My Story

I am 29 years old and just had my first baby. I am a strong believer in breastfeeding if possible and have been doing so for the past 4 months. About 2 weeks into it, I learned that my baby was having problems digesting the proteins found in dairy. My doctor told me to stop eating it as long as I was breastfeeding, so i did. I carefully watched my baby after that to see her reaction to the different foods that I consumed. I learned that wheat also made her sleep less, cry and spit up more.
After doing research I learned that babies who have problems with dairy often have problems digesting wheat as well. So I stopped eating all gluten. Within two weeks, my baby was smiling more, sleeping 5-6 hour stretches and happy as can be which made me a very happy mama.

I was then left with the question...what in the heck do I eat? I am Italian and LOVE to eat pasta, cheese, bread, salami, gelato basically everything that has gluten or dairy in it so you can only imagine the sadness I felt when I learned that I could no longer eat them for the next 6 months to a year. No more pasta, no more cheese? No more salami or sandwiches?

I did some research. I was surprised to find how much there was available to me that was gluten and dairy free and how HEALTHY it was! I started getting creative with my cooking and have been coming up with delicious recipes that my husband and I love! I have also already lost all my baby weight and then some! In the past four months I have learned to eat healthier and have seen real results without dieting! I don't look at the gluten dairy free diet as a diet that limits me...I look at it as a lifestyle change that brings healthier recipes available to me.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Pistachio- The Carb Cutting Nut

Pistachios are a great healthy snack to have in between meals. This delicious nut is rich in fiber and antioxidants. Pistachios promote good heart health and aid in weight management. They are high in mono-saturated fats ( good fats) and have no trans fats ( bad fats).

Research studies have shown that eating a handful of pistachios with a high carbohydrate meal such as pasta cuts the carbohydrate intake in half. In other words, your body only thinks it is eating half a bowl rather than a whole one and digests accordingly. So if you are counting carbs and feel like splurging, go right ahead, just make sure to eat a handful of pistachios with your meal!

Spring Salad with Chicken and Pistachio

One 8 oz grilled chicken breast sliced
1/2 Avocado
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
1/2 orange peeled and sliced
2 cups organic mixed greens
2 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 TB Apple Cider vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Arrange all ingredients in a salad bowl.
In separate small container mix oil and vinegar. Pour dressing on salad, top with salt and pepper, mix and serve!

Servings 2
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2 comments:

  1. ebisabesApril 12, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    This looks so fabulous! Great photograph too! I'm going to plan this into my next grocery trip... do you shell your own pistachios? or do you buy them pre-shelled?

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  2. littlelivi17April 12, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Thank you! I am glad that you are enjoying the blog :) I usually shell my own pistachios. I find that they maintain freshness better when I buy them and shell them myself.

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