National Celiac Awareness Month!

It is already the 10th of May and I haven't even mentioned the fact that it is National Celiac Awareness Month! Shame on me, I guess I am still recovering from participating in the Health Activist Writers Month Challenge (HAWMC) in April! There are so many exciting things happening this month in honor of Celiac Awareness. I hope to share some of them with you throughout the rest of the month! 

The first one I want to share with you is the K.I.S.S series by The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). They are celebrating by rounding up 16 bloggers for a series chronicling every stage of the gluten-free journey, from Day 1 basics to advanced cooking and advocacy. In keeping with this years theme, Keep It Simple and Safe (K.I.S.S.), each blogger is offering 5 key tips or lessons related to that day's topic. Check out their blog, Celiac Central: Bits and Bites daily!

Weekly Focus

• Monday – Cooking/Baking Gluten-Free
• Tuesday – Nutrition/Wellness
• Wednesday – Raising a Gluten-Free Kid
• Thursday – Dining Out Gluten-Free
• Friday – NFCA Resources You Should Know About

Schedule and Guest Bloggers:

Week 1: Just Diagnosed (April 30-May 4)

• Anne Byrn of The Cake Mix Doctor – Reading labels and cooking with boxed mixes
• Shirley Braden of gluten free easily – Avoiding hidden gluten
• Kathleen Reale of Be Free for Me – Talking to your child about celiac disease
• Lisa Garza of Gluten Free Foodies – What questions to ask when dining out
• NFCA – Discover NFCA’s Getting Started Guide

Week 2: Getting the Hang of It (May 7-11)

• Shauna Ahern of Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef – How to cook and bake gluten-free from scratch
• Erin Elberson of Gluten-Free Fitness – Weight gain and gluten-free processed foods
• Heidi Kelly of Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom – Talking to family & friends about your child’s gluten-free needs
• Chandice Probst of Gluten-Free Frenzy – Trying new gluten-free dishes when dining out
• NFCA – Free Webinars: The easiest way to get new information

Week 3: Hitting a Roadblock (May 14-18)

• Diane Eblin of The WHOLE Gang – 5 tips to get out of a food rut 
• Alisa Fleming of Go Dairy Free  – First gluten-free, now lactose intolerant? 5 tips to becoming a dairy-free diva
• Wendy Kaho of Celiacs in the House – Gluten-free challenges at school
• Michael De Cicco-Butz of Gluten-Free Mike – Traveling while gluten-free
• NFCA – 5 resources to handle life’s hurdles

Week 4: What’s Next? (May 21-25)

• Amie Valpone of The Healthy Apple – Publishing your gluten-free recipes
• EA Stewart of The Spicy RD – Healthy gluten-free foods you’ve never heard of
• Katie Chalmers of G-Free Kid – 5 tips to empower gluten-free kids
• Carrie Forbes of Ginger Lemon Girl – Starting a gluten-free dining group
• NFCA – Ready to fundraise? Here’s how to start

Remember all of these posts will be on the NFCA’s blog, Celiac Central: Bits and Bites.

Also for some more Celiac Awareness Month fun, including a chance to win a Gluten-Free Pantry Raid, visit CeliacCentral.org/awarenessmonth.

I hope you enjoy all these great resources and Happy Celiac Awareness Month!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 4:58 PM 1 comments

HAWMC Day 29, Six Sentence Story

Today's challenge topic is, Six Sentence Story; In this day of micro-blogging –  brevity is a skill worth honing. Can you tell a story and make it short and sweet? What can you say in six sentences. Check out some here: http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/

Food Allergy Facts in 6 Sentences

Food allergies are a growing public health concern. According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) as many as 15 million people suffer from food allergies today in the United States, 4% of adults and 8% of children. Although childhood allergies generally resolve themselves they appear to be resolving more slowly than in previous decades with many children still having allergies beyond 5 years of age. Eight foods known as the "Big 8" account for 90% of all food allergic reactions; milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Those people suffering from food allergies have increased by a whopping 18% between 1997 to 2007. There is no cure for food allergies and the only way to avoid a reaction is the strict avoidance of the allergy-causing food.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 11:35 AM 1 comments

HAWMC Day 23, Health Activist Choice Day 2

Todays' challenge topic is, Health Activist Choice Day 2; Write about whatever you like.

