Hello, hello! I hope you had a nice spring weekend :)
I mentioned Friday that May is one of my favorite months because it means it’s almost summer. However, I forgot to mention one very important reason I love May (other than Mother’s Day, mom)…Celiac Awareness Month. OK, so it’s not the first thing I think of in May, but every year I do think about it because it coincides with my “celiac anniversary” on May 24. This year marks seven years of having celiac and, therefore, seven years of eating gluten-free.
To say the world of gluten-free products has come a long way in seven years is an understatement. What used to be a very small section of one shelf in one aisle is now mainstream. The fact that I can get plenty of gluten-free products at Winn Dixie and even CVS says A LOT.
This is not me but, yes, I own these shorts. (Source)
In honor of Celiac Awareness Month I have a few posts scheduled that deal with gluten-free food, life and the like. I plan to spread out those posts because, while celiac is a huge part of my life, it is NOT my entire life. This blog will never be a “let’s talk about gluten-free stuff every day” because that’s not something I like to do in “real life.”
First up…my favorite pantry products. To make this list I literally opened my pantry and took note of what I had on my shelf. I did add a few that are in my pantry at home (compared to at school) because I have the luxury of more space and a family to buy me food at home. For the purposes of this post I did not include the obvious staples in my pantry such as nut butters, nuts and seeds and KIND bars. Also, none of these products are affiliates or sponsored, darn ;)
1. Ancient Harvest Quinoa– Lately I’ve been eating quinoa in my salads at lunch but typically it’s one of my favorite side-dishes at dinner. It’s super easy to make…although I did just have a “pot overflowing” incident that made a mess. That’s what I get for watching Grey’s while cooking. See #4 and #5 for adding flavor to quinoa.
2. Rice Chex– For the first three years of high school I had two bowls of Rice Chex for breakfast every single morning. Now I’m on my two bowls of oatmeal kick (always want two bowls) but Rice Chex, particularly the flavored ones, are great for breading chicken or fish. Just last week my mom made a honey mustard chicken using Honey Rice Chex as coating.
3. San-J Tamari Soy Sauce– This is a wheat/gluten-free soy sauce that I use to make Asian-inspired dishes. It’s great for making a marinade or using in a stir-fry.
4. Pacifica Chicken Broth– I always cook my quinoa in chicken broth (or almond milk) for some added flavor. I also use it to pour over chicken before baking.
5. Pacifica Almond Milk- I guess this should be in the refrigerator, but I had it in my pantry so we’ll go with that. I keep small containers on hand for cooking quinoa. I also use it in oatmeal!
6. Arrowhead Mills Instant Quinoa + Oat Hot Cereal– I discovered this oatmeal last year and loved it so much that I decided to eat it every day for the rest of my life. It has the best texture of the GF instant oatmeal’s I’ve tried. The packets are on the smaller side (and not enough nutrition to hold me over) so I have two packets and add toppings.
7. Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flour– A go-to coating for chicken dishes! I’m coconut-obsessed so coating chicken tenders in this flour and sprinkling with coconut flakes is a simple, delicious dinner.
8. Lundberg Brown Rice Cakes– Rice cakes and peanut butter (or mashed avocado) is my “after school snack” of late. I don’t enjoy eating rice cakes plain (who does?) but if I had to, I would eat a Lundberg rice cake. They are more filling than other air rice cakes and come in different flavors if that’s your thing.
Ive been GF for 20+years and am soooo glad theres finally a lot of availability in nonspecialty stores.
CARLA recently posted…Tomorrow is the official day.
Wow! 20 years?! I can’t imagine how little was available back then. AND the stares you must have gotten explaining gluten free. I still get them today!
I didn’t know it was Celiac Awareness Month. Changing to a gf diet was life changing. I lived with symptoms I just assumed I had to live with way too long.
jill conyers recently posted…HIIT Abs & Obliques Workout
I can’t fully describe how much my diagnosis changed my life for the better. Although it’s hard at times it was the best thing that happened to me!
