The Nutritionist and the Allergist

Well, this Gluten Free for 3 weeks, has certainly been an adventure.

Now it's time for some help... especially since I think that most of the positive results of the gluten free could be my imagination.

Enter the Nutrionist.

Turns out that my insurance has several nutrionists in the area that accept my insurance. I called and have been playing phone tag with one woman who informed me during one phone tag session that they will be accepting new patients in October. That's good news. I'm going to sign up.

Enter the Allergist.

Yup, I'm going to have her tested for Wheat allergy.. because if she can be diagnosed, then I might be able to get some help with the ever rising price for wheat free groceries! (I love Whole Foods... read my blog entry..but it was pretty expensive)

I was thinking that she might actually have a food allergy, because once I started introducing some regular food back into her diet her exzema came back on her finger tips... and she has asked for her inhaler before going to bed the last couple of nights.

Now I just need to know if she is allergic to just wheat or something else.

I'll keep you posted.

INTERESTING APIPHANY

All along... I have been wondering and worrying over the effects of the gluten free diet on my kids.
Wondering if it was having a positive metobolic effect
Worrying if I was restricting their diet needlessly

And it never occurred to me to think about how it was affecting me... because we are all limiting our wheat and gluten intake.

So... let me lay it out for you

We are definitely in week three

I have cheated on the gluten diet several times with a full on lunch, and once with a bear claw danish (it was home made from a bakery... how could I resist)

First - Hip Pain:
Symptom: Every month (you know... wink wink... monthly) I get excruiating pain in my hip joint, as it come to that... cough cough... time of the month. I had gone to the Dr. a couple of years ago and they explained... soft tissue, blah blah blah, I noticed in the last year or so that the pain recurred specifically around... that time of the month, so I self diagnosed myself as ... well, things happen and I take lots of motrin.
Result: I just realized, I mean I just now realized that I haven't had that hip pain since I changed my diet

Second - Thigh Cramps - Charlie Horses
Symptom: Since my last pregnancy (which is now 4 years ago) I have been plagued with charlie horses in my inner thigh and feet. I tried drinking more water, eating more bananas, drinking less coffee, but they persisted. They occurred almost every night with some reprieves that lasted as long as a week, but they always came back.
Result: I just realized that I haven't had a leg cramp or foot cramp since I changed my diet. I continue to drink tons of coffee and not much water. Interesting?

OK... I have to go make breakfast... this is the hard part. Hard to make something the kids will like... that they will eat.

Have a great day

Pondering the Gluten Allergy Test

Good Morning.
I was just thinking.... going over the last couple of weeks. Going over the changes I imagined in my daughter when she isn't eating wheat products... and I just can't wrap my brain around it.

On the one hand:
I think she seems like a much sweeter child, less sullen and less prone to fly off the handle when I say, "no" to something.
I think, she has more patience, and is more thoughful.
I think, she has less gas (sorry about that, but it's true)
I think, she doesn't come up to me as often saying, "I'm bored, what is there to do" but instead entertains herself better or finds things to do...
I think, she is less lazy (well, I'm calling it lazy, but I think it's more like she is MORE motivated.. not just less lazy, she seems to have more desire to so things)

On the other hand:
It's freaking hard to find things that they will all eat that doesn't have wheat or gluten.
These are kids that are NOT prone to experimenting with their food... and they base EVERYTHING on what it looks like... NOT what it tastes like.


The end analysis is....... on the one hand --
I think that I see improvement in my oldest daughter
(not so much in the younger ones... although, I think I notice when they have eaten other foods because they eat the other stuff every sunday with their father)

and on the other hand
It's HARD and Expensive to maintain this lifestyle.

--I'm thinking about the test--
Not the celiac check-out-the-lower-intestines test-- but the less invasive test at the allergist. I have read that the test can come back negative and the child can still have a sensitivity...

Why the test: I guess, I am hoping that if she is positive I can say to her father: Look. You have to stop poisoning your daughter.

Then I think.... will that work? She has asthma, and he still smokes in the car.

Well, that's all for another day.

have a great one!

Long Time No Write -- Here's the Update

Monday was a particularly heinous day.

