Celiac? Paleo? Where to begin?

This is a weeks worth of groceries.

Lets begin with protein:

-Chicken tenders. (bake at 350 for 30 minutes. can be kids lunch, husbands snack, etc.)

-Chicken breasts

-Boneless Pork

-Steak

-Ground Turkey

-Smoked Salmon (add to eggs for a luxurious breakfast or add to rice cracker with cream cheese for a smashing snack.)

-Eggs (go for Omega 3 whenever you can)

Fruit: Remember fruit is high in sugar. But is a much better snack then chips or anything processed. Seasonal fruit is best for the budget.

- Raspberries

- Blueberries

- Apples (i ate them pre photo)

Veggies: Did you know that veggies are carbs? Thats right. So when your doctor tells you "everyone needs carbs to live" just tell them you are eating your veggies.

Yes, i'm lazy and buy microwavable bags. Go fresh, save the money. Either way, eat veggies.

-Broccoli, brussel sprouts, zucchini, cauliflower, squash, peppers, onions, sweet potato. All LOW GLYCEMIC.

Snacks:

Nuts, avocado, Lara Bars.

(i didn't photograph the 4 bottles of wine i also bought.) Cheers to a healthy life!

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

This is a family favorite.

- 1 onion

- 2 - 3 cloves garlic

- 1 lb ground turkey

- 1 can diced tomatoes with chillies

- 1 tablespoon oil (i use coconut oil for several reasons. mostly because it doesn't spoil at high heat.)

- 1 spaghetti squash, cooked and shredded

- 1/2 - 1 pkg mexican cheese blend (i only used half package)

- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

- 1/2 teaspoon basil (i use fresh)

- 1/2 teaspoon oregano

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Preheat oven to 350.

Spaghetti Squash - cut lengthwise. remove seeds. place face down on cookie sheet. add a tablespoon of water to pan. bake 30 - 40 minutes at 350. (fork will easily go through skin when done.) Shred squash with fork into 9x13 baking pan.

In saute pan, saute onion and garlic in oil. Add turkey and cook until no longer pink. Add spices and canned tomato. Spread over squash in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle top with cheese.

Bake at 350 for 15 - 20 until cheese melts.

Super Bowl Snacks

I'm a snacker. Just because i eat healthy doesn't mean i have to forgo my tv snacks.

-Asparagus, blanched and sprinkled with salt

- chicken sausages (there are so many brands/flavors out there.)

Slice sausages. Saute in oil.

Done. Wow. Look! You've created a snack that... wait for it... is actually good for you! And you can eat them without fake chemical cheese residue on your fingers. It's a Super Bowl Miracle!

Tomato, Basil

Best.Snack.Ever

- tomato, as many as you want, any kind

- basil

- salt to taste

- mozzarella cheese (if not hard paleo)

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Slice tomato width wise.

Pat down with paper towel.

Sprinkle slices with salt.

Layer cheese and basil on top.

Dude, anyone can 1. afford this and 2. pull this off. Its a no brainer.

Creamy pork and cabbage

- 4 boneless pork chops

- 1/2 small head of red cabbage, chopped

- 1 onion

- 1/2 fennel bulb (optional), chopped

- 1 can cream of mushroom soup (if you don't like mushroom, can use any cream of)

- teaspoon caraway seeds

- salt and pepper to taste

- tablespoon oil

- tablespoon sherry or absinthe, depending on what you have on hand. also, optional

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Heat oil on medium heat.

Add pork chops just to brown both sides. Remove from heat and set aside.

In pork oil, add onion, cabbage and fennel.

Cook until all are fork-soft.

Add caraway seeds, salt and pepper, liquor (if you have it).

Add cream of mushroom soup, stir together. Add pork chops and cook on low-medium heat for 10 minutes or until pork is cooked through.

zucchini, squash, chicken

I love this dish. It feels very summery but is actually pretty hearty.

- 1 spaghetti squash, shredded (cut lengthwise, pull out seeds and strings with spoon, place face down on cookie sheet with a little water on pan, bake 375 for 30-45 minutes. test with fork.

- 4 chicken breasts, baked and cubed

- 3 - 4 medium yellow and/or green zucchini

- 1 medium onion (red or yellow. doesn't matter)

- 3 cloves garlic (more or less to taste. i can't get enough garlic.)

- 3 or 4 basil leaves, chopped. Or a tablespoon basil leaves

- salt and pepper to taste

- cup feta cheese

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Bake spaghetti squash, shred with fork, set aside in bowl.

Bake chicken (350 for 30 min) chop into cubes, set aside

In skillet, saute onion and garlic in a tablespoon of butter/coconut oil/whatever you like. When onion soft, add zucchini. Saute for about 10 minutes. Add spices and chicken. Cook together a few more minutes. Stir into spaghetti squash. Sprinkle with feta.

Gluten-Free Meatloaf

I never liked meatloaf as a kid. Now, i'm a fan. The key is to find a gluten free binder for the meat. I used 1/2 a cup of almond meal and 1/2 a cup of crushed rice crackers. You can use all of or a combination of the following:

• Crushed GF crackers
• Crushed corn tortilla chips
• Crushed corn flakes
• Dense vegetables such as mushrooms and zucchini
• Quinoa

Ingredients

• 1-2 lb ground beef
• 1 c almond flour (or any combo of binders above)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 onion (i sauteed mine to soften them. about 5 min.)
• 2 Tablespoons sage (i like a lot of sage.)
• s&p to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh, minced garlic (more or less to taste)

Combine all above in a bowl. Really combine them. I mean, use your hands and work it.

