triangles because the beans are a little too thick to fold or roll the tortilla. 
I am really feeling great after a few days off dairy, which makes me feel even more certain about my decision to avoid it for the most part. That is almost how I started out being gluten-free, deciding to avoid it whenever possible. I started in January 2013, I cut my gluten down to just one serving a day. I would usually have organic bread with my sandwich or pizza sometimes, I tried to make sure that when I did eat gluten it was at least non-GMO and organic. Then sometime in March, I decided to be completely gluten-free. I was pretty rigid about it after that, except when I got home from college in may and ate a cheese calzone at my grandmother's. For about four days after eating it, I felt like I was digesting a rock. It was painful and I could feel the swelling in my digestive system. It was the worst and it was after that I decided it just wasn't worth it to cheat. Except in Greece because their wheat is different...but that's a whole other story. I think that eventually I will reach that point with diary, it may be fine once in a while but maybe there will be a day when it is just not worth it.
I am really feeling great after a few days off dairy, which makes me feel even more certain about my decision to avoid it for the most part. That is almost how I started out being gluten-free, deciding to avoid it whenever possible. I started in January 2013, I cut my gluten down to just one serving a day. I would usually have organic bread with my sandwich or pizza sometimes, I tried to make sure that when I did eat gluten it was at least non-GMO and organic. Then sometime in March, I decided to be completely gluten-free. I was pretty rigid about it after that, except when I got home from college in may and ate a cheese calzone at my grandmother's. For about four days after eating it, I felt like I was digesting a rock. It was painful and I could feel the swelling in my digestive system. It was the worst and it was after that I decided it just wasn't worth it to cheat. Except in Greece because their wheat is different...but that's a whole other story. I think that eventually I will reach that point with diary, it may be fine once in a while but maybe there will be a day when it is just not worth it.
Reintroduction Day 13: 03/01/14
I'm actually glad to be on a break from testing foods after the last four days. My skin is getting worse and I just feel out of whack. I can't wait to just eat clean this weekend and get back to feeling great.
Today I am making sweet potato fries in the oven which are super easy and delicious! I like to cut mine in circles because I think it is easier than cutting them into fries. I just baked these at 350 for about 30 minutes flipping them in the middle. Make sure to put some olive oil on them to keep them from getting too crispy, although I like it when they turn into chips!
Today I am making sweet potato fries in the oven which are super easy and delicious! I like to cut mine in circles because I think it is easier than cutting them into fries. I just baked these at 350 for about 30 minutes flipping them in the middle. Make sure to put some olive oil on them to keep them from getting too crispy, although I like it when they turn into chips!
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Reintroduction Day 12: 02/28/14
I have been thinking about my long term plans after finishing this diet. Honestly, I don't really have cravings for dairy or anything that I have been avoiding. Maybe that's just because they have been out of my diet for so long. I don't know how to get back into eating normally.
This situation is kind of funny! Before I started this diet, I could not imagine my life without cheese, yogurt and ice cream. They were seriously a main part of my diet. I didn't want to try a diet like this because I didn't think I could make it without them. Now I am wondering if I should even eat them anymore. I'm asking how do even start eating them more often? And do I even want to? Who would have thought that I could go from dairy every day to not even needing it anymore. I'm just so completely surprised with how much this diet has changed my eating habits. I'm scared to go back to eating dairy whenever I want. I feel so good now and so energetic and clear-headed all of the time. I'm worried that it might stop if I actually reintroduce foods long-term. How do I know I really can tolerate dairy?!
I guess I will just have to take it all one week at a time, like I have with the "challenging" parts of this diet. I'm not really sure what I want to do, maybe one week I will want to try making zucchini noodle lasagne and use ricotta cheese. Or maybe on my birthday, I'll want real ice cream. I guess I'll just have to see when I get there. I will definitely continue to be really tuned into my body and how I am feeling though. That is definitely one of the most important things I will come away from this experience with. I have become more in-tune to how my digestion works and what sets off my headache and what makes me feel groggy and what slows down my digestion. So, while I am taking things one week at a time, I will continue to note the ways that I am feeling and listen to what my body is telling me. Isn't that the point of this whole exercise, to really understand what makes me the strongest, healthiest and best I can be?