Oatmeal…I honestly cannot remember the last time I had cereal, although I have been having a weird craving for shredded wheat. HA! No idea where that is coming from! My pantry never does not have nut butters. ;)
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…My Happy Place…
The day my pantry doesn’t have nut butter is the day the world ends. Hope you fill your craving :)
Haha, I need to own those shorts too!! Great list of pantry items- I am pretty sure I have each one in mine too :)
Annmarie recently posted…Meatless Monday: Grilled Honey Lime Fiesta Kabobs
My sister bought them for me a few years ago! I sleep in them a lot :)
YAY doesn’t a celiac anniversary feel like a second birthday?!
And a celiac without quinoa is the pantry is just…idk…but that’s a problem, haha!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Spiced Cashew Plum Rice Porridge
I never thought of it as a second birthday. But now that you mention it I might just ask for some presents ;)
Funny my celiac anniversary is basically memorial day. 3 years ago this memorial day. i was off and on with the diagnosis and different tests but basically memorial day was the day and it sorta fits….like in loving memory of all those good foods i used to eat and the days of walking into any restaurant to eat whatever i wanted !
I love these posts !!!!!
I ate chex at first for a while but it didnt fill me up and led to sugar crashes but i never thought of using it for breading ! great idea. i love the GF tamari and use almond milk a ton. Lately Ive been having issues with sugar/carbs and trying to find what fills me up vs makes me feel bloated vs gives me sugar crashes. i find when i eat to many grains that i feel hungrier and more bloated but how in the world can i train for a half marathon (or lead a normal life) without some of them!!!!! i know people do it but not sure i want to. i guess my body just likes to keep me guessing…just when i think i have it figured out it decides to act weird.
i like when you talk celiac since no, its not the most important thing in your life or how you define yourself, but 7 years is a long time and we could use your suggestions !!
Yeah the week I was diagnosed I had a bunch of tests so I just picked the day the endoscopy results came in. Let me know if you try using the Rice Chex as breading! It’s super easy…just crush in a plastic bag. And you’re right, 7 years is a long time!
I like oatmeal more than cold cereal just because I feel like I get more “bang for my buck”- it always seems like a huge bowl and it keeps me full for forever. And on a cold morning, especially, it’s such a cozy food. Cereal, on the other hand…I have to eat at least 2-3 bowls to feel full…so it’s more of a special occasion thing for me :)
Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…5 Ways to Survive Running in the Heat
That’s exactly how I feel! Even in the summer I love oatmeal in the morning. I still need to try overnight oats though!
I had no idea chex was gluten free! And man is it goooood! I love that stuff.
Beverley @ sweaty&fit recently posted…Mexican Enchilada Casserole
The Honey Rice Chex are my favorite!
I can only imagine how different it must be shopping for gluten-free foods now than it was 7 years ago. I love adding quinoa to my salads, it makes them even more satisfying. Totally couldn’t go without my nut & coconut milks either. I’m a big fan of oatmeal and sometimes muesli if I want more of cold cereal experience
Georgie recently posted…Chocolate Sunbutter
I remember having the old old school KIND bars (like walnut & date and mango something, which don’t exist anymore). It was back when those bars were still so new. I’ve never tried muesli. I honestly have no idea what it is haha. Another food that blogging will introduce me to!
I don’t know if congrats is the right word, but I think it’s awesome you’ve been able to so successfully stay gluten free for so long! Using chex cereal as breading sounds way better than bread crumbs, now I’m tempted to try it.
Rebecca @ MyEagerFeet recently posted…Weekly Training Recap: 4/26 – 5/2
Haha I’ll take the congrats, thanks ;) The chex adds a good flavor and when crushed enough it acts just like breadcrumbs.
I don’t eat much oatmeal (for the laziest reason ever – you have to prep it), but I snack on cereal all the time. I love Chex! Oatmeal is sooo popular, though, so I feel like maybe I’m missing out… :)
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…Scenes From the Weekend
Oh if I had to prep oatmeal I wouldn’t eat it nearly as often. One minute in the microwave is long enough for me ;)