Elimination Diet Diary, Day 19

Today we had minestrone soup and these delicious crackers. We can't have sesame seeds so we simply used flax seeds instead.

We just finished the three days of adding in nightshades…potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. We didn’t try eggplant but especially enjoyed the tomatoes, potatoes and peppers. I made some yummy ketchup and tomato soup and minestrone soup. We also had fried potatoes, hash browns, baked potatoes. We get to use cayenne again. And we can use our everyday seasoning that has peppers in it too.

Kinda funny story. We use bionature bottled tomatoes and I recycled the bottle for storing our ketchup that I had made. Surprisingly everyone liked the ketchup this time. In the past I was the only one that would use homemade ketchup. Well, I was happy that everyone liked it and we all enjoyed some on our hashbrowns that morning. As I put the bottle away I noticed it was almost gone and thought how could that be? Then as I sat it on the shelf next to what I thought was the tomato sauce bottle in the fridge I realized that what we had used was the tomato sauce and we had used it instead of the nice full bottle of homemade ketchup still on the shelf in the fridge…and none of us knew the difference. LOL…save myself the time and trouble of making it and we can just use tomato sauce for ketchup.

Today was the first day of beans so I added beans to our minestrone, we had refried beans with chile in it for breakfast. It’s really great to have some more options for meals. I am looking forward to black bean soup and spicy black beans and refried black beans etc. We love black beans here.

This is a busy weekend to be on an elimination diet. But I am determined to make it work. Tonight we have a Care Group Pizza Party and I am taking Quinoa pizza crusts, tomato sauce, basil and sunflower seed burgers to put on top. I am also taking the crackers I made today, carrot and celery sticks and some homemade ranch dip. I think I will take some fruit too since we wont be able to eat the desserts. Tomorrow night I will take salad to the Leaders meeting we will attend…maybe an apple crisp too. Then on Sunday I will take a crock pot of Greek Potatoes and some cinnamon apple slices for the church potluck.

I know that there will be a lot of things to tempt me off this path. But I also know that God is able and wanting to help me…and will help me to keep going. I found Elyse Fitzpatrick to be very encouraging in her book Love to Eat Hate to Eat…breaking the bondage of destructive eating habits. She said, “ When you face the reality of your present eating habits and the despair and hopelessness of never seeing any lasting change, take heart! If you are His child, then you can rest in the knowledge that “He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one (not even you!) can ward off His hand” (Daniel 4:35, emphasis added). He will fulfill all His plans for you!”… “He’s in the business of changing people. That includes you.” Elyse Fitzpatrick in Love to Eat Hate to Eat.

Please pray for me if you think of it. I would appreciate it. I am really grateful that the Lord is changing me…I am fearful of myself though. I know He is faithful and I know that I am not. May I continue to look to Him in my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10.

Elimination Diet Diary, Day 15

Acts 17:24,25 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands and He is not served by human hands as if He needed anything because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else".

I found this scripture so encouraging today...God is Sovereign! :) I hope you are doing well and feeling encouraged today. God is so good and He is in control and has everything under control and we can trust Him!

As for the Elimination diet...
Well, I haven't posted for awhile...Jeremiah (my son, and photographer) was away and took his camera with him...so I wasn't motivated to post with out the pics.

For anyone that may be following along, I am just going to quickly report that I am still doing this. God has been gracious and has provided all that I need. :) I have not strayed from the path even once and that is certainly only by His grace!!

Today Jeff was sick and stayed home from work. He needed gluten free soda crackers...I doubt they are even available here in town so I made him some...(I didn't use the sour milk, just water). I had never made crackers before. They looked and smelled delicious and he and Judah really enjoyed them. This was my hardest day yet. I was so tempted to just taste them and see how they turned out. Oh well...I know they were good because they ate them. :)

I really wanted Teff cereal this morning but I ran out. Have to get to Bob's Red Mill soon...but then again I don't want to go there...they have food in the restaurant that I can not eat...and would want to eat. :(

Tonight I had these parsnip fries...I made them with my sunflower butter. They tasted like sweet potato fries to me. I also had a small piece of sweet potato, butter lettuce, avocado and sunflower seed burgers, my new favorite from Ali's book, Whole Life Nutrition.

