Noodling Around

Noodling Around
The other day, when I was shopping for some food items on the internet, I couldn’t help but realized how things have changed.

Let’s face it....grocery shopping isn’t what it used to be. Take macaroni for example. There may have been a few different brands but they were all basically made with the same ingredients....fortified semolina or durum wheat. They could be found in any store....displayed proudly on the shelves where a box could easily be grabbed and tossed into the shopping cart.

My preferred brand of choice? Creamette, of course. It is what my mom used.

Gluten-Free
Then came the era of allergies, food sensitivities, diet changes and food limitations. Creamettes were to be no more. Now, the search was on for "gluten-free". No longer was it a quick trip to Copps or Piggly-Wiggly.

A quick in and out was now a thing of the past. Every trip now required a thorough search of ingredients of every “gluten-free” box of noodles....only to find out it had not been manufactured in a “dedicated gluten-free" facility. And, so, the search continued.

Most products used white rice or corn as a substitute for the glutinous ingredients of wheat, barley, rye and oats. However, rice and corn only added empty calories and carbs. We all know what that adds up to!

Grain-Free
In no time necessity required gluten-free to be replaced with “grain-free". However, time also brought a revolution to how foods were being made. Now, foods with new and different flours were being introduced....chickpea, black bean, lentils. And, let’s not forget the nuts and seeds....almond, cashew, pecans, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, sunflower. The list could go on and on. It would seem a whole new world of banquet eating had just opened up!

Enter AIP (Auto-Immune Paleo)
Not familiar with an AIP diet? I am so happy for you because, hopefully, you do not need it!! 😂😂

Seriously, though, it is a way of eating that focuses on reducing the inflammation that people with auto-immune disorders tend to have by removing “inflammatory” foods from the diet. These foods include nuts, seeds, grains, dairy, and nightshades. For me eggs are also excluded. No more banquet of new foods for me!

The Internet
Many people find the internet to be a quick and convenient way of shopping.

What if someone wants macaroni and cheese and can’t wait for it to be shipped? No worries. Creamettes can still easily be found on your local grocery store shelves. And, don’t forget the ketchup for the mac ‘n’ cheese. (You know who you are.)

Internet is Quick?....Let me tell you....I entered a search for “grain-free” noodles....30 mins later I found an acceptable macaroni that had only 2 ingredients.

Frustration and Anxiety
Emotions play such a huge part in our health. Imagine how frustrating it is using all that time just for one item.…and, still may not find what you are looking for.

Perhaps, you are wanting to travel. Do you know what it is like to look at a restaurant menu and not be able to find something to order? Or, maybe it is gluten-free but not grain-free....or, grain-free but not dairy-free. “yes”, they say...we have grain-free buns and noodles”. Your excitement starts to build only to wane because they are made with almond flour or lentils or eggs.

Sadly, grocery shopping and meal preparation is no longer quick or easy. But this does not mean we are left to wallow in our sorrow. Sometimes, it just requires a fresh, new approach and perspective to gain back that freedom to enjoy life again.

So, the next time you see me on my phone for hours....I’m probably doing my grocery shopping. And, by the way, I was quite thrilled with my newly discovered, 2-ingredient, grain-free macaroni noodles. 👍

So, if you love this info and are in the market for trying something new, you will love my guide to removing triggers!

Check out my other online resources HERE and learn more about how to enjoy life despite stressors.