Going gluten free has been something I knew deep down I needed to do for some time. I am so glad I finally felt ready to embrace it fully, it really has been a breeze. I did kind of wean myself off, by switching to sprouted grain bread and sourdough bread for several months. I then took that out and ate some gluten items here and there such as my favorite Ak Mak crackers. So when the time came I was ready, keeping in mind how eating a piece of bread or some pasta made me feel poorly. I have not been disappointed one bit, and am so surprised at how easy it really easy to be gluten free. (well for me at least, it sure would be harder if it were one of my kids.)
Some of the benefits for me have been some weight loss, and I no longer get bloated or distended in my tummy. What a relief, because that was a constant irritating factor in my life! I also think it has relieved some measure of fatigue, and just helped me feel overall better, freer, cleaner inside and lighter. No more lead gut.
If you care to learn more about gluten intolerance and why gluten could be harmful to you, here is a pretty decent article to get you started. I also read a book called, “Dangerous Grains. Why gluten cereal grains may be hazardous to your health”, by James Braly M.D., that I would recommend for further research on the subject. Not to mention just do a google search and you will find plenty to read on the matter.
All that said, I have not switched my kids over to gluten free, nor have I had them tested. In simple observation though, I notice they do much better when they avoid gluten laden food and I do not serve them much, if at all. On occasion I buy sourdough bread for sandwiches, and do allow for the occasional pizza night. Today, as I was scouring through my pantry to come up with some snacks and meals to have on hand for my hungry boys, I found some alphabet pasta. This pasta is made mostly from semolina flour and veggies, certainly not gluten free, so it’s a compromise food in my mind, but far better and healthier than most processed food choices. So I decided to make one of my son’s favorite soups, alphabet.
Now I don’t know about you, but I grew up eating the alphabet soup from a can. Yup, I now shudder to think of what I was really eating back then. Years ago, when I wanted to serve this nostalgic treat to my kids, I searched around for a homemade version and I found a good base recipe through Rachael Ray that is simple and tasty. Here’s my tweaked version of that recipe.
1 cup tomato sauce or 3 Tbsp. tomato paste mixed with broth to make 1 cup, add seasonings to taste
1 parmesan cheese wedge
1 cup of cooked or frozen veggies of your choice (Colby prefers cauliflower in his!)
salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and italian seasonings to taste
Bring stock, tomato sauce and seasonings to boil in pot, add the pasta, and parmesan wedge to the pot, reduce to simmer until pasta is cooked through. (about 10 minutes) Make sure you have already cooked or steamed veggies, (or frozen veggies), before you add them to your soup at the end. Very simple and pretty nourishing, especially if you are using homemade bone broth. Top with grated parmesan cheese, and add a hunk of butter in the finished soup for a silky smooth and even more nourishing soup. Two out of four of my kids love this soup! Give it a try sometime and enjoy!!
*Wait, scratch that – 3 out 4 of the boys gobbled up this soup as an after school snack! Perfect for this chilly rainy weather we are having!!*
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