Since yesterday was Earth Day I will keep with the "green" theme and look back at the accomplishments Earth Day has brought us throughout the years. An estimated one in 10 Americans took part in the first Earth Day, observed across the country on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was the brainchild of Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson. The first national Earth Day unified a growing public concern about environmental crises. In December 1970, President Richard Nixon created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Executive Order as a federal response to growing environmental concerns. Since then Earth Day has brought about many changes.

Clean Water: Two short years after the formation of the EPA, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, a modification of the 1948 Federal Water Pollution Control Act, to regulate quality standards for surface waters and stop the discharges of pollutants into rivers, lakes and other waterways. 

Clean Air: A few weeks after the EPA was formed, Congress passed the Clean Air Act. Under the new law, the EPA was authorized to set limits on air pollutants like ozone and carbon monoxide, as well as to regulate emissions from factories, power plants and vehicles. State and regional agencies assumed responsibility for carrying out the Clean Air Act at the local level. With its new responsibilities, the EPA set numerous air quality regulations in motion, including controlling auto emissions and banning the use of DDT.

Waste Management: In 1976, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act became law. Among other things, the law mandated that landfills be closely monitored and enacted America's hazardous waste management program. Since 1970, the U.S. recycling rate has grown from a mere 6.6 percent to 34.1 percent in 2010, according to the most recent EPA data available. Due to increased regulations and recycling, the number of landfills in America has also decreased dramatically, from nearly 8,000 in 1988 to 1,767 in 2002.

Increased Awareness: Since 1970, Earth Day has grown into a global celebration. An estimated 1 billion people in 180 countries participated in Earth Day in 2010. About 77 percent of Americans now say they worry about protecting the environment; this is up from 1970 when the percentage of citizens who cited cleaning up air and water as one of their top three political priorities was at 53 percent.

We have come a long way and accomplished many wonderful things since the first Earth Day in 1970, but we still have much to do. Now more than ever it is important for us to be conscious of our global footprint. Global Footprint Network estimates that approximately every nine months, we have demanded a level of services from nature equivalent to what the planet can provide for all of 2012, this date is Earth Overshoot Day. What exactly does this mean? We make up this deficit by depleting stocks of fish, trees and other resources, and by accumulating waste such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and oceans. We are now using the Earth’s resources at a rate that would take between 1.3 and 1.5 planets to sustainably support our current practices. The research shows us on track to require the resources of two Earths well before mid-century.

Even though Earth Day is over, it doesn't mean we should wait until next year's Earth Day before we do something to change. In the words of Albert Einstein, "those with the privilege to know, have a duty to act."

What did you do for Earth Day this year?  What practices have you made a part of your daily life?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 11:04 AM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 20, Miracle Cure

Today's challenge topic is, Miracle Cure; Write a news-style article on a miracle cure. What’s the cure? How do you get the cure? Be sure to include a disclaimer  ;)

Today I decided to deviate from the challenge topic slightly. I didn't want to make up a cure but I thought I would talk about some of the research and clinical trials that are out there that may help result in a cure for food allergies and intolerances. 

Unlike many allergic conditions, there are currently no proven treatments for food allergies except to avoid eating what you are allergic or intolerant to. Here are a few clinical trials out there currently that may prove to have promising results in the near future. 

Immunotherapy. There are two types of immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and oral immunotherapy (OIT). The concept for both methods is the same. A food allergen is administered slowly in small increasing doses leading up to a stable daily dose. The goal is to teach the person's immune system to accept the allergen. The difference being the two approaches is in the way they are administered. In SILT, the allergen is given under the tongue and in OIT the patient ingests the allergen. Early studies of immunotherapy have had promising results but therapeutic effect and duration of benefit have not been proven. For more information check out the trial information at clinicaltrials.gov. 

Xolair (omalizumab). A person who is allergic to something makes too much of a certain protein in the body called IgE antibody. This overproduction can result in the development of allergic conditions. Xolair is a drug that acts by binding to the IgE allergic antibody in the blood stream and blocks its actions. The FDA has approved Xolair for the treatment of moderate to severe asthma. There are a number of studies that are being conducted to use Xolair to treat other allergies such as food allergies but none have been approved yet. Although early studies appear promising, this treatment is still considered experimental and more research needs to be done on the drug's long-term safety.

