Josiah is like a different child eating a natural diet, and we have seen Rachel's joint pain and other symptoms are directly linked to consuming gluten and casein. A new way of eating is here to stay.
But our grocery bills have been absurd lately! Now that we are well-established in eating gluten free and avoiding food additives, it's time to ponder what I could do to help save some money. Here are a few ideas I have come up with:
1. Budget a set amount to use on food.
When it's gone, we're done (but hopefully not hungry!) It helps me to really evaluate how badly we really need a pre-made, processed treat versus making something from scratch.
2. Make a list of favorite, low budget meals.
For those meals that cost more, what could I do to bring costs down and within budget? Several recipes for low budget meals (including some that are allergy friendly), can be found if you check out this link: http://www.5dollardinners.com/.
3. Make a list of favorite, low budget snacks.
Most specialty-made gluten free foods and snacks are fairly expensive. But there are some natural alternatives like fresh fruits, vegetables, soups, and chips that are more budget-friendly. I do buy Envirokidz bars for Rachel from time to time because they are the cheapest of the gluten free snacks I can find. I've also splurged for gluten free oreo-type cookies, but I've found I could make these myself, too: http://truebluexf.blogspot.com/2011/02/oreosgluten-free.html!
4. Get creative.
There are a few places where I can find coupons for the foods we use, and Amazon is a great place to order GF flours. Kroger and Meijer both have great sales and coupons online, so when I find a good buy, I can stock up.
As I make these changes, I'll share some tips and recipes. Some of them may help any budget whether gluten-free or not. Not only that, cooking from scratch is healthier than most things that are pre-made!
If anyone else has tips to share, please leave a comment!!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
something to celebrate
It was an exciting weekend in our extended family. On Saturday my brother Jared obtained his licence to preach in the PCA--hooray!!! On Sunday my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. The pictures are for the ones who couldn't be there.
When we ordered flowers, all we said is they were for a 40th anniversary and we wanted something special. We were delighted to see they matched Mom and Dad's wedding colors!!
The honored couple...we are blessed by their marriage.
Dad, Mom, Amy, Aaron, Leah, and Eric
I almost missed this!!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
a link to an interesting study on diet and ADHD
http://www.ivillage.com/restrictive-diet-may-reduce-adhd-symptoms/4-a-320436
"When children between the ages of 4 and 8 were placed on a diet containing no processed foods for five weeks, ADHD symptoms diminished in 78 percent of them. And, when suspected trouble foods were reintroduced into the diet, two-thirds of the children experienced a relapse in symptoms."
And here is a link to the study published in The Lancet on Feb. 5: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62227-1/fulltext
"When children between the ages of 4 and 8 were placed on a diet containing no processed foods for five weeks, ADHD symptoms diminished in 78 percent of them. And, when suspected trouble foods were reintroduced into the diet, two-thirds of the children experienced a relapse in symptoms."
And here is a link to the study published in The Lancet on Feb. 5: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62227-1/fulltext
Sunday, February 6, 2011
on eagles' wings
A winter with chronically ill children inspired this post.
"Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?' Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." (Is. 40:27-28)
As we walk along through life, it is easy at times to think that God has forgotten us. Prayers go unanswered, problems continue with no obvious solutions, we find ourselves asking, "Why, Lord?"
In times like this, Isaiah reminds us to look to the character of God. The eternal one, our Creator, who never grows tired and whose ways are beyond our comprehension, is at work and involved in the cause of His people. We may not know why, but we can focus on Who. His character is enough to see us through. Do we really want solutions, or do we want relationship with God?
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Is. 40:29-31)
So often we want to throw off the burdens of life and soar. God knows better. He tell us to look to Him in faith for strength, and soar with Him right where we are. Or run. Or even just walk, taking one step of faith at a time.
"Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?' Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." (Is. 40:27-28)
As we walk along through life, it is easy at times to think that God has forgotten us. Prayers go unanswered, problems continue with no obvious solutions, we find ourselves asking, "Why, Lord?"
In times like this, Isaiah reminds us to look to the character of God. The eternal one, our Creator, who never grows tired and whose ways are beyond our comprehension, is at work and involved in the cause of His people. We may not know why, but we can focus on Who. His character is enough to see us through. Do we really want solutions, or do we want relationship with God?
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Is. 40:29-31)
So often we want to throw off the burdens of life and soar. God knows better. He tell us to look to Him in faith for strength, and soar with Him right where we are. Or run. Or even just walk, taking one step of faith at a time.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
eight symptoms of gluten sensitivity in children
This is something I'm not sure the medical community is acknowledging yet. Our pediatrician has been very supportive, but a specialist in Chicago was not. All I know is, our daughter's health has improved since being on a gluten free diet.