Put into loaf pan.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Sauce: 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce. Pour on top of meatloaf.

Cook for 1 hour.

Nut Butters

I love peanut butter. But peanuts are legumes and therefore not ideal. Now what?

Nut Butters. I love Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter and macadamia nut butter. Maranatha is my favorite brand. They have no-stir almond butter which is great. There is nothing worse than the organic butters that separate causing the oil to float on the top. Not attractive.

I recently discovered Sunflower Seed butter. It is AWESOME. I eat it on my banana most mornings for that extra protein kick.

A little almond butter on apples is a great snack any time of day.

Dinner - Pesto-Coated baked chicken

- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken cutlets
- 1/4 cup prepared pesto
- 1 1/2 teaspoon sour cream
- 1 1/2 teaspoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon pine nuts

1. Preheat oven to 450. Arrange chicken in single layer in shallow baking pan. Combine pesto, sour cream and mayo in small cup. Brush over chicken. Sprinkle with cheese and pine nuts.

2. Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.

I serve this with steamed asparagus. YUM!

Dinner - Bolognese Style Pork Ragu over Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is one of my favorite things. It looks, feels and kind of tastes like pasta without the insulin spike and all the other unpleasant side effects of gluten.

Bolognese

- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 gloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1 spaghetti squash (3-4 lbs)
- cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Brown pork in large saucepan over medium high heat, stirring to break up meat. Add celery and onion; cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Add garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and seasoning.

2. Stir in broth. Reduce heat; simmer 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add half and half; cook and stir until heated through.

4. Meanwhile, pierce spaghetti squash several times with a knife. Microwave on high 15 minutes until squash in tender. (pierce it with a fork. it will go through smooth.) Let cool 10 - 15 minutes. Cut in half lengthwise; scoop out and discard seeds. Separate flesh into strands with fork. (its fun.)

5. Serve meat sauce over spaghetti squash. Sprinkle with cheese.

Dinner - Roast Turkey with Stuffing

Roast Turkey Breast with Sausage and Apple Stuffing

- 8 ounces bulk pork sausage. (jimmy dean sausage is good.)
- 1 medium apple, peeled and chopped
- 1 shallot or small onion, chopped
- 1 - 4 stalks celery, chopped.
- 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon sage, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 4 - 5 lbs boneless turkey breast
- 1 cup chicken broth

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Crumble sausage into large skillet. Add apple, shallot and celery; cook and stir over medium - high heat until sausage is cooked through. Stir in hazelnuts (optional), sage, salt and pepper.
3. Spread butter over turkey. Roast with chicken broth in pan for 45 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165.

Not good for you but gluten free pumpkin pie

- 1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups canned pumpkin (ORGANIC)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
- 1 cup half and half cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- box of gluten free graham crackers for crust. (make according to directions.)
- whipped cream for topping.
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Preheat oven to 350.

Make graham cracker crust. Refrigerate.

For Filling:
In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese. Add pumpkin. Add sugar and salt. Add eggs. Add half and half, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and ginger.

Pour filling into pie crust. Bake for 50 minutes or until custard is firm.

Side Dish - Sweet Potato

We don't eat white potato's. Why? They create an insulin spike. Plus, they are toxic if eaten raw but thats an entirely different discussion.

Sweet Potato's
- 6 sweet potatos cooked and cubed. (you can buy them pre cubed at most stores now.)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup milk
- half a bag of sweetened shredded coconut
- cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
- 1 Tablespoon butter

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In a mixing bowl, combine cooked sweet potatos, sugar, milk, butter, vanilla, coconut and a sprinkle of cinnamon if you like that flavor.

You can either serve right away, heat in microwave, or pour into pan and cook at 375 for 30 minutes.

Breakfast Frittata

- 10 eggs, beaten
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed and drained WELL
- Mushrooms. a cup, a carton, whatever you want. any kind you want.
- 2 cups shredded swiss cheese. (or any cheese you like. or no cheese!)
- 5 slices turkey bacon. (or regular. fat is GOOD!) chopped up.
- 2 shallots, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste


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1. beat eggs. set aside.
2. cook bacon in pan.
3. in bacon grease, saute shallots and mushrooms.
4. combine soup, eggs, spinach, bacon, shallot & mushroom mixture, salt & pepper. (at least a teaspoon or two of each.) Pour into 9 inch pie pan. Cover with cheese.
5. bake at 375 for 40 minutes or until firm.

Side Dish - Quinoa

We believe in eating grass-fed meat when possible. Yes, it is more expensive. But you know why farmers feed their animals corn and grains? TO MAKE THEM FAT. When we buy chicken at the store, we look for the nice, plump breasts. We look for the fat chickens. Do you want to be a fat chicken? No? Then don't eat grains or corn.

Quinoa is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the grass family. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach, and tumbleweeds.

You CAN buy it at most grocery stores. Stock up. Its good stuff. Like grits, it takes on the flavor of things you cook it with. Onions, garlic, spices, etc.

Thanksgiving Quinoa
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups quinoa
- parsley
- 2 T apple cider vinegar
- 1.5 T maple syrup
- 2 T oil
- fresh rosemary
- fresh thyme
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 pkg almond slivers, toasted if you like
- 1 apple, chopped

cook the quinoa in the chicken broth per package instructions until water is absorbed. add rosemary and thyme.

combine apple cider viengar, maple syrup and oil in a bowl. this will become the dressing for the quinoa.

combine everything with almonds, cranberries and apple. serve warm or cold.