Herbal formula-2, also known as Food Allergy Herbal Formula 2 (FAHF-2). This pill is based on Chinese herbal remedies. It contains nine botanicals that may aide with food allergies. So far in early clinical trials FAHF-2 has been safe and well tolerated and signs point that the medicine could be effective in treating food allergies. It is currently in the second phase of the study and is shown to have promising prolonged preventive effect up to 40 weeks. For more information check out the trial information at clinicaltrials.gov. 

Again there is much research still needed before it is know if any of these have any long lasting effects on food allergies. So please consult your doctor before changing any of your current treatment plans. This is a list of just a few of the studies out there here is a complete list of the current food allergy studies. Also if you would like additional information on any of these studies check out the Food Allergy Initiative and the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology for up to date information.  

Have you heard of any clinical studies or research being done to help find a cure for food allergies? I would love to hear about them please share them with me and your fellow readers.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 1:12 PM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 18, Open a Book

Today's challenge topic is, Open a Book; Choose a book and open it to a random page and point to a phrase. Use that phrase to get you writing today. Free write for 15-20 without stopping.

As I have said before my husband and I are pretty much addicted to our local public library. Every time we go we seem to come back with a bigger stack of books than the last time. Therefore I had plenty of books to choose from for today's post. I must admit however, having a 6 month old baby and reading for pleasure don't usually go hand in hand so most of the books I haven't even thumbed through and probably won't before they are due back. But I always have the highest of intentions when it comes to reading, you just never know when you might have a few spare minutes you can fit in a few chapters. The book I chose is one I haven't read yet, and honestly probably won't get to for quite sometime, so I thought this would give me a good excuse to at least thumb through it a bit. It is, 10 Mindful Minutes - Giving our children and ourselves the social and emotional skills to reduce stress and anxiety for healthier, happier lives by Goldie Hawn. Yes, that Goldie Hawn!

The page I turned to when I opened the book was on kindness, and this is the first sentence I read, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~Plato 

How true are those words! In life at one point or another we all fight a hard battle and you never know what someone else might be fighting at any given time. This holds especially true with those of us who are living with an illness or health issue. So instead of being negative and judging someone why not try to be kind instead. 

Kindness comes from thoughtfulness. Only when we are mindful of others thoughts and feelings can we do something kind for them. When we are kind to others we are also being kind to ourselves. Kindness has so many wonderful effects on our body and those we are kind to. Acts of kindness raise our optimism, making us happier. Kindness  raises dopamine levels in the brain and activates the brain's pleasure centers. Kindness strengthens our immune system which in return boosts our health. Antibodies in the nose and mouth that fight off viruses are increased with kindness. Kindness reduces the feeling of depression, hostility and isolation while increases optimism, joyfulness and resilience. Doing as few as five small acts of kindness a week can boost our mood and health. Kindness is contagious, when you are kind to someone, that someone is more likely to pass along the kindness to someone else. 

Acts of kindness don't have to be extravagant, they can be something as small as smiling at someone, saying hi, holding open a door, giving a complement, or leaving a short note of kind words for a loved one to find. Once you start incorporating small acts of kindness in your life you will find it is contagious and will find many more ways to bring kindness into your life and others. 

So next time hold that door open for the person coming in after you at the restaurant or store and give them smile as you do it. Or say something nice to the person standing next to you in the elevator or in line at the coffee shop. Chances are they will pass along the kindness to someone else and maybe that small act of kindness is just what that person needed as they fight their battle. As an added bonus you might just make yourself feel better and healthier in the process. 

What are ways that you incorporate small acts of kindness in your everyday life? If you have children do you teach them to do the same in their lives?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 12:08 PM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 17, Learned the Hard Way

Today's HAWMC challenge topic is, Learned the Hard Way; What’s a lesson you learned the hard way? Write about it for 15 today.

I've learned many lessons throughout my life and most have been learned the hard way. I think that is the way we learn the best. It's why there is the expression, 'live and learn'. It's a part of life, we are human, we learn by trial and error. If we don't live it, then we don't feel the consequences from our actions. 

