So, it seems I have taken a rather unintentional hiatus from reviewing gluten-free goodies. I lost my writing mojo. It started with the passing of my dear, sweet Granny in October, followed by one holiday/event/excuse after another. Now, spring has sprung. The mountain of snow has thawed, the chill in the air is fading, and new life is emerging every day. I, too, am determined to make a fresh start! With a little more spring cleaning, my mojo is sure to turn up.
Contributing to my writer’s block is the fact that our eating habits have changed rather dramatically in the last few months. After watching the documentary, Food, Inc and reading If It’s Not Food, Don’t Eat It!, by Kelly Hayford, I’ve become a bit granola. We now buy grass fed beef and free range poultry from a local farm, we buy organic produce and dairy as often as possible, and our pantry and refrigerator have been swept of all products containing high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and other chemical additives, food colorings, and preservatives. For someone who has always loved the convenience and ease of prepackaged foods, this has been quite an adjustment.
I’m still trying to figure out where my loyalties lie. Just how crunchy do I want to be? Kelly Hayford would have me give up all refined sugars in favor of natural sweeteners like honey and Stevia, but there is no replacing brown sugar on my oatmeal. Searching the grocery store shelves for organic, minimally processed snack foods for my kids can be beyond frustrating, especially if said children are in the store with me and have lost all patience for my meticulous browsing! Just yesterday we ventured to a local farm to roast marshmallow Peeps over a bonfire. Do I dare deny my kids (or myself) such delicious fun? I aim to strike the balance between healthy, nutritious foods and convenient, low-stress eating with a splash of reckless abandon now and then. No sweat!
And, so, the search begins. Please leave a comment, and share with me your favorite gluten-free, organic/all natural, minimally processed snack food(s), and I will happily return the favor in posts to come.
Just thought I’d take a quick moment to share a gluten-free snack everyone in my family loves…cream cheese, jelly, and crackers! It was always a holiday favorite in my house, and just recently I was thrilled to discover that my kids love it, too. The best part about this delectable appetizer/snack is it’s easy to prepare. Plop out some cream cheese, scoop a few spoonfuls of your favorite jelly on top, and dip!