I prepped these tips for an event at our son’s elementary school. It’s the brain-child of a good friend of ours, and I’m excited to be a part of it. The concept it simple: get kids and families thinking about how to live a healthy life.

It starts with you, and ends with the community. Like many things in life, when you have the support of those around you, the choices in life are easier. When we feel that warm, supportive arm of a friend or loved one wrapped around us, it helps us to feel confident that we can achieve our dreams. Even if the dream is as simple as finding more organization in your life, or as life changing as a goal of improved health. grain-free lunchbox

So I thought I would share these tips here as well. I hope you find them useful in helping you achieve a balance of healthy lunch solutions that won’t break your (limited) time or budget. Good luck!

 

Healthy Lunch Box Ideas

If you’re like most parents, it’s about all you can do to get your kids out the door on time each morning, without the pressure of making sure you’ve packed a healthy, wholesome lunch too. And while we would love to rely on the quality of foods in our schools, the reality is there just isn’t enough funding available to make sure we are providing Organic, healthy and non-processed foods for our children.

However, the health and well being of our children is our top priority, so it’s becoming more apparent that we need to control what our kids eat.

Here are some quick tips for keeping your kids happy, and filled with healthy and delicious foods everyday that won’t create more stress in your morning routine:

  1. Pack all school meals the night before you need them. The mornings are way too busy to deal with lunch packing. This is key, folks!
  2. Avoid processed foods – try to focus on foods free of refined sugars
  3. Skip the dessert – it causes cravings, sugar crashes and brain fog
  4. Use your own intuition to find what works best for you and your family
  5. Opt for organic whenever possible

 

Here’s what a low cost, balanced meal plan could look like:

  • Sandwich (nitrate free, nitrite free lunch meat or Organic nut butter and jelly)
  • Fresh fruit (sliced apples, melon or grapes are easy)
  • Nut butter or Hummus and crackers for dipping
  • Granola
  • Low sugar granola type bar (we like Larabar, Kind Bars, Thunderbird Energetica)
  • Salad (we pack a salad with pre-mixed lettuce, carrots and cucumbers and O&V dressing)

 

Remember, prepare your meals the night before they’re needed and you will have a (relatively) stress free morning!

 

 

 

paleo sauces

Whether you’re new to a low sugar, gluten-free or Paleo diet or been at it for a while, figuring out how to spice up your dishes can be a daunting task. Sometimes we get bored or lazy when prepping food, or we simply just forget about those we loved. So to keep it all in one place, here are some of our favorites that we’ve discovered over the last few years.

These were modified from various cookbooks and online sites to fit our specific needs, so remember to always adjust seasoning to taste and adapt these to suit your needs and tastes as well. I often take them with me when we eat out, so be sure to invest in some good small containers to store individual servings in. Also, remember that these recipes won’t last as long as their store-bought versions since they’re preservative-free and will only last for a few weeks.

Enjoy! paleo sauces

 

Paleo Mayonnaise 

Paleo gluten, dairy, soy and preservative free mayonnaise recipe.
Makes 1 Cup
1 egg
1 TBSP Fesh lemon juice
1/4 Tsp Dry mustard
1/2 Cup Olive oil
1/2 Cup Flaxseed oil

Blend egg, lemon and mustard in blender for 3-5 seconds. Continue blending as you add oils. Blend till thick.
Store in air tight container for up to 5-7 days.

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Start the new year off right!

For those of you who aren’t aware, we launched our gluten-free samples program, Happybelly Box last year, and we’re excited to offer you a chance to win a free sample box packed with our delicious, favorite gluten and dairy free snacks! These treats are perfect for your backpack or lunchbox and we keep them on hand at all times to make sure we have a safe and healthy treat option when hunger pangs hit! 

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How do you enter for your chance to win a FREE Happybelly Box?

Simply head on over to our site, Happybellybox and register for your chance to win.

Whether you’re news to the gluten-free lifestyle or consider yourself a pro, our snacks are sure to please! They’re hand-picked to include our favorite snack foods and are often vegan, Paleo and are always packed with super-foods, nutrient-rich goodness.

