Guest post by Pippa Kendrick

I recently connected with an amazing writer & blogger who is passionate about eating well with food sensitivities.  Since I’m always looking for new ways to improve my eating and still enjoy food, I asked Pippa to do a guest post (my first one on annesamoilov.com).  LEAVE HER A COMMENT BELOW!

Imagine feeling as though your body were your enemy.

For those of us who suffer from food intolerance and allergies, and all the ill-effects that they can bring, feeling at war with your body is often the norm.  If you then consider that dealing with food allergies can be a lifelong journey, you can see the importance, when diagnosed, of finding ways to come to terms with a whole new mode of living.

Living with food sensitivities (the umbrella term for allergies and intolerances) is something you have to consciously think about, each and every day.

It is a lifestyle that places feeling connected with your body, physical awareness and emotional control as the highest of priorities.

Food sensitivities are of an ever increasing prevalence in modern society.

Statistics suggest that one in four of us will suffer from some form of intolerance or allergy at some point in our lives.  There is a wealth of information to be found on the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of food sensitivities, yet very few resources deal with the daily demands, and the continuous self-monitoring required, to get back to good health and then to maintain it.

Living with food sensitivities leads to a greater awareness.

Living with food sensitivities leads to a greater awareness of how your body functions.

Just as you have to think carefully about what foods you feed yourself, you also become more conscious of how your body reacts, what it wants, and what it actually needs in order to be well.

It is these day-to-day experiences of living with food sensitivities, more than any other, that give us the greatest insight as to how to regain good health, move forward and lead a balanced life.

For me, my sense of wellbeing (both physical and emotional) can be gauged by how connected I feel to my body.  When everything is well I can literally feel the positive flow that runs through me.

If that sounds a little too new age for you then think of it this way: when I feel in good health and connected, I feel truly comfortable in my own body; I never feel too full or too empty, my skin is clear and smooth, my mind feels alert and engaged, I feel calm and focused and I sleep like a baby.

Reconnection Brings Deeper Understanding

This is how our bodies and minds are meant to feel.  Yet for some, feeling sick and tired is just another accepted part of their lives and a problem that they just have to bear.  Not so.

There are so many ways of reconnecting with your body and helping yourself along the path to health.  The first and foremost being the food that you eat.  If you feed yourself fresh, intolerance-friendly, wholesome, seasonal and most importantly, delicious food, your body and mind will show the results.

Ask your body what it wants you to eat.  Take your time.  Think carefully.

Don’t just mindlessly finish off whatever is in the fridge, choose your food, cook it and savour it.  Instant gratification is part of our modern society but it is not actually a necessity.

Cooking is important – it’s soothing, grounding, meditative and relaxes you before you eat.

Aromas are key too – they stimulate your digestive system, readying it for what it is about to receive.

Bad food choices robs you of any of the real pleasures and benefits of eating, making life a struggle not only for your digestive system, but also for you.

What Happens When You Add Exercise To The Mix?

Just as food can affect your overall wellbeing, so too can exercise.  That is why the physical habits you cultivate can be used to strengthen the bond between your mind and body.

Pilates, yoga, meditation and positive exercise all help to synchronise your system so that when you are well you feel it in every part of you.  Fundamental to these activities are their ability to significantly lower your stress levels, free your mind and take you outside of yourself, if only for a short period of time.

It has been said that the three greatest components to a happy and healthy life are laughter, physical exercise and sex.  It is not a coincidence that a sense of union is needed to maintain all three, nor is it a surprise that each activity can be created by you.

We have the choice and ability to make, or regain, a physical connection with ourselves, whatever stage of health we may be at.  You can then develop a relationship that means you can learn to recognise your individual natural levels of energy and health; you can then develop ways of sustaining them and, when needed, find the power to increase them.

The result is an understanding of yourself, an unconditional bond between your mind and body, and a sense of peace (rather than war) with your being that means that you can live well for both now, and the future.

For more information on living with food sensitivities I recommend visiting the following sites:

Foods Matter
Food Intolerance Awareness FIA
Allergy UK
The Intolerant Gourmet

Pippa is the creator of The Intolerant Gourmet, a wonderful resource for original, allergy friendly recipes, helpful tips, reviews and news about products suitable for anyone living with a food tolerance or allergy.  Visit The Intolerant Gourmet and start making amazing, allergy friendly foods for all to enjoy today.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a fun chocolot-y treat from Pippa! (yes…I know….but c’mon…who doesn’t need a little bit of chocolate goodness in their lives)!

