ZEVIA All Natural Soda

Okay, to be honest, when I was asked by Mambo Sprouts to participate in a product review for ZEVIA All Natural Soda I was a bit spectacle. Honestly, I don't drink soda except on a very rare occasion, because, let's be honest, soda is not all that great for us. So how is ZEVIA All Natural Soda any different? That's what I wanted to find out. ZEVIA uses stevia, a 100% natural sweetener. Stevia is an herb in the sunflower family primarily found in subtropical and tropical South America and Central America. The extract from the stevia leaf has no calories, no effect on blood sugar levels, and is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. ZEVIA contains none of the chemically processed artificial sugar substitutes nor any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives found in other sodas. ZEVIA is 100% natural, has zero calories, zero net carbs, zero fat, and very little sodium. ZEVIA comes in 12 varieties, Cola, Ginger Root Beer, Dr. Zevia, Twist, Ginger Ale, Black Cherry, Orange, Grape, Cream Soda, Caffeine Free Cola, Mountain Zevia, and Grapefruit Citrus.

Recently, I was able to try 6 of the varieties: Cola, Caffeine Free Cola, Mountain Zevia, Grape, Grapefruit Citrus, and Cream Soda.

Ingredients for each ZEVIA variety I tried:

• Cola: carbonated water, stevia, erythritol, carmel color, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, caffeine (45mg/12fl), and natural flavors.
• Caffeine Free Cola: carbonated water, stevia, erythritol, carmel color, tartaric acid, turmeric acid, and natural flavors.
• Mountain Zevia: carbonated water, stevia, erythritol, citric acid, beta carotene, and caffeine (55mg/12fl).
• Grape: carbonated water, stevia, erythritol, citric acid, and white grape juice concentrate.
• Grapefruit Citrus: carbonated water, stevia, erythritol, citric acid, natural flavors, and medium chain triglycerides. 
• Cream Soda: carbonated water, stevia, erythritol, citric acid, caramel color, and natural flavors.

Like many of you, I have no idea what these ingredients were when I first read the side of the soda can, so I did some research and found out what they were.

Ingredient descriptions as found on the  ZEVIA website: 

• Carbonated Water: ZEVIA uses triple filtered carbonated water for all sodas.
• Stevia: Stevia is a natural botanical native to South and Central America. For centuries, Native Americans of Paraguay and Brazil called it "sweet leaf" and used it to sweeten native foods. Stevia is used as a food additive in China, Japan, all of South America, and in the United States. The extract from the stevia leaf has no calories, no effect on blood sugar levels, and is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. It's a perfect sweetener for diet soda. 
• Erythritol: Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol found in fruits and vegetables, has no calories, and has no effect on blood sugar levels. 
• Citric Acid: Citric Acid is naturally concentrated in oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, lemons and limes and a perfect complement to the taste buds and personal diet. Natural citric acid adds to the refreshing flavor to any soda.
• Caramel Color: Natural caramel color that makes it look as delicious as it tastes. 
• Tartaric Acid: Tartaric acid occurs naturally in many plants, particularly grapes, bananas, and tamarinds; it is also found in wine. Most colas use cheap, harmful phosphoric acid for flavor. Phosphoric acid is used in fertilizers and detergents. It erodes tooth enamel and has been linked to depletion of calcium, a contributing factor in osteoporosis. Safe, natural tartaric acid enhances the soda's zesty, tangy flavor.
• Fumaric Acid: Fumaric acid occurs naturally in flowers and mushrooms. It contributes to the soda's flavor.
• Caffeine: Most diet sodas use artificially produced caffeine, but the natural caffeine in ZEVIA comes from coffee and tea. 
• Natural Flavors: Lime, Lemon, Cassia and Nutmeg oils are used in the colas, while grapefruit, lime, lemon and orange oils are found in the grapefruit flavor soda.
• Beta Carotene: A natural compound in many fruits and vegetables. 
• Medium Chain Triglycerides (MTCs): MTCs are found in milk fat, palm oil and coconut oil. MCTs provide quick energy as well, but since they are a fat and not a carb, they don't stimulate insulin, and you don't have the problem with weight gain. MCTs do stimulate thermogenesis, which is the process where your body produces heat by increased burning of fat. This is a good thing for people who are trying to lose fat. People who suffer from epileptic seizures have been shown to benefit from a diet high in MCTs. They also tend to lower blood sugar slightly, which may be beneficial for some diabetics. They have been shown to be antioxidants and have anti-coagulative effects, which can help with heart disease.