Good luck!

 

 

It’s that time of year again; the kiddos are back in school, the 20 MPH lights are flashing reminding us to take things slowly (which is always harder to remember when life gets back to a normal routine) and we’re all scrambling for ideas on what to pack in their lunchboxes.  Since we have access to some amazingly yummy and healthy foods through our online shop, Happybelly Box, we thought it would be a good idea to package them up into a nice little giveaway for you. Then, when you try them and figure out which of our gluten-free, dairy-free goodies you can’t live without, you can head over to our online shop and grab some more to have on hand.

Our giveaway box will include some of our favorite treats including Thunderbird’s Almond Cookie Pow Wow (think almond cookies), organic superfoods including Almond Courage, our favorite indulgence, Chocolate Goddess Clusters, and some Epic Protein Bars to help keep you going throughout the day.

How do you enter for your chance to win FREE Happybelly samples?

Simply follow the instructions on the widget below to be entered for your chance to win free samples. Feel free to sign up for your loved ones who are on the hunt for safe gluten and dairy free food options as well.

Be sure to comment below and tell us which products you love, and what new ones you’d like to see us include for next time!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The gang at Happybelly Box and Inspiredeats

 

 

Last week I wrote about the Healthy Life Summit, and how I was excited to listen to so many amazingly gifted folks who are on a mission to clean up our health talk about some of their most passionate topics. I listened to Chris Kessler talk about managing better sleep patterns and healing through sleep by focusing on melatonin levels, and Donna Gates, author of Body Ecology talk about how important healthy gut flora is and how we can address autism and other diseases through better nutrition and the use of probiotics.

But if you missed a presentation you really wanted to see, you can still take advantage of the savings – until April 3rd at midnight, you can save 60% off the total package price, and enjoy 35 different sessions including our favorites below.

  • Jenny McGruther of Nourished Kitchen on making real food affordable
  • Chris Kresser – Chrono-Disruption: The Dark Side Of Artificial Light
  • Diane Sanfilippo, author of New York Times bestseller, Practical Paleo and THE 21-DAY SUGAR DETOX shares how to ditch sugar in 21 days!
  • Bill Staley and Hayley Mason, authors of Make It Paleo – Make It Paleo
  • Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet – Conquering Systemic Infection: Essential to Good Health
  • Heather Dessinger AKA Mommypotomous dishes on beauty products safe enough to eat!
  • Cara Comini of Health Home & Happiness on her real-life experience with reversing her daughter’s autism
  • Robyn O’Brien, author of The Unhealthy Truth and founder of Allergykids.com – Generation RX
  • Matt & Betsy Jabs, DIYNatural.com – Natural DIY Projects: Save Money & Improve Your Health

The sale price of $79 will go up to $199 this Wednesday at midnight Pacific time, so order today to take advantage of the sale!

healhty life summit

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This past year has been an amazing one for me. I’ve had some major improvements in my health, am forming an incredible group of healing professionals around us, and been lucky enough to join a group of amazingly talented writers who share their insights, inspirations and life journeys on health and wellness. And this group, Village Green Network, is hosting a Healthy Life Summit next week and I’m excited to be hear what comes from the summit.   This FREE online virtual conference is happening March 24-30, and includes 35 of my favorite health experts, authors, doctors, bloggers, farmers and activists , and I get to listen to them from the comfort of my own couch 🙂

Ann Marie Michaels, the host of the Healthy Life Summit,  is a leading advocate of the real food movement and is passionate about leveraging digital media to help spread the word about healthy living choices.  In 2008, she founded Real Food Media – now Village Green Network – providing the highest-quality information from the best bloggers on organic and natural food and lifestyle. She runs a network of healthy lifestyle bloggers that has opened my eyes to so many ways we can improve our health; from small changes in our food choices, why we should shun plastic, natural ointments and salves for bruises, cuts and scrapes, healthy recipes and more.

