I sign onto my computer everyday and usually get onto facebook, twitter, read some blogs, and go onto yahoo to read some news.  I always go for the sports related and health related articles.  Last night, when I went on, immediately this popped up.
Two New Eating Disorders-Yahoo article
***
After reading, I was extremely disturbed.  Since suffering from similar symptoms as an eating disorder from my “glutening”, I felt very strongly about this.  Supposedly now adults who are picky eaters have a problem, and people who are too healthy are labeled orthorexics.  I can maybe understand an adult who only eats pizza and chicken fingers being unhealthy, but somebody being too healthy??  The article claims that it can harm people’s social lives.  This is especially funny to me.  People are constantly blaming magazines and public figures for other’s anorexia and bulimia, but this is the perfect example of society creating an “eating disorder.”  If people didn’t shoot up cows with hormones, add pesticides to foods, or add highly processed sugar to just about everything, then everybody would be able to go out to dinner with their families and all be healthy.  How can you tell me that America is one of the fattest nations, but then say that eating too healthy is now an eating disorder?  I guess you can never win.  In my mind, I view an eating disorder as a mask for something internal.  I’ve always thought that people who were currently in their disorder weren’t very happy with themselves.  So I can’t understand how somebody feeding their body with the right, healthy nutrients can be labeled with something so negative.
Healthy diets that consists of enough calories, full of organic fruits, vegetables, and sources of protein help fight off diseases like Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular diseases.  It makes my skin crawl for this article to be put out for billions of people to see and start to believe.
I’m fifteen years old and I don’t eat gluten, barely touch sugar or dairy, never have had alcohol, and my own form of caffeine is from tea or coffee.  I have absolutely no problem going out to eat at any restaurant and ordering as needed.  I have plenty of friends and my blood work is perfectly normal.  I have never been happier and healthier in my life.  (Aside from hormone issues, which are in no way linked to my diet)  If tomorrow I was walking in down the pier and decided I wanted ice cream, I would get it.  Just because I don’t do that daily doesn’t mean I have a severe medical issue.
If you really think about it, “orthorexics” eat as God intended us to.  High fructose corn syrup and white bread weren’t around at the Last Supper.

***I wrote this in my honest opinion.  I know this may be a sensitive subject to some, and so I would really like anybodies feedback, whether you disagree or agree. I’d greatly appreciate it.        

xoxo
P.S I took communion on Sunday for the first time in months. At first I was scared, but then I remembered this verse that my friend Emily sent to me when I needed it the most,

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.- Joshua 1:9


I had faith that God would help me, and that nothing I would go through would ever compare to what Jesus has done for me. 

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
• half packet of stevia (or splenda)
• sprinkle of sea salt
• as much peanut/almond/cashew butter as you want!*

First melt the coconut oil in the microwave, add in everything else except peanut butter, stir.  Pour half of the mixture in a cupcake liner or dixie cup.  Freeze for about 5-10 minutes or until hard.  Then spread a layer of peanut butter on top. And then pour remaining mixture on top of that.  Freeze again for about 5-10 minutes.

Howdy yall!
Last time I spoke to you, I was gettin’ ready to do the Multiple Sclerosis Walk!  My mom and I decided to do it very short notice, and we raised over $200!  We were so happy to be there.  It was a chilly morning near the Rose Bowl, and it was so nice to see so many people walking for this disease.  My nana has it, so the organization means a lot to my mom and me.

Also, we got a free sample of zevia and it was delicious!  I had never tried it before, and my mom and I both had the ginger root beer!  As an avid root beer connoisseur, I can assure you that this had the perfect creamy to vanilla to molasses ratio.    

   I’ve lost count.  Ever since I was little, my mom, Nana, and I were in and out of doctor’s offices because of my Nana’s MS. **
   I feel horrible because I can’t imagine how hard it must be for her, because I’m already sick of it.  Today we went back to my current doctor to review the blood results.  Long story short, we walked out with a lot of things on our mind, none were treatments.  My hormones are all out of wack and there’s nothing he could do about it.  I don’t want to go on hormone therapy or a birth control pill.  We want to know why this is happening.

   Anyway… Good news is I lost a little bit of weight and I feel purdy good!  AND I came home to this…

• salad mix
• strawberries
• grilled chicken
• chopped walnuts
• drizzle of spicy brown mustard

it was delish! Also, my mama made some of this last night!

I’m all for eating“real food”  but what’s wrong with a rice cake every once in a while?  Especially if it’s smothered in cream cheese and honey?

They’re naturally gluten and dairy free.  Just made from brown rice!  I love love love the ranch flavored ones!(not dairy free)
Plus, they leave room in ma tummy for all this yumminess!

