The Gluten Bigot: November 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate | Week 26

How far along? 26 Weeks / 27 when this posts
Total weight gain: I did not weight myself this week.
Maternity clothes? Yes, very much so.
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Not nearly enough!
Best moment this week: Connecting with team members at my company's user conference, and when someone let me in front of them in queue for the ladies room (It's the small things in life right?). And leaving for a second babymoon in Mexico - excellent first few days here!
Miss anything? Home! I was travelling this week and really missed my husband!
Movement: Lots! So much and so strong he wakes me up at night. 
Food cravings: I had Garadelli Peppermint Bark chocolates... they were way too good!
Anything making you queasy or sick: Periodic nausea has made a comeback (oh joy), typically it is paired with acid reflux. I also had my glucose test this week - that sugar drink was disgusting (think 4 packages of Hawaiian Fruit Punch in 10oz of fluid (digusting).
Gender: Still a boy!
Labor signs: Nope!
Symptoms: Acid reflux, nausea, hormonal acne breakout, sore back and sciatica.
Belly button in or out? In, again getting more shallow.
Wedding rings on or off? On! Though I have been getting some swelling in my feet and hands (I think it's from being a bit dehydrated - flying and a hectic week) so there was a couple days they were hard to get off.
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy. Except at one point when packing and I couldn't find something I needed to bring. It took a couple hours to find the item and I had a good cry out of frustration.
What are you looking forward to? Beautiful ocean views and relaxing by the pool for the next few days!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - Week 25

Nevermind the dents from my leggingins :)
How far along? 25 weeks / 26 when this posts!
Total weight gain: 
Maternity clothes? Oh yes. In fact, I attempted to wear what was a very loose blouse pre-pregnancy and it was quite tight. 
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Interrupted. I could certainly use much more than I have been getting!
Best moment this week: Enjoying a weekend away with my husband, Bricklet being spoiled with adorable things by my team at work (so appreciative of their kindness!). Buying him a bunch of stuff while shopping with my husbandit's the first time he has gotten to pick our and buy things - we were holding off due to Manhattan apartment space problems, but have accumulated enough to have thrown our hats into the ring.
Miss anything? For the first time in a long time, pastries. It's not easy to get my hands on gluten free pastries where I was for work last week or in airports, so for the first time in eons I wished I would just get a croissant at Starbucks (or danish from anywhere). 
Movement: Still lots, including a couple of rolls which are pretty funny. He is generally really active. On Sunday morning Bricklet must have been having a party, which was fun because my husband just hung out with my hand on my stomach and got to feel all the jabs.
Food cravings: See above re: pastries.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Acid reflux, lack of sleep, cigarette smoke. You know, the usual.
Gender: Boy!
Labor signs: Nope!
Symptoms: Acid reflux, belly was a bit itchy/achey from all the expanding, backaches. More acne inflamed by travelling.
Belly button in or out? In! Though I did notice it has become more shallow.
Wedding rings on or off?  On! Though I forgot to put them on before travelling and spent three days annoyed at no having them!
Happy or moody most of the time: Front half of the week was moody. I had a bit of a meltdown and had a solid day where I just could not stop crying or was on the verge of crying the whole day. Fortunately, it turned around and the rest of the week was spent in much better spirits!
What are you looking forward to? Vacation... it is getting so close! An upcoming work trip to London where I get to catch up with some friends, and the festive season in New York!


Monday, November 11, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - Week 24

How far along? 24 weeks / 25 when this posts.
Total weight gain: When I weighed in at my doctor's visit, I was up 13 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. When I weighted myself this morning is said I was up almost another pound.
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? Nope! Still using the Palmer's lotion.
Sleep: Mediocre, once again my husband was away and I never sleep fabulously when he's away.
Best moment this week: The weekend! It was a very busy week, and having some downtime was fantastic. I got free passes to a tech conference we went to and sat in on several really interesting talk. My VIB shopping spree at Sephora wasn't too bad either :)
Miss anything? Wine! I really wanted a glass the latter half of the week.
Movement: Lots and lots.
Food cravings: Still have a sweet tooth, still loving soup, but generally not feeling hungry this week.
Anything making you queasy or sick: I've been having a hard time with acid reflux and nausea. The smell of cigarette smoke continues to repulse me to levels I never thought imaginable.
Gender: Boy!
Labor signs: Nope!
Symptoms: Acid reflux, nausea, and apparently it is not round ligament pain but the sore/achiness I am getting in my lower abdomen is apparently just 'growing pains' from my expanding girth.  
Belly button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or moody most of the time: Overall happy, but very tired. It was a week that included several long days.
What are you looking forward to? Holiday in a few weeks! 