I share many of the posts I love on my Facebook page, so many of you are aware of some of the authors already, but here’s a full list of the speakers:

Healthy Eating

Diane Sanfilippo, author of New York Times bestsellerPractical Paleo – The 21-Day Sugar Detox

Bill Staley and Hayley Mason, authors of Make It Paleo – Make It Paleo

Julia Ross, author of The Mood Cure and The Diet Cure – Healing the Mind and Body with Food

Dr. Kaayla Daniel, author of the Whole Soy Story – Practice Safe Soy

Kelly the Kitchen Kop – Transitioning Your Family from Junk Food to Real Food

Mark McAfee, Organic Pastures Raw Dairy – The War on Milk

Jenny McGruther, Nourished Kitchen – Techniques for Making Real Food Easy & Affordable

 

Healthy Body

Liz Wolfe of Cave Girl Eats – SKINTERVENTION

Vanessa Romero, Healthy Living How To – Losing Weight & Healing Your Hormones in Your 40s

Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet – Conquering Systemic Infection: Essential to Good Health

Robin Konie, Thank Your Body – Movement for Eliminating Chronic Pain and Weight Loss

Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of The Magnesium Miracle – Why You Need Magnesium

Matt Stone, 180 Degree Health – Metabolism and Stress – An Inner Tug of War

Dr. Dean Howell – NeuroCranial Restructuring (NCR)

 

Healthy Babies & Kids

Kristen Michaelis of FoodRenegade.com – Why Pre-Conception & Pregnancy Diets Matter

Sally Fallon Morell, author of Nourishing Traditions – Feeding and Caring for Babies and Children

Emily Bartlett, LAc, of HolisticSquid.com – Treating Eczema from the Inside Out

Robyn O’Brien, author of The Unhealthy Truth and founder of Allergykids.com – Generation RX

Genevieve Pazdan, of MamaNatural.com – Cloth Diapers Made Easy

Sarah Pope, The Healthy Home Economist – Is Breast Really Always Best?

Cara Comini, Health, Home & Happiness – Recovering from Autism with Diet

 

Healthy Living

Chris Kresser – Chrono-Disruption: The Dark Side Of Artificial Light

Jeffrey Smith, author of Seeds of Deception andGenetic Roulette – Health and Environmental Dangers of GMOs

Matt & Betsy Jabs, DIYNatural.com – Natural DIY Projects: Save Money & Improve Your Health

Mary Cordaro, MaryCordaro.com – Nesting Reframed: Creating Healthy Homes

Daniel Vitalis, founder of Surthrival – Rewilding Yourself

Louisa Williams, author of Radical Medicine – Radical Medicine

Heather Dessinger, Mommypotamus – Homemade Beauty Products Safe Enough to Eat

 

Healthy World

Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms – Folks, This Ain’t Normal!

Brandon Sheard, Farmstead Meatsmith – Welcome to the Sausage Party: How to Slaughter & Butcher Animals at Home

Tamara Wilder, Paleotechnics.com – Paleo Technology: Ancient Skills in a Modern World

Chris Kerstonof Chaffin Family Orchards – Sustainable Grass-based Farms Can Save the Planet

Kristin Canty, Director of Farmageddon – The Attack on American Farms

Birke Baehr, 14-year-old Future Organic Farmer – What’s Wrong with Our Food?

Graham Merriwether, Director of American Meat – From CAFOS to Sustainable, Grass-fed Agriculture

 

I just love being able to listen to these summits, in my home, while alone and able to give myself some quiet time to spend on learning how to continue to improve my health. And to be honest, I can’t imagine ever being able to afford the insights all of these folks can offer. So I’m planning to attend it live, but also to buy a copy of the recordings so I can listen again, and catch the parts I’m sure I’ll miss the first time around.  I just love carving out some alone time and staying focused to improving my health, learning new tips for healthy living, and discovering all the ways I can keep my family happy and healthy.

