Guide to Gluten Free - Part 1

Do you know how many foods have gluten in them?

Or dairy?

No?

Neither do I.

But it's A LOT.

I am both gluten intolerant AND lactose intolerant.

Eating is a joy, just a pure joy, let me tell ya.

I have finally learned to just say no.

Go ahead, think you aren't addicted to gluten foods, and then tell yourself you. may. never. have. them. again.

Do you know how hard it is to resist macaroni and cheese?

Or a cookie?

Hell, a bite of a cookie?

Or a milkshake?

Or a biscuit?

It's damned near impossible(my grandmother says that, it makes me giggle)

So I, like any good crack addict, avoid gluten and dairy foods like, well, like crack.

*I have never been a crack addict, but I have watched a lot of True Life. Take from that what you will.

So after 1 year of gluten free(okay okay, 3 months gluten free, 9 months of attempts)

I can finally say: Yes! It. Is. Worth. It.

Except the kraft mac&cheese. I can't get over that.

Something about that fake orange color gets me.

But I haven't eaten kraft mac&cheese in 6 months.

I just stare at it at the grocery store like some crazy ex-girlfriend.

What's the point of this?

I, Mallory, blogger at FCTK(do you see now why I spell my blog title out every single time? worst anagram ever. Poor foresight on my part) am going to point you in the direction of the best gluten and dairy substitutes I have found.

Yes. Substitutes. You didn't think I just ABANDONED my favorite foods did you?

I'll also give you a quickie run down on acceptable foods, unacceptable foods, and what to do if someone offers you an allergen filled food.

I don't have all the answers, I'm still learning, but we shall persevere.

Or something like that.

I don't know.

Today, lets talk about Gluten Free Brownies - Hodgson Mill Brownie Mix

(FYI: Desserts get Capitalized. They Are Important)

These were just okay.

They fluffed up like brownies, stayed moist, all positives, but the flavor was different and there are a kind of sugar granule thing that didn't go away after mixing or baking.

These were also a bitter kind of chocolate, so if that's your thing, go for it.

I prefer sweet chocolate, or dark chocolate.

Also, these was a reasonably priced brownie mix at $3.95

Yes, that's reasonably priced for gluten free substitute foods.

There was a different brownie mix that was $13.99.

For a mix.

I refuse to test that mix on principal.

In my next few gluten free posts, I'll show you my new favorite snack foods, what I eat in a normal day, and how to just say no to your favorite foods.

I'll also cover gluten free macaroni and cheese because that's like a life necessity.

Do you have any questions about being gluten free or "what to do if?" leave me a comment or shoot me an e-mail here, I'll do my best to answer!

*I am not a nutritionist or a dietary expert, this is just me sharing my experiences through trial and error.