How many trips do you take to the grocery store each week?

Do you go one day and pick up everything, plan your meals for the entire week?

Do you like to buy your meat and fish the day you plan to make it?

Do you buy fresh fruits & vegetables every single trip?

However you do your shopping, I bet you have some basics you pick up over and over again.

Over the past year, my “basics” have changed drastically and I wanted to share with you exactly what I buy.

First, here are my “before” basics:

• Coffee
• Creamer – not the healthy kind
• Cereal – usually cheerios
• Basic Wheat Bread
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Mayo (more for my husband really, but hey…guilt by association!)
• Ben & Jerry’s Icecream

Then, I’d simply buy salmon, chicken, turkey, beef whenever I actually wanted to prepare it.

Now, take a look at my basics…see how much more I buy and that I always have on hand?

• Almond Butter – Raw Unsalted Usually
• Raw Almonds
• Raisins
• Baby Spinach – usually bagged, but fresh if I can get it
• Tomatoes on the Vine – Always make sure I can smell ‘em!
• Ground Flaxseed – Red Mill
• Protein Powder – Brand changes sometimes
• Blueberries – especially when they are in season
• Raspberries – especially when they are in season
• Avocado
• Fage Plain Greek Yogurt
• Eggs

So, there you have it, my list of foods that I tend to always have on hand in the house.  When I don’t have at least these items, I slip and munch on my daughter’s snacks or end up drinking too much coffee.

What’s in your cupboard? What foods do you always make sure to have on hand? I could use a few suggestions to round out my everyday go-to foods.

And while you’re shopping this weekend, see how much of what you buy is from the freezer section or the packaged & canned foods section. Simply take note of your habits and see if you can make 1 different choice.

All it takes is 1 step – 1 item each time you go to the store.

If you haven’t heard of quinoa – you aren’t alone.  I hadn’t tried it until this past year.

If you have heard of quinoa -  you may know that some people refer to it as the new super food. It’s high in protein (12%-18%) and contains a balanced set of essential amino acids – this means it’s a surprisingly complete protein. It’s also high in fiber and iron.

I’ve heard of making quinoa for breakfast, but had never tried it until now! The funny thing is, quinoa is probably an almost perfect choice for breakfast to start your day off on the right foot.  Here’s a recipe I adapted to what I actually just had in the house.

Servings: 1

Here’s what you need:

• 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked in water according to instructions on package
• 1 Tablespoon golden raisins – I used Sunmaid raisins
• 1 Tablespoon date pieces, chopped- not into dates, so I didn’t use these – popped in a few slices of banana.
• 1 Tablespoon pecan pieces, chopped- don’t like pecans, so I scattered some almonds in.
• Dash of cinnamon
• Dash of nutmeg
• Drizzle of pure maple syrup – had only honey, so that’s what I used.

1. Top cooked quinoa with raisins, date pieces, pecan pieces, cinnamon, nutmeg and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Here are a few other sites with yummy Quinoa breakfast recipes:

Quick & Easy Hot Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Super Breakfast Bowl

Quick & Healthy Quinoa Breakfast Recipe

Loaded Quinoa Smoothie

Check out the comments in my article:  How To Be A Breakfast Champion for a really healthy, yummy way my dear friend Michelle has Quinoa for breakfast.  I have yet to try it — due to my fear and lack of knowledge about cooking Kale, but it sounds great!

What’s your favorite way to eat Quinoa in the morning?

Leave me a comment and Please click the Tweet This or Like button on Facebook!

I haven’t mentioned Gavan Murphy, the Healthy Irishman in awhile, but he’s not been forgotten.  I pulled out one of my favorite salad recipes of his…and wanted to share it with you.

MIXED GREEN SALAD WITH SHAVED FENNEL AND GOAT’S CHEESE

Serves 2

2 cups mixed greens
½ fennel bulb– thinly sliced and put in an ice water bath to crisp
1 oz goat’s cheese
1 tbsp lemon zest
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp honey (You can also use Agave Nectar instead. Still sweet but better metabolized by the body.)
S&P to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Drain sliced fennel completely and mix with greens along with the goat’s cheese and lemon zest.  Add olive oil, balsamic, honey / agave and pinch of salt.

Thank you to Gavan Murphy, The Healthy Irishman for giving me permission to share this recipe with my readers.  For more recipes — of the salad and non-salad variety, you must visit:  The Healthy Irishman website.  Don’t forget to sign up for his newsletter.  He never disappoints and he always keeps it healthy!

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