Without going into HUGE detail..... I broke down and brought my kids to the local Pizzaria...

Preface: As you may have already read, my ex-husband is has not been diligently keeping the kids gluten free on his Sunday visitations.

I didn't sleep well, or very long on Monday Morning, the kids had minor meltdowns when it was time for me to go to work, and the day at work was long and hard... and I came home at 5:00 without a plan or supplies to make a quick dinner.

Off to the pizzaria we went. BIG mistake. That evening was meltdown city.

While I was experiencing the meltdowns... I realized that over the last 2 weeks, I have noticed a big change in the kids in that they were fussy at times, but they didn't have the hysterical over the top emotional episodes that they tend to have after seeing their father and ... like Monday night, after eating the pizza.

Then again, on Friday when I ... throwing caution to the wind, went to subway and they all had the mini-pizza there for lunch... big mistake... keeps getting worse.

My oldest daughter was looking less and less sullen and angry until I reintroduced the pizza. I'm waiting to see if her excema comes back.

So the thing that I noticed most was, that my oldest didn't have hysterical freak fests when she ran into the little road blocks in life, but was able to deal a little better.

So... the question is... is it gluten, or wheat? Apparently although intertwined, they are not the same thing.

Today I am going to borrow my sisters bread maker.

I'm going to borrow the bread maker to make pizza dough and muffins and I was thinking about making bagels (my oldest LOVES Bagels)

Honestly here's the list of things they miss:
Bagels
Bread
Pizza
Kraft Mac N Cheese (yes, they have tried the Annie's but they don't like it)
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (has to do with missing bread)
Chicken Nuggets

-McDonalds & Wendy's-


Well, today I'm going to Whole Foods for the first time. I'm hoping to drop my kids off at my sisters house and do the shopping without them... but I'm not sure if that will occur. So, I'll keep you posted.

Day 9 or 10

I've lost track.
I have to say, I'm in a terrible mood. (see http://rosiethewonderdog.blogspot.com) for my latest angry rant.

Anyway, the kids are gluten free. Besides them being less gassy, I don't notice much difference this week... although Maggie's moods have been less volatile and come to think of it... I think that my younger two aren't whining that much this week. However, I have been working so far... today's my first day home... so we will see between today and tomorrow.

Then there is one more week, to see how it is going.

Here's the thing. The problem is Sunday's their father doesn't seem to be able to stop himself from feeding them whatever they want, not necessarily what is better for them.

Sad but true.

We shall see how it goes.

Day 8? or 9 - The days are melding into each other

The kids are fine.
I made the mistake of taking them shopping and they saw a bunch of things that they haven't had in a week.... donuts, cookies.... hhhmmmmm that's it.

Well, I tried the gluten free donuts from The Health Shoppe - Terrible

So, here are some premade things and what we thought

Chocolate covered donuts: Terrible
Oreo looking cookies: yucky
Homemade chocolate chip cookies from gluten free mix: ok - good
Regular frozen Gluten Free waffles: yuck
Banana frozen gluten free waffles: yuck
Wild puffs - chocolate cereal (wheat free): LOVED THEM!
Wild Fruit cereal: LOVED THEM
Red Mill Oatmeal: loved it.
Pretzel: loved them
store bought gluten free bread: ok to yucky (reported that it tastes like pizza crust)
Soy pudding: loved it
Tofuti "ice cream": berry flavored: TERRIBLE
Tofuti fudgesicles: LOVED THEM
Annie's gluten free Mac n Cheese: initially hated, now will eat some of it...
Brown Rice spaghetti: ok
Gluten Free spaghetti sauce: didn't notice difference
---------------------------

Here are the 2 things I'm going to try this week:

Gluten Free Tortilla's.
First of all, I haven't found any gluten free tortilla's... and since most of the mexican food is gluten free with the exception of the tortilla... I'm going to try to "invent" one.

---- Stay tuned I'll let you know how it turns out... perhaps you will see it in your market soon! maggie's gluten free tortilla's

Kids are still sleeping, I have other blogs to update!
Have a great day!

End of Week One -- Out with A BANG!

