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Becky Parker Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005 Location: Michigan
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Posted: July 23 2012 at 4:39am | IP Logged
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My dh recently spoke with someone on a primal diet. I think this means grain free. We are already gluten free to some extent, but mostly just my son and I. I've been trying to get my husband on board with that without much luck, but after talking to a friend on this primal diet who has lost weight, he's interested in trying a complete grain free diet. He doesn't have that much of a weight problem, but I do so I'm thinking it could be a benefit to both of us, not to mention our ds who can't have gluten anyway. So, I'm wondering, what does this sort of diet look like? is it affordable? how? what do big families eat when they can't eat rice or pasta or bread or even oatmeal? And what are the benefits besides possible weight loss? Erin, I know you are (or were?) grain free. I would love to hear your point of view.
__________________ Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: July 23 2012 at 8:01am | IP Logged
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We aren't completely grain free, though we try to avoid wheat and gluten for the most part. I really like this paleo cookbook, Well Fed even though I still do some grains and dairy. It has a number of excellent recipes, and I especially like her weekly cookup ideas for skillet meals. It is a very man friendly cookbook, ime.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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pumpkinmom Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2012 Location: Missouri
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Posted: July 23 2012 at 8:08am | IP Logged
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Our family is just starting this journey. It has been easier than I thought, but we still have lots of work to do. Plenty of thing to eat for dinner, but lunch and breakfast are tough as that was when we ate the most grains. We are not 100% grain free yet, but very close at home. Out and about is when I allow my kids to eat whatever. We don't have any gluten problems, but I just wanted us to be eating healthier and Dh and I need to lose weight. I have a cousin who is doing the same and she has be on pinterest and has located lots of recipes and blogs. I have a big list of stuff I am looking forward to trying. I can't get some ingredients locally (like coconut flour and oil), but once I decided if I want to order them online or travel an hour to the nearest store that has them, then we will be in business. I have type 1 diabetes and my blood sugars have been greatly reduced and my the amount of insulin I take has been greatly reduced, so I think the health benefits will be good. Neither of us have lost any weight, but we just aren't 100% yet on this new diet and I expect that to change when we are. (Sorry no time to edit this, hopefully not too many mistakes!)
__________________ Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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Erin Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Australia
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Posted: July 23 2012 at 9:08pm | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
So, I'm wondering, what does this sort of diet look like? is it affordable? how? what do big families eat when they can't eat rice or pasta or bread or even oatmeal? And what are the benefits besides possible weight loss? Erin, I know you are (or were?) grain free. I would love to hear your point of view. |
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When we first went grain free I found it was more expensive, so many of the recipes seemed to be geared towards smaller families than ours, which is why Angela,Gae and I started sharing our journey's a bit.
As time went I I have reduced the cost of our bill more, a bit hard to tell as the cost of food in Australia has gone up enormously across the board.
What's it look like; well dinner's are the easiest, meat and 3 veg (salads in summer). I tend to have baked dinner on Sundays, other days a mince meal (ground beef) a chicken dish, diced beef (often stew), fish, BBQ and a 'scratch it' night, take away chips or omlette on a Friday night.
Breakfast I have been having home made yoghurt and fruit, or eggs or bacon and eggs. Lately we have been having porridge, so we have been 'slipping' but I need to investigate more into soaking grains.
Lunches I find a bit hard, I need to get more organised, salads and boiled egg are easy in summer, but I really should be using my crockpot more in winter and I'm not and often left scrambling.
We're not strict Paleo/Primal in that we do consume white potatoes and some dairy. I prefer to describe our diet as predominately grain free, I find Wellness Mama's blog wonderful for ideas.
Besides weight loss the benefits are emotional and health. I feel so much healthier, have so much more energy, don't feel nauseous or sick, and emotionally I don't have mood swings, a teen was just saying last night less feeling of the teenage blues. So lots of benefits in that way. My little ones tempers are far improved, no screaming and fighting rages, no wet beds and dry skin and dark circles under the eyes.
This is probably a bit hodge podge, will try to write more later. Feel free to ask more questions.
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
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aussieannie Forum All-Star
Joined: May 21 2006 Location: Australia
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Posted: July 24 2012 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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We are also keeping away from gluten at present as a whole family. I make a quick quiche every morning, just eggs, fetta and a little filling though not always, sometimes it's just egg and fetta, sometimes I'll throw in left over roast meat or put in some ham, spinach etc. To make sure we all feel full and since we are all tea drinkers, I've started making slippery elm powder teas in replacement, I make them in the blender (comes out like a warm milkshake) and it goes down like fluid, but in the stomach it gels, so you feel very full and so the quiche then satisfies without children..and myself, feeling hungry. We use milk, raw honey and boiling water with the slippery elm powder. The younger children really love it and ask for it with much enthusiasm every morning. Slippery elm powder is so medicinal as well, it can heal damage done in the gut by many other things. The taste of slippery elm is very porridge-like, so you feel you having something that tastes like breakfast. Often I make two quiches in the morning, the second being served at lunch with mashed potato and sauerkraut. At present, it's all working well.
Erin, your food planning sound good, great to hear the health benefits you and your family have gotten from it.
__________________ Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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Becky Parker Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005 Location: Michigan
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Posted: July 25 2012 at 5:17am | IP Logged
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Thank you for the helpful replies. I've been watching all the grain we eat around here. Holy cow, it would be a huge thing to cut it out. My husband's not sure we could afford it. Last night we had rice with dinner and I'm amazed at how much of it my kids eat, especially the boys who are continually hungry.
Even so, I feel very strongly that it will help my ds who can't have gluten. Even on a gluten free diet he's still not healthy.
I'm going to have to pray about this.
Annie, your tea sounds interesting for the health benefits.
__________________ Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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knowloveserve Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 31 2007 Location: Washington
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Posted: July 25 2012 at 1:15pm | IP Logged
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I'm currently gluten free because of my breastfeeding son's intolerance.
I think Americans in general would do well to reduce their gluten intake drastically.
I personally, however, do not think a grain free diet is ideal for for most people at all (maybe those with inflammation issues); I think the primal dieting trend is leading many down a wrong path actually.
Grains are good and beneficial especially when they are soaked, sprouted or fermented. Modern processed grains are where most of the problems lie. But it is possible to return to healthy grains by incorporating traditional cooking practices into your life. The Healthy Home Economist is a really good starting place to learn more about this.
I love meat and veggies... eat them every day.
But God, did after all... send down bread from Heaven as manna... not as T-Bones. Jesus is after all, "the Bread of Life"... which I think a very wholesome analogy and literal reality. I doubt He'd use an unhealthy nutritional point to make His presence available to us.
Just my .02
__________________ Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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