“You’re inflamed all over,” said the chiropractor. She was examining me and asked if I had food allergies. Dairy had always been a problem, but I still ate it, and I always suspected gluten since it made me feel bloated. That visit motivated me to get a food allergy/sensitivity test which revealed that I indeed had sensitivities to dairy and gluten.
Unfortunately, I tried many times to give both up and could for a few weeks before I caved in to cravings. Pizza was especially hard. The crunchy crust, the gooey cheese. In spite of trying, I couldn’t stay away for too long.
Then I heard something on tv that clicked. A patient revealed that her doctor told her “don’t let your 60-year-old self be angry with your 40-year-old self.” That really resonated with me. At my rate, my 60-year self was going to be FURIOUS with my younger self. I was tired of wanting to give up these foods but not being able to and especially tired of feeling bloated all the time. So, for New Year’s 2020, I decided I was going GFDF (gluten free, dairy free). If I fell off the wagon, instead of getting discouraged and eating badly the whole day, I would get back on track at the very next meal.
It’s hard and I’m not going to lie, I still struggle, but there are things that help. The two biggest things for me are always having GFDF foods on hand and getting my family and friends on-board. There are so many wonderful GFDF foods, for every craving. Whether it’s pizza, pretzels, or Cheetos, I have a tasty GFDF substitute. It took awhile for loved ones to get on-board. I heard “you can have a little piece, it won’t kill you or I couldn’t live without pizza!” However, I let them know I was serious. Whenever I was offered food that wasn’t gluten or dairy free, I politely declined. They saw me buying GFDF foods and adding vegan cheese to GF pasta. Above all, having substitutes and support make a huge difference.
If you are also GFDF or considering it, whether it’s because of allergies, sensitivities or a lifestyle choice, I invite you to come on this journey with me. I have discovered many great packaged GFDF foods. Of course it’s best to eat whole, natural foods but let’s be honest, in our busy everyday lives sometimes we need the convenience of packaged foods. Moreover, we don’t always have the time to make bread or pasta from scratch. And most of us are not going to give up snacks or dessert.
Living Gluten and Dairy Free is dedicated to reviewing gluten and dairy free foods, sharing latest research, and providing information on upcoming expos and products.
Amy’s Kitchen
My first review is a company I am always impressed with, Amy’s Kitchen. They are family owned since 1987 and offer great meals, many without gluten or dairy. I love Indian food and before giving up gluten and dairy, one of my favorite Indian foods was Mattar Paneer. It is peas with paneer, which is Indian cottage cheese. Amy’s Indian Mattar Tofu replaces the cheese with tofu. It is served with dal (lentils) and basmati rice, which is pleasantly aromatic. While tofu does not taste like cheese, the consistency is similar and it blends well with the peas and tomato sauce. It is a meal which is flavorful and perfectly spiced.
In addition, Amy’s Indian Vegetable Korma is as delicious as the Mattar Tofu. It is a dish consisting of vegetables in a thick, creamy sauce. It contains cauliflower, green beans, carrots, sweet green peas and potatoes in a mild curry sauce. The coconut sauce is topped with cashews and slivered almonds for a great crunchy taste. Completing the meal is lentils and aromatic basmati rice. Like the Mattar Tofu, it is an aromatic, well spiced meal that awakens your taste buds. It’s hard to believe this delicious meal comes frozen in a box.
In short, I really like Amy’s frozen meals and have it for lunch at least once a week. Not only is it delicious, but it is loaded with tons of vegetables. In addition to reviewing more Amy’s Kitchen meals, I will also be reviewing other great companies offering GFDF foods in upcoming posts.
Fun Food Fact
India is called the Land of Spices because no other country produces as many spices as India.
Did You Know?
“A true food allergy causes an immune system reaction that affects numerous organs in the body. It can cause a range of symptoms. In some cases, an allergic food reaction can be severe or life-threatening. In contrast, food intolerance symptoms are generally less serious and often limited to digestive problems.” (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-allergy/expert-answers/food-allergy/faq-20058538)
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I follow a dairy-free and gluten-free diet, which can be challenging in some places – Brandon Boyd