Two ingredients immediately caught my attention and brought up a red flag for me, "caramel color" and "natural flavors". Both of these ingredients are ingredients that may contain gluten in them. So I contacted the company to find out if their sodas are indeed gluten-free. I got this friendly response back from them in a matter of minutes! 

"We're excited about your interest in Zevia!

We take great care in choosing ingredients that are the healthiest for all of our consumers, especially those who have special diets.  You'll be happy to know that, since we began in 2007, all Zevia soda’s are gluten free. Including the caramel color in some Zevia flavors, [which] does not come from corn [and] is vegan, wheat and gluten-free."

So there you have it, ZEVIA sodas are vegan and gluten-free!

Now, how does ZEVIA taste?  All of the six flavors I tried tasted great. ZEVIA flavors have their own spin on your favorite versions from other big name brand sodas, but are light and crisp, not at all syrupy tasting. Since I don't drink soda very often, I did take notice of a unique after taste when drinking the soda; perhaps my palette wasn't use to the exotic Stevia sweetener taste or the flavor combinations and carbonization used in Zevia's sodas. Let me know what you think! So next time you find yourself needing a soda fix, why not reach for a healthier alternative, ZEVIA.  To find where ZEVIA is sold near you, click here. And right now if you "like" ZEVIA's Facebook fan page you can get a coupon for $1 off a six pack of ZEVIA!

*The opinions in this post are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything and I have benefited in no way by this review.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 7:00 AM 4 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Feedback Friday: How Do I Avoid Cross-Contamination at Home?

HEALTHY CRUMB: FEEDBACK FRIDAY

Feedback Friday gives me a chance to respond to you, my readers. Topics will be based on your comments, questions, and thought you are interested in discussing. Each week I will pick a reader to respond to in this post. These topics are up to you, my readers, so start commenting on what you would like to hear about! Leave a comment, question, or suggestion on the blog, our Facebook Fan Page, or email me, and your response might be picked to be our Healthy Crumb: Feedback Friday of the month!

Healthy Crumb; Feedback Friday: How Can I Avoid Cross-Contamination at Home?

One question that comes up a lot among our readers is, "how do I avoid cross contamination in my kitchen?"  Many people, as careful as they are, still ingest allergens by cross contamination, whether it's at a restaurant or even in their own homes. Let's face it, it is hard when one person is eating allergen free foods and other individuals in your household are not. Because crumbs go everywhere, it can be hard to prevent cross contamination. However, there are a few tips and guidelines you can follow to help prevent cross contamination in your kitchen. 

• No sharing, no double dipping, and always squeeze if possible! Don't share, even for items that are naturally allergen free. This includes common condiments like peanut butter, jam, butter, and mayo; if the spreading knife has touched it, it's contaminated. When making toast and sandwiches these items can easily become contaminated with gluten, dairy, or other allergens via a contaminated knife. Try marking and using specific containers for "allergen free" foods or designating parts of your pantry and refrigerator to be allergen free zones. Knowing what they are putting their serving utensils into will help make sure allergen eating family members don't accidentally contaminate your food. Also, if available, buy squeeze bottles. This helps prevent condiments like ketchup, mustard, relish, and mayo from getting any allergens in the bottles.

• No sharing goes for some appliances too! If you are gluten sensitive, have your own separate toaster. I know this sounds extreme, but think of all those little crumbs that fall into the toaster and hardly ever get cleaned out! Besides, can you really get them all out even if you clean it after every use; no!  Another option is to use a toaster oven where the rack can be removed and washed after each use. Or have both; gluten bread only goes in the toaster and gluten free foods only go into the toaster oven. 