The lesson I've learned the hard way that I am going to share is one I've learned along my food allergy journey. When I first learned I needed to avoid gluten, diary, and eggs, among a few others, I went through the usual cycle of acceptance. At first I mourned what I could no longer have. I literally went to the grocery store and walked up and down every single aisle and looked at everything I could no longer eat (blindly missing everything that I could eat I might add); I was in tears by the time I walked out. I wanted everything I couldn't eat. Never mind that I never ate Twinkies before, that wasn't the point. The point was my food options were now more limited than before for more significant health reasons than I had previously known. Then I went into what I would call an overzealous stage. I decided I needed to learn everything I could. I would have to learn to replace all those things I couldn't eat with substitutes made from allergen-free alternatives. I went crazy making substitutes of things I had never made before and hardly ever ate. I made every kind of muffin imaginable, I made dozens of loafs of bread, bagels, cinnamon rolls, english muffins… you name it, I tried to create it. After all that, I was exhausted and overwhelmed because none of my creations tasted as good as the allergen filled originals. I felt like my allergies had beaten me. So I moved into the rebellious stage. I basically said, "Screw it, it's my life, if I want to eat it I am going to eat it! I've been eating it all for my entire life and nothing horrible had happened, so why stop now?"  So I stopped eating allergy free for a couple of weeks, well maybe more like a month or two, but after that month I felt and looked, to put it bluntly, like crap. I was tired, cranky, and constantly gassy, my face was broken out and blotchy. My allergies had beaten me once again. 

Over the course of the first 6 months of my allergy journey, I cycled through these emotions, over and over. In the end, however, I learned, the hard way, that I do have a choice whether or not to eat that Twinkie. I can eat the Twinkie if I want to, it is my choice. I know from experience it is not going to make me feel good. After the minute or so of satisfaction I will feel as I eat it, the pain I will feel will last for hours and the ill effects on my body might last for weeks or longer. I think most people who find they have food allergies or intolerances go through a very similar stages. I think it is part of the learning process. If we don't have those feelings and experience the lapses, then we won't learn we truly do feel better avoiding the things we are allergic to. I'm not going to lie, almost 3 years later, sometimes those feelings still crop up. It's hard to watch others eat things you wish you could eat too, but from living my allergen journey and learning from my mistakes I know all said and done, I am better off without them. 

Below are a few quotes about mistakes that I love and have drawn inspiration from along my journey not with my allergies but with life.

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.-- George Bernard Shaw

If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a big mistake. -- F. Wikzek 

Mistakes are painful when they happen, but years later a collection of mistakes is what is called experience.-- Denis Whitely 

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.-- Scott Adams 

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.-- Mahatma Gandhi

What is a lesson you have learned the hard way?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 12:27 PM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 16, Pinboard

Today's challenge topic is, Pinboard; Create a Pinterest board for your health focus. Pin 3 things. What did you pin? Share the images in a post and explain why you chose them.

I will admit I am more than a little bit obsessed with Pinterest, it is so addicting. It's one of my guiltiest pleasures but it can be a real time sucker as well. There has been lots of talk about Pinterest and copyright lately. I won't get into the details here but if you want to learn more here are a few great articles, The Great Pinterest Divide: To Opt Out or Not (plagiarismtoday.com) and Avoiding Copyright Pitfalls on Pinterest (savingforsomeday.com). 

So here are the three things I pinned today on my Allergen Free Living board:

GREAT U! NFCA's digital publication specifically for gluten-free college students (and prospective students). This guide has so much wonderful information about living a gluten-free lifestyle while at college and is a must read for college students, prospective students and their parents. 

The Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide from the Gluten Intolerance Group. It is a wonderful database that helps you find restaurants that provide safe options for the gluten-free community. You can search by state and it brings up all of the safe restaurant options in your area.

A Beginners Guide to Going Gluten-Free from celiac.com. This is great resource when you are just starting out on your gluten-free journey. 

I know these are not necessarily pictures but they are great resources for anyone who is going gluten-free and Pinterest is a wonderful way to share and keep track of them. I hope that you enjoy!

Check me out on Pinterest!

Are you on Pinterest? What types of things do you pin?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 12:37 PM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 14, My Dream Day

Today's challenge topic is, My Dream Day; Describe your ideal day. How would you spend your time? Who would you spend it with? Have you had this day? If not — how could you make it happen?

