As you may know if you’ve been following me on IG (and if you don’t I tell you now, hehe), that me and my children are gluten and dairy intolerants.
3 years ago, I had the challenge to change our entire nutrition. Not only to start eating gluten and dairy free, but also to heal ourselves, gut and brain, which are the two organd that suffers the most, specially with a gluten intolerance.
So, today I want to tell you about common mistakes people do when they are diagnosed of these two specific food allergies.
I truly believe that facing new challenges requires of our full attention, understanding and self-compassion. Being diagnosed of food allergies is a big challenge, because food gather us together in celebrations, we built a habit on what we eat and when we eat it, and we also create an emotional attachment with food.
And that's why I believe that a change in someone’s nutrition requires full attention and support to their emotional state. Changing your food is a new stress that you add to your life, and if we consider that you are suffering a big internal inflammation because of the food allergies recently discovered, adding excessive stress hormones is another factor that will increase that internal inflammation, which doesn’t help you at all.
I consider the following to be huge mistakes when we start changing our nutrition:
1. Trying desperately to find gluten or dairy substitutes. The first thing most people do, is to find a gluten or dairy free products store, and buy every substitute of what they used to eat (this is pure anxiety, by the way!). The big issue here, is that, for example, most gluten-free products contain highly inflammatory ingredients. Since you have an internal inflammation, the last thing you need is to increase that inflammation, because you are in medical treatment to HEAL.
Instead, work on shifting your mindset from “poor me” to “I lovingly take care of myself”.
2. Feeling ashamed for not being able to eat “normally”. I also know that eating gluten and dairy free is a challenge in social situations, but here me out when I say that I’ve been living gluten and dairy free for the last 3 years, and the magic element to succeed is to “not give a damn about what others think”.
I'm serious! I just find it unbelievable that some people don't understand the type of support one need when facing a health condition like this one. For example, one of my friends tried to make me feel bad one time, saying something like “a person who eats special food shouldn’t even say it”, according to her, because it's a nuisance for the host to cook something different for just one person. I strongly disagree (and when I say strongly, there's a bad word in my head, lol!). Even before I was diagnosed of food allergies, I used to ask my guests if there was any food they dislike, so I wouldn't include it in the menu, only because I wanted to create a nice enjoyable time for everyone. If that's not the aim of a friend's gathering, then what is it?
You know what I do, when who invited me is not a close friend of mine? I eat a small portion of food at home, just to avoid being too hungry, and if there is something I can eat I grab a bite of it, in silence, not making any comments about the food. And I do it because I care about myself, so I don't waste my time engaging in arguments with others about my private life. My food intolerance is private and I don't have to give explanations to anyone. Do you agree?
Simplify your life by understanding that YOU are important and you deserve respect and consideration (also, choose your friends and the people you hang out with wisely!)
3. Keeping your attention focused on what you CAN'T eat. Following a diet that restricts you from certain foods will cause you anxiety, so obviously, you will crave those foods even more.
Therefore, stop trying to find the recipe that taste exactly like the muffins you used to have because you will never find it. Wheat flour has a flavor that oat flour or coconut flour will never have. Same applies to the consistency. You won’t get the spongy muffins without gluten (unless you add crappy additives, please don’t do that!).
So, just let it go!
Instead, be open to discover new flavors. Get in love with new ingredients you have never tried before. And most important, remember that taking care of yourself is a sign of self-love and self-respect. Other people must see that in you.
You don’t eat special or different. You have a unique nutrition.
And, you know what? Everyone needs a unique nutrition, that’s exactly why I’m constantly having Discovery Calls with people asking for help because they feel sick all the time and they don’t know where to start to feel better.
That been said, or better said, written, lol! here you have my family's favorite chocolate cake recipe! Hope you enjoy it!
GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE CHOCOLATE CAKE
8 - 10 portions
50 minutes total prep time
What you need:
A food processor.
A silicon mold or a glass baking dish covered with parchment paper.
Ingredients:
1 cup oat flour
½ cup coconut flour
½ cup almond flour
¼ cup organic unsweetened cacao powder
1 tbsp flax meal
2 tsp baking powders (aluminum and gluten free)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground anis
3 eggs
1 ½ cup of filtered water
¼ cup olive oil or coconut oil (choose good quality ones)
½ cup dried cranberries (optional)
½ cup 90% cacao chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat the oven at 356°F.
Put all the ingredients in your food processor. Hit the start button and mix until you get a smooth batter.
Pour the batter in the baking dish.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Once ready, let it cool completely before cutting.
Keep it refrigerated in a glass container for up to 4 days.
To your good health!
Andie