Even though I was tempted today I still think things are going well. :) I am happy with the food I am allowed and am enjoying things. I noticed today I wasn't drinking enough water so will need to start using a water bottle and paying more attention to where I am at on that.

I did lose another pound too. :) That is always fun!

So far we have added in lemons/limes/tamari. Tomorrow we add in potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Jeremiah and I are pretty excited about that. We have especially missed the potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. We like eggplant too but don't eat it that often.

We've been invited to my brother's place for Easter. I am to bring a vegetarian main dish and a healthy dessert. I was happy he asked me to bring things we can eat. :) I think I am going to take the sunflower seed burgers and an apple crisp. I might take a crockpot of roasted potatoes too since I am sure we can't eat the loaded mashed potatoes that will be there. Looking forward to the time of fellowship with the whole family and spending time with everyone.

What special things do you do for Easter? Any family traditions that you have?

Elimination Diet Diary, Day 9

Last night we tried something new...Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower (no lemon though). We really liked it! We also enjoyed red lentil dal...pictured below...hopefully I will put the recipe up before I forget it...it was one of those wing it recipes. :)

Today was very much more of the same as yesterday...green smoothie breakfast, rice cake and sunflower seed butter, red lentil dal and brown rice leftovers for lunch along with a green salad made from butter lettuce.

We are feeling fine. We are still doing well and not feeling deprived. Jeremiah and I are both enjoying the foods we are allowed and feeling very grateful.

I had to make some more Cinnamon-Sunflower Truffles today. I had some really fresh, soft dates from Trader Joe's so didn't need to add any sweetener besides the dates. Here's a picture of them in process...I've already powdered the seeds and cinnamon and just added the dates and 2 T. of coconut oil. Blend that up well and then roll into balls and into coconut. Keep in fridge for snacking as needed. Yum. I also stored some of this in a jar, not rolled. I am planning to use it for apple crisp topping.


Dinner today was really good. I made Sunny Sunflower Seed Burgers from Ali's cookbook and topped them with avocado and lettuce leaves...then ate atop of the Quinoa Pizza Crust. I only use 1 T of oil in my cast iron skillet and I have reduced the salt in this to 3/4 tsp. We can make 3 cast iron pans of this crust from this one batch.


YUM!! So good. I think these burgers will help me to replace the junk food soy products we use to eat. I am thinking maybe I can learn to make them seasoned like sausage...I will have to give that a try. :)

Elimination Diet Tip: We will be able to add things to our diet now every 3 days. This is how we add things back to the diet and test for sensitivity. We are suppose to watch for any symptoms and note how we feel. Each new food is eaten 3 times a day for 3 days. In order to help us see what new food comes in to our diet and when, I wrote the foods right on to the calendar...here's what we are looking forward to adding and when:

4/6 lemons and limes... try: lemonade, lemon kale chips, lemon in soup and dressings.
4/9 tamari... try: stir fry w/tamari, add to soups, season seeds
4/12 potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers...try: Quinoa Pizza, oven baked fries, soups
4/15 beans of all kinds...try: vegetarian CHILI!! Our fave! Spicy black beans, refried beans, soups :)
4/18 nuts of all kinds...try: tamari almonds, spiced pecans, walnut topped apple crisp
4/21 banana, papaya, pineapple...try: banana ice cream, smoothies, banana and almond butter
4/24 SALMON!! Salmon burgers, salmon pancakes, salmon salad
4/27 tofu and tempeh...try: ?? not sure yet...don't usually eat it
4/30 STRAWBERRIES!! :) try: in smoothies, add to banana icecream...eat plain...YUM!
5/3 oranges...try: smoothies...eating fresh
5/6 peanuts...try: banana and peanut butter, add to soups and sauces
5/9 sesame seeds...try: gomasio, tahini, sesame green beans
5/12 chocolate...try: dark chocolate
5/15 eggs...try: scrambled, egg foo young
5/18 dairy...try: Quinoa pizza w/cheese, salmon and cream cheese, yogurt, kefir, sour cream
5/21 gluten free bread...try: muffins, pancakes, flat breads
5/24 millet...try: biscuits, cereal, soups
5/27 oats...try: oat meal, granola, cookies
5/30 corn...try: corn, soups, corn chips, corn tortillas, nachos, taco salad