My husband would describe my dream day as the following; sitting outside at a French cafe, drinking an espresso, eating a jambon-buerre et fromage (a ham and cheese baguette sandwich) while people watching. And honestly, he pretty much hit the nail right on the head (I guess he does know me after all)! I might also add a good book to read after I tire of people watching or good company to chat with. I would take a stroll through the shops or pop in a museum or sit in a park and eat a picnic lunch or dinner and drink a good bottle of wine. We would end the evening with a nice stroll, arm in arm with my husband and my daughter while we watch the sun set across the Seine River. Now my perfect day doesn't have to necessarily take place in Paris, but there is just something about the atmosphere in France that is hard to recreate anywhere else.   

What would your dream day be? 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 12:03 PM 4 comments

HAWMC Day 13, 10 Things I Couldn't Live Without

Today's challenge topic is, 10 Things I Couldn't Live Without; Write a list of the 10 things you need (or love) most.  

Over the past couple of years I have learned I can live without a lot of things that most people (myself included) might deem "essential". Living in a 'dry' cabin in Alaska has taught me, sometimes even when you think things are essential they actually may not be. For those of you who are unfamiliar, a 'dry' cabin is a cabin without running water which means, no sinks, no shower, no flushing toilet, no dishwasher, no washer and dryer; nothing that requires running water to function. Yes, I'll admit at times the inconvenience of having to haul our own water, boil our water to hand wash our dishes, and shower at public showers was sometimes more than a minor annoyance. But most of the time I didn't give it a second thought, it became just a way of life. The whole experience as a whole helped me realize I don't need many material things; honestly I am happier without most of them. I've found the things that I value most in my life weren't necessarily things at all. Thus, the things in my list are more things that I love that I feel improve the quality of my life.

My List:

1. My family; This covers my immediate family to my extended family and friends. I can't imagine going through life alone.
2. Good food (including a good glass {or two} of wine). 
3. Nature; Flowers, trees, animals, insects. What a dreary world it would be without nature and all of mother earth's spectacular wonders.
4. A good book; My husband and I have a bit of an addiction to our public library. Every time we go we come home with a huge stack of books. We like to read. Since we don't have a TV, we read a lot.
5. Music; Music can be physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual all at the same time. Music helps improve health. It's used to improve memory, reduce stress, support exercise, help with concentration, lower blood pressure, reduce pain and anxiety, etc.; the list of benefits is endless. It's a wonderful thing!
6. Love; The word love has a variety of different meanings to everyone. Love represents human kindness, affection, and compassion. Without love what is the point of life?
7. Laughter; Laughter produces endorphins. Endorphins make us happy, can reduce stress, and relieve pain.  Laughing boosts the number of antibody producing cells in our bodies, which leads to a stronger immune system.  
8. Hope; Without hope there is despair. I'd rather live in a world full of hope rather than despair.
9. Health; Our overall mental, physical, social, financial, and spiritual health affect everything we can and want to do in life. Maintaining good health in all aspects (not just handling our food allergies) often has benefits that each us can reap immediately and well in the future.
10. Some bad days and occasional rough times; Without them, we would not appreciate all the things I listed above quite as much. Plus, I truly believe that without some stumbles along the way we wouldn't learn, grow, and feel confident that we can push ourselves toward new adventures.

What are the 10 things you couldn't live without?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 8:34 PM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 12, Stream of Consciousness Day

Today's challenge topic is, Stream of Consciousness Day; We challenge you, start with this phrase: “Today I looked in the mirror and…” (Or another sentence you come across.) But be sure to – Keep writing. Don’t stop for 15 minutes. Don’t edit. Post. Go!

Here is my stream of consciousness post for today...

