Happy New Year! This is not only the beginning of a new year; it is the beginning of a brand new decade. All the more reason to adopt some lifestyle changes that can improve your health and well-being! Whether you believe in New Year’s resolutions or not, here are suggestions for 2010 that are certain to improve your gluten-free way of life.
REGARD our gluten-free way of life as a positive lifestyle, not a restricted diet. View it as an opportunity to explore new foods and flavors. Approach it with a positive, open mind and embrace it as your ticket to good health and vitality.
TRY one new winter vegetable. Go for the dark greens, such as steamed kale or Swiss chard. Or celery root boiled with and mashed into potatoes? I’m learning new ways to prepare fennel, the anise-flavored bulb that can be roasted or served raw in salads or added to soups. And, don’t forget those dark green fronds at the end of the bulbs. Save them to add deeper flavor to soups and broths.
ADOPT one new whole grain this month. Then, try another one next month. How about quinoa, cooked like rice and served as a side dish or as a hot breakfast cereal? Instead of plain corn polenta, replace one-fourth of the cornmeal with whole grain teff. I’m especially fond of whole grain sorghum. If you don’t want to order 30-pound bags from www.twinvalleymills.com, you can order one-pound bags at www.glutenfreemall.com. I love its chewy heartiness instead of bulgur in soups and tabbouleh.
SUPPORT our gluten-free community with monetary donations or volunteer your time. Most organizations and university research centers operate on limited resources; they’re grateful for whatever you can give.
DONATE gluten-free food to food banks. Shortly before Thanksgiving, I had a plaintive phone call from a lady who lamented the absence of gluten-free food in her local food bank. My heart went out to her. So, now I package my donations of non-perishable gluten-free food in one bag (clearly marked) so it can be organized along with (hopefully) other gluten-free donations.
INVITE other gluten-free people to your home for a gluten-free meal. Better yet, organize the meal around a cause. I held a “Cook for the Cure” fund-raising dinner a couple of years ago where guests dined at my home and donated to the Susan G. Komen fund for breast cancer. My own bout with breast cancer last year has revived my interest and I plan to hold more “Cook for the Cure” dinners in the near future. You can hold a fund-raising dinner for any cause that’s near and dear to your heart. And, your gluten-free guests will appreciate the opportunity to enjoy a safe dinner with other like-minded guests.
Best Wishes for a Very Happy 2010.
--Carol Fenster
Subscribe