Day 7
Started out like any other Gluten Free day, the kids had the Wild Puffs, which are chocolate puffed rice cereal... and a nice big glass of milk. (They have been rotating their eggs and cereal)

Today, their father picked the kids up.

He took them to the pool where they ate the following:

The juice, I packed
The string cheese, I packed
Yogurts, I packed
pineapples, I packed
onion rings -- I didn't pack
Cheese burger and french fries -- I didn't pack
Chicken Nuggets - I didn't pack
ice cream flurries (of the Wendy's equivalent)

Now, you are probably thinking... hey what happened to the Gluten Free... then you will remember that their father had them today. Yes, I discussed the elimination diet with him, Yes I reminded him... I did the best I could by packing a cooler full of food. YES, I even gave him a list of restaurants that have gluten free menu's...

He doesn't care.

So... the effect is: My oldest daughter is on the couch now with a tummy ache. I don't know if it was the shear volume of food or the gluten. Apparently, after they ate the snacks I packed, they then bought onion rings from the snack stand... and on the way home from the pool they were at all day, they stopped at Wendy's... where she had 2 (not 1, but 2) cheeseburgers, french fries, and a flurry.

Yup.

Well, I can only do what I can do.

More tomorrow

The Health Shoppe - A Gluten Free Shopping Review

My avid readers are aware that my family is now on Day 6 of a gluten free diet. The elimination diet was prompted by my review of the long list of symptoms of gluten intolerance… matched against my 7 year olds, long list of complaints. AND so, the quest for palatable gluten free food commenced.

I’ve picked up many things at the Super Stop ‘n Shop, nothing at Pathmark and I haven’t tried Shoprite yet. Trader Joes, while an excellent experience, was a gluten free disappointment. Yesterday my kids and I went to a tiny whole in the wall The Health Shoppe, in my town and it was a veritable Gluten Free Bonanza!

However, I walked out of the store with three small grocery bags, and a bill of over $100.00!

But I go too fast…. Here’s the run down:

The Appearance: The store was in a strip mall, next to a Large Petco and Pathmark. I have been to this strip mall literally hundreds of times, there is a McDonalds, a Dollar Store, and a Stone Cold Creamery place… but I never noticed The Health Shoppe. In fact, I had to call and ask where they were located and was pleasantly surprised they were so close and convenient.

The inside of the store resembled a standard vitamin shop. Nothing fancy. Again, it was small, and I thought I would be disappointed… again.

The Products This small store was laid out in theory like a large store. Everything in its own place and similar items together. Here’s where this store excelled. In each product group there was one or more items specifically labeled “Gluten Free”. I picked up pasta sauce and very light brown rice spaghetti noodles. I picked up some chicklet like candies. I found… frozen pizza with whole milk mozzarella, I found fudgesicles, I found cookies, more pretzels, chocolate bars with rice crispies, and chocolate bar with almonds. I found a frozen Mac N Cheese dinner.

Honestly, this tiny store was packed with great food, but the amazing and more monumental discovery, was the frozen pizza. TINY 6 inch pie… that tasted GREAT! The kids loved it. AND I was hoping they would since it was $8.00 a pie!

The Employee There was a single waif like 30 something man behind the counter. He offered no help. He offered no comment. In fact, he was less than helpful when my 4 year old announced she had to go potty and I asked about facilities, he sent me over to Pathmark. OH yeah, I forgot…. When I was checking out, he actually “harrumphed” his disapproval of my purchase of the soy chocolate pudding treats and candy bars (at first I thought he had Tourette’s, but I checked him out… no twitching). Fortunately the store is small enough to never have to ask the attendant to step down from his elevated cashiers position.

The Patron Just us. One 43 year old mom, with a 4, 5, and 7 year old in tow. We spent a bit of time there, (as we had to walk to pathmark for the potty) and not even any walk by traffic.

The Prices This store was HUGELY expensive. It seemed like nothing was under $5.00! It was the only place, so far, that I have found the frozen pizza, so I may just use this store for Pizza Fridays! Everything else, I have found in a combination of all the other stores I visit. Trader Joes has a great gluten free spaghetti sauce, and Super Stop N Shop has everything else.