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Gluten Free Pregnancy FAQs

First things first - I am not a doctor, nurse, nutritionist, healthcare provider or really any sort of qualified expert on this topic. I am a gluten bigot who is currently knocked up. I've had a few questions so far in my pregnancy, and have been asked a few questions, so I thought this might be helpful for others in my boat. Just remember as you read none of this is medical advise by rather a post about my personal experience.

Can I stay on my gluten free diet?
If you are celiac or gluten intolerant you don't really have a choice. If you are GF by choice, I would highly recommend consulting with your doctor about the pro's and con's. If you are at all shaky on GF nutrition it may also be worth consulting with a nutritionist, or your doctor may refer you. Getting all your vitamins is especially important when growing another person.

I cannot stress this enough, communicate with your care provider and whoever you are referred to along the way to ensure you and baby are as healthy as possible - and always take their advise!

Did you have a hard time getting pregnant?
Somewhat of a personal question I have received, but I understand the curiosity - it was a fear I had and infertility is one of many conditions that can be caused by untreated celiac disease. Without going into significant detail as some things are better kept private, I will say we got pregnant much quicker than I expected. Also, good news for anyone who is celiac, infertility cause by celiac disease is reversible by maintaining a GF diet.

How did you prepare for pregnancy?
It started with a check-up with the doctor to ensure I was in good overall health. For a few months I focused on eating really well and maintaining an active lifestyle. Of course we 'pulled the goalie from the net.' If I wasn't already on a strict GF diet I also would have made that conversion at that point.

Can you be gluten intolerant or celiac and have a healthy and normal pregnancy?
Yes!

What are extra dietary consideration when pregnant?
Just like any other pregnant lady you want to make sure you are getting your folic acid omega-3, iron, calicum and vitamin D (source) - you know all those things celiac diets tend to be short on. Low iron increase risk of anemia, calcium requirements go up for baby's bones, etc. My prenatal is definitely my safety net! I also spoke to my doctor as I avoid dairy, and he suggested having Tums - they are cheap, easy, don't taste bad, and are pure calcium. 

What prenatal vitamins are gluten free?
I have had absolutely no difficulty finding a gluten free prenatal. The first brand I had I picked up in Walgreens. I am currently taking the CVS brand. 

What if I get glutened when I'm pregnant?
Since I have been hyper sensitive of absolutely everything I eat, I actually have not been glutened at all since geting pregnant. I have no idea if this has any impact on the baby if it is a one off / low amount. In general as long as you are adhering to your diet you and your baby are not at any increased risks.  

What if I don't stay on my gluten free diet during pregnancy?
According to pregnancy.org if you are celiac and are on a gluten containing diet you will be at an increased risk of anemia, pre-term labor, low birth weight, and stillbirth. All scary and extra incentive to adhere to your GF diet if you aren't already! I am not sure if this is true for gluten intolerants - best to consult with your doctor!

What if I crave gluten containing foods uncontrollably?
This was actually one of biggest fears - that I would be obsessed to the point of wanting to eat gluten. Luckily a) I have not craving any gluten-version-only food and b) I live in Manhattan which gives me way more options than most places. I haven't had any cravings this pregnancy which would be atypical to one of my normal cravings. Knowing the risks above, I would personally suck it up not matter how strong the craving and maybe try similar things. I also analyze my cravings as I do think they are based on your body needing a nutrient or vitamin.

Will my baby need a gluten free diet?
Consult with a doctor on this one. My husband knows from his 23&me testing he is predisposed to celiac disease, and I know I at minimum am highly intolerant. Bricklet is not getting any gluten from me, but I will consult with his pediatrician to determine when it can be introduced. I want to ensure he is exposed to it  - I personally don't believe in restricting my child's diet unless medically necessary.

Helpful Links:
My Gluten Free Pregnancy - excellent blog post

If you have questions or just want some GF pregnancy support feel free to comment below!


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

S*MAC - Because Celiacs Still Love Mac and Cheese

I completely do not know how this place has never been featured on my blog. Mentioned yes. Adored by in in general yes. But not featured. 

Back when the mac and cheese in restaurants trend started, I was always super jealous I never got to partake. That was, until I moved to New York and then there was S*Mac! Every option can be made gluten free or you can build your own.

I personally always go Masala most times (pictured above). I can attest to the 4 Cheese, Buffalo Chicken and Cheeseburger all being fantastic. They give you the option of having breadcrumbs on top - they are GF and worth the additional calories. Go for the Nosh size, this is hearty food. The major is just what it describes and it way too much more most appetites I've seen (unless you want leftovers, then do it!).