• Be a label freak and keep it separate! Store all allergen free products in separate labeled containers. You can label them "allergen free" or buy brightly colored stickers and put them on everything that is, and should remain, allergen free. In addition, storing all allergen free foods in a separate place in the cupboard or pantry and refrigerator helps prevent accidental cross contamination. For dried goods, like flours and cooking aids, store them on the upper shelves of the pantry or cupboard, always above the allergen containing products, to prevent flour dust and crumbs from falling into or onto the packages and containers of allergen free items. 

• Keeping things separate goes for utensils too!  Have your own set of utensils and other items for allergen free baking and cooking. This includes things like wooden utensils, cutting boards, colanders, and sifters; anything that can be hard to get completely clean. In some homes, if you are the one who does most of the cooking for the family, most everything you eat is probably allergen free anyways, so this separation issue may not be as difficult to maintain as it might be in other households. 

• Scrub, scrub, and scrub some more! Always make sure pots, utensils, and anything that is used for food storage and preparation are thoroughly scrubbed before bringing them into contact with allergen free foods. (No using the same fork or utensil to stir gluten containing pasta and gluten free pasta when they are being cooked at the same time!) Also, always make sure the counter space used to prepare allergen free foods has been freshly scrubbed down to ensure it is free from crumbs or flour dust. Be sure to use a fresh sponge, cloth, or towel when cleaning up, otherwise, you could just be spreading the allergen around instead of cleaning it up! One good tip is to cook the allergen free item first before preparing allergen containing foods. This way the allergen free foods are less likely to get contaminated. 

By following these tips and guidelines you can help prevent cross contamination in your kitchen!  Do you have other suggestions or unique routines you follow to prevent cross contamination from happening in your kitchen?  If so, please feel free to share them with your fellow readers!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: New Product Thursday: PJ's Organic Chicken Enchilada Meal!

HEALTHY CRUMB: NEW PRODUCT THURSDAY

During New Product Thursday I will highlight and review different allergen-free products.  If you've heard of an allergen-free product you would like me to review and highlight on the blog, please feel free to leave a comment or email me the details and I will be happy to highlight it on a New Product Thursday!  And trust me between me - the picky eater and my husband - who eats everything and anything, you will get a wide variety of opinions! 

Healthy Crumb; New Product Thursday: PJ’s Organic Chicken Enchilada Meal ☺

One evening not so long ago, I had a bit of a meltdown. Now if you know anything about me, you know, meltdowns occur if I don't eat on a regular schedule. So there I was, at the grocery store no less, having a full blown meltdown and at a compete loss for something to eat. How could I be at a loss for something to eat at a grocery store you might ask? (Something my husband asks me all the time.) Well, try having sensitivities to gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy, then get back to me. (My husband rolls his eyes after that comment.) Yes, yes, there are always fruits and vegetables right there at my disposal and I could have grabbed an apple, orange, peach…some type of fruit for a quick fix, and in fact I did because I needed something to tide me over until I could think of something more to eat, like an actual dinner.  

Enter, PJ's Organic Chicken Enchilada Meal. Now, normally I never buy frozen dinners because honestly they are expensive and we are a no microwave household which means, frozen dinners are not necessarily fast dinners in the toaster oven. I could make the same thing from scratch for about the same amount of time and a lot cheaper. But as it happened, PJ's Organic Chicken Enchilada Meal was on sale and the grocery store had a microwave in their dinning area for customers to use. So my quick, healthy dinner was decided.  

PJ's Organic Chicken Enchilada frozen meal features a healthy-portioned Chicken Enchilada, accompanied with organic brown rice and black beans. It only takes 5 minutes to cook in the microwave, so it’s a perfect choice for lunchtime or when you need a quick meal. All of PJ’s Organics products are made with USDA-certified organic ingredients, and contain no GMO’s, pesticides or preservatives.