If you think of me, pray for me. I am starting to entertain the thought that I am not making progress. I know that this is a lie. Why do I believe lies? I know I need to start preaching the truth to myself. This is a battle... and I don't want to lose.

Thanks for reading, :) Linda

Elimination Diet Diary, Day 8

Treasure in Jars of Clay 2 Corinthians 4

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

This passage has been on my mind...with all of life's pressures and stresses...when I keep my eyes on Him then I am encouraged and I do not lose heart. God is good and He is faithful.

The elimination diet is going well. I have had some very busy days and God has been faithful to see us through those and keep us on track! :) I didn't get a chance to blog for several days so let me catch you up to speed.

Day 5, Friday night Care Group. We had company for dinner and enjoyed green salad, leftover kitcheree and baked sweet potato fries. At Care Group later in the evening there was a dessert buffet. I took Cinnamon-Sunflower Truffles and enjoyed a couple of those. They are really yummy. :) It was not hard to leave the fudge brownies, chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes alone. That was definitely an act of God because usually I would have had several things with gluten and sugar. I did not even feel bad that I couldn't eat them. I did miss the coffee though..I drink coffee socially but not daily.

Day 6, Saturday, Just some fruit for breakfast. I made some more Healing Quinoa Soup before I left for the ladies Connect mtg at church. (So Jeremiah would have something to eat while I was gone...he asked for more. ) I didn't have time to eat any and wished I had. They had a potato bar at the gathering and I had brought sweet potatoes, toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds and Cinnamon Sunflower Truffles. I had a sweet potato with the seeds on top and some steamed broccoli. They had salads there as well but they were already mixed with cesaer or cheese type things so I skipped that. They also had cheese cakes, fruit tarts, beautiful cakes, cookies, fudge, brownies, etc etc. Again I felt God's sustaining grace. I had no trouble not eating those foods that would normally have been so tempting. I did think the tart with lovely strawberries and other fruits on top looked good though. :) When I got home I had some lentils, rice and broccoli.

Day 7, Sunday. We had some sweet brown rice cereal for breakfast. I added a bit of coconut oil (buy one get one free sale right now! Check it out!) and a bit of coconut cream concentrate (just coconut), some sea salt and cinnamon and sprinkle of toasted seeds...yum! Sometimes we would go to Sweet Tomatoes or Baja Fresh after church on Sundays. Not this week...we took snacks with us...toasted pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, dried fruit, carrot sticks, apples. We had to do a lot of grocery shopping and when we got home we were starving...we had salads and then some broccoli and kitcheree or brown rice/lentils with steamed broccoli and wrapped in tapioca wraps. It was good and hit the spot. For snack we had rice cake and sunflower butter.

Day 8, that's today. So far we have had our berry green smoothie with about 5 slices of ginger added. YUM!! We also enjoyed a brown rice cake w/sunflower seed butter again. For lunch we had Healing Quinoa Soup and a variation of this delicious pizza crust made from the quinoa grain...we had it plain like flat bread and ate it with our soup and salad. I can. not. wait. to try it as pizza once we add tomato back into our diets! :) Something to look forward to.

Quinoa Pizza Crust

My variation was that I used only 2 T of oil and used cast iron pans. I put 1 T in each pan and heated them as directed. Then I poured in the batter and baked about 12 min. (not 20) and flipped them over and baked the other 10 min. or so. Watch carefully so as not to burn but you do want them brown and crispy...yum!! The kids loved them and I enjoyed too with slices of avocado on top.

