Angel Food Ministries Offers Allergy Friendly Food Box

Angel Food Ministries was started by Joe and Linda Wingo to help families who are experiencing financial difficulties. This program offers discounted boxes of food that can be purchased in advance and picked up at a location that is close to your home. They offer a gluten free box that is also free of other allergens such as soy, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish and crustaceans (shellfish).

My friend and partner, Mary Ann Kelley, who manages the web site that hosts my gluten free casein free menu planner, also has menu plans that help you utilize the food that is offered each month in the Angel Food Ministry plan.

This month's allergy friendly box has an assortment of breaded chicken and meat. They also offer a produce box as well.

Being on a gluten free diet can break the bank if you aren't careful. What happens is that our previous gluten laden foods/products are quickly replaced with gluten free substitutes. These substitutions will rob you of your health as they contain inflammatory oils and high amounts of carbohydrates and sugars. I discussed this in a post last year when I examined why we should think outside the breadbox.

As we are tightening our financial belt, we look to cut costs where we can. This ministry may be helpful to you by stretching your food budget. They also take food stamps. This food can extend your food for the month or be a substitute for going to the store.

Below are some helpful hints to keep your food costs down.

• Make fewer trips to the store on a FULL stomach.
• Try to make double duty meals, I made one Sunday night that will be listed below.
• Shop on Tuesday for meat clearance sales.
• Some stores will have double ads on one day of the week. My local natural market has last week's and the current week's sale items available on Wednesday.
• Make your own food. This is not only for short term budget containment, but long term health benefits. You can control what you put into the food you are preparing.
• Stick with fresh foods that are simple. It is fun to make an exotic recipe, but the ingredients can be cost prohibitive.
• Start a co-op with your friends so you can buy in bulk. One of my friends is purchasing $5 quarts of honey from a local bee keeper.
• Buy in bulk what you can use. Use coupons on products that you really use, don't feel compelled to use a coupon just because you have it. Take advantage of double coupons or use on sale items. Target has a $1 coupon accordion organizer that fits great in a purse.
• Every week use up what food is in the fridge. Many cuisines around the world take the remains of the veggie drawer and make a soup out of it.
• Many stores have $1 produce bags full of produce that is ripe. Bananas can be frozen and aging apples can be pureed into applesauce or cooked or baked in a crisp.

The two recipes below came about from a $1 produce bag of 3 organic bell peppers, definitely a good deal and 1lb. of ground turkey that was $2.25.

Stuffed Peppers

3 peppers, washed, dried and sliced in half from stem to bottom
A large pot of boiling water
1 lb. ground turkey or beef
1 small onion diced
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 small celery stalk diced
1/2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 Tbsp. A-1 Steak sauce (is GF, always read labels), or ketchup
1/2 24oz. jar of marinara sauce of your choice (read labels to avoid gluten and dairy) or
1 1/2 c. homemade marinara sauce

Brown the turkey in olive oil with onions, garlic and celery over medium low heat. While cooking turkey, boil pepper halves in hot water for 3-5 minutes until crisp tender. Remove from water and place in foil lined, oiled rectangular pan to accommodate all the peppers. Add seasonings, steak sauce or ketchup and sea salt and pepper to taste. Remove meat mixture from heat and scoop into pepper halves, save remaining turkey for next recipe. Pour the marinara sauce over the peppers and bake 350F for 30-35 minutes.
Serves 6

Clean out the drawer Soup

Place remaining cooked 1/2 lb. of turkey in a soup pot over medium heat. Add 2 small sliced carrots, 2 small sliced celery stalks, remaining marinara, 1 small diced zucchini, 1/2 T. Italian seasoning and 1/4 c. rice or risotto. Fill the marinara jar with water x 2 and add to soup. Simmer until vegetables are soft and rice is cooked.

You can use any veggies you have for this recipe and adjust the thickness with more or less water.

Green Smoothies

What is a green smoothie?

It is a blended drink that contains greens--fresh, uncooked spinach, lettuce (not iceberg), dandelion greens, kale, and herbs such as parsley and cilantro. Dark, leafy greens provide can meet many of our nutritional needs. It is great to add one or two dark, leafy green salads or cooked side dish to your daily meals. Blending the greens, allows for those who have poor digestion (myself and many fellow gluten intolerant individuals) to obtain more nutrients from their foods as the process of chewing is done by the blender. This also allows for anyone to get a higher amount of greens in one sitting then could be done by chewing a large salad.

How does a green smoothie differ from juicing?

I like juicing and it has its place in providing a lot of nutrition in concentrated form. I find that I do better with these smoothies as it keeps the fiber intact with fruits and veggies.


Why are these drinks beneficial?

Most of us think it is odd to drink something that is green unless it is Mountain Dew! Dark, leafy greens are loaded with calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron with vitamins A and C. Realize that vitamin A obtained from plant sources and not animal (form is beta-carotene) require the body to convert the beta-carotene to vitamin A, Those who are acutely or chronically sick may not be able to do. Fresh greens also contain chlorophyll which can help stimulate red blood cell production and provides magnesium.