Health food this is not, but delicious comfort food it is!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

My Happy Place - Eleven Madison Park

I love a hole in the wall. Show my a divey diner were I can get gluten free food and I am happy as a clam. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate the finer options. By far my favorite restaurant is in the latter category - Eleven Madison Park. A unique experience, there is no menu. There is just a fifteen course tasting menu. They consult with you about any dietary restrictions or dislikes, then bring you amazing food for the next few hours. It is no cheap, but completely worth the splurge if your budget can accommodate!

I let them know my GF requirements ahead of time, then there the no seafood or fish, and oh yes I hate mushrooms and broccoli. Then food started coming.

We actually asked for them to slow down service, being pregnant my stomach really can't handle large amounts of food. They happily slowed it and even checked in to ensure the pacing was right after making the adjustment. We ended up being there for 4.5 hours. Photos of my food extravaganza are below - remember everything is completely gluten free.
First course: Cheddar - Savory Black & White Cookie with Apple. And my mocktail :)
Second Course: Grape - Gelee with Olive and Fennel
Third Course: Beet - Pickled with Yogurt and Nasturtium
Fourth Course
Fifth Course: Squash - Salad with Teff and Cucumber Smoked with 
Shallot Crumble and Pickles 
Sixth Course: Foie Gras - Seared with Oats, Sage, and Apple
Seventh Course: Carrot - Tartare with Condiments
(this is one of my favorite courses of the meal)
Eighth Course: Chicken - Poached with Brussel Sprouts and Guanciale
Ninth Course: Cauliflower - Cous cous with Almonds, Kale and Lemon
Tenth Course: Duck - Roasted with Turnip and Huckleberries
Tenth Course: Duck - Grilled Sausage with Pearl Onion
Eleventh Course: Greensward - Baguette (gluten free of course), Mustard and
Champagne grapes served with cider (non-alcoholic for me)
Twelfth Course: Chocolate - egg cream with seltzer 
Thirteen Course (with candle for my husband's birthday!):
Mint - Sorbet with Fernet Branca and Chocolate Ganache
Thirteen Course: Mint - Sorbet with Fernet Branca and Chocolate Ganache
Fourteen Course: Sweet Potato - Cheesecake with Honey and Chestnut
Fifteenth Course: Pretzel - chocolate covered with sea salt
Last course was Cinnamon Sweet Black and White Cookie (not pictured).


Monday, November 4, 2013

Gluten Free Bumpdate - Week 23

How far along? 23 weeks (24 when this posts)
Total weight gain: I did not weigh myself this week.
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Stretch marks? Nope!
Sleep: Could be better, but could be worse. My sister handed me down a wedge pillow with back support which has been helpful.
Best moment this week: We got to see Bricklet and my marginal previa is gone! Good work placenta on moving on up - I am much less stressed out now and happy I can continue travelling for now! On the flip side we were also told at this scan he's in the 73rd percentile for weight (estimated weight) which is a bit unnerving.
Miss anything? Sleeping through the night and being able to lie on my back for starters. My normal clothes, dresses in particular.
Movement: Yes, still lots of strong kicks. The funniest was when I was cuddling with my husband this morning and Bricklet started kicking. Our stomachs are against eachothers and my husband could feel the kicks. He was like 'Stop kicking me Bricklet!' Pretty cute.
Food cravings: Still have a crazy sugar tooth. My new office has way too many delicious options, and my husband brought home bag of candy from his work on Halloween. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Happily, my food aversions are almost gone. Sadly, my nausea seems to have been back the last couple of days... hoping it's just acid reflux. Also had two bad tummy days (seperate issues, pregnancy symptom related) which made me feel really ill.
Gender: Still definitely a boy. Fourth ultrasound and ultrasound tech to indicate so anyway :)
Labor signs: Nope!
Symptoms: Still what I think is round ligament pain, a bit of acne (though not massive zits just pimples now hooray), insanely scent sensitive, tummy troubles which I will refrain from going into details on.
Belly button in or out? In!
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Happy or moody most of the time: This week I was between the two, today was a hard one because I'm becoming more uncomfortable in general and looking ahead to a week that is packed with 12-15 hour work days... not sure how I'm going to survive the week but I'm sure I will sort it out!
What are you looking forward to? Holidays in a few weeks! No work. No computer. Just us, a beach, a nice hotel, and some virgin pina coladas! I am immensely looking forward to it.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! To celebