Something interesting that I am noticing more and more through my research and my discussions with people is that the recommendations for what Crohn's sufferers should eat is all over the place and more contradictory than ever. I realized this the first time I started on the Low FODMAP diet and I couldn't find two lists that were the same online! The information is so inconclusive for just about everything. This is a good fat but its too fatty so you can't eat it but you really should eat it. Oh and this is a vegetable so it's gluten free so it should be fine... but really its not. And is gluten really bad for you? And what about dairy? I must be horrible because I eat dairy. Lactose intolerance is proven but gluten intollerance isn't. I am not kidding those are all different things that I have heard. It goes as far as to me getting comments on Instagram asking why I can eat this or that if I have Crohn's. Yikes.
I have decided that it really is completely up to the individual person. There is not blanketed dietary (or any type) of approach to combating Crohn's. I know people who can eat chicken nuggets and other fried goodness until they are too full to move. They also have Crohn's. I know people who can't eat a bite of cheese without getting sick. They have Crohn's too. I know people who can drink like fish and I know those who can't. I read stories online about people that go into remission and can eat whatever they want and here I am doubting the day a glutenous bite will ever enter my mouth again. What I figured out was that I had to get to know my body and get to know what was best for me and best for my situation. I know the things that set me off and I know the things that I can handle in moderation. I'm not going to lie, at first I would get super pissed off when I saw someone who said they had Crohn's and they were sinking their teeth into a huge slice of pizza. I would judge them and say wtf why are they doing that, it's so bad for their health. I became a food snob. I legitamately would judge people mainly who ate gluten. Like what kind of asshole am I? I was judging because I was jealous because every deliciously glutenous thing makes me violently ill. (On a side note I have done my own research on gluten and am pretty turned off now which helps but that is to controversial to get into in this specific post. Gluten is a hot fucking topic.) Anyway, I was upset that I wasn't sinking my teeth into some pizza. Instead I was resentful of what I had to do. But then I started to really look at what I was doing and all of the flaws that I had in my diet. Yeah maybe they were eating gluten, but I was still eating processed crap to replace my glutenous alternatives. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Judging other people. Even if it was in the privacy of my own head. Then I would realize that since I was so insecure about my own situation I felt super judged when I was out at restaurants and had to order something with all of these restrictions. But the thing is... WHY am I so self concious about something that I need to do for my own body. For me, as someone who has struggled with an eating disorder in the past (that's something for a whole different blog post), food has always been an area of my life that brings me great discomfort. As much as on the outside I seem cool, calm, and collected about it I definitely am not in the inside. At all. Having a disease where you have to focus on food so much is actually really freaking hard. To this day I am still working on not worrying what people think about me and not worrying what I think about other people. It's hard. It is a day to day struggle. And I will bet money on the fact that some of you have felt the same way before. Having Crohn's is a constant game of trying to stay afloat in the world of food and balance. I can eat 100% "perfect" but then where are my experiences in life? What do I do when my girlfriends are having wine and pizza night? It is up to you. It is up to what you need to do for balance. For me I know I cannot puree and eat all of my meals thats so unrealistic but at the same time on that wine and pizza night it will be a gluten free pizza and only two glasses of wine. Why? Because I know what MY body needs. And I should love and respect and listen to that because it is MY body. Everyone has to do what is best for them. What is best for me isn't best for someone else and vice versa. Now I try my best not to judge, even when I do get jealous of someone eating a really fucking delicious looking thing. That is so great for them. And guess what? I have other great things that I can fuel my body with too. Stay in your own lane. Do what you need to do for your own self and your own body.
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So I'm a total asshole and do not have a cute, staged photo for this week's Meal Talk Monday. Originally I was going to share something cool that I made before but I made this soup tonight that was the bomb dot com so I wanted to share ASAP. I'm writing this in bed feeling like complete crap thanks to a nasty Crohn's flare which I cannot seem to get rid of. Thanks to my lovely situation I have been ordered to revert back to my ever dreaded liquid diet. Luckily I have been down this road many times before so I have perfected the things that don't send my stomach into turmoil. That also being said it can get a little boring so I need to mix things up and try and add in new items. Soups are my main go to and especially since the weather is getting chillier. I came across this recipe for the apparent "best mushroom soup" and I had to go for it. Matt hates mushrooms, like seriously despises them, so since he worked tonight I got to freely enjoy my perfect portobellos in peace. I was actually really shocked at how delicious this simple soup recipe is and how freaking easy it is to make! I would say it earned the title of best mushroom soup. AND it was a nice addition to my liquid diet that I think is here to stay. If you are a huge mushroom fan, like myself, you need to get on this ASAP. I also just learned that mushrooms are actually a surprisingly good source of vitamin D which it turns out I am very low on. Shroom away Crohnies. UPDATE!!!So I made this soup again and switched a few things up. I am even more obsessed. I added a bit more vegetable stock and I used 1% milk instead of heavy whipping cream to make it less heavy and it was just as AMAZING and even more healthy. I also cooked the soup for a little less time so the mushrooms still had some heartier texture to them. Not being able to eat a lot of carby items makes me really crave some substance here and there so I like the hearty texture, I still made sure they were cooked through enough as to not upset my stomach. I know this picture doesn't do it justice but I swear to ya'll this soup is heaven, especially on upset tummies!