Many raw foodists start their day with a green smoothie and may also have one for lunch. I find that as a person with chronic fatigue that adding these nutritious, fresh smoothies to my diet has provided a great energy boost! I have been drinking these for breakfast daily for a few months. I took a hiatus from them for a little over a week and became fatigued again resulting in needing to rest during the day for hours. Since resuming the drinks, I rarely need a nap and generally feel better.

Can I have spinach everyday?

Spinach is the best green to start with, as it is liked by all who try it and it breaks down easily. It is important to rotate greens as they contain small amounts of nitrogen, called alkaloids and they can pile up in your system. You always want to rotate foods, that is why we have seasonal foods, we aren't meant to eat the same thing over and over.

Are green smoothies for kids?

These are good drinks for kids and they will never know the greens are in them. Some of the drinks are green and you could put them in a cup with a lid that the kids can't see. This drink could be in addition to your child's breakfast but not the entire breakfast. My son does drink these most days of the week and since he is almost 14, he doesn't always want a big breakfast. He does have protein at lunch and a larger meal at that time. This drink can also be a snack and is a better alternative to sugar laden fruit juices that are available. Using a straw works well for kids and adults alike.

How do I choose greens and prepare them?

Choose fresh, bright, organic greens that aren't yellowing, browning or wilting. Wash your greens thoroughly rinsing them until all dirt and grit is gone. I use a mix of food grade 3% hydrogen peroxide, a few ounces in a bowl of water that covers my produce. After soaking them for about 5-10 minutes, I rinse them.

What is in green smoothies?

There are many ways to make green smoothies but typically they consist of fruit, water or juice (fresh squeezed or juiced, such as limes, lemons or apples) and greens. The fruit percentage is typically 60% fruit and 40% greens.


How do I make one?

The recipe for today, is a Blackberry Mango Smoothie. We will make it using a normal blender not a Vita-Mix, which is a great machine, but very expensive. If you really enjoy these smoothies and have health issues, it may be a good investment for you. No, I don't get any money from Vita-Mix, I wish!! I wish they would send me one!!!

I will show you how to make the smoothie using a normal speed blender. You can follow this procedure with any smoothie you want to make. Remember, a regular blender doesn't have the force to pull big pieces of food down to the blade if there is too much fluid diluting the mixture.

Blackberry Mango Smoothie

1 10 oz. bag organic frozen blackberries
1 10 oz. bag organic frozen mangoes
2 c. spinach
water







Place blackberries in the blender and place enough water to cover the berries.



Puree the berries. Place this mix in a strainer over a bowl.








This is what the blackberry juice will look like.


Place half of the blackberry juice in the blender. Add the spinach (if you used a different green such as romaine, rip it into smaller pieces) and blend well.


Add the mango and more blackberry juice if needed to keep the mixture moving. Add more water to the mixture, I usually add enough to fill it to the top.



My action picture!!!


Voila! I usually drink 28-32 ounces a day.

Enjoy!!!

The 10 Absolute Worst Things to Put into Your Mouth!

Happy New Year! Being a new year, we all make resolutions to do things differently than we did last year. I would encourage you to avoid putting the following foods/non-foods in your mouth and your body this year. By being diligent and making your own food, not only will your health benefit, but so will your pocket book.

Maintaining or regaining your health is priceless. And really we should have started yesterday, next time, don't wait until the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, start right away. Successful people don't wait to start.

Also, if you indulge, don't beat yourself up, make sure your next meal is a healthy one, it will help make up for a bad meal.

1. Cancer sticks, also known as french fries. I must confess I love french fries! I haven't always, but lately they seemed to call my name. Smash Burger has Smash Fries, greasy and dotted with yummy rosemary seasoning. This is a food drenched in inflammatory, usually hydrogenated or trans fatty oils (usually rancid oils), stripped of its nutrients and unfortunately turns to sugar when it is consumed by our bodies. The only "benefit" is some satiation of emotional discomfort. The feeling of I need my fries is temporarily relieved when consumed, but I tend to suffer later because I ate them. So I and you should avoid these, occasional consumption is not the end of the world. Avoid all fried items, drop the doughnut!

2. MSG also known as: monosodium glutamate, autolyzed yeast extract, so called natural flavorings, sodium caseinate, plant protein, glutamate, glutamic acid and many other disguised names. MSG is an excitotoxin. It works by exciting your taste buds making food taste qualities more distinct. There is a food chain that has a tortilla soup that I find myself craving. They will not disclose all of the ingredients making me think that MSG is the culprit that intensifies the taste and makes me want the product more. In exciting our taste buds, Dr Russell Blaylock, a neurologist has written a book that discusses the neurotoxicity of MSG and aspartame. The neurons in our brain are our nervous system's building blocks. MSG and its twisted cousin, aspartame/Nutrasweet are excitotoxins which lead to weight gain and neuron death. They are excited to death, literally.

