Today I made 'mounds' bars w/ coconut bars I had ordered online (with just coconut and rice syrup) and covered them with dark chocolate. He ate like 6o of them (bite size pieces) and says- this doesn't have that aftertaste like the candy bars. SCORE!! I'd blog all this but he'd be soooo embarrassed!!!

i made more mounds bars tonight

Laurie–Hi! I know exactly what you mean. Some days I'm full of energy and quite content to be in the kitchen for long periods of time … other days I want to be there for quick prep, stick the food in the oven (slow cooker, etc.), and then put the food on the table when the timer goes off. So it is nice to have a recipe that will work either way. Best of luck with your healing. The combination of a gluten-free diet and real food recipes can do wonders for recovery from celiac and diabetes. There really are a ton of recipes that will work!

Hi Marissa–What can I say? Great minds. Of course, as I shared in the post, I can't take credit for this recipe. It's Leanne Ely's and I'm so grateful that she gave me permission to reprint it. I really hope you'll like it when you make it. Please report back!

Breanna–Good to see you! I totally understand what you are saying. You just have a heightened awareness and with label reading, you are all now eating healthier as a result. I'm sure you are right about the salmon. The chicken recipe is not that different than the Cayenne-Lime Salmon recipe … seasonings and lime. That just makes for a very flavorful entree–chicken or fish. Mr. GFE loves the garlic-lime chicken seasoning so I'll have to try it on salmon next time. (Salmon is not his fave, but it is mine.)

Cathy–Thanks for taking the time to comment! Sometimes just acknowledging a fact can change things, can't it? It sure did for me. This little clipping remains my reality check.

Shirley

Hi Christa–I'm so glad you found my post so helpful. You are doing wonderfully! Always focus on what we can have (which is A LOT) and not what we can't have. And, remember the other part of my post … is what your friends are buying–so cheaply and spending hours to get at a huge discount on–really food anyway? Let them go their own way and happily go yours. Who knows? They may finally see the light and follow your example! Fingers crossed … you might just be a key part of the Food Revolution. Bravo on what you are doing, Christa!

Shirley

Have a terrific week!

Jennifer

Adrienne–Thanks for the nice words and special thanks for taking the time to share your experiences! Yep, we've been very conditioned to eat the other, instant food way to save money, save time, and even eat healthier than other fast food. But, yes, we can break away from that pattern. Once we start looking at the ingredients as you say, it can be a real eye opener. As far as seafood, I’m crazy about it and you'll find some recipes on my site, but most of the time, we eat it so simply (steamed, grilled, sautéed with simple herbs/seasonings) that it doesn't even require a recipe. I'll have to be sure to include some of that info in future posts though.

Kay–It's great to see you! And, oh my gosh, that is brilliant about steering clear of anything advertised on TV … just brilliant. Now that you mention it I can't remember the last time I saw an ad for artichokes, beets, kale, apples, kiwi, bananas, etc.! I absolutely love how you slowly, but surely regained your health!

Jenna—Thanks for the great feedback! You’re right … such “instant food” is not our friend in any way, shape, or form. Hope you enjoy the salmon if you give it a try … I crave that recipe!

Roxy—How cool that Jamie tweeted about Diane’s awesome Food Revolution event and you made your way here—just love that! The chicken is amazingly yummy. I’ll be happy to see you over at gfe and offer any gluten-free help that I can ! Just FYI, there are so many great gluten-free blogs, starting with Diane’s. We all offer something a little bit different.

Thanks, all!

Shirley

I was one of those people that fit your quote. Especially if it was BOGO and I had coupons. I had a pantry full of processed foods.

I never thought the frozen meals were healthy. Just healthier than a supersized combo. There aren't too many ways one can make that long list of ingredients that you can't spell or pronounce healthy.

Society is conditioned to accept processed foods. Like I said above. The newspapers are filled with coupons for it. I was getting $150 of groceries for $35 and most of that was because of the few fruits and veggies that made the cut.

The chicken looks yummy. I love seafood so I'll have to comb your site for one to try.

Katrina–I’m so excited, too! It will be so great to read everyone else’s posts … yours included.

Alta–Yep, too easy to buy that packaged food that often doesn’t resemble food or is not high quality food. I think you’re right that this dish would taste great grilled, but I think it’s important to keep the seasonings and “sauce” going. So perhaps these would be an ideal dish to make ahead in foil packets, especially if you were going to a gluten-filled cookout. That way one could have a super yummy meal without being contaminated.

Hey Aubree–Thank you! You know how I tend to go on, so it’s nice that my belaboring the point is appreciated.

mama–So nice to meet you … thanks so much! I love the vision of you, the mama, and the rest of the family in the kitchen. It’s always the heart of the home, right? And, way too cool on your son learning to like those veggies. Most of the time it’s just repeated exposure. As I like to honestly tell people, I’m still learning to like fruits, veggies, and certain dishes myself and I’m loving it!

Heidi–What a great comment! Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. I’ve never been one who had to make gf versions of things like Goldfish crackers, but I do like to emulate their flavors in different ways. I love the way you are teaching your son, because besides the wonderful nutritional benefits he’s getting, he’ll also be able to function so much easier out in the real world. Real food is available everywhere … gluten-free goodies and Mom’s Goldfish crackers not so much. This is how my Son has learned to eat gluten free and he says it’s easy. He does admit that it’s hard on his college budget sometimes when he’s ordering grilled salmon and the other kids are getting the 25-cent chicken wings at happy hour. I just read about your 50-lb weight loss over the last year from eating real food–that’s just incredible, Heidi! Congrats!

