Read the Labels

Years ago, I started to read food labels. I checked for the amount of sugar, fat, calories, and serving size a product provided. It is amazing how much sugar and fat is put into our food and/or drinks. I mentioned in "my story" that I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my daughter Lia. I had to count my carb intake...so I had to read every label. Now becoming gluten free, I need to read labels more carefully.

Tonight for dinner, I made cranberry chicken. I wanted to make a green bean casserole to go with it. A key ingredient for this dish is cream of mushroom soup. It has wheat flour in it! I had no idea. I thought gluten was only in types of breads and pastas. Gluten can also be found in soy sauce and salad dressing. As I come across other products with gluten in it, I will let you know.

After dinner, I went to the Fresh and Natural Foods store in Shoreview. I bought different types of gluten free flours (brown rice, millet, potato, and tapioca). I want to make my own bread and baked goods. Tomorrow, I am going to make banana bread.

Meals:
Breakfast: Green drink. Now I am adding ground flaxseed to it. Flaxseed offers benefits of fiber, ALA(alpha-linolenic acid, protein and SDG lignans. Fiber promotes regularity, supports normal functioning of the digestive tract and can have a positive effect on cholesterol. ALA is an omega-3 essential fatty acid that supports heart health, and helps to maintain beautiful hair, skin and nails. SDG lignans are phytonutrients that exhibit antioxidant properties and can have a balancing effect on hormones. (taken from info on package) You can also add it to baked goods.
Lunch: Left over chicken curry, cheese, and chips and salsa.
Dinner: Cranberry Chicken, fresh green beans, vanilla pudding salad with pineapple and marshmallows. Yes...pudding is gluten free - at least I believe most of them are.

Cranberry Chicken 

(tonight I halved the recipe) below is the full recipe

Chicken - you can either use 4 boneless chicken breast or 8 thighs.
1 can whole cranberry sauce (I used left over sauce from the turkey burger night)
4 tbsp Lipton Onion Soup mix. I messed up...it has barley in it...I only used 2 tbsp...remember, I am still learning.
You can either put in all in a crock pot and cook on high for 2-4 hrs. Or you can cook stove top in a large sauce pan covered with a lid until chicken is cooked through.