Tuesday, January 31

I'm not feeling IT today. Whatever IT is. IT tends to be the positive vibe and I'm just not there today. I spilled about a 1/3 of my shake all over the passenger seat in the van when I dropped off Annyka this morning. And I had nothing except newspaper to clean it up. I'm growly about that, then when I got to work, I didn't even feel like eating it.

I want cheese today. Specifically nacho cheese dip. It's not going to happen, but I think because there doesn't seem to be a good substitute for cheese, I'm really craving and mourning it right now. I also want garlic bread because I can smell that crap from our cafeteria.

Although I am eating, a lot of the time I don't feel like I'm getting full. I'm hoping that is a transitional, temporary thing, but right now it's pretty tough. I need to be running, but I just don't feel like I have the energy. I don't feel tired really, just hungry. Snacking on almonds aren't getting the job done.

Anyway, lunch yesterday was the aforementioned salad with lemon juice/olive oil dressing. Dinner was taco salad and an apple while everyone else at my meeting had spaghetti and garlic bread.

Tonight, I'd like to take Annyka down to the Super Bowl Village so I'll probably just be hungry. I have no money to get food while we're out and I don't have much with me to take. Maybe I'll have some of my shake left to drink.

Sorry to be so down, but I'm feeling the weight of all this today.

How do you make a salad dressing...

...that is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free and vinegar-free? Ranch often has gluten based ingredients + dairy is a problem. Caesar has eggs. And everything else is vinegar.

It's been a challenge, but it can be done. I tried just infused olive oil last night. It was a little flat. It needed some acid (I knew this from watching too much Food Network).

Today I've got lemon juice and olive oil. Better, but I need to branch out with the juices - cranberry juice maybe or orange.... This could get interesting.

Sunday, January 29

I got to have my first eating out experiences with dietary restrictions. Saturday we went to Qdoba for dinner before a movie. I got a naked burrito. Yum. I was surprisingly full. And I didn't even get any popcorn at the movies. I love popcorn at the movies, but the last few times I've had it, it's upset my stomach.

This morning we went to Cracker Barrel for brunch. I got the grilled chicken tenderloins with green beans, baby carrots and fries. I realize the veggies could have been cooked in a little butter, but that's a minor evil.

We then headed downtown to the Super Bowl Village and NFL Experience. I took my own snacks with me. They said no "outside food or drink" but I snuck some in anyway. I had a chocolate snack bar and almonds. I also had some Fritos in honor national corn chip day! In the evening we had to go pick up my daughter from her dad's in Ohio, so we were on the road. I had a Hardee's thickburger with mushrooms - no bun, no cheese, no condiments. I also had a spinach salad with olive oil, craisins and sunflower seeds. It wasn't too bad. It needed a little acid, but next time I'll add some fruit juice to the oil.

Overall, I feel like it was a pretty successful weekend - at least foodwise. My house is still a disaster and desperately needs cleaned, but I'll get to that....eventually.

Friday, January 27

There was a time when I didn't really understand why people got so worked up about Fridays and that TGIF business. But then my job got freaking INSANE, my volunteering became ridiculously political and vicious and stopped sleeping as much as I need to.

I'm so ready for the weekend...but no so I can party and get crazy - so I can rest.

Today I didn't eat all that well. I had my chocolate shakeology for breakfast, blended with a banana and some super-green powder. I had some almonds, V8 and rice cake with nutella for snacks, but I didn't eat any actual lunch. Back in the day I actually had to look for things to do. Now, if I get through a week without having to work from home or skip a lunch I'm celebrating.

I did do some cooking this evening though. I made soft tacos - ground turkey with homemade seasoning and green chilies, refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and some plain soy yogurt mixed with taco sauce I can eat on corn tortillas. Pretty good and filling.

I also made some turkey "sausage." I took some plain ground turkey (85/15) and mixed in minced onions, smoked paprika, garlic powder, a little sage and thyme and some salt & pepper. I mixed it all together then rolled it and wrapped it tightly in Saran wrap. It's in the freezer now. I'm not sure what exactly I'm going to do with it yet, but it seemed like something I might want eventually. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Pleasantly surprised...