We plan to have carrots/celery sticks, lentils and roasted broccoli/cauliflower (minus the lemon) over brown rice tonight.

I have lost 6 pounds and Jeremiah has lost 9 pounds this week. :)

God is good and it's Only by His grace, Linda

Elimination Diet Diary, Day 4

I am grateful that my hope is in the Lord, He is my strength!

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart,

all ye that hope in the LORD.

Today we are still doing well...but I had a few moments where I felt like I didn't handle stress well. I don't know if that has anything to do with the Elimination Diet or if it's just life. :)

We had the normal green smoothie breakfast, salad and leftover soup from yesterday for lunch.



Had a snack of rice cake with sunflower butter again too...oh and a dried fig...like a fig newton with no cookie part. :)

For dinner we had a variation of the Summer Vegetable Kitcheree recipe by Ali. My variations: no tomatoes, no chile flakes, no coconut dollup on top. Only 1 tsp of sea salt. Our greens were collards, mustard, turnip and spinach...they come in a bag mixed together at Trader Joes. First time for us eating those greens...except spinach we've had before. The mung beans were a first for us too. We really enjoyed it.

Summer Vegetable Kitcheree My 6 year old Judah's bowl afterwards. :) I need to start making some Sauerkraut tonight...I don't remember all the details about it but it's good for your gut and has good bacteria that is helpful. Here's a link for more info on that and how to make it. Tomorrow we are having company for dinner. I hope she likes our food. Why do I worry about that so much? I know we will have a great visit!

Elimination Diet Diary, Day 3

Today is the third day of our elimination diet. We finished the two days of green smoothies only and did very well.

I was encouraged by this passage in Psalm 28.

6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

I have been looking to God for help to stick to this... He is so faithful! I have noticed I am praying more throughout the days as well.

Last night I was not able to sleep very well. I felt cold and a bit hungry. I didn't want to get up and have a green smoothie though as that would just add to the coldness. I thought about making tea but it was after 1:00 AM and I new I needed to sleep since I had to work in the morning.

This morning, when I got up I felt warm again. :) Back to the tank top and shorts.

We started our day with the Berry Green Smoothie I posted yesterday. Yum.

Phase 1 of the elimination diet allows us things like broccoli, kale, cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, yams, adzuki beans, lentils, mung beans, rice, sunflower seeds etc. Here's the complete list for Phase 1.

Last night, Jeremiah and I decided we wanted rice and lentils today. I soaked about 1 cup brown basmati rice, 1 cup lentils and 1/2 cup wild rice overnight in water covering by 2". I also soaked 1 cup of short grain sweet brown rice.

For breakfast today I rinsed and drained the short grain brown rice. Then added 2 cups of water to it and put it in my blender and blended a bit to make a cracked grain. I cooked this about 20 minutes or until the rice was tender and most of the water absorbed. It was good as hot cereal. I had 1/2 cup and added a bit of salt, some pumpkin seeds, cinnamon and just a dash of maple syrup.

In preparation for lunch and dinner I rinsed and drained my rice/lentil/wild rice mix and cooked it in a large pot...cover the grains with water and add 1/2 an onion and 3 cloves garlic. (remove the onion and garlic after cooking) I just cooked these about 45 minutes or until tender. Jeremiah and I both had to taste this as soon as it was done...we really liked it! I drained off the water to use in the soup later.

For lunch we had carrot sticks and a variation of the Healing Quinoa and Cabbage Soup from my friend Ali's blog.

My changes: I added the cooking water from the lentils and rice...about 2 cups.
I used 6 cups of shredded savoy cabbage
only used 2 T of the ex virgin olive oil
used 4 cloves of garlic
used 4 tsp of freshly grated ginger
I used 2 1/2 cups for quinoa and mine was red quinoa (yum!)
omitted the herbamare, cilantro and black pepper
(We salt at the table and I just forgot about the cilantro and pepper. Oh well.)