After sleeping on it last night, I am reconsidering my statement that I can tolerate dairy. I definitely can digest it alright but I think it has otherwise effected my system. This week I have felt more negative and less balanced than I have in the past few weeks. I am thinking it has to do with eating dairy again. I have also gotten some acne this week and my knees and joints have been hurting more. I think that this means that I will be avoiding it most of the time. I will still probably have lasagne once in a while, or baked mac and cheese but I think my days of eating diary every day are over.
I realized last night that I won't ever go back to the way I used to eat, there is no more "normal". For the most part I will be creating a new normal way of eating that hopefully will leave me feeling strong and balanced. I almost don't want to test corn next week because I don't want to feel the depressed symptoms I felt this week. Hopefully the two are different for my system...
This situation is kind of funny! Before I started this diet, I could not imagine my life without cheese, yogurt and ice cream. They were seriously a main part of my diet. I didn't want to try a diet like this because I didn't think I could make it without them. Now I am wondering if I should even eat them anymore. I'm asking how do even start eating them more often? And do I even want to? Who would have thought that I could go from dairy every day to not even needing it anymore. I'm just so completely surprised with how much this diet has changed my eating habits. I'm scared to go back to eating dairy whenever I want. I feel so good now and so energetic and clear-headed all of the time. I'm worried that it might stop if I actually reintroduce foods long-term. How do I know I really can tolerate dairy?!
I guess I will just have to take it all one week at a time, like I have with the "challenging" parts of this diet. I'm not really sure what I want to do, maybe one week I will want to try making zucchini noodle lasagne and use ricotta cheese. Or maybe on my birthday, I'll want real ice cream. I guess I'll just have to see when I get there. I will definitely continue to be really tuned into my body and how I am feeling though. That is definitely one of the most important things I will come away from this experience with. I have become more in-tune to how my digestion works and what sets off my headache and what makes me feel groggy and what slows down my digestion. So, while I am taking things one week at a time, I will continue to note the ways that I am feeling and listen to what my body is telling me. Isn't that the point of this whole exercise, to really understand what makes me the strongest, healthiest and best I can be?
After sleeping on it last night, I am reconsidering my statement that I can tolerate dairy. I definitely can digest it alright but I think it has otherwise effected my system. This week I have felt more negative and less balanced than I have in the past few weeks. I am thinking it has to do with eating dairy again. I have also gotten some acne this week and my knees and joints have been hurting more. I think that this means that I will be avoiding it most of the time. I will still probably have lasagne once in a while, or baked mac and cheese but I think my days of eating diary every day are over.
I realized last night that I won't ever go back to the way I used to eat, there is no more "normal". For the most part I will be creating a new normal way of eating that hopefully will leave me feeling strong and balanced. I almost don't want to test corn next week because I don't want to feel the depressed symptoms I felt this week. Hopefully the two are different for my system...
Reintroduction Day 11: 02/27/14
Today was my last day testing dairy! I had ice cream in the evening and it was yummy, I love the flavor of vanilla so vanilla ice cream is definitely my favorite! In all of my recipes I almost double the vanilla because I just love the taste! I want to start cooking with real vanilla because the flavor will be stronger!!!
Anyway after a week of testing dairy I think that I can say with confidence that I had not bad symptoms and I will be able to eat it more. I'm questioning my decision with eggs though and wondering if the sugar in the bread and maple syrup may have clouded my judgement of it. I mean it's not too hard to eliminate them from my diet, but baking is definitely easier with eggs. Although I have been enjoying the challenge of baking almost vegan. JJ says to keep looking for symptoms days 4-7 so I guess I will be looking for the after effects of dairy this weekend...
Anyway after a week of testing dairy I think that I can say with confidence that I had not bad symptoms and I will be able to eat it more. I'm questioning my decision with eggs though and wondering if the sugar in the bread and maple syrup may have clouded my judgement of it. I mean it's not too hard to eliminate them from my diet, but baking is definitely easier with eggs. Although I have been enjoying the challenge of baking almost vegan. JJ says to keep looking for symptoms days 4-7 so I guess I will be looking for the after effects of dairy this weekend...