Although I haven’t tried them yet, PJ’s Organics also makes a few other gluten-free items including, Beef Enchilada Meal, Deluxe Chicken Taquitos, and Traditional Chicken Taquitos. And if the other gluten-free meals are anything at all like the Chicken Enchilada Meal, you can bet I'll be trying one in the very near future.

Have you tried any of PJ's Organic Meals?  Please feel free to share how you liked them!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Guest Blogger Wednesday: The Non-Allergic Voice!

HEALTHY CRUMB: GUEST BLOGGER WEDNESDAY

Guest Blogger Wednesday is exactly what it sounds like! Each Guest Blogger Wednesday, a special guest blogger will be highlighted and will write a post. This is a fun way for me to help introduce different perspectives, stories, experiences, and ideas about allergies to all of you! Look for a variety of allergy related topics from people with different backgrounds, lifestyles, and expertise, as well as, tips about food allergies and food intolerances.  

Healthy Crumb; Guest Blogger Wednesday: The Non-Allergic Voice

We are happy this week to have our first guest blogger!  I couldn't think of anyone better to have as our first guest blogger then someone very near and dear to me, my husband (plus he really wanted to do a blog post). Who, as he would say, is the real victim of my food allergies. In his blog post he gives a funny yet accurate view from a person without food allergies who lives with a person with food allergies, and tips and tricks on how to deal. He is a two time blog poster who's readership went viral among immediate family members in 2011. In his spare time he enjoys his wife's delicious (rice, water, and air) meals, listening to records, and spending time with his wife (me). All kidding aside, without his support I wouldn't have made it this far in my allergy journey. I hope you enjoy!

The Non-Allergic Voice. (or delicious meals out of rice, water, and air)

Food allergy blogs are great, not just for the folks who have food allergies themselves, but for the friends and family members who live with or hang around people with sensitivities to certain types of food. Like Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me, these blogs help friends and family members gain a better understanding and awareness of different types of food allergies that exist and how to best address them so they are not a problem.  Ultimately, the posts are written for the people who actually have the food allergies, not for those that do not.  Well, this post is different. This post will try to shift some of the focus toward people without food allergies who live in a world dominated by food allergies.

Initially, from the perspective of someone who does not have any food allergies or intolerances, finding out someone close to you has food allergies can be scary.  Not just scary because you are unsure how to support someone with food sensitivities, but also because you realize that, by default, now you have food allergies too. (Cue the soundtrack of a thousand taste buds screaming.) In our household that means no more soy, eggs, gluen, corn, and dairy because those are the things my wife is allergic too. While my first thoughts were focused on the "for better or for worse" part of our wedding vows and how could this be happening considering Darwin's work on natural selection, my later thoughts were much more rational; you can make lots of delicious meals with rice, water, and air.  Yep, that's what goes through the minds of those of us without food allergies. Okay, maybe not everyone, but some.  So now what?

To help those of you who have recently experienced the situation I described above and are looking for some help, please read through these six mantras and suggestions that helped me and others make it through this period in our lives:

1) Food allergies are not the end of the culinary world as you know it; just like powder blue leisure suits or hammer pants were not the end of the fashion world. 

2) Use this situation as an opportunity to change the food rut we all find ourselves in from time to time. You now have a great excuse to venture out and expose your palette to a variety of new and delicious foods. 

3) Both you and the person with food allergies will have meltdowns.  As long as the other person's food allergies are not fatal, committing culinary sin once in a while will not harm your eternal soul.

4) Know that there will be times of frustration because it seems like you cannot eat what you want to eat since the person or people you regularly share meals with have food allergies. This feeling will eventually become less frequent as you begin to find substitutes for the foods you use to eat all the time that are cheaper and much healthier for you in the long-run. 

5) Try not to make a big deal out of it. When you do, you just make the person with the food sensitivities feel bad; then you feel bad. There's enough negativity in the world.

6) Accept that Thanksgiving dinner may never be the same again. (And hard cider gravy makes everything taste better.)

