July 30, 2007

Fabulous Finds: "Soleful" PurposeWheat Free & Dairy Free & Sugar Free, Oh My!

by Heather Strang

I love a big, juicy piece of chocolate cake just as much as the next gal. What I don't like is feeling sick afterwards. You know, like a 10 pound brick is sitting in your stomach? Yuck. Turns out there's a lot more going on with food than we ever thought. Remember the documentary SuperSize Me, when Morgan Spurlock's organs start failing from eating McDonald's for 30 days straight?! One word: SCARY. Somewhere along the way, though, people started getting smart. Today, more of us (myself included) are eating from a place of consciousness, where we choose to consume foods that are organic, unprocessed and provide maximum health benefits.

You've probably already noticed it. Soy milk, organic produce and sugar-free everything are appearing in mainstream grocery aisles across the nation. To take it a step further, a growing percentage of the population is eliminating refined grains, full-fat dairy and processed sugar. Now, don't worry, no one is suggesting never eating bread again. We already tried that once with Atkins and I think we can all agree that carbohydrates are important, not only for our bodies, but also for our emotional health. I still have a friend who won't talk to me after I had a carb-deprived rant a few years back...

The bottom line is you can eat food that tastes good and won't shut down your liver. As a side bonus, you'll have increased energy and, get this, weight loss. Truth is, our bodies are not too thrilled with refined foods, so once they're removed, our metabolism and weight stabilizes, not to mention, we get to live a fuller, healthier life.

Check out some of the best wheat/dairy/sugar-free products on the market that take eating consciously to a whole new level.

-Ezekiel Bread (www.foodforlife.com) Tasty, flourless goodness. Sample their breads, English muffins (so good!) and tortillas.

-Amy's Rice Crust Pizza (www.amyskitchen.com) Amy's Kitchen has a host of gluten-free and dairy-free products you'll love. Top this yummy crust with soy cheese, barbeque chicken and red onions and you'll be in heaven.

-Tofutti Cream Cheese (www.tofutti.com) You won't even remember mayo after discovering this fabulous cream cheese substitute. Put it on sandwiches, English muffins or, my favorite, brown rice cakes with deli-sliced turkey. Snack time, anyone?

-Pamela's Irresistible Chocolate Brownies (www.pamelasproducts.com) Everyone loves a brownie. Only imagine a brownie without wheat or refined sugar. Say good-bye to chocolate cravings - this brownie gets the job done. Oh…but you do have to make them yourself from Pamela’s mix. So, indulge, and as a side bonus, add Sunspire organic dairy-free chocolate chips, available at www.worldpantry.com.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Visit your local natural health food store or the nutrition section of your grocery store to discover a plethora of wheat/dairy/sugar-free goodies.

Cheers to conscious living and eating!

Please note that the products listed above are not 100% sugar-free, and unrefined sugar is used in several of the items featured. Often, honey, brown rice syrup, molasses, agave nectar and raw sugar are used to sweeten organic and unprocessed foods. If you must completely eliminate sugar (unrefined & refined) from your diet for medical reasons, be sure to check product labels or seek counsel from your physician or nutritionist.

Any comments?