“Today I looked in the mirror and…”

Today I looked in the mirror and I see the reflection of myself holding my daughter, she is wearing a navy blue and white polka-dot headband with a navy blue and white striped dress and navy blue leggings. My husband is in the background telling me, "Polka-dots don't go with stripes, even I know that!" But I think it looks pretty darn cute and from the smile on my daughter's face as she looks in the mirror, so does she. We have just started our day: I am still in my pajamas, my husband has just got back from his morning run, and my daughter is the only one that is dressed and ready for the day; it's how most of our mornings start. I asked my daughter, "What should mommy and daddy have for breakfast this morning?" She just smiles back at me like I had just told her something funny. We go to the kitchen and I scan the fridge for something quick to make for breakfast. My husband chimes in he wants pancakes. I look at him and say, "Really? You don't like pancakes". He replies, "Yes I do, just not everyday." So I hand my daughter to him and start to make the syrup and pancakes. After breakfast is over it is time for my daughter's morning nap. We head into her room and sit down to read a book; her new favorite is a touch and feel puppy book {that we apparently stole from my parents house over Easter weekend, (mom and dad - if you are reading this, I'll bring it back next time we are up!)} She starts to get fussy and we finish up the book. We sing a few songs, 'BINGO' and 'Where is Thumb-kin,' and she drifts off to sleep. Now my husband and I can start to get ready for our day. As I look in the mirror before I hop in the shower, I see my reflection, a happy (maybe a bit tired looking) mom, who can't wait to see what the day will bring.

If you are curious here is the recipe for my gluten-fee, egg free, dairy free pancakes I made for breakfast this morning!

G-Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free Pancakes

by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

Keywords: breakfast gluten-free vegan soy-free

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cups gluten-free flour mix*

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk (I used rice milk)

3 tablespoons butter, melted or  oil (I used earth balance the red soy-free one) 

2 eggs, (6 tablespoons warm water and 2 tablespoons ground flax seed mixed together)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla    

*The gluten-free flour mix I used for this recipe is:

2 cups Brown Rice Flour

1/3 cup Tapioca Starch (also called Tapioca Flour)

2/3 cup Potato Starch (NOT flour)

—>Mix well in large plastic container and store in cool place or fridge.

How to Make It:

• Combine the first four ingredients in a large mixing bowl and give it a few whisks. 
• Mix up the warm water and flax to make a gel, let sit. 
• Add the milk, butter, and vanilla to the dry ingredient mixture and whisk again. (I wasn't patient enough to wait for the butter to melt so I just added it cold, but it would mix better if it was at least soft)
• Pour the flax gel into the mixture and stir until the ingredients are combined.  Stir the batter until all of the flour is mixed in. This should just take a few seconds – there will still be lumps in the batter and that is okay. 
• Put the batter aside while you heat up the griddle.
• Put some oil (I use grapeseed) on your griddle or non-stick skillet and heat on medium. 
• Once the skillet is warm using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, dip the batter out of the bowl and pour onto your skillet.
• Let the pancakes cook and do not touch them until you see bubbles popping in the middle of the pancakes.
• Now, flip the pancakes. They will only cook for a minute or two on the second side, and you can use your spatula to peek and see if they are as brown as you want them.
• Put a tiny bit more oil on your skillet and repeat the cooking process
• Enjoy!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 1:40 PM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 10, Dear 16 Year Old Me

Today's challenge topic is; Dear 16-year-old-me. Write a letter to yourself at age 16. What would you tell yourself? What would you make your younger self aware of?

My letter to myself is short and sweet, if I remember correctly my attention span at 16 was short!

Dear 16-year old me,

Start healthy habits now that will last you a life time, eat better, and exercise more. Try running (barefoot), you might like it! Learn to meditate and stress less; take life as it comes. Work on your patience, it's a virtue that will help you throughout your life. Worry less about what people think of you and march to your own beat; your true friends will stick around. Get out of your shell and do something out of your comfort zone, it will help you later in life.  Don't be afraid to speak up because what you have to say needs to be heard; if you don't, people might take advantage of you. Don't follow your friends, they are not always right.

Learn a second language. It will help you later in life. Follow and cultivate your artistic side, you might find a few hobbies you enjoy. Be less of a perfectionist, finish things even if you don't think they are perfect; it doesn't always matter in the end. Read more for enjoyment; you like it and you will be smarter for it.

Don't worry about not knowing what you want to do with your life. Try thinking outside the box; you can do whatever you want! Don't follow someone else's path, choose something for yourself; that someone won't be around long anyway. 

Spend more time with your family. Take more pictures; it will help you remember things better and you might find out you're good at it.

Keep doing what you're doing; there will be ups and downs, but that's life.

Love always and forever,

Elizabeth

P.S. When you are in college, take a second glance at that guy sitting behind you in your technical writing class; one day he will become your husband!

