GLUTEN FREE & CELIAC DISEASE🍞A few nights ago while answering some DMs I realized that I really haven’t opened up or talked about living a gluten free lifestyle or about having Celiac Disease. While these things don’t even begin to define me they have certainly played a leading role into my interest in nutrition and cooking. Without any further delays, here I go…
Let me start off by saying I wasn’t a sick kid. I didn’t spend hours in bed curled up in a ball with awful stomach aches, rather I was that kid making arts & crafts with huge smile on my face. Little did anyone know my insides were screaming. I have always been the shortest of my friends, but no one ever thought much of it because I don’t come from a tall family. At 11 years old my pediatrician told my mom that my growth curve was off, I was shorter than expected and we should have some test run. A trip to the endocrinologist and some blood tests later I was on the way to sleep away camp for seven weeks. The endocrinologist said I seemed like a perfectly healthy kid who was just growing at my on pace. Little did anyone know, 5 days later I was being flown home from sleep away camp to have an emergency endoscopy. As I was hearing the words “gluten free” and “Celiac Disease” for the first time all I wanted to know was if I could still eat Twix bars and gummy bears. A panel of blood tests, an endoscopy, meetings with doctors and dietitians later my doctor turned to my parents and said “you have the happiest sick kid around, I can’t believe she isn’t miserable”. Long story short…gluten had done quite a number on my small intestine and no one could believe I was A-Symptomatic. All of a sudden my world had been flipped upside down…I couldn’t eat this thing called gluten. At the time no one knew what gluten was. There was no such thing as gluten free crackers, pizza, pasta, etc. Restaurant menus weren’t marked and every waiter looked at me like I had a third eye. From then on I was that kid at birthday parties eating a protein bar when everyone else was having pizza and cake. I was the kid eating grilled chicken over salad at every restaurant and when I went back to sleep away camp that summer…I ate rice cakes and peanut butter for every meal because no one knew what to feed me. To this day I cannot eat another rice cake with peanut butter. Over that last 9 years I watched as the gluten free diet went in and out of style, I watched the product market boom and I went from using as app to explain what celiac disease is to waiters at restaurants to just having to briefly say “I’m gluten free and have Celiac Disease, please make sure my dishes are all gluten free” to the waiter when I sit down at my table. I’ve read all the books, eaten all over the world, had tours of grocery stores, tried what feels like every gluten free product on the market, asked all of the proper questions every time I get food outside of my own home and I’m still here doing every single day. If you have any questions about being gluten free, gluten free products, celiac disease or anything DM me! I’m always here to answer and all questions 🤗🤍✨
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🍓🍊🥑🥒🍋🍅🥬🍉 Lets talk about eating seasonally. You all know how much I love shopping at the farmer’s market. I love supporting local farmers and eating the freshest produce, but what I haven’t talked to you guys about is the heightened nutritional value of shopping at the farmer’s market. Yup, that’s right. Shopping at the farmer’s market is better for your health.
When you shop at the farmer’s market you’re only buying in season produce. You’re buying from smaller farmers that aren’t commercialized which means no greenhouses. This means that the produce you’re getting is whatever can be grown in the current season you’re experiencing. It’s grown in nutrient rich soil these farmers work so hard to create and maintain. This produce is then harvested at peak ripeness, which is also when it has its highest nutritional value and sole to you the same to next day. Commercialized produce is picked early in order for it to ripen as it ships all over the world causing a loss of nutrients. Ever wonder why the smoothie you made with frozen fruit tastes better than a smoothie you made with “fresh” fruit from the supermarket? I have the answer…frozen fruit is picked at peak ripeness and then frozen on the spot. This means the nutrients are preserved in the fruit while it’s frozen! Frozen fruit and veggies are able to be picked at peak ripeness because there is no worry about reopening as it ships. Once the fruit and veggies are frozen everything is kept in place, nutrients & ripeness. Now, if you’re wondering if frozen fruit and veggie are “healthier” then fresh from the supermarket the answer is complicated. Overall, no. But if you’re looking to buy more nutritious food, my answer is yes. Frozen produce is not only more nutritious but less expensive. So go ahead, buy the frozen organic produce for the same price as the regular “fresh” produce at the supermarket and your body will thank you later. For more tips & tricks like this follow me on Instagram @sophieinthecity_ |
About The AuthorI'm a young girl who loves fashion/beauty, cooking, exploring/traveling and coffee!! Follow along to take part in my journey and see my path to becoming a registered dietician! Archives
December 2020
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