My Journey Toward Gluten Free Eating

Last week I was detoxing. My brain was foggy for 2 days. I felt tired and irritable and I had hot flashes which I've never felt before. This was similar to my coffee detox in 2009 only worse. What did I give up that made me feel so icky? Wheat.

I recently started reading Wheat Belly and was shocked at all the health problems linked to this cash crop. The chapter on skin was what first convinced me try four weeks wheat free. I've had acne all my life and I'd resigned myself to living with it and just doing my best to limit it with the dermatologists help and my natural treatments.

Then I read in Wheat Belly about the numerous negative effects of wheat on the body. One way some people react to wheat is with acne. The author also mentions dairy and sugar as other foods that contribute to acne. I always thought this was a genetic problem and since my mom had bad skin I would too.

The author sites studies of isolated indigenous people groups with zero incidence of acne like the Japanese Okinawans who eat a very healthy diet which doesn't include wheat, dairy or sugar. When those foods were introduced, the incidence of acne among those peoples occurs at the same rate as the rest of the world.

The thought that I causing my own breakouts by making cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting appalled me. I immediately stopped eating problem foods and am now gluten and dairy free for at least 4 weeks. It could be forever.

This is a new journey for me and I don't know if I'll ever have wheat again. I'm also trying to transition my family to gluten free and I'm meeting resistance from my husband over giving up pasta and beer. My oldest son doesn't want to give up cookies or cakes but he's willing if there's a gluten free alternative. It's not something I want to fight about (yet) so I'm phasing wheat out of our house and not buying any more.

In the 11 years I've been a mom I've been trying my best to feed my family healthy foods that I make at home. I've avoided processed foods and focused on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and grass fed beef.  I'm now convinced that "healthy whole grains" are not healthy at all.

The thought of taking on something new is a bit overwhelming but I'm determined to try.

I share a full review of Wheat Belly here. If you've read it I'd love to hear your opinion. If you haven't are you interested in checking it out?

This post has been shared at: Wildcrafting Wednesday, Mama Moments, Clever Chicks, Homestead Barn Hop, Living Green Tuesday, Your Green Resource
(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Crockpot Garlic Chicken

I love to use my crockpot to cook dinner. It saves me so much time when I can put the meal together in the morning when my boys are gone to school and the house is quiet. Perhaps it's just me but 4-6pm is the craziest part of the day in my house between the homework & sibling fights.

I have three different slow cooker sizes, 1.5 quart, 4 quart & 7 quart and I love to give them each a chance to work for me. I even take at least one on vacation when I know I'll have to cook.

Crockpot Garlic Chicken
Adapted from Make it Fast, Cook it Slow
2-3 pounds chicken (I prefer thighs)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon pepper
10-20 garlic cloves, peeled, but intact

Place the oil, salt, paprika, pepper and garlic cloves in a 4 quart crockpot and mix. Add the chicken pieces and stir it together. If you want a one pot meal you can easily add baby carrots and new potatoes on top of the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, or on high for 3-4. The longer you cook chicken-on-the-bone, the more tender it will be. 


I doubled the recipe when I was assembling and then placed half of it in a freezer bag for a future meal. I labeled it and put it in my deep freeze. I'm trying to do more of this to cut dinner prep time down whenever I can.



This post is featured at: Make Your Own Monday

(Note: some links in this post are my referral links. Read my disclosure policy here.)