Football season is my jam. As are football snacks. Unfortunately, a lot of game day foods are fried and full of stuff that I just can't have. Last year, I fell in love with sweet potato skins that are just as tasty as other options (if not even yummier)! Sweet potatoes are not only a complex carb, so a healthier option than white potatoes, but they also have anti-inflammatory properties which is great for those with IBD. I've been using THIS recipe which seems to be the best I've found so far. You can top them with anything you want! I know some of you have sensitivities to dairy so you can opt for some vegan cheese. I have mixed it up and put kale or spinach on top with some plain greek yogurt and made a delicious, healthy meal out of it!
No matter which way you mix it up, sweet potatoes are a great base for any game day snack and the plus side is, these skins taste great even for those who don't have dietary restrictions! Happy Halloween everyone! This is my absolute FAVORITE holiday, mainly because I am obsessed with weird haunted things and I feel like Halloween is the official initiation of holiday season. This year Matt and I have been celebrating in a freaky zombie style kind of way full of a lot of costume makeup and scary movies. Yesterday we kicked things off with a super last minute costume (thank you years of working at ULTA for providing me with ample makeup options!) which I have to say I think we pulled off pretty well. Not sure if ya'll care about makeup details but I can share if you are interested, just contact me! It's funny how I haven't done professional style makeup in so long but when I do it all comes back and remember how much I love and miss it! Anyway, we started off the night at our friend's party and ending things at our house with horror movies and gluten free pizza. My ideal evening for sure! Today (actual Halloween) we are keeping things low key and heading over to my parents' house to hand out candy and show off our puppies' costumes (there will be updates on those later, I can't wait to share, they are SO FUNNY). Whenever I am handing out candy I usually steal a good 10 pieces to keep my blood sugar from getting low of course (I love excuses....). Halloween can be a COMPLETE TRAP for those of us avoiding gluten because, lets face it, who really knows there is gluten in things like Twizzlers unless you are doing ample research?! Today during my grocery shopping, shout out to Wegmans, I came across Simply Gluten Free magazine and fell in love. A whole post will come about this later I promise, but I came across an article about safe gluten free candy and I couldn't help but to share. To me it seems easy to determine what to eat and what not to eat. Number one, because I don't really eat candy and number two, the candy I eat is stuff that I know and buy, not things that are randomly given out to me. While reading this article I realized that one day when I have kids they most likely will have to be gluten free just like their mama to reduce the effects of these yucky medical issues brought on by genetics. How would I know what candy has gluten or doesn't unless I did ample research beforehand or better yet, had a guide to the good guys and bad guys? Well, now I am informed and I have this trusty little list to help. I've included a link HERE to this super helpful guide that lists things out plain and simple. Now I know that I can dig into our cauldron of treats with confidence about what I am putting into my body. Halloween is A LOT more fun when you aren't sick from enjoying it!
Let's just say, this evening I will definitely be enjoying some Angry Orchard ciders and a few candy bars.... I can't wait to hear about what you all did for Halloween! What did you dress up as? What is your favorite gluten free candy? Or what struggles have you ran into being gluten free during Halloween? Anything you have feel free to share via comments or email. Thank you again for all of the continuing support! That makes blogging just that much more fun! If ya'll know me at all, you know that I crave Mexican food like it is my job. Any day, any hour, offer me Mexican food and I will eat it. Chicken tortilla soup is one of my all time favorites and now that the weather has cooled down I have been craving it like crazy.
