Meal #1

I know I've been on this diet for a few weeks now (with a break in Mexico) but since I just started blogging I'm going to start with recipes I do from this point forward. So here's Meal #1 that I got from a great cookbook called Eat, Drink and Be Vegan. I've also decided at the end of each post about meals I've cooked, I'll choose one ingredient to feature with a health benefit tip.

Friday night I made:
Mellow Yellow "Sniffle" Soup: It came out GREAT! It was full of great flavor from many complicated spices and thick and filling!

Gimmee Chimees (Pictured above - sorry about the quality, it was taken with my camera phone): This was a brown rice tortilla filled with zucchini, bell peppers, onion, tomato, Tempe, garlic, and an array of spices. It was spicy and delicious :)

Quinoa: The recipe I used called for Mulled Cran-Apple Cider. I didn't have this so I just used Apple Cider. It turned out OK. I could definitely see how the extra flavor of the Mulled Cran-Apple Cider would have transformed this dish. Perhaps next time.

All in all, these recipes were easy to make, full of veggies and healthy grains and low in fat. I felt very healthy eating them and completely satisfied and full.

Health Benefit Tip:

Quinoa is high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Not only is quinoa's amino acid profile well balanced, making it a good choice for vegans concerned about adequate protein intake, but quinoa is especially well-endowed with the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. In addition to protein, quinoa features a host of other health-building nutrients. Because quinoa is a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, iron, copper and phosphorus, this "grain" may be especially valuable for persons with migraine headaches, diabetes and atherosclerosis.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=142#healthbenefits

The Beginning

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for checking out my blog! If you've known me for more than a week than you know that I suffer from horrible allergies. I remember having allergies from as young as 7 years old and have been taking a myriad of medications since then. I have used multiples nasal sprays, taken an array of pills, asthma inhalers, homeopathic remedies and allergy shots. While these methods have provided temporary relief of my allergies I still find myself awake late at night sneezing my head off, coming to work with a runny nose and red eyes or having to leave parties early because of an allergy attack.

The allergist has a list of what causes my allergies which include:
Cats (Phil Pot Jacobson R.I.P.)
Dogs
Mold
Dust Mites (Which, I never realized, are real microscopic bugs - completely disgusting!)
Ragweed
Variety of pollens,grass (not the inhalant) and trees

So I have kept my distance from cats and dogs and other furry animals. (When my cat died my doorman said "I know someone who's going to be very happy!"...I won't say I was "happy" but it was definitely a bitter-sweet moment to realize I could breathe freely in my apartment!) I use allergy covers for my mattress and pillows.(Well that's not entirely true...I have in the past and I'm in the "process" of getting some for my bed and Scott has his mattress and pillows covered - so it's like I have mine covered :)I take 1 nasal spray everyday and have another for "immediate" relief. I also take Zyrtec allergy pill every night and for those nights when nothing is working I take Benedryl. In addition I get allergy shots. I took shots from 2007-2008 and then started again August 2009. Despite all these efforts I still suffer from allergies.

The question is now: Why am I blogging about my allergies??
Answer: My allergies have been the bane of my existence for many, many years. I never understood why they were so bad all year round. Turns out that my seasonal allergies and allergies to dust mites and mold are exacerbated by food allergies! Turns out I am allergic to:

Dairy
Shrimp (which I don't eat anyway because I don't like the texture)
Wheat
Chicken
Beef
Chocolate (by far the most devastating discovery!)

Now, will I die if I eat any of the above items? No. But I am so fed up with my allergies that it's worth a complete overhaul of my diet if it alleviates my allergies.

What can I eat? As my uncle said, "Well thank god you're not allergic to lettuce!" That was certainly a good start! I can eat vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, soy, turkey, lamb, and duck.

I've decided to blog about my adventures with new, different and alternative food. I'm hoping that this blog will help motivate me to keep up with the new diet, keep track of my results and who knows, maybe even inspire others to choose a more alternative lifestyle!

This was a very long introduction! I doubt the coming posts will be as long.

Thanks again for checking in!

No More Sneezing Rachel