Bread of Life?

Foods for Life GF bread: 4-5, depending on the type. Bread comes frozen, and it's pretty expensive, about $5.50 at Kroger. The rice bread gets a 4. Mom gave it a big thumbs-down. I think it's ok, doesn't taste like much, kinda dry, and it falls apart, but it does the job. The Rice Almond bread however, is pretty good. A little sweeter and it holds together better.

Just don't try to make a sandwich with it- it is very dense and just doesn't work. I prefer it toasted to thaw it, then some PB or J or PB&J. Good with coffee for breakfast! Although I may be biased, breakfast is hard to come by unless I'm ambitious and feel like eggs, or I feel like gagging down a Glutino bar... right... Gone are the lazy days of a granola bar in my first class!

On another note- yesterday was interesting because I had a meeting that included free pizza. Good pizza too, deep dish, the kind we used to get with the other TAs that I love. I tried very hard not to sulk as I shoveled in my leftover chicken and rice. Thankfully, I did have the foresight to pack my own lunch in the first place...

Because I Can

Just had to post in honor of my lovely mom :) She is trying this GF "adventure" as well, and we've nicknamed it the "Because I Can" Diet. Basically, you eat things that you wouldn't normally, especially if you were trying to have a normal healthy diet. For example- I think I've had a hot fudge sundae with her homemade hot fudge about every day this week. Why? Because I can!

I tried making cookies (see previous post) last weekend. I used to make cookies all the time, but it's been awhile at the moment. Why go back to making cookies? Because I can. And then I'm a little disappointed with the results, but nevermind that...

I eat a lot of tortilla chips, with salsa, Skyline dip, etc., when I would have probably gone for crackers and cheese in the past. Well, it's mostly because I can.

Ok, time for one of those amazing hot fudge sundaes!!

Labs

Ok, should be studying for my test in two hours, but I just looked at my lab test results online. Unless I'm wrong- it looks very positive for Celiac. My IgA was in the normal range (proving I'm not IgA deficient), and my TTG was 58. Normal is 5-8 (yes, there's a dash there). So unless I'm an idiot and can't read lab tests, I am absolutely, positively Celiac.

Pretty unusual lab tests (the lady at the lab was a little confused by the order at first), but I should be used to reading labs by now, right? I did really well somehow on my big exam last week, which was a good portion on labs. We're all not really sure how we did as well as we did (sharp curve?), but I'm just happy for a good result after a strenuous test!

Now I'm off to study for the next one and hope that I can remember hematology lab tests... and diagnoses... and treatment regimens... wish me luck!

I'm a critic... of food.

I think my weekend was successful in the gluten-free arena. I was gone most of the weekend, and still managed to do ok. As far as I know. I didn't feel very good after supper on Friday- I think maybe because of contaminated brown sugar? I remembered later that I had put a piece of bread in the canister to soften it up awhile ago. Duh.

I guess every time I don't feel very well, I'm going to instantly over-evaluate everything I've eaten. Welcome to Celiac!

I have updates on some gluten-free products. If you don't care, that's fine, I just want to keep track of what to buy in the future... I think I need to invent a rating scale, stars are too boring... On a scale of one to five:

1= Cardboard. Or whatever equivalent non-edible substance it resembles.
2= Ugh. Maybe if we were stranded together on a desert island...
3= OK, borderline. Maybe if it's on sale?
4= Good. That's all.
5= Stellar. Now a pantry staple.

Gluten-free Pantry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix: 2- tasted alright, but texture was questionable. It was like eating an OK cookie, followed by having sand stuck in your teeth when you were done. They also were very very thin. They'll work in a pinch, but definitely not something I'd crave.

Glutino's Breakfast Bars: 1- Absolutely dreadful. Almost had a pumpkiny smell? Chewy, weird texture, but the real issue was the taste. Plus, I hate raisins, and both the crust and the filling had raisins ground up in them. Basically, I'm glad these came free with an order, I would feel really bad if money had been paid.

Celiac is really expensive.

Wow. I had no idea Celiac would be so expensive. It's more expensive to eat healthier anyway (fruit costs more than fries...), and GF alternatives are pretty pricey.

Still, the biggest expense? The diagnosis. I just got the bills for the EGD, etc. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have insurance. We have really good insurance, and it's still making our already tight budget about to strangle us. I got the bill and thought hmm... that's a lot. Oh well, we can handle it. Little did I know that more was coming! I opened the mail yesterday, and there was another bill with a notice that essentially said: Oh, by the way, the doctors and the endoscopy center bill separately...just thought you should know... Frustration.

Ok, enough ranting. Just needed to get that off my chest. More later, hopefully something happy after my big test that I'm avoiding studying for. Wish me luck!

This one's for the buttmunch...

Guess what I'm making: Skyline Dip!!

Just found out that Skyline chili is gluten-free, and so are the other accompaniments (cream cheese, cheddar, tortilla chips). Obviously not the most figure-friendly recipe, but oh so good, and it brings back memories of living in The Palace apartment with my bestest buttmunch :). Yay!

I'm thinking of trying chocolate chip cookie mix, but it's getting too late for that tonight. Huge exam on Thursday, maybe after that?

How have I done?

Not real sure exactly how well I've done at being GF. I could be hypervigilant about it, and eat nothing that's even questionable... but then I would never eat. Seriously- try it for a day and let me know what you think after reading the label on every bite that goes into your mouth. Including gum. And don't forget the envelopes and postage stamps.

Have you ever noticed how many products have natural flavors? Caramel coloring? Vanilla flavor? Vinegar? Modified food starch? Maltodextrin? All these ingredients and many more could have gluten in them. Usually, if they are produced in the US, they are processed with corn or potato ingredients (as opposed to wheat), but apparently you have to be careful. I'm not about to contact every company before I put anything in my mouth, but I'm trying to not be an idiot here and blindly think that all products are ok.

Plus, contacting companies is less than fruitful, not to mention frustrating. I've already tried a few... Even though I spell out exactly what I want to know and why, I get such stupid answers. I'm not writing to you because it's fun and I enjoy it- I need information. Wheat does not equal gluten. Allergy information and reading labels are not enough. You just can't tell.

I guess I might as well get used to it.