Reintroduction Day 10: 02/26/14
I am definitely enjoying testing dairy! Although, its not all as good as I remember it being. Maybe since I haven't been able to eat it for a while I have built it up in my head to be amazing. Cheese is still just cheese, which is good but not as heavenly as I had been imagining. I had Amy's gluten-free mac and cheese for lunch today. It was good but my favorite lunch is still refried beans on a rice tortilla!
I haven't been doing any interesting cooking this week because I have had three exams. Maybe I should tell my professors that I can't do my midterms because I have to keep up with my blog...haha. I have some good plans for next week though, I'm going to make more paleo granola and also I think I want to make spaghetti squash chicken lo mein. I still can't have soy though so I will also have to use a soy-free soy sauce recipe. I'm not sure you can still call it soy sauce if it doesn't even have soy.. My favorite flavor in Chinese cooking is definitely the scallions though, those make every recipe so I will at least be starting with something tasty! I also want to try and make those egg-free macaroons again but this time make them with no honey (or any sugar), so they will be vegan! I really love the taste of coconut so I think I will still like them! I'll let y'all know how they turn out!
I haven't been doing any interesting cooking this week because I have had three exams. Maybe I should tell my professors that I can't do my midterms because I have to keep up with my blog...haha. I have some good plans for next week though, I'm going to make more paleo granola and also I think I want to make spaghetti squash chicken lo mein. I still can't have soy though so I will also have to use a soy-free soy sauce recipe. I'm not sure you can still call it soy sauce if it doesn't even have soy.. My favorite flavor in Chinese cooking is definitely the scallions though, those make every recipe so I will at least be starting with something tasty! I also want to try and make those egg-free macaroons again but this time make them with no honey (or any sugar), so they will be vegan! I really love the taste of coconut so I think I will still like them! I'll let y'all know how they turn out!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Reintroduction Day 9: 02/25/14
Today was day two of dairy and I had string cheese with my lunch, again all is well and I am not having any bad symptoms!
People seem to be most interested in my other post about my daily nutrition, so I thought that I would share another day. Here is what I ate today:
People seem to be most interested in my other post about my daily nutrition, so I thought that I would share another day. Here is what I ate today:
As usual I began the day with my usual breakfast smoothie and my vegan and paleo breakfast muffins! Rice tortillas with refried beans is my absolute favorite thing to have for lunch! It is just so filling with the tortilla and the beans and I love it! I look forward to it every week! I had it with my usual salad with a little bit of apple on top. I started dinner with green beans and spinach that I cooked in coconut oil and then had one of my stuffed peppers! It was a very delicious day and all of my nutrition was right on track!
Reintroduction Day 8: 02/24/24
Today was the first day of dairy! I had plain greek yogurt with my lunch and I'm happy to report that I felt fine afterwards. I am so happy because I love yogurt and I definitely want to be able to eat it. I made sure to get plain yogurt because I didn't want sugar to confuse my system with the yogurt. I am starting to wonder if really it has just been sugar all along!
When I think about it that kind of makes sense. In all of the foods that I have questioned over time there is also sugar! Yes, ice cream has dairy, but it also has sugar! Tomato sauce has sugar; maple syrup is sugar! It makes so much sense now!
When I think about it that kind of makes sense. In all of the foods that I have questioned over time there is also sugar! Yes, ice cream has dairy, but it also has sugar! Tomato sauce has sugar; maple syrup is sugar! It makes so much sense now!
Reintroduction Day 7: 02/23/14
I have four different types of dairy ready to test next week: yogurt, string cheese, mac and cheese and ice cream. I'm nervous but also very excited to be able to eat dairy again!
For my dinners this week I made stuffed bell peppers and they turned out very well! I put in black beans, rice and ground beef with some tomato sauce. It was actually very easy to make them all and now I have all of my dinners made for the week! I made a total of six stuffed peppers and froze one of them for some night in the future.
For my dinners this week I made stuffed bell peppers and they turned out very well! I put in black beans, rice and ground beef with some tomato sauce. It was actually very easy to make them all and now I have all of my dinners made for the week! I made a total of six stuffed peppers and froze one of them for some night in the future.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Reintroduction Day 6: 02/22/14
This week I am back to my regular kale smoothies!