I hope these help with your transition into the allergy free world. No matter how much I believe in this list nor how many non-allergic people it has helped over the years, it is by no means exclusive. I would love to here from you about your mantras and suggestions that have helped non-allergic folks live and survive in your allergy free world.  Please leave your comments below so I can see if I need to expand my list. Until then, be well.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 8:49 AM 2 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Cheap Tip Tuesday: Saving on the Cost of an Allergen Free Diet!

HEALTHY CRUMB: CHEAP TIP TUESDAY

Cheap Tip Tuesday came about because it came to my attention by comments from a few of my wonderful readers, that I have neglected the “cheap” in Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me. It is true, I have. I haven’t done this on purpose. But I have forgotten to include regularly how making things at home is much cheaper than buying pre-made items from the store, especially allergen-free products. Or how I save at the grocery store when I buy ingredients for my recipes. On Cheap Tip Tuesday, look for ways to cut the cost of making all of your allergen-free meals and treats. These tips and tricks can also be used to save money in others areas of your budget too! Remember, crumbs here and there might not be much by themselves, but gathered together, you can make enough stuffing to feed the whole family for Thanksgiving!  

Healthy Crumb; Cheap Tip Tuesday: Saving on the Cost of an Allergen Free Diet!

One of the biggest hurdles and complaints of an allergen free diet is the cost. Allergen free breads, pastas, baked goods, and pre-made meals often cost more than twice as much as "regular" products. Some allergen free specialty items, depending on where you live, might sometimes have to be ordered by mail, with extra costs for shipping. This all adds to the expense of staying healthy and allergen free. Here are some tips to help you save on your food budget and still stay on your allergen free diet!

Plan ahead: Make a menu or weekly list of meals. This not only helps you save money and time at the grocery store, but it prevents you from buying things you don't need or wasting time trying to find something that sounds good. It also helps you figure out what to make for dinner in the middle of a busy week. 

Where to shop: Shop at regular grocery stores. Get as much of your food as possible at regular grocery stores. Most items on an allergen free shopping list are naturally allergen free, and these items will often times be cheaper at a regular grocery store instead of at a specialty foods store. You can also find lots of things on your list at a "club" or "warehouse" store and most of the time buying in bulk is cheaper! Just make sure to always comparison shop and check the prices by pound or ounces to make sure a product is really cheaper at a club or warehouse store. This goes for buying in bulk at the regular grocery stores too. Make sure bulk is indeed cheaper than the packaged version; sometimes it is, sometimes it is not! You should also scan weekly flyers for sales on items you use regularly and try to stock up them; try to never buy them unless they are on sale. Shopping locally at farmers markets or farm stands can be another good place to find bargains as well. Produce will not only be fresher, but most likely grown organically. As an added bonus, because it's local, you are also helping to reduce the transportation costs and impact on our environment!

Shopping online: Do some comparison shopping online. If there is a specialty item you are looking for, search for it on Google and then check the prices at a variety of sites. Product prices can vary widely among companies, as well as shipping costs. You can reduce shipping costs by placing larger orders at most places, but check around. If you use an item regularly, try looking into ordering a case or carton. (My husband frequently uses this trick.) If your storage space is limited, consider asking a family member or friend to go in on a case or carton with you before buying.

Coupons: You can get coupons from lots of different places and coupons on allergen free products are not unheard of if you look for them. Check out manufacturer websites, the weekly Sunday paper, websites of your favorite stores, coupon codes online for online stores, and coupon websites such as, coupon cabin, mambo sprouts, and smart source for coupons.  

Eat In: As often as possible, cook or bake from scratch, it's always going to be cheaper than pre-made items. When I was newly diagnosed and overwhelmed with all the new changes, it was much easier to buy pre-made products than to think about how to make my own. But after a while, I realized I could make yummy delicious things from scratch for far less money, much healthier, and with better flavor than anything that came out of a box! 

