Foods to Avoid

~ chadbring ~ Leave a comment

Here are a few other foods I have to avoid unless they are labeled as gluten-free:

  1. Pasta (like mac’n cheese?)
  2. Bread (even garlic bread & Texas toast?)
  3. Cakes (even cheesecake?)
  4. Pies (even pumpkin pie?)
  5. Crackers (so, no crackers on cheese?)
  6. Cookies (please say it isn’t so)
  7. Beer (okay)
  8. Dressings (at least my Ranch with Avacado is GF)
  9. Sauces (this will be tricky)
  10. Gravies (even with trying the gluten-free version, I can still enjoy roast beef open-faced sandwiches.)

Well, shoot, so remind me, what is left?

  1. Meat, poultry, & seafood
  2. Eggs
  3. Dairy
  4. Fruits
  5. Gluten-free grains, such as quinoa, rice, buckwheat and millet
  6. Vegetables
  7. Legumes
  8. Nuts
  9. Healthy fats
  10. Herbs and spices

Hmmm… after giving this some thought, no thanks, I’d rather keep eating from the first list! 🙂

Going Aisle to Aisle

~ chadbring ~ 1 Comment


After work, I hit up the local grocery store down the street from my house. After all, I was craving steak & wanted to pick up some Coke 0. But (seriously) – raise your hand if you ever go to the store for 2 items & actually left with 2.

I spotted some gluten-free spaghetti, I even got some hamburger – thinking I had some spaghetti sauce at home, I didn’t pick up any. I should have. It was on sale.

A co-worker told me about Amy’s Kitchen frozen entries. I picked up 2 to try. The mac’n cheese is better than the one I tried earlier this week.

I’ll try the other entree I picked up sometime this weekend.

Gluten 101

~ chadbring ~ Leave a comment

This may be my Celiac Disease blog, but don’t take my word for what gluten is as I’m not sure I would even be able to explain it very well at this point, but I’m learning. These sources help:

What’s the big deal with gluten? – William D. Chey (TED Ed)

“Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat (wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn), rye, barley and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together. Gluten can be found in many types of foods, even ones that would not be expected.” (source: celiac.org)

“Gluten is a storage protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Gluten can also be found in derivative of wheat, barley and rye gains such as malt and brewer’s yeast. Gluten gives dough its elasticity, acting like a glue, giving bread its classic chewy, soft texture. (source: beyondceliac.org)

Science: What is Gluten? Here’s How to See and Feel Gluten

5 Ingredients

~ chadbring ~ Leave a comment

I’m a simple kinda guy, so when I was introduced to the Simply Gluten Free 5 Ingredient Cookbook: Fast, Fresh & Simple! 15-Minute Recipe, I knew there was hope for me in finding simple, easy things to make that are in fact, gluten-free.

Now, the challenge will be picking a few to try, getting the ingredients, and trying it out. Cooking for 1 isn’t always that much fun.

No sorry, I am not going to start my own cooking show. I’ll stick with this blog.

My niece Lizzy is quite a chef, if only she was at my house more often, we could make this together. My nephew Joshua could be an official taste tester. That is an important job. My favorite job when helping my mom. But now, “they say” (who are they exactly?) raw cookie dough is bad for you. I’d like to see some facts.

“Mac” & Cheese

~ chadbring ~ Leave a comment

After work, I headed over to ‘Wally World‘ to pick up some more yummy KIND bars & see what is all in their cute little-devoted gluten-free area. I’ll probably eventually try everything in this area, piece by piece – some of these items are pricey. But perhaps what I’m saving by not having to buy bread, pasta, pizza, & many many other items – I can use to buy these pricer’er’er yet gluten-free items.

I picked up some “mac” & cheese from the Annie’s brand. It is sure (how do I put this…?) “interesting” – some bites taste good, while other bites I feel like I’m eating… (how do I put this…?) fake food. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for alternatives out there just like I was thankful for diet drinks like Coke 0 after becoming diabetic.

After finishing an easy-to-make sample of this Rice Pasta & Cheddar, I’ve determined overall it wasn’t bad. I wish it would have had a bit more cheese to it. Just sayin’. I’ll have to find a way to add more.

“Fake food” makes me think of this scene from, “The Matrix”:
The Matrix Everythings the body needs

What is Celiac Disease?

~ chadbring ~ Leave a comment

“Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. Two and one-half million Americans are undiagnosed and are at risk for long-term health complications.” (read more…)

A New Year

~ chadbring ~ Leave a comment

Happy new year, readers!

I’ll know about the extent of my celiac disease next Tuesday. Until then, I am refraining from gluten (to the best of my knowledge).  Knowledge is key, especially at restaurants to going to someone’s house where you can’t scan the barcode or know for 100% certainty, the ingredients.

As I venture into the grocery store every now & again, I’m thankful for The Gluten Free Scanner that is available to double check items before I buy them.

I made a cheeseburger the other night & since I didn’t have (nor buy) hamburger buns, I ate it “bun-less” and added an avocado.


My sister & family introduced me to Aidells chicken & apple breakfast links that are gluten-free & delicious! My top favorite gluten-free food so far!

Old Chicago Pizza

~ chadbring ~ 1 Comment

Old ChicagoA friend of mine & I went to dinner tonight at Old Chicago. We had a $10 of $25 purchase, so we figured we couldn’t go wrong. I had heard they have a gluten-free pizza crust pizza that I was curious to try.

Prior to ordering, I was hoping for a gluten-free appetizer, but none of them seemed like they’d be GF. They did have Italian Edamame which I got free as they forgot to bring it out with everything else.

The pizza arrived and it tasted like any other pizza. I’m not typically one for thin crust, so that was the biggest difference for me.

It was 6 slices & a bit pricey ($10+) for my taste, but it was worth trying.

I think I’ll stick with their Old Chicago Chopped salad next time.