(The fruit looks a bit sad because it has been defrosted from the freezer over night)
I usually alternate my Breakfast Smoothies switching from kale to avocado. I pair these smoothies with Vegan and Paleo Breakfast Muffins or Paleo Granola. Together they give me a well-rounded breakfast with plenty of protein and fiber to get me through the morning until lunch time!
When I went grocery shopping last night I bought everything I need to test dairy next week. I am very nervous and excited! I hope that everything goes okay and I won't have any problems!
I usually alternate my Breakfast Smoothies switching from kale to avocado. I pair these smoothies with Vegan and Paleo Breakfast Muffins or Paleo Granola. Together they give me a well-rounded breakfast with plenty of protein and fiber to get me through the morning until lunch time!
When I went grocery shopping last night I bought everything I need to test dairy next week. I am very nervous and excited! I hope that everything goes okay and I won't have any problems!
Reintroduction Day 5: 02/21/14
I finally perfected my Vegan and Paleo Breakfast Muffins! By accident, I added a lot less baking powder and the muffins turned out wonderful! The first time I made these they didn't quite cook through because of all the bananas in there to substitute for the eggs. This time I brought the temperature of the oven down and added extra time and they were great! I think I will now take that step from the beginning when I am using bananas as an egg replacement.
Reintroduction Day 4: 02/20/14
Today was my last day testing eggs, I had french toast for lunch again. I made it with just egg whites to see if that made a difference. I didn't really feel any symptoms after eating it, which was surprising since I really felt some on Tuesday. I am wondering if maybe I just got used to eating eggs or maybe using just egg whites made a difference. I definitely have more acne this week, so if it goes away after my egg-free days, I guess I can blame it on the eggs.
Before this diet, I never really ate eggs very often. I would have them in baked goods, but I don't like fried or scrambled eggs. I have only eaten french toast maybe five times in my life. I think that in the future I will probably just avoid eggs as often as I can. For the most part it is easy to substitute them in baking and when I am offered french toast I will probably take it. Even though my symptoms seemed to disappear after a few days, I think it is safe to say that eggs will go on my list to avoid 95% of the time.
One of my friends found me some store-bought cookies that I can actually eat. They are not too bad in terms of gluten-free food, most of the time these include soy and corn as substitutes. These cookies had millet flour and none of the top allergens! I would definitely recommend these they are really great!
Before this diet, I never really ate eggs very often. I would have them in baked goods, but I don't like fried or scrambled eggs. I have only eaten french toast maybe five times in my life. I think that in the future I will probably just avoid eggs as often as I can. For the most part it is easy to substitute them in baking and when I am offered french toast I will probably take it. Even though my symptoms seemed to disappear after a few days, I think it is safe to say that eggs will go on my list to avoid 95% of the time.
One of my friends found me some store-bought cookies that I can actually eat. They are not too bad in terms of gluten-free food, most of the time these include soy and corn as substitutes. These cookies had millet flour and none of the top allergens! I would definitely recommend these they are really great!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Reintroduction Day 3: 02/19/14
Today I just had another slice of my Chocolate Cinnamon Bread (hmm maybe taking out some cinnamon would make the chocolate bread less bitter- lesson learned after the French Toast fiasco). I actually felt fine for the most part after eating this. I took an epsom salt bath maybe too soon after which made my stomach feel a bit upset. I didn't feel the same headachey/tiredness though so maybe the bath was just not a good place for digesting. I noticed I had a bunch of new acne this morning though, that could also be a sign of an egg intolerance. I honestly wish it would be just a bit clearer and maybe I would get hives or something so it was really obvious...
For dinner this week I have been enjoying a delicious beef stew that I made in the crockpot on Monday! It was pretty simple to make I ended up adding green beans and peas because there weren't any veggies in the stew. I have been looking forward to my dinners all week with this stew!
For dinner this week I have been enjoying a delicious beef stew that I made in the crockpot on Monday! It was pretty simple to make I ended up adding green beans and peas because there weren't any veggies in the stew. I have been looking forward to my dinners all week with this stew!
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