Tax Deductible / FSA Savings:

While I am not an accountant or legal tax expert, the IRS may be able to help you better cope with some of your allergies. (When's the last time you heard someone say something good about the IRS.) If you suffer from celiac disease you may be able to deduct the extra cost of gluten free foods on your taxes. In the United States, the IRS makes no specific reference to celiac disease. However, several rulings by the IRS seem to suggest that if your total medical expenses for the year exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you may be able to deduct the difference in cost between “regular” food products and gluten-free alternatives, as well as the total cost of items that would not be purchased at all if not for the gluten-free diet (i.e. xantham gum or shipping costs). Only food used by a celiac patient would be deductible. Every receipt must be saved, along with receipts for gluten-containing foods to prove the difference in price. You’ll also need a doctor’s letter to confirm the diagnosis and the need for the gluten-free diet.  You might also be able to consider a flexible spending account. If your out-of-pocket medical expenses won’t total more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you may be still be able to use a Flexible Spending Account to pay for the difference in cost between “regular” and gluten-free foods (and related shipping expenses) with before-tax dollars. Of course, be sure to see if your flexible spending plan covers these expenses and always check with a certified public accountant before claiming any of the above expenses on your taxes. 

Well I hope some of these tips were helpful.  Do you have any cheap tips for an allergen free diet?  If so, please feel free to share them with your fellow readers!  

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Mindful Monday: Hidden Gluten!

HEALTHY CRUMB: MINDFUL MONDAY

What is Mindful Monday?  Well, to put it simply, it's about being "mindful" in our everyday lives! Now, I know the topics of natural health tips, water safety, or toxic ingredients in beauty supplies don’t necessary have much to do with food allergies, but they do have an awful lot to do with HEALTH. And if you are anything like me, we can all use a bit of help in the overall healthy living department. We are all very "mindful" about what we are ingesting through the food we eat by scrupulously reading each and every label and ingredient list to look for allergens. But are we "mindful' about what we are ingesting through the products we use on our bodies or the effects our lifestyles have on our overall health and environment?  Chances are we might just discover how unmindful we can sometimes be!

Healthy Crumb; Mindful Monday: Hidden Gluten

Already cutting gluten out of what you are ingesting through your foods because of a gluten allergy or sensitivity? What about gluten in the products you are putting on your body, hair, and face? Here is a list of cosmetic ingredients that may contain gluten and should be avoided if you have a gluten sensitivity. Scientific research shows that up to 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. You could be ingesting gluten without knowing it through the products you use!

Ingredients that may contain gluten:

• Fermented grain extract
• Amp-isostearoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Hydrolyzed wheat gluten
• Hydrolyzed wheat starch
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein pg-propyl silanetriol
• Wheat amino acids hydoxypropyl trimonium wheat protein
• Wheat amino acids
• Steardimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein/pvp cross-polymer
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein (and) hydrolyzed wheat starch
• Triticum vulgare (wheat) gluten extract/water
• Wheat (triticum vulgare) bran extract
• Hydrolyzed wheat protein pg-propyl silanetriol
• Triticum vulgare (wheat) flour lipids
• Wheat germamidopropyldimonium hydroxypropyl
• Wheat germ extract
• Wheat germ oil
• Wheat germ glycerides
• Disodium wheat germamido peg-2 sulfosuccinat
• Vitamin e derived from wheat germ oil
• Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil
• Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract
• Wheat germ glycerides
• Wheat germ extract
• Oat
• Oat (avena sativa) flour
• Oat (avena sativa) bran extract
• Oat (avena sativa) bran
• Oat (avena sativa) protein
• Rye
• Barley
• Barley extract
• Samino peptide complex
• Hordeum vulgare (barley) extract
• Phytosphingosine extract
• Barley lipids
• Millet (may case sensitivity for some)

With no required safety testing, cosmetics companies can use almost any chemical they want, regardless of risks. Always READ labels before you buy!

What allergen-friendly products do you like and use? Please feel free to share them with your fellow readers!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 7:00 AM 0 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week Recap!!

Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me is so excited to be sharing our first Healthy Crumbs Week starting on Monday! For all of you who checked out our Facebook fan page this week and "liked" us, you were among the privileged few to get the inside scoop on what each Healthy Crumb day will be all about; thanks so much! For the rest of you who missed out on the details, we've provided a recap below. 