If you were writing a letter to yourself at 16 what would it say?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 8:00 AM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 9, Keep Calm and Carry On

Today's topic for the challenge is; Keep calm and carry on. Write (and create) your own Keep Calm and Carry On poster. Can you make it about your condition? Then go to (http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/) and actually make an image to post to your blog.

I had a lot of fun with today's topic. Once I got going I couldn't stop coming up with them! The "Keep Calm and Carry On" morale boosting posters were originally commissioned by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II. The originals were destroyed in 1945 and rediscovered in 2000. Now part of pubic domain, parodies of the posters have sprung up everywhere. If you want to learn more about the Keep Calm and Carry on poster campaign check out this article.

Here is the "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster I came up with.

Stress Less and Live More

This can be taken in a number of ways. Literally - if we stress less, we will live longer. When you get stressed out, a cascade of hormones are released. The most well known include the following: adrenaline, which can cause skipped heartbeat and raised blood pressure; cortisol, which leads to putting on unhealthy belly fat and suppresses immunity; and aldosterone, which causes the body to hold on to water, raising blood pressure. Stress damages the immune system and the heart. Therefore if we can learn to stress less, we will live a longer life. 

Those with allergies also know that sometimes its easier and less stressful to not do things; go out to eat with friends, say "no" to the dinner party, or skip that work/school function. You don't want to have to worry whether there is going to be something you can eat and if it is going to be safe. You don't want to be impolite, make anyone feel bad or make special arrangements just for you. We have all been there and often times we feel it's easier to just stay home. But when we opt out we are really opting out on life. We are missing the moments that matter, the moments with friends and family. Too many times too much focus goes on the food and everything we can't eat on the menu instead of the environment, experience, and memories with friends and loved ones that surround the food. I'm not saying to throw caution to the wind and eat whatever or stop doing your homework about restaurants, just stress less about the food and remember to enjoy the experience. So remember that when you stress less, you live a bit longer! 

These are a few others I came up with.

                                          

Keep Calm, Embrace the Journey

Make it Easy, Get Educated

Start Today, Live Tomorrow

Change Now, Live Better

What would your Keep Calm and Carry On poster say?

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 4:00 PM 2 comments

HAWMC Day 8, Best Conversation I had this Week

Happy Easter! Today's topic is; Best conversation I had this week. Try writing script-style (or with dialogue) today to recap an awesome conversation you had this week.

The best conversation I had this week was with my daughter. It went something like this.

Me: "Hi sweetie! Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

Charlotte: "da da ba da, ba da ba ba." (followed by a giggle and a big smile)

Me: "Good, I am so happy. I love you. Are you playing?"

Charlotte: "Ah yah yah, ya ya yah!"

Me: "Sounds like you are having a lot of fun! Are you ready to get up?"

Charlotte: "Ga ga ga ga ga! Ah ya ya!" 

Me: "Okay. Ready…1…2…3… Up!"

Charlotte: "Ah bah ba bah!" (followed by a grin)

Okay, granted this conversation was just a bunch of babbling from my six month old daughter, but she really had a lot to say and was happy to be able to talk to me. The awesomeness of this conversation was not so much in content of the conversation, but rather what having this conversation made me think about and how it made me feel.

In today's society, where both parents have to work to provide for their family, they are not able to have these conversations on a daily basis with their kids, young or old, because of hectic schedules. But this is not limited to just parents, everyone has busy schedules and can sometimes find it hard to find time to chat with someone; even if it is just to shoot the breeze. By nature, human beings are social creatures and studies have shown that in person conversations have huge health benefits. With this in mind, any and every conversation can have some level of awesomeness, even the conversations that seem pointless or are incomprehensible (e.g. baby babbling). The important thing is to have a conversation for your health's sake.

Now that you are done reading this post, hop on the phone, Skype, or turn to the person sitting next to you and strike up a conversation. (Facebook, Tweeting, texting, or smoke signaling don't count as a conversation this time, sorry). 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 8:00 AM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 7, Health Activist Choice Day

Today's challenge topic is; Health Activist Choice! Write about what you want today. 

I'll admit it is a nice break today to choose my own topic to write about. And since tomorrow is Easter, I thought I would make my topic related to Easter! 