My acupuncturist has been urging me to eat more soups for a long list of reasons I won't go into, but one of the main ones being soup is just a lot easier to digest. On days that I can feel a Crohn's flare up coming on I immediately switch my intake to be as liquid based as possible. Soups are a must. Instead of opting for store bought soups loaded with sodium and often times hidden gluten, I've been perusing Pinerest for some stable recipes for the chilly months. I found THIS recipe from Half Baked Harvest and made a few tweaks to it (mainly just to make it easier) and boom! It was a hit. Both Matt and I loved it and we made a big batch that lasted all week. The tweaks we made: added in a bunch of kale for some extra superfood love, used rotisserie chicken instead of cooking our own to save time, and used brown rice instead of quinoa because that stuff does not work with a Crohns tummy. As far as topping we opted for some plain greek yogurt, a little bit of shredded cheese, cilantro, and the homemade tortilla squares. This will 100% be a staple in our household from now on. It tasted amazing and it was easy on the stomach. If I were feeling really sensitive this week I would have taken out the Greek yogurt and cheese we used to top it and decreased the spiciness a bit, but for a good week this was perfect! What other soups do ya'll recommend to try?! If you know me at all, you know that I love a good taco. Like REALLY, REALLY love a good taco. And guacamole. And margaritas. Basically, any type of fresh tasting delicious Mexican food and I will be ready and willing to sell my soul. Not going to lie this has been a serious issue in my life where literally every boyfriend I have ever had has complained about the same issue, that the only places I ever want to go to eat are taco joints. Well sue me for liking good food. That is 80% of the reason why I know I am going to marry Matt... because he literally DOES NOT CARE that for our nuptials I am requesting a DIY fresh taco bar, margarita fountain, and mounds of guacamole in place of a wedding cake. You think I am kidding? No. Anyways, he is a smart man because the past two times I have had a super shitty day he has surprised me with a visit to THE BEST TACO BAR EVER. Located in Downtown Annapolis, this little gem is the perfect bad day remedy. First off, their drink menu is out of control. The combinations of margaritas are ridiculous and nothing is too sweet. Also, they have garnishes that make them look bougie as hell. Not complaining. Side note: I apologize for the grainy images, the lighting in there at night sucks... the only downside. So after the first drink hits you and your stress level drops about 50%, you have the mental energy to realize the surrounding. This place is freaking cool! It is pretty small which kind of makes it feel exclusive. The wait that you usually have to endure adds to that but honestly there's a bar where you can wait and sample the amazing cocktails so it really is not bad at all. The environment overall has a cool vibe. Food is served family style on metal trays which adds to the cool factor and makes it zero percent stuffy. Personally, my favorite thing to start with is their guacamole which is literally a scoop of creamy guacy goodness. Also pictured below: the Purple Drank. GAME CHANGER YA'LL. I have to mention at this point that the gluten free options on Vida's menu are out of control. A majority of the tacos can be made gluten free with a corn tortilla and there are plenty of gluten free starters as well. Another plus, everything is so deliciously fresh so you don't have to worry about gross packaged bull shit being served to you. I always mix things up between different taco orders but let me tell you there has not been a single one that I have not liked. Matt also is a fan of every glutenous option he has opted for so it is a win-win for everyone involved. I give this place a 10/10. Affordable, delicious, fresh, gluten free friendly, cool environment. No complaints besides that bad lighting at night for my Instagram photos. Speaking of Instagram, follow them if you want your mouth to water at every post. They have got some quality Taco Tuesday features.
If you end up visiting, comment and let me know about your experience! Avocado Toast is ALL OVER social media... (Instagram...Pinterest... I'm looking at you!). I am a huge advocate of avocados and eggs are my go to source of protein in the morning so this avo toast seems like a no brainer favorite for me. As a gluten free gal things need to be modified a bit though. I have tried many different versions of the "toast" portion... anything from gluten free pizza crust, to polenta, to gluten free bread. All of these options had their own perks but my tried and true favorite has become the corn tortilla. It is light enough that it doesn't overpower the avocado and the egg and it adds a bit of a taco flare which I can't complain about. This whole breakfast takes less than 10 minutes to make and is absolutely delicious. I start with mashing the avocado with a tiny bit of salt and pepper, frying an egg, and then putting the corn tortilla on the frying pan for about 20 seconds to soften it up. The picture shows my basic version but sometimes I like to mix it up adding some tabasco or other hot sauce and maybe even cheese if I am feeling up to it. Another favorite addition is refried beans which definitely add a taco feel. Everyone who knows me knows that tacos are my all time favorite food so having them for breakfast is basically heaven. Overall this breakfast is a winner because it hits the spot and offers a great mix of protein, carbs, and healthy fat and on top of that it is so quick and simple to make! What are your favorite ways to mix up the classic "avocado toast"? Labor Day Weekend really snuck up on me this year! I can't believe it is almost the unofficial end of summer. As ready as I am for fall scented candles and watching my little pup play