If you can’t watch the event live, or you want to be sure you catch parts you’ll probably miss in the live summit, you can order a copy of the full Summit by clicking on this image below.And since I’m a mmeber of the group, I can offer and you can save 75% off the cost! I’m so excited to offer this to you because the information that will come out of this summit is invaluable and worth much more than the $49 price. I can’t even get into a holistic doctor’s office for less than that 🙂

 

Healthy LIving Summit

 

Healthy Llving Summit

 

healthy living summit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the beginning I was just a sad lump of statistics: 5’2, 3 daily medications, knocking on the door of 200lbs at 191lbs.  Let me be clear:

Paleo  Belle

I DID NOT GET THIS WAY EATING TWINKIES AND SITTING ON THE COUCH.

I thought I knew what good nutrition was; I worked out, counted calories, and never snacked.  In the summer of 2012 I started a personal voyage to get into shape.  For 2 months I worked out 3-5 times a week and ate 1200-1400 calories a day.  I tracked everything.  Nothing worked. I thought long gone were the days of weighing 130 and being fit.

In late August 2012 my husband and I decided to try and start a family.  I was on a sleep narcotic for 6 years, blood pressure medicine (2 years), and stomach medicine (2 years).  I knew that if I wanted to create a healthy human being I would have to become healthy myself.

 

I called my doctor’s office to schedule a visit to change my medicine. Fortunately my doctor couldn’t squeeze me in for a few weeks and felt it was important for me to be seen immediately.  He passed the paper chart that defined ‘me’ around the practice to see if anyone would be willing to pick me up.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

This is the point where my life took a 180.  As my chart was passed around that office is came across Dr. Scott Kempton.  He saw the paper version of me:

27, 5’2, 191lbs, bp medication, stomach medication, sleep narcotic, wanted to start having babies.

Dr. Kempton blocked out 30 minutes of his last shift on a Friday to talk to me.

As I walked into the office of that blessed Friday I did not expect to find the angel that would save my life.  Dr. Kempton walked into the waiting room he informed me he was going to change everything I believed about nutrition and health.

He was right.   sickandtired

With conviction and passion Dr. Kempton explained to me the ideal ancestral life plan called Paleo.  A practice he had been diligently following for decades. Sitting there I learned about the dangers of gluten, grain, dairy, sugars, and processed food.  He also convinced me that I was suffering from metabolic syndrome; essentially my body was shutting down and packing on any gluten and non food items as fat.  He also gave me homework and answered all my questions. The puzzle of why I couldn’t loose weight was solved.  But would it fixed all the other issues; high blood pressure, acid reflux, indigestion, and insomnia?

I left that office feeling refreshed and hopeful.  I immediately went to the store and bought all the essentials to start my journey.  When I got home my excitement and uncontainable, my husband was blown away by my enthusiasm.  I also think he was very overwhelmed.  The truth was:

I WAS SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED

I got rid of all the gluten, legumes, grains, sugars, dairy, and processed food.  Within a couple days I was off my stomach medicine and sleeping like a baby. I was motivated to press on despite the ravaging cravings.

Within a week I was down 9lbs of water weight, my eyes were bright blue, lips were luscious red, my skin was soft and glowing.

In a month and a half I was down 15lbs, off all my medications, high energy, positive attitude, and my mind was clearer than it had ever been.  My life had been turned around and people were noticing my miraculous transformation. At 2 months I had been interviewed and been given the cover AND centerfold of the local magazine.

Dr. Kempton and Paleo saved my life.  I have been Paleo for 6 months. have not touched gluten for 5 months (and do not plan to touch it again), I am down 40lbs and I feel AMAZING!

My passion is to spread the word in the most positive and upbeat way possible.  Taking the first step is the hardest but I recommend JUMPING end.  In this case the grass is greener.  Leap in, there are a plethora of people and resources out there to help you get your own start.

Get your life back, find your passion, become healthy, LIVE!

Imagine what Paleo can do for you!paleobelle2

 

Is a gluten-free diet really healthier for us?