Overall Impression I was originally overjoyed to find so many gluten free items in one spot, until I got to the register and had to pay. The Store, The Employee, The Prices all make me feel like I don’t want to go back. But go back I will… because they are the only ones that carry the frozen pizza. I can’t help but think that a little makeover might bring some more customers… From the outside it looks like a 5 and Dime or a vitamin shop, not a little mini grocery store.

I’ve been informed that there is a larger The Health Shoppe in a neighboring town. I may stop in to see if there is a huge difference, or… if they have a larger variety of gluten free pizza.

I hope you are enjoying my quest for the perfect gluten free shopping experience!

better.... much better

First of all.... The little itsy bitsy tiny weeny Healthe Shop in Parsippany NJ, had more gluten free stuff in it's little 1 refrigerator refrigerated section then all the cases at Trader Joes and Super Stop N Shop... put together.

AND

They had frozen Pizza.

I gotta tell you.............. this little 6 inch pizza was $8.00. That's like $1.33 an inch! AND I had to get three....

I'll keep you updated. This is one of Terri's favorite foods. HOPEFULLY this will keep her happy between the string cheese and scrambled eggs.

OK, the pizza's are done and they look good. This will be a big bonus... worth their weight in gold!

If they rock.... I might have to try my hand at HOMEMADE GLUTEN FREE PIZZA DOUGH!

Day 5 - Whine Fest - and it's aint california red

Well

Today the kids and I are going on a quest to find gluten free pizza. We might even go out to dinner to a local restaurant that has gluten free food. I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE.

I guess it's a little frustrating for everyone involved to have to make new choices with EVERY SINGLE MEAL. My oldest is going with the "it's only for 3 weeks" attitude. (which will work for her in the short term... if it turns out to be only 3 weeks) The other 2, challenge me to make them something they will eat.

My youngest has adopted a permanent Whine to her voice. What used to be a sing song happy go lucky child, has now been converted to a Constantly complaining and whining and screaming and hungry child. Hungry because she won't eat anything but her fav's. AND for the first time EVER, she bit me. twice. She is 4.

I don't think Gluten free is agreeing with this child. I'm going to try to engage her this weekend by letting her pick out some gluten free things... but if she doesn't start eating or perk up... I'm going to have to nix the gluten free for her... and get her back on track. Of course, you may have guessed, she is very picky, she can tell the difference between the gluten free mac n cheese and the other. She won't eat what she doesn't like. She has about 8 things she will eat on the planet. She recently added peas... I was so happy. I am going to have to keep those 8 things in the house, just for her.

Maggie is also having a hard time today. She has had little mini-fits about having to wash her hair, then having to brush her hair, then have to put lotion on her dry skin, then not being able to have a diet pepsi, then having to use a glass with her vitamin water... Pretty much... if she asks me a question.... unless the answer is Yes.... she has had a little mini-fit.

Seems to me. They need some exercise.

So... today is the quest for gluten free pizza. In our efforts to locate the gluten free pizza... We will be going to Morristown. I think I will google the town and see if there is a museum or something that we can go visit.

There is a vegetarian restaurant around the corner, I might stop in today and grab a menu. I also heard that The OutBack has a gluten free menu. I can probably access that online.

Today... we will be testing the stamina of the three kids... who have been on a gluten free diet for 5 days. (My stamina is tested every time I walk up the stairs... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)

Yesterday, seemed to pass by quickly and we didn't get outside until much much later in the day. I did, however, get the floors mopped and a load of laundry in. AND, we went to Payless for some shoes. Well, it was supposed to be shoe... but I knew I was defeated before I left the house and I didn't say "NO" to whether the other kids would be able to pick out a pair. Honestly, if I want to get one child something and not the other two... then I simply must not take the other 2 with me... and that's NOT going to happen.

However, my love affair with Payless paid off... I walked out of there spending under $30.00 and with 3 pairs of shoes. LOVE IT!

So... But I digress... this a my gluten journal.. not my Chatty Cathy journal.

I'll keep you posted.

Tip: Found AWESOME GRANOLA AT TRADER JOES! gluten free... and I ate the whole bag it was so yummy.