around in piles of leaves I am looking forward to one last weekend of summertime cookouts with my family and friends. I have never been one to jump on the invitation to bake something to bring to a get together but recently I have stepped up my adulthood game and perfected a signature dish! It has been a hit for my family, friends, and coworkers and is super easy to make. I figured I would share it with you all incase you are in a predicament of having to bring a dish to a party this weekend or just want to treat yo' self a bit while relaxing this weekend! I decided to stick with something that was not only gluten free so I could enjoy it but also low sodium since my dad limits his sodium intake and I needed to find something that was good for everyone across the board. Now let me tell you... finding something that meets both of those dietary requirements definitely included a lengthy Pinterest search. I finally zeroed in on THIS recipe from Frugal Farm Wife. I took out the nuts to lower the sodium and used all purpose gluten free flour, but those were the only things I changed! It took me overall about 15 minutes to mix everything together and about an hour to bake. It came out looking surprisingly beautiful and even more surprisingly tasty! Everyone thought it was a hit and the leftovers even tasted great reheated. Hands down this was probably the easiest and one of the best tasting desserts I have ever made and I plan on brining it back as my signature dish next summer. Now the challenge... finding my signature dish for fall. Good thing I can just swap out the blueberries with apples, right?! :) Feel free to comment with any questions or tell me about your experience trying this recipe! I've decided to start this little thing called "Meal Talk Monday". Not because I'm a good cook and not because I particularly like cooking. It's actually mainly because up until about a year ago I was completely illiterate when it came to the art of food. I was baffled for hours watching "Guys's Grocery Wars" wondering how anyone could so successfully navigate this foreign thing called a grocery store. My food life has progressed from being able to eat literally whatever I wanted through college without any adverse effect (aka McDonalds, rice/bean/avocado concoction, canned soups galore) to literally having to scour labels to make sure I can put something in my mouth. Let's just say it was a pretty serious change, and for someone who could barely boil water, it was a bit terrifying. I went from trying to meal prep and deciding I hated everything I had made by Tuesday night to ordering meal delivery services which although provided fully cooked nutritious meals to my door also drained my bank account. The only other option was to seriously suck it up and learn some tried and true favorite meals. Also, lets be honest.... I should at least share the cooking responsibilities with my boyfriend who is actually a pretty awesome cook, he just is slow on the learning curve of cooking for Crohn's. Basically, this segment is to share with you my successes and failures surrounding exploring Crohn's friendly meals that are as dummy proof as possible. All recipes are pretty much inspired by something I found on Pinterest which I will make sure to link to. I have tweaked things here and there based on taste and dietary preferences so feel free to comment with any questions you may have. Bon appetit! Alfredo ZoodlesGrowing up there was nothing more I loved than a pasta dish drenched in Alfredo sauce. And I mean drenched. For my birthday dinner I requested extra cheesy ravioli with extra creamy Alfredo up until the age that I realized that taco salads where my true calling and then had to alternate. Being gluten free and trying to limit my dairy intake definitely poses a problem for someone who dreams about ravioli. I had to find a way to combat this craving without completely ruining my stomach (and me fitting in my pants the next day). Lucky for me, Pinterest is full of enticing options and Wegmans is full of pre sliced zucchini noodles. THANK YOU! I basically followed this recipe completely by the book and it was rather amazing. The only complaint I had was that my extra Alfredo sauce that I stored in the fridge ended up looking like an elementary school clay project but hot off of the stove it was a dream come true. This ALSO was my very first experience trying zoodles which really were actually a great alternative to pasta. As a gluten free gal often times rice noodles or other equivalents are the go to but to me they honestly don't taste that great. Zoodles hit the spot as far as a pasta substitute and pack in an extra serving of veggies. Overall I give this recipe an 7/10. Points deducted because of the clay like left over situation and the fact that it did make my stomach a bit uneasy... not as bad as the full fat, glutenous alternative though so hey 80% is pretty good! Oh and this DID inspire me to purchase a spiralizer which I have now used to master quite a few more yummy meals. I recommend this if you don't want to spring for the KitchenAid one.... (I actually don't have a KitchenAide mixer and I am just waiting for my wedding to register for one... serious confession #dontjudge). Anyways, here it is! Inexpensive and works like a charm. It gives me a serious EZ Bake Oven vibe and I don't hate it. Enjoy! |
Blonde babe.
Millennial mom. Crohn's crusher. Mental health advocate. Sharing my raw and real journey through motherhood and navigating Crohn’s Disease. CrohnicallyBlonde is a place where I serve up my unfiltered commentary on chronic illness, mental health, pregnancy, and motherhood alongside lighter lifestyle content like beauty product reviews, travel tips, and book recommendations. My hope is that by authentically sharing my story I can help others going through similar situations not feel so alone and maybe even laugh along with me. categories
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