I’ve been asked often if a gluten-free diet is healthier for someone who isn’t gluten intolerant. Meaning, does everyone gain something from going gluten-free, or just those with a sensitivity or allergy (Celiac)? This is a tough one because it really comes down to how you treat the gluten-free lifestyle. If you’re simply replacing your gluten-ful products with their gluten-free counterparts, than my answer is NO, it’s not a healthier diet.

If however, you take this as a chance to get back to basics, and explore the many amazing foods that are available which don’t come processed and pre-packaged, you’re absolutely on your way to a healthier lifestyle. I have reversed some pretty scary health issues by removing grains and dairy from my diet, and I have talked to countless other folks who have as well. If you follow the Primal or Paleo movements, you know that there are medical professionals who share stories of patients who have reversed diabetes, lost  weight, reduced anxiety and depression, overcome fatigue, balanced blood pressure levels, stabilized thyroid functions and more.

While I avoid almost all packaged foods, I completely understand the need for having something quick and easy on-hand for those moments when hunger pangs strike. We all know what it feels like to have your sugar levels go crazy; in fact, we joke that our son is like the Snickers commercials – he’s just not himself when he’s hungry!

But let’s face it, the gluten-free versions of bread, muffins, cookies, crackers and the like are often made from rice grains, potato starch, sugar and/or HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) which can wreak havoc on our digestive tracts and our blood sugar levels. So unfortunately, the gluten-free stuff you’re eating now might not be any better for you, which is why it’s important to not over-due these foods (if at all).

So here are some tips for keeping it simple when you’re gluten (and grain) free. 

First, focus on nature’s foods. Fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds and whatever protein sources you like. By cutting back on starchy carbs, you will naturally avoid the sugar spikes they cause and help your body to aid in easier digestion by focusing on foods which it was naturally designed to eat.

Second, be prepared. Yep, this lifestyle requires a bit more prep work than you’re used to, and while you can still enjoy the occasional gluten-free snacks, it’s best not to count on them.  We make our lunches the night before, prep our meals on Sunday for the week, pre-cook what we can, go to the grocery store often so our food is fresh and our supplies are full, and share recipes with friends and family who are on the same path so we can keep things interesting !

Here are some of the fresh snacks I keep on hand every day (had to upgrade my purse a bit to accommodate all our snacks, but it’s totally worth it): fresh sliced fruit, grapes, berries, nuts, seeds and trail mixes (just watch that the ingredients are gluten-free).  Some of the brands we love are Thunderbird Energetica bars, Larabars, Happy Hemp seeds and Kind Life snack kits.

And remember, it will take some time for your palette to adjust to the difference in appreciating naturally sweetened foods from artificially sweetened ones. There’s a big difference, and it will take a little while for both the cravings to stop, and for you to appreciate healthier foods.

Third, be kind to yourself. This whole journey will take some time to get used to, and you will have moments where you feel stronger than others. If you fall off the wagon into a glutenous cupcake, just get back up again when you’re done, and get back on track. if you’re intolerant or allergic, that misstep will set you back a week or two from the amazing improvements you had enjoyed, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get back to feeling great again.  And if you’re focused on a gluten-free diet because you just feel better when you avoid processed foods, then the same will be true of your progress, though you won’t feel nearly as bad as the allergic folks will from a set back.

So what do you think? Are you feeling better since going gluten-free? I’d love to hear your stories, what works for you, or even if you gave up and went back to gluten. No judgements – we can always take away something from other people’s journeys, so please share below!

 

 

 

Gluten, grain and egg-free meatballs. Allergy-free & flavor-ful!

Stuck in a dinner rut, trying new grain-free ideas for the New Year or just looking for generally healthier options to an old favorite? I promise this will please even the pickiest of meatball pallets! I love to make these and store leftovers in the fridge for a quick reheat the next day, though this 1 lb recipe doesn’t usually leave much room for leftovers, so if that’s your goal,  you’ll want to kick up the quantities on the recipe below. They work perfectly over spaghetti squash or on top of your fave Gluten-free pasta noodles, are a perfect standalone appetizer, on top of a salad, or as a meal on their own. Since I avoid nightshades, I eat these little guys without any tomato sauce, so I promise you these are delicious on their own – no sauce needed!