So where did the idea of the Easter bunny and eggs come from anyway? The exact origins of the Easer bunny are a bit unclear. Rabbits are known to be prolific procreators and are an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. The Easter bunny is thought to have first arrived in America in the 1700's with German immigrants. Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. The egg is an ancient symbol of new life. It has been associated with pagan festivals for celebrating spring and symbolizes the rebirth of the earth. Dying Easter eggs is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century. 

Last year, I wrote about skipping the pre-packaged Easter egg dyes to make your own natural Easter egg dyes. This year why not take it a step farther, and instead of dying real eggs, why not come up with a more ethical option. Did you know, egg laying hens are probably the most confined animals of today's factory farms? According to the Farm Sanctuary, over 280 million egg laying hens in the US are confined to battery cages, stacked and lined up in warehouses. Each hen is packed inside a 16 inch wide cage with four other hens. In this tiny space the hens cannot even stretch their wings or legs. I won't go into more detail here about the horrors of factory egg farms, but if you would like to read more, check out this article by the Farm Sanctuary for more information. If you do choose to use real eggs this year, buy them locally from a farmers market, you not only support your local businesses, you also help out the environment by reducing waste and consumption of fossil fuels through transportation. Make sure these eggs are cage-free before buying them. Another advantage is these eggs are usually organic!

Instead of using real eggs to decorate and hide for Easter, why not come up with an alternative. Plastic eggs can be filled and used year after year; you can even sometimes find these at thrift stores or on craigslist. Wooden or clay eggs that can be painted and decorated can be found at your local craft store. Or why not bake egg shaped sugar cookies that can be decorated by the kids. There are so many alternatives, you just have to get creative! 

Do you have any special Easter traditions that might not be the norm? 

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 9:35 AM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 6, Health Haiku

This post continues the month-long series called the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge (#HAWMC) created by WEGO Health. Today's topic for the HAWMC challenge is, Health Haiku. Write a haiku about your health focus. 5 syllables/7 syllables/5 syllables. Write as many as you like.

So here are my haiku's about allergies:

allergen free life

you make me feel oh so good

my stomach thanks you

of all my new friends

quinoa, sorghum and millet

you're the very best 

gluten dairy egg

you taste oh so very good

but make me feel bad

unbelievable

extraordinarily

intolerable

My husband threw in a few for good measure!

gluten dairy egg

you make my life difficult 

gluten diary egg

oh charlotte my dear

I hope you get my food genes

because your mom's suck

Enjoy!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 9:42 AM 0 comments

HAWMC Day 5, Ekphrasis Post

Today's challenge topic is; Ekphrasis Post; Go to flickr.com/explore and write a post inspired by the image. Can you link it to your health focus? Don’t forget to post the image!

I think it was fitting for this to be the image that popped up when I went to flickr. This photo is a breath of fresh air for me. Not only is it a gorgeous reminder that spring is finally upon us, but it also reminds me how much I missed spring while we lived in Fairbanks. It doesn't really exist there, one day the ground is covered with a white blanket of snow and the next all the trees are green and full. There is no gradual awakening. Spring is such a beautiful season here in Oregon, the trees gradually emerge from their winter's rest and their delicate blossoms begin to sprout.

Spring is not only a time of beauty, it is also a time of renewal. This makes it a wonderful time to start something new. Use spring as a time to start new healthier practices in your life. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, drink more water, exercise more, get more sleep, laugh more and stress less, get rid of that extra clutter in your life that may be dragging you down, etc; the important thing is to do something and start today. Choose to do one healthier thing a day and soon you will be living a healthier, fuller life. Spring is also a time to get back to nature. Take daily walks to see the trees blooming, flowers sprouting, and life emerging all around you. It's a great time to implement greener practices in your life as well. Start to recycle and compost, plant a healing herb garden, walk or bike instead of driving, or visit your local farmers market and enjoy the local produce.

Whatever it is you decide to do that's new this spring, remember, to start small and not go crazy. De-clutter your life, let go of unhealthy practices, and begin a few new healthier ones. In the end, I promise that you will notice positive changes in your life that will lead to years of happiness in the future. 

I would love to hear any suggestions you have for me and other readers in the comments section about easy, healthy practices we can all start today; on this beautiful spring day.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 11:10 AM 0 comments