HEALTHY CRUMB: MINDFUL MONDAY

What is Mindful Monday?  Well, to put it simply, it's about being "mindful" in our everyday lives! Now, I know the topics of natural health tips, water safety, or toxic ingredients in beauty supplies don’t necessary have much to do with food allergies, but they do have an awful lot to do with HEALTH. And if you are anything like me, we can all use a bit of help in the overall healthy living department. We are all very "mindful" about what we are ingesting through the food we eat by scrupulously reading each and every label and ingredient list to look for allergens. But are we "mindful' about what we are ingesting through the products we use on our bodies or the effects our lifestyles have on our overall health and environment?  Chances are we might just discover how unmindful we can sometimes be!

HEALTHY CRUMB: CHEAP TIP TUESDAY

Cheap Tip Tuesday came about because it came to my attention by comments from a few of my wonderful readers, that I have neglected the “cheap” in Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me. It is true, I have. I haven’t done this on purpose. But I have forgotten to include regularly how making things at home is much cheaper than buying pre-made items from the store, especially allergen-free products. Or how I save at the grocery store when I buy ingredients for my recipes. On Cheap Tip Tuesday, look for ways to cut the cost of making all of your allergen-free meals and treats. These tips and tricks can also be used to save money in others areas of your budget too! Remember, crumbs here and there might not be much by themselves, but gathered together, you can make enough stuffing to feed the whole family for Thanksgiving!  

HEALTHY CRUMB: GUEST BLOGGER WEDNESDAY

Guest Blogger Wednesday is exactly what it sounds like! Each Guest Blogger Wednesday, a special guest blogger will be highlighted and will write a post. This is a fun way for me to help introduce different perspectives, stories, experiences, and ideas about allergies to all of you! Look for a variety of allergy related topics from people with different backgrounds, lifestyles, and expertise, as well as, tips about food allergies and food intolerances.  

HEALTHY CRUMB: NEW PRODUCT THURSDAY

During New Product Thursday I will highlight and review different allergen-free products.  If you've heard of an allergen-free product you would like me to review and highlight on the blog, please feel free to leave a comment or email me the details and I will be happy to highlight it on a New Product Thursday!  And trust me between me - the picky eater and my husband - who eats everything and anything, you will get a wide variety of opinions! 

HEALTHY CRUMB: FEEDBACK FRIDAY

Feedback Friday gives me a chance to respond to you, my readers. Topics will be based on your comments, questions, and topics you are interested in or have questions about. Each week I will pick a comment and respond to it, these topics are up to you, my readers, so start commenting on what you would like to hear about! Leave a comment, question, or suggestion on the blog, our Facebook Fan Page, or email me, and your comment might be picked to be our Healthy Crumb: Feedback Friday of the month!

Now that you are no longer in the dark about what Healthy Crumbs Week is all about, be sure to stop by next week to find out just how tasty these " healthy crumbs" are. Thanks again for being great readers and we look forward to reading your comments next week! 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 3:11 PM 6 comments

Gluten Free Flour Tortillas!

If you have ever had the rice tortillas you can buy at the store you know they are, well, lets just say not so tasty! These flour tortillas taste great, are pliable, and the best part is they are allergen free; no gluten, dairy, soy, or eggs!  They are so simple to make, you will be wondering why you never made fresh tortillas before! 

Gluten Free Flour Tortillas

by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

Keywords: bread entree gluten-free soy-free vegan

Ingredients (12 tortillas):

1 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1/2 cup sorghum flour

2 tsp. xanthan gum

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. oil

3/4 to 1 cup hot water

splash of lime juice (optional)

How to Make It:

• Combine all the dry ingredients and oil together.
• Add the lime juice (if using) and hot water and beat well. Dough should be moist but not sticky.
• Pinch off a plum sized piece and roll out very thinly on a floured board or I like to use a silpat mat. 
• You can either shape them into a circle by hand or use a large circle cutter or bowl to cut them into a more uniform circle shape.
• Heat up a griddle or pan until very hot.
• Place tortillas on griddle and bake on each side until air pockets form and brown spots occur, this should take no more than 30-45 seconds on each side if your griddle is hot enough. 
• Put the cooked tortillas between a paper towel, tea towel, or foil to let steam come into the tortillas if not serving immediately.
• Best when cooked fresh and served warm. 
• Enjoy!

