With Fat Tuesday, beignets and King Cake behind us, you might be thinking of giving something up or adding a new discipline during the Lenten season.
If you are not feeling as healthy and as energetic as you would like, even on a gluten-free diet, perhaps now is a good time to take a 40 day challenge. Find those things in your diet that aren’t giving your body the nutrition it needs, or could be making you feel less than well after eating them. Or, find ways to put better nutrition into your body. Your body is a temple, treat it like one!
Here are some ideas for ways you can take a 40 day challenge to live healthier, feed your family better, add new foods into your diet, give to others and become more disciplined about the way you treat your body.
Try a new fruit – starfruit, kiwi, mango, plantain, clementine … surprise your kids by packing a fun new fruit in their lunches!
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Add fiber to your diet – whole gluten-free grains like certified gluten-free oatmeal and flaxseed meal can be added to existing recipes, sprinkled on cereal or yogurt, or can be the foundation of a meal.
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Go meatless – on Fridays or Mondays or whenever you like. Explore other protein sources like tofu, quinoa, nuts and fish.
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Pack a healthy snack instead of candy for a treat – fresh fruit, trail mix or yogurt can be just as sweet, but also offer health benefits.
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Start a new weekly dinner tradition. Even if your family is too busy to sit down for a meal together every night, choose just one night each week where everyone can count on sitting down to the same meal and enjoying the food and fellowship of eating together. (Search my blog for great main dish recipes!)
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Eat a better breakfast! We’ve all been told it’s the most important meal of the day (and it is), so make it count with a hearty bowl of gluten-free oatmeal or grits, scrambled egg whites, yogurt and gluten-free granola, healthy granola pancakes … you get the idea!
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Give up dairy. See how you feel. Up to sixty percent of adults are lactose intolerant and most don’t realize that dairy is what is making them feel yucky. There are amazing dairy-free products available now: coconut, soy or almond ingredients make wonderful yogurts, ice creams, milks, shredded cheeses, cream cheeses, sour creams, butter … the choices are nearly endless!
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Add nutritional yeast to your diet. Loads of B vitamins, fiber, protein and minerals, with just a tablespoon here and there on your popcorn, quiche, nachos – really anywhere you’d like to add a subtle cheesy taste with tons of added vitamins!
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Resolve to never leave home without a healthy snack or protein bar, so when your energy levels dip or your stomach starts to growl, you aren’t tempted to “cheat” by eating gluten or unhealthy junk food. Gluten-Free protein bars are a great thing to have with you at all times because they’re portable and won’t go bad if you don’t eat them right away.
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Try a new gluten-free recipe at least once per week – you never know what new foods you might absolutely love, and you’ll never know how much pleasure you can derive by making it yourself … until you try!
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Share the love: invite a friend to your house for dinner and show them how delicious gluten-free can be!
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Volunteer to make gluten-free communion wafers for your church.
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Donate gluten-free foods to a shelter or soup kitchen near you – help a gluten-free person to have a good meal.
What are some other ways you suggest to add or give up foods or habits, for better health?
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~jules