Some symptoms of gluten sensitivity may include:
Some symptoms of gluten sensitivity may include:
- Eczema
- Agitation and mood swings
- Extreme changes in weight
- Pain in joints
- Headaches
- Extreme fatigue
- Depression
- Gastrointestinal issues like constipation or diarrhea
six months on Feingold
In January we passed the six month mark of using the Feingold diet. I like anniversaries as they make me ponder where we've been and wonder what is ahead. Here are some thoughts:
Josiah
We still have our ups and downs, but watching this little boy progress has been such a joy. We've found that Josiah is very sensitive to salicylates (present in many fruits, a few vegetables, and a few other foods) and I continue to try new ways to come at this issue. I've tried enzymes that have been very helpful to others with little noticeable difference. However, Josiah is a complicated little fellow to feed, and I think the enzymes may have some corn issues that make them less effective. So...I may try a new one that is less corny, but in the meantime we are finding new ways to eat! Thus, my carrot-based chili, spaghetti sauce, and this week, I used pureed carrots as a base for his taco soup. He loves mango, banana, pears, and tolerates pineapple in a few things. We go through baby pear juice pretty quickly even though he only drinks it for breakfast.
We recently removed milk and found another huge source of trouble. Now that Josiah's dairy-free, he is less sensitive to a few corny foods and much calmer. It made such a difference, his gymnastics teacher commented on the change. He did go from spinning around and not attending the first two weeks to tracking right with the class the next two. About that time I reintroduced a vitamin he'd been having trouble with (corny!) and although it went OK at first, we had to remove it again. So...our ups and downs are mostly due to dealing with the huge amount of corn in the American diet and adjusting to what he can tolerate.
One interesting thing I've noticed with Josiah is that the better we get at detecting and removing food sensitivities, the better eater he becomes. He used to shun all meat and most veggies. Now he'll eat hardboiled eggs, pieces of ground beef and chicken, green beans, and raw carrots. His pickiness is disappearing little by little. I had heard this could be the case and am so excited to see it really happening!!
Josiah and I started a new preschool curriculum in January and have been having a ball with it. I realized just how structured his days need to be and how he thrives when they are! It has made me seriously consider the option of homeschooling at least for kindergarten, and perhaps beyond.
Rachel
Where would we be if it weren't for Feingold? It is mostly thanks to all my reading in the forums there that I began to wonder if Rachel needed a gluten-free, casein-free diet. Nine weeks into it, she's still healthy and having no more urinary issues, chronic diarrhea/constipation, and even her joint aches are better although not completely gone. I'm still hoping as gluten can take months to exit the body. When I googled "gluten sensitivity in children," at least three of Rachel's symptoms were in the eight listed. Now I know!!
Feingold has also been a help to Rachel. She was once a very moody girl but very rarely do I see that side of her anymore. She is bubbly, content, and her maturity this year has surprised us in many ways. I'm so thankful she can tell the difference and is cooperative about all the food changes.
Leah
Yes, I'll include myself in here. I didn't think that artificial dyes, preservatives, or flavors bothered me that much until I'd been on Feingold myself for a few months. Now, when we eat out or I grab a treat that isn't on our approved list, I can tell. I feel grumpy and on edge. PMS flares up. Perhaps most remarkable, I have gone from taking a strong prescription acid reducer twice daily to once every week or so, if that. It's hard to believe what a difference food can make!
The only downside I can see to Feingold and GF/CF is the amount of money I now spend on groceries. I'm still trying to find ways to cut this down, but I do know we are eating better quality food, and more fresh produce, meats, and homemade meals. Between that and the changes I've seen in our children, it's worth it! I wouldn't go back to our old ways of eating for anything.
Josiah
We still have our ups and downs, but watching this little boy progress has been such a joy. We've found that Josiah is very sensitive to salicylates (present in many fruits, a few vegetables, and a few other foods) and I continue to try new ways to come at this issue. I've tried enzymes that have been very helpful to others with little noticeable difference. However, Josiah is a complicated little fellow to feed, and I think the enzymes may have some corn issues that make them less effective. So...I may try a new one that is less corny, but in the meantime we are finding new ways to eat! Thus, my carrot-based chili, spaghetti sauce, and this week, I used pureed carrots as a base for his taco soup. He loves mango, banana, pears, and tolerates pineapple in a few things. We go through baby pear juice pretty quickly even though he only drinks it for breakfast.
We recently removed milk and found another huge source of trouble. Now that Josiah's dairy-free, he is less sensitive to a few corny foods and much calmer. It made such a difference, his gymnastics teacher commented on the change. He did go from spinning around and not attending the first two weeks to tracking right with the class the next two. About that time I reintroduced a vitamin he'd been having trouble with (corny!) and although it went OK at first, we had to remove it again. So...our ups and downs are mostly due to dealing with the huge amount of corn in the American diet and adjusting to what he can tolerate.