TIP: To save time in the tortilla making process, I like to make my tortilla dough ahead of time in a big batch. I roll out and cut the tortillas into circles and place each one between foil. I then put the pre-cut, uncooked tortillas into a freezer safe container and freeze them. When I'm ready to use them I simply take out how many tortillas I need and let them unthaw. This only takes about 5 to 10 minutes since they are so thin. I then bake as directed above and serve them fresh. It is a real time saver and I always have fresh yummy tortillas on hand! 

❀❀❀ Remember to check out our Facebook fan page this week to get the inside scoop about our new monthly Healthy Crumbs Week and what each day's topic will cover!!! ❀❀❀

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 5:22 PM 4 comments

Introducing Healthy Crumbs Week!!

Something special has been cooking at Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me and it's not just yummy allergen-free food! We are very excited to announce the introduction of Healthy Crumbs Week! What is Healthy Crumbs Week you ask? Healthy Crumbs Week is one full week every month of "Healthy Crumbs"; tips, tricks, ideas, giveaways, product reviews, feedback, and much much more! We will post one new "Healthy Crumb" blog post each day during Healthy Crumbs Week covering the following themes: Mindful Monday, Cheap Tip Tuesday, Guest Blogger Wednesday, New Product Thursday, and Feedback Friday. To get the inside scoop on details about what these themes will cover, check out our Facebook Fan Page next week! Healthy Crumbs Week will be the last full week of each month, starting this month, June! So check back soon to get your Healthy Crumbs! 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 2:58 PM 0 comments

Betty Crocker's Baker's Challenge: Gluten Free Recipe Contest!

Hold the gluten, grab your apron and start your ovens! Betty Crocker is hosting its first-ever gluten-free recipe contest, the Baker's Challenge Gluten Free Recipe Contest! Baking in a gluten-free world poses its own challenges - as well as sweet rewards - so here is a chance to show off the creative solutions and tasty treats you've created for your family and friends.

Now through June 30th, visit www.glutenfreely.com/bakerschallenge for the chance to win a Grand Prize of $5,000. The grand prize winner will also have the chance to be featured on a Betty Crocker® Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick® Gluten Free baking mix package and/or be featured in a Betty Crocker publication! 

All you have to do is submit an original gluten free holiday-themed appetizer, bread or dessert recipe, using any Betty Crocker Gluten Free dessert mix or Bisquick Gluten Free baking mix.

Recipes will be judged on five key categories: taste, creativity, ease of preparation, consumer appeal and appearance. 10 finalists will be selected and will receive a Betty Crocker Gluten Free Baking gift basket filled with baking items and Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes. Finalists' recipes will be featured on www.glutenfreely.com/bakerschallenge and voted on by the Gluten Freely community to determine the $5,000 Grand Prize Winner!

Gluten Freely is offering now through the end of June, 20% off the purchase of any of the five Betty Crocker Gluten Free mixes. Visit www.glutenfreely.com/ourstore to buy yours today or click here to find out where Betty Crocker's Gluten Free mixes are sold in your area. 

So grab your favorite Betty Crocker Gluten Free mix and get to baking your best holiday-themed appetizer, bread or dessert recipe for your chance to win Betty Crocker's Baker's Challenge!

❀❀❀ And remember, we are cooking up something new here at Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! We are excited to be starting something new and exciting this month! Be sure to check back later this week for more details and information! ❀❀❀

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 4:49 PM 0 comments

Something Special is Cooking at Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me!

Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me is excited to be introducing something new and exciting this month! Be sure to check back next week for more details and information!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 6:04 PM 0 comments