I went on my first gluten-free, dairy-free grocery shopping trip yesterday. Fun times. I hit the Meijer by my house. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the selection. There were allergen-free options in various places throughout the store. I spent way more than I normally would on a regular shopping trip, but I am having to restock a lot of things - pasta, rice, other grains, flours, condiments, etc. Plus I haven't done a big shopping trip since before Christmas so I also had to buy plenty of meat.

So here are the meals I have planned for the next several days. Many of my lunches will be leftovers of dinner:

Pork chops with mushrooms and some misc side dishes (veggies and rice) - I haven't the details of the mushroom part, but I'll figure something out. The whole no-yeast = nothing fermented thing is really through me for a loop. I only fell in love with vinegars a few years ago, and now they're back out of my life!
Enchilada Casserole made with corn tortillas, some sort of homemade tomato-based sauce and beans - obviously no cheese for me. :(
Curried Lentils and Rice
Stir-fry with rice noodles this will include various veggies, garlic, some sort of meat, etc. It's kind of up in the air right now.
Tuna Casserole again, I haven't figured out the details, but I 'll figure something out (are you catching a theme to how I cook)
Southwestern Lime Chicken Tacos 
Chili-topped Baked Potatoes the chili will be homemade
Meatloaf

I think one of my biggest fears is that I will not be able to come up with meals on the fly the way I do now. I usually have a general plan of meal ideas so I can shop, but whatever leftovers I have usually get thrown into other impromptu meals. I'll find a way though. I always have.

More about today's meals later. Back to work...

 

Thursday, January 26

We were all so responsible last night...going to bed at respectable bedtimes. Both kids were in bed by 8:15, I was in bed by 10:30 and scott was in bed....well, it wasn't too late. And I didn't turn the alarm on last night. We woke up at 7:05. One child (the video-game obsessed boy) was already dressed so that he could play on the iPad - for once I appreciated his devotion to Plants vs. Zombies (who comes up with these games?). The other, I had to drag out of bed.

But we managed to get showered, dressed, grab food and get out of the house by 7:34 and at school on time. A feat if I do say so myself. I didn't manage to make it to work on time, but I've worked extra this week.

Breakfast today is once again, chocolate Shakeology. Lunch will be leftover green beans, taters and smokies.
The dinner plan is pizza soup. It's not quite 100% gluten-free (again stupid MSG in the sausage), but it's a transition. I don't have a concrete recipe, but it's something like this:


PIZZA SOUP

• Italian sausage (out of the casing), browned
• Crushed tomatoes
• garlic
• diced bell peppers
• diced onions
• italian seasoning
• mushrooms if we have any
• Top with cheese if you aren't sensitive to it - I won't be doing that though.

One of the things I've been worrying about lately is how I portray my attitude to my diet restrictions. I don't want to be the friend/family member that is always forcing everyone else to follow their restrictions. I want to be positive about these changes in my life and try my best to accommodate to whatever situation I'm in rather than expect everyone else to accommodate me. I know someone who will refuse to attend an event and/or complain the entire time if the menu is not gluten-free. That's not anyone's problem but me. I do expect a certain level of support in my own home, but outside my home, it's my challenge. Whether that means bringing my food or eating in advance of an event, that is a burden I will bear - hopefully with grace.

If you or your child face diet restrictions, how do you handle them in groups or in public?

Later I will share my meal ideas for the next several days.

Wednesday, January 25

I took a personal hour this morning and got a massage today so I started the day off right, but that got pretty much ruined when several other things were thrown at me at work today and I worked through my lunch break. But at least I ate. I had a shakeology chocolate shake made with soy milk for breakfast. Lunch was arroz con pollo with black beans and a V8.
Now it's time for dinner. I've made steamed fingerling potatoes, green beans, cipollini onions and little smokies for dinner. I know that the little smokies have MSG in them so they are technically not gluten-free, but I don't have a lot of options before I get to the store. I was going to go tonight, but we're getting freezing rain/sleet junk and I just don't feel like battling that.
But I am going to sit down and plan a couple weeks of meals after we eat dinner. Til tomorrow...