One interesting thing I've noticed with Josiah is that the better we get at detecting and removing food sensitivities, the better eater he becomes. He used to shun all meat and most veggies. Now he'll eat hardboiled eggs, pieces of ground beef and chicken, green beans, and raw carrots. His pickiness is disappearing little by little. I had heard this could be the case and am so excited to see it really happening!!
Josiah and I started a new preschool curriculum in January and have been having a ball with it. I realized just how structured his days need to be and how he thrives when they are! It has made me seriously consider the option of homeschooling at least for kindergarten, and perhaps beyond.
Rachel
Where would we be if it weren't for Feingold? It is mostly thanks to all my reading in the forums there that I began to wonder if Rachel needed a gluten-free, casein-free diet. Nine weeks into it, she's still healthy and having no more urinary issues, chronic diarrhea/constipation, and even her joint aches are better although not completely gone. I'm still hoping as gluten can take months to exit the body. When I googled "gluten sensitivity in children," at least three of Rachel's symptoms were in the eight listed. Now I know!!
Feingold has also been a help to Rachel. She was once a very moody girl but very rarely do I see that side of her anymore. She is bubbly, content, and her maturity this year has surprised us in many ways. I'm so thankful she can tell the difference and is cooperative about all the food changes.
Leah
Yes, I'll include myself in here. I didn't think that artificial dyes, preservatives, or flavors bothered me that much until I'd been on Feingold myself for a few months. Now, when we eat out or I grab a treat that isn't on our approved list, I can tell. I feel grumpy and on edge. PMS flares up. Perhaps most remarkable, I have gone from taking a strong prescription acid reducer twice daily to once every week or so, if that. It's hard to believe what a difference food can make!
The only downside I can see to Feingold and GF/CF is the amount of money I now spend on groceries. I'm still trying to find ways to cut this down, but I do know we are eating better quality food, and more fresh produce, meats, and homemade meals. Between that and the changes I've seen in our children, it's worth it! I wouldn't go back to our old ways of eating for anything.
Come again?
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?" Isaiah 40:16
Colossal Snowstorm Poised to Strike Mid-West. At least one-third of our country has been watching the headlines as well as the skies over the past 36 hours, waiting to see if the predicted snowstorm would be as ominous as it sounded. For the most part, it was. Flights were canceled; roads, schools, and businesses closed; electricity went out, and life came to a screeching halt.
It is easy, when all is going on as usual, to get a high view of man. We have successfully fought many diseases, built up wealth, acquired knowledge, and won wars. But one snowstorm shows us how very little power we truly have. Who of us can halt the storm? Keep the roads clear? Come on, it took 3 men just to clear the driveway across the street from our house this morning!!!
Colossal...to describe a snowstorm. From whose perspective? We need to look past the snow tonight up to the night sky. "Lift your eyes and look to the heaven: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:26) We challenged our children today to take each snowflake off the picnic table outside our door (piled over a foot high with snow) and name them. Not only that, study each individual feature well enough to tell them apart. They laughed...who can do that? Who indeed?
What kinds of words can we use to describe God? To whom shall we compare Him? Small and powerless as we are, He knows our name and cares for the cause of His people. Any questions about His willingness to involve Himself in the affairs of this world were answered at the cross. Has He allowed something into your life lately so big, you have nowhere to look but to Him? Is He the only authority of your life, or have you allowed other things to undermine His authority? Have you considered how He cares for you?
Nothing and no one compares to God!
Colossal Snowstorm Poised to Strike Mid-West. At least one-third of our country has been watching the headlines as well as the skies over the past 36 hours, waiting to see if the predicted snowstorm would be as ominous as it sounded. For the most part, it was. Flights were canceled; roads, schools, and businesses closed; electricity went out, and life came to a screeching halt.
It is easy, when all is going on as usual, to get a high view of man. We have successfully fought many diseases, built up wealth, acquired knowledge, and won wars. But one snowstorm shows us how very little power we truly have. Who of us can halt the storm? Keep the roads clear? Come on, it took 3 men just to clear the driveway across the street from our house this morning!!!
Colossal...to describe a snowstorm. From whose perspective? We need to look past the snow tonight up to the night sky. "Lift your eyes and look to the heaven: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:26) We challenged our children today to take each snowflake off the picnic table outside our door (piled over a foot high with snow) and name them. Not only that, study each individual feature well enough to tell them apart. They laughed...who can do that? Who indeed?
What kinds of words can we use to describe God? To whom shall we compare Him? Small and powerless as we are, He knows our name and cares for the cause of His people. Any questions about His willingness to involve Himself in the affairs of this world were answered at the cross. Has He allowed something into your life lately so big, you have nowhere to look but to Him? Is He the only authority of your life, or have you allowed other things to undermine His authority? Have you considered how He cares for you?
Nothing and no one compares to God!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
ironic...
That yesterday, I saw a huge flock of robins in our neighbor's backyard, and tonight we are bracing for the worst snowstorm in a century.
Those birds are sure going to be confused.
Those birds are sure going to be confused.
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