Nutrasweet, aspartame are in the same boat here. If you have a choice between white sugar and aspartame, choose the white sugar. People tend to crave carbohydrates more while taking these substances, leading to more weight. Drop the Flaming Hot Cheetos!

3. Cold cereals are glorified junk food. I know they tout lots of fiber, but even organic ones are loaded with sugars. Taking bleached or unbleached refined grains or whole grains and heating them to high temperatures so they can be extruded into shapes like nuggets, rings, whatever does not make a health food. Here is a great article on this subject as well as grains in general.

4. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) or Agave, fructose syrup, should be avoided at all costs. Again, the occasional pop or Gatorade is not the end of the world, but like gluten, this product is in almost every processed food. Last year studies confirmed that mercury was found in some HFCS samples. That is disturbing as we are exposed to many environmental and food toxins as is. These fructose syrups are metabolized by the liver, not the digestive tract and can cause non-alcoholic liver disease which can lead to cirrhosis. It also causes diabetes, obesity and high triglycerides (blood fats). You don't need this. If you are hooked on soda, quit.

5. Unfermented soy 'food' products. Tofu is fine in moderation, but is not a health food. Soy milk is a highly processed food. Soy oil and lecithin is found in many foods and as typical American fashion we tend to over do anything that we think is good for us. Over 2/3rds of soy crops grown in US are genetically modified (GMO). The Japanese do consume tofu but mainly fermented soy products such as miso, fermented soy beans and soy sauce (keep yours gluten free). They also use soy to round out their meal, not as a replacement, similar to a condiments.

6. Sugar, is the white Satan and yes, you should avoid sugar. What is considered sugar? Many of the wonderful gluten free bloggers suggest their recipes are sugar free because they are using agave nectar or honey. But these are sugars, different types, but have the effects of sugar even if it is supposedly low glycemic. In the case of agave, it is worrisome because it has the same effects on health as HFCS. Honey has some beneficial properties that are medicinal as well as containing nutrients and minerals. It is also a sugar though and should be used sparingly.

Ultimately, we as a nation need to deal with our extreme addiction to sugar. Don't forget about natural sugars. Fruits are (contain levulose) good, juice should be avoided. Blending a whole fruit is preferable as the fiber and nutrients stay with the fruit as opposed to separation that occurs with juicing. People with difficulty regulating their blood sugar should avoid juicing fruit. Dried fruits are very concentrated in natural sugar and should also be avoided. Carbohydrates do add up over the course of day. This means absolutely no pop!! Special message to my wonderful, Mountain Dew loving husband! The Dew is green, but not made by God.

Special note: Splenda shouldn't be consumed by anyone. Long term effects remain to be seen and it isn't wise to eat something that your body supposedly doesn't recognize. Sweet N Low, aspartame, Equal are all bad for you. Stevia is a good choice for liquids that need sweetening such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate or salad dressing. Sugar alcohol substitutes like Xylitol are highly processed but can be used for baking.

6. Since this is a GF blog, we all avoid white flour. But what about GF white substitutes? Tapioca, arrowroot, corn and potato starches, rice flours, and sorghum have their fair share of carbs. So be mindful of your consumption or your pants may get quite tight! And, you can continue to increase inflammation.

7. Microwave popcorn (microwaving in general is not wise as it destroys the nutrients in your meal) is a chemically laden food and shouldn't be produced must less consumed by anyone. If you want popcorn get a kettle popper hand cranked or electric, use organic, not GMO corn and coconut oil.

8. Canned foods tend to have liners made from plastic, Bisphenol A, a toxic compound. This chemical is known to be a xenoestrogen. It has implications for cancer, miscarriage and immune dysfunction.

9. Liquid meals in cans/cartons such as weight loss shakes, Ensure, etc. Read the label. Not only is there dairy products but a lot of sugar and synthetic vitamins. If you require liquid nutrition due to health concern or would like a liquid breakfast, stay tuned for next week, we will discuss a healthy, easy option to meet this need. Liquid meals tend to also be processed, lacking any fresh foods with live enzymes.

10. Protein bars are glorified candy bars. Protein bars are made by soy and whey waste products obtained from manufactures and are again loaded with HFCS or other sugars. Hydrogenated fats are also prevalent in these bars. If you can find raw food bars, they can be a good stand in, but may contain agave. If you want a bar to eat, try looking up recipes online and making your own. You can always make them in bulk and freeze them. Here is a yummy recipe from Dr Ben Kim. He has some wonderful GFCF and raw recipes.

Resources
http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/index.htm
http://www.ewg.org/node/20938
www.drbenkim.com



This list should give you incentive to really think about what you put in your mouth and to make your own food. It will be kind to your body, your mind, your family, your pocketbook and your waist line.