Since my friend Sarah got me hooked on miso soup, i bought a packet of dry miso-s.

the longest name, but it doesn’t even do it justice….
Peanut Bubba Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Milkshake

• two tablespoons of peanut butter(or peanuts)
• 1 frozen banana (cut into chunks for easier blending)
• 1 cup of milk (or almond/soy/coconut)
• 1 tablespoon peanut flour(or cake mix flour)
• pinch of cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• about a tablespoon of chocolate chips(or more) =P

Blend everything except the chocolate chips.  Once everything is completely blended, add chocolate chips and blend just long enough to mix, about 5 seconds.
I use less milk (1/3 cup) and freeze it, then eat it like ice cream.  After you freeze it, if you re-blend it, it will have an exact ice cream texture.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I got this idea from a few other blogs, so yall can get to know more about me:)

A. Age: 15!
B. Where were you born?  Boynton Beach, Florida:)
C. Favorite Candy?  Pralines!!
D. Dogs: I wish I had a house full of dogs running around, but we don’t at the moment!  My favorite doggies are my Aunt Becky and Uncle Joe’s:)

This blog is titled Gracefully Glutenless, but it’s not just for people with a gluten intolerance or not even just for health nuts or foodies.  It’s just a way of life.  My life, which happens to consist of a few allergies.  One of my biggest allergies is to sadness.  Something we’re all allergic to, without you really knowing it.  When something bad happens, we all handle it differently.  We either cry, or pretend like we’re fine, we all have different reactions.  So, the other night, right before I went to bed, I went online to see that there was an 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  I proceeded to go onto my facebook account to find that one of my friends was in Japan for dance, and was two hours away from her mom and sister where they were staying.  Not many people were up so late, but instead of being in the comfort of her bed, she was alone and freezing walking and trying to find her way in a Country where she couldn’t even understand what people were saying while it was happening.  The phone lines were down, roads and subways were closed, and I was sitting in my bed.
My heart breaks for everybody who has been affected by this.  She eventually made it home to find her family safe.  I continue to pray for all of them, and any of you who have been affected by this.  If you would like to donate $10 to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Japan, you can text JAPAN to 80888.      

Sorry to start out with such a depressing paragraph! But, I felt like I needed to include it somehow,
off to some yumminess…
the other day, my mom and I woke up and were off to Cardiobarre! But the real reason why we wanted to get out of bed, was so we could go to Hugo’s after!  We love it there because they have options for everybody and the food is actually good!  We shared some spring rolls and Chocolate Mole Pancakes…

yes, with pumpkin seed brittle, candied pecans, toasted almonds, served with a mole sauce.  AH-MAZING.  (gluten and dairy free to boot!)
Then, yesterday, in need of some protein and missing meat because it’s Friday, I had the perfect idea…
crab ‘n’ grits!  
So easy, so yummy, and so perfect for this Florida girl!

• 1 can crab meat
• 1 serving of grits
• water/milk/chicken broth
• seasonings (i used paprika, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic salt, Tabasco) 
• you can add cheese too! (optional)

Just make the grits like normal, strain the water from the crabmeat, mix together, add seasoning and a lil bit of butter:)

Mon cher, food nourishes the body.  Everybody knows that.  But, first and foremost, it nourishes the soul.  If it doesn’t, then it’s not real food.  No matter whether you’re making it, or eating it.  It should always feed your soul.
Everybody has a favorite meal, or type of cuisine.  Mine happens to be Cajun.  Don’t get me wrong… I love my Nana’s fusilli, and crave penne a la vodka every now and then.  But Cajun food is so special.  Luckily, in all of the places I’ve lived, I’ve had a go-to place.  In Florida, most all seafood restaurants carry Cajun delicacies.  In New York, I had a cute lil’ place on the same block as my school!  It was incredible!  I don’t know much if they have gluten free options, but it’s called The Delta Grill.  They had everything from fried green tomatoes, to etouffee, to crawfish pie!  Yes, they had gator too!  I’ve never had it, though curious, the only way I’d ever eat it, is if it were fried…. otherwise too grossed out from the crunch of this scene..

   Anyways!  Since jambalaya isn’t something you can get at any diner or chain restaurant, I was super excited for Mardi Gras this year to make a traditional N’awlins meal!  On the menu was the Mardi Gras King’s Cake.  And a Jambalaya.
The King’s Cake is traditionally a sweet bread with a cream cheese praline filling and colored sprinkles on top.  Purple represents justice, green means faith, and gold means power.  All three of them together represent the three kings who visited Christ on Epiphany, also known as the 12th day after Christmas.  The celebration continues until Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday.  Also, there is a baby Jesus hidden in the cake and whoever gets the piece with him, is supposed to make the cake the next year.  I decided to make scones in the shape of the cake.

King’s Cake Scones
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• less than 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
• 3 tablespoons butter (or earth balance/coconut oil)
• 1 egg
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk

Filling

• 4 tablespoons cream cheese (or tofutti cream cheese)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• about 1/2 cup brown sugar
• handful of pecans 

Icing

• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• some lemon zest

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt in a bowl.  Cut in butter and mix.  Add in egg and mix.  Add in milk slowly until you get a dough.  You don’t want to add too much milk that it’s not pliable.  Flour surface generously, then roll out.  I don’t have a rolling pin so I just use an empty glass bottle.  

Quinoa Jambalaya

• 1 cup quinoa or rice
• 2 heads of garlic
• 1 tablespoon of parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes
• 1 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
• 1/2 pound of andouille sausage (fully cooked)
• 1/2 pound shrimp (tails removed)

Add all ingredients except for shrimp in a large skillet and bring to a boil.  Then reduce heat and cover, let simmer for about 20 minutes.  Add shrimp and cook for about 5 more minutes or until shrimp are pink. 

These recipes are great for Mardi Gras, but also for any time of the year.  I hope you enjoy them, but mostly I hope they feed your soul.

<3 

Bonjour mes amis!