The hubs and son prefer these with a homemade pasta sauce, but I tend to toss them on a plate along with some sautéed spinach and a yummy salad (or top the salad with them) and we’re all happy campers.  I like to use this recipe to sneak in some mushrooms as they give it a nice flavor and since they’re chopped, our son doesn’t notice them. Sneaky parents trick 🙂

Note, that this works great for meatloafs too, so you can adapt it for a meatloaf by simply forming it to a loaf pan instead of rolling it into meatballs and follow my instructions here on baking a meatloaf. It’s also a great option even if you’re avoiding eggs and grain as the apple substitutes for the carbs, and the egg replacer work just as well to hold it together as eggs do. My preferred method is the flax seed method for this recipe, but you can view other egg replacer ideas here.

Enjoy!

 

Paleo, Gluten & Grain-free Meatballs

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Paleo, Gluten & Grain-free Meatballs

This makes about 8-10 small meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey (Organic or grass fed preferred)
  • 1/2 small red apple, diced (skin removed)
  • 1/4 cup chopped onions
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1 Tsp chopped garlic
  • Oregano, salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 large egg or egg replacer
  • Olive Oil to coat pan

Instructions

  1. Place meat into a medium to large sized mixing bowl.
  2. Preheat iron skillet or electric pan over medium heat.
  3. Whisk egg (or egg replacer) and fold into meat mixture.
  4. Add garlic, onions, apple, mushrooms & spices.
  5. Add oil to pan.
  6. Form meat into small balls, about 2 inches wide, and place into your pan.
  7. Stir meatballs every few minutes to ensure they are full cooked, and browned on all sides (about 10-15 minutes).
  8. Enjoy!
http://inspiredeats.net/paleo-gluten-grain-free-meatballs/

I used to go through life without thinking much about things. I wasn’t much of a planner at all; in fact, I was both irked by, and in awe of, people who were. How could they so confidently know what they were going to want in a few days, a week or even months? I had the hardest time picking a major in college because I couldn’t imagine that I knew at 19 years old what I was going to do for the rest of my life.

My reality today?  Having food allergies means I have now become the biggest planner.

I can’t count on the ease of quick grab-n-go type foods since they typically contain ingredients I can’t eat, so I end up bringing snacks with me everywhere. I’ve become one of those people who eats dinner for breakfast (avoiding grains, dairy and eggs make breakfast foods near impossible), and I find myself reheating leftovers while my husband and son indulge in my old favorites, including breakfast tacos. Sadly,  I live in Austin and can’t eat breakfast tacos! Speaking of my son, I’m raising a gluten, & dairy free kid which means I have to be prepared much more so than if I could simply rely on a quick drive thru or convenience store for a cure of the hunger pangs.

 

So, when a friend sent along a link to a book written by a set of Paleo parents trying to help others learn how to live a Paleo life with their children, I quickly bought a copy.  To be honest, raising a child is complicated enough, but when you throw in food allergies or sensitivities  it takes it to a different level.  I want to make sure he doesn’t feel left out, or like the oddball of his friends. So while I now carry the ‘mom bag’ packed with healthy snacks, and Yelp restaurants for allergy-free reviews often, it was nice to read from another set of parents who are living the allergy-free life and making it work!

I agree with the parents behind the book, Eat Like a Dinosaur.  They’ve found a way to make special diets fun for their kids, and they help parents understand how to keep our children safe and healthy. By following a modified Paleo diet, they have helped heal their children from various auto-immune conditions, which is so important in preventing a series of much scarier health concerns down the line.

What I love about the book?

It focus not just on a Paleo diet, but rather on food allergies in general, and includes old favorites such as cereal, chicken nuggets and waffles, which are all grain-free. Their intent is not on excluding foods, but rather, on eating healthy and delicious ones which mimic the same foods we are accustomed to, but in a healthier version. 