A. Wilder–Thank you very much for your kind words! So nice to meet you. Bravo on going down the real food path! Diane’s blog is great, isn’t it? I’m like you … I can’t wait for the rest of the posts!

Hi Cocoa–A woman who gets to the point! LOL Love that! Nice to meet you. I think we all are looking forward to following with the great lineup that Diane has gathered!

Hey Kelly–Ha ha! I think the act who is following me will do quite well. Really looking forward to your post tomorrow. Yes, I agree on the energy used in packaging. So many considerations. I think by the time our 30 days here at Diane’s is over, we’ll have considered them all–can’t wait! Yes, that saying is the bomb, isn’t it? It really gives one pause. I think whoever wrote that for Graffitti should look into getting a bumper sticker made because with the Food Revolution, now’s the time. I think your family does well with the small bites concept already. They’re just so much fun … much more so than the Super Size/Mega Meal stuff.

mohammed–Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. You are correct that I didn’t note the positive things that food scientists have done; e.g., for world hunger and the like. There have been many. (I would prefer that in global efforts that they use quinoa vs wheat, but that’s another discussion.) One of the food scientists who is actually a friend to those of us who are gluten free (and casein free) is Angela Ichwan of Arico Foods. Angela was a food scientist for major food companies before she decided to make healthy snacks that her gluten-free, casein-free, niece could enjoy. (You can read her story here.) I did mention canned foods in the article. I use some myself and I have bought canned vegetables on special many times in the past myself to help me achieve goals in leaner times. However, often it’s a matter of perceived cost differences in my opinion more so than reality. Several bloggers have bought real, fresh food on the food stamp budget and written about their experiences.

Respectfully, mohammed, I don’t bake bread at all. I do bake muffins, cookies, and cakes once or twice a week. These foods are intended as treats and far more wholesome than if purchased in packages with preservatives, etc. The time is minimal and the cost savings is big. There are single moms who are stretched thin in every sense, but for most folks, even many of them, there are always choices that can be made. Some time spent in the kitchen for mom and kids is much better than time spent in front of the television. But that’s an issue that pertains to most socioeconomic classes. I think that certainly reaching and enlightening is a key goal of the Food Revolution.

As far as eating out, mohammed, I’m an advocate for it and eat out often by choice, but not in search of “instant food,” which was my point. My husband and I (and our son when he was home) enjoy very leisurely meals as quite pleasurable experiences. But, for many, that’s a big block of time spent avoiding being at home in the kitchen.

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback!

Shirley

And, as a single mom with 2 kids and 2 jobs… I know that my body only functions well on fresh, whole foods. And, since my medical bills have gone down as a result, I know that my budget thanks me as well for those fresh foods.

Shirley

This post was mentioned on Twitter by thewholegang: 30 Days to a Food Revolution Day 1- gluten free easily http://bit.ly/b01aPH...

you may not want to put that in your body, but for some people generic brand canned vegetables are the only way to afford sufficient nutrients year round.

Also, it doesn't take any more time buying those than it would to buy fresh produce (actually, it takes less time, since you don't search around for fresh looking stuff). the only alternate is home canning which requires tools in which a family on a budget can not invest (unless your family is ok with eating tomatoes year round, you need a pressure canner)

So while you may have the time to bake bread every morning for your family, the single mom that's working 2 full-time jobs just to tread water doesn't.

as far as eating out- one thing that lots of americans don't get is that eating out (not fast food (the inflated price for that is for the convenience of having it on the way home (no travel time) and prepared so you just have to tell them what you want), but the "sit and eat" kind of place) isn't something you do for the sake of subsistence. you do it for the sake of entertainment; for trying something new. so eating out may take 2-3 hours, but so does a night at the movies. take your pic on which amuses you.

That clipping is fantastic! I want to write it on my fridge. Or better yet, get a bumper sticker made that says that! Your point is so well made in your post. Real food can be as simple or more than "fast" food. And also, packaged food may seem simple to us, but lets consider the amount of energy that went into the processing of that packaged meal.

I also love the concept of small bites and the smorgasbord. Fabulous.

Love, Kelly

Wonderful post Shirley, I have been learning so much over the past few months about REAL food and what an important role food has in our lives. My blog used to be solely based on recreating gluten containing processed food (Goldfish, etc.), because that is what I thought Sam "needed" to feel "normal" among his peers… I had it so wrong. What Sam needs is a healthy view of food and the role it has in our lives. Food's main objective is to nourish our bodies and our minds so we can go out and do something that matters to us. And yes, food is a social bonding experience but we have placed nutrition last, behind social activities, convenience and taste.

Since getting off of all the processed foods (yes, it was a slow journey!), I feel as though my taste buds have woken from a very deep slumber. I can't seem to get enough and I realized just HOW VITALLY IMPORTANT it is to start our children eating whole (real) foods from the beginning. What better gift can we give them than to grow up loving and wanting real food? It is the foundation for a long, healthy and happy life.

I am so excited for this series, thanks Diane!

I am currently reading in defense of food. it's a good read.

Shirley, this has been great to read. I've started to think more and more this way, but to have it spelled out so clearly really brings it home for me!

~Aubree Cherie

Melissa

xo