It was so good! Also, Jeremiah doesn't care for soupy soups so he figured out that adding some of the rice/lentils to the bowl filled the need of a thicker consistency. (filled the void that crackers use to)



For a snack, I had a brown rice cake with sunflower seed butter that I made myself. It was quite a task. While I was working...process sunflower seeds...take phone calls...process sunflower seeds...do emails...process sunflower seeds...make dinner...process sunflower seeds...you get the idea. Here's the recipe for how I made it:

Sunflower Seed Butter

2 cups of raw sunflower seeds
3 T or as needed coconut oil
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tsp agave

Process the sunflower seeds to smithereens. :) This takes a long time and since I didn't want to burn out my food processor I did it a couple minutes at a time. It never quite liquified but it did turn putty like and a thick smooth. Then I added the salt and agave and coconut oil 1 T. at a time. When it was a texture we could spread I called it good. We like it. :)

I think if you want a more liquidy sunflower butter you can toast the sunflower seeds first. I just wanted it to be a raw butter so didn't want to do that.




For dinner I had a delicious salad of Romaine,
red leafy green I don't know what's called :),
avocado, Green Apple Salad Dressing by Ali and toasted pumpkin seeds on top. Yum! (I only used one garlic clove instead of the 3 and about 1/4 tsp sea salt in my version of the dressing.)

We also had steamed broccoli and the rice/lentils I made earlier.

Broccoli with Rice and Lentils

1 1/2 cup of broccoli per person, chopped
3/4 cup of cooked rice/lentil/wild rice mixture per person (see above)
1/2 " of water
sea salt, garlic powder and pepper to taste

Put the broccoli into a large skillet, add the 1/2" of water (pour over broccoli until there is 1/2" of water in the pan). Steam until bright green. Add the rice/lentil/wild rice over the top. Cover and steam a few minutes. Stir and allow water to evaporate but don't over cook the broccoli. We all love this. Quick and easy and nourishing.

What a day! Whole foods elimination diet cooking is a lot of work but we are feeling great and looking forward to day 4 tomorrow.

Elimination Diet Diary, Day 2

Well, my son and I have officially started The Elimination Diet. We are both hoping to identify any food allergens we may have and also hoping to generally improve our health.

So far we are doing well. :)

He hasn't complained once. He has expressed gratitude that the smoothies taste better than the juices on the juicing diet we tried once upon a time.

I on the other hand...have complained. More than once. :( My main complaint is that I am freezing! Those of you who know me know that as a general rule I do not freeze...anything over 65 and I am too hot. Well...it's official...I am totally freezing. I am wearing pants and a sweatshirt...and I wish I was cuddled into my bed.

My second complaint is that every time Jeff cooks anything I want to eat too! Especially eggs. I just figured it out that it will be day 41 when we can add eggs back in. I am soooo looking forward to it already!

So here's what we are eating: Green Smoothies (click Green Smoothies for fun video on how to make one) for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 100 oz or more of water. For two days. We are on day two. Here's the recipes for our favorite smoothies so far.

Gingery Green Smoothie
2 organic granny smith apples
2 pears
1 1/2 c water
1" of ginger, peeled and sliced
5 kale leaves, discard stem
2 large handfuls of organic baby spinach

Place 1/2 of the above (1 apple, 1 pear, et) in high speed blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour into a blowl. Place the other 1/2 of the ingredients in the blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour into the bowl. Stir well. Serve with a ladle into glasses. Sip slow and enjoy!

Berry Green Smoothie
2 organic granny smith apples
2 pears
1 c water
1/2 cup of blue berries
1/2 cup of raspberries
5 kale leaves, discard stem
2 large handfuls of organic baby spinach

Place 1/2 of the above (1 apple, 1 pear, et) in high speed blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour into a blowl. Place the other 1/2 of the ingredients in the blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour into the bowl. Stir well. Serve with a ladle into glasses. Sip slow and enjoy!

After our 2 days of Green Smoothies only we will continue to have at least one smoothie a day...probably at breakfast. We will have other healthy things to eat too. Next post I will include that list of what we can eat.