All recipes are free of dairy, wheat, peanuts and soy.

All recipes are labeled so you know if they contain shellfish, tree nuts, fish or eggs.

Many of the recipes are set up to show your kiddos what parts they can help with, so they can help in the process of making these foods that are designed to help them live healthy lives. Plus they get to play a part in making some delish dishes!

It’s so important to help kids feel normal when they’re dealing with something that society has a bit of a stigma about, and I love that these foodie parents went all out to write a cookbook that helps their kids feel completely normal about their special diets.

Here’s a description of the book below and a video clip you can watch as well. I hope this helps you navigate the complexities of a ‘different’ lifestyle choice for you and your family too!

 

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Sushi has long been a favorite of both my husband and I; we love it as a go-to on date nights, for a quick lunch, and now that our son is at the age where he can appreciate seafood, we’re able to enjoy it even more often. I’ve loved sushi for many, many years, and it was definitely one of the harder foods I gave up when going grain-free, so I can’t tell you how excited I was to find out I could enjoy sushi again, thanks to Austin’s local sushi restaurant, Piranha Killer Sushi.

If you’re gluten-free, but not avoiding rice, you can rest assured Piranha can take care of you with a boiled rice that’s free of any gluten; no soy or vinegars used in their steamed rice and if you tell them you’re gluten-free, they’ll make the switch for you with no hassles.

And while I have been able to enjoy sashimi without rice, I’ve missed the experience of picking up a roll, and enjoying the flavor bursts that come from the exciting and unpredictable ingredients in rolls. So when I was at Piranha on my most recent hunt for sushi I could enjoy on a gluten, dairy and grain free diet, I was thrilled to see a roll wrapped in cucumber offered on their menu. They call it their Sashimi Roll and it includes salmon, crab & scallions wrapped with hand peeled cucumber. I swapped avocado for crab since they weren’t sure the crab was gluten-free and I have to admit, I was a happy girl again. Once again I was able to enjoy the feeling of picking up a roll with my chopsticks, savoring the magic of a sushi roll.

Here’s a pic of my new favorite roll: 

 

Wrapped in chilled cucumber, the Sashimi Roll has salmon, chives, and crab, though I swapped the crab for avocado which was even tastier in my opinion. They’re happy to bring you gluten-free soy sauce on request, and so long as you substitute their gluten-free rice, most all of the rolls without sauces are fine. To be safe, I always avoid crab if its imitation, and since we sit at the bar and watch them prep our rolls, we can see how carefully they handle our food to make sure there’s little risk of any cross contamination. Since my husband is not gluten-allergic, they offer to bring him the dipping sauces which typically come on the rolls so he can enjoy it in the more traditional fashion, yet I can still eat it without worry.

So if you’re lucky enough to live in Austin, be sure to check out Piranha as they are always willing to accommodate a gluten and dairy free diet, and they have yet to disappoint. If you’re not in Austin, perhaps you can ask your local favorite sushi joint to replicate? I’ll keep my fingers crossed they say yes!

Oh, and here’s another helpful tip – in lieu of soy sauce (read here for all the reasons I discourage soy when you have some time)  – I love Coconut Aminos, and use it in place of soy sauce with recipes, sauces, as a dip, in dressings etc. Honestly, it doesn’t have a coconut-y flavor nor is it as salty as Braggs or gluten-free soy sauce, and I carry a bottle with me when we head out for sushi.

A roll wrapped in cucumber, dipped in Coconut Aminos makes me a very happy girl. Thanks Piranha Killer Sushi!

 

These little guys look perfect for Halloween!

I just saw these on Against All Grain, a fantastic blog by a woman named Danielle who is truly, incredibly talented! She has made it her mission to make living free of grains not only manageable, but delicious as well! So while these little truffles are a bit more of an undertaking than the coconut, chocolate vegan bites which we make weekly here, they are certainly worth sharing!

Here’s a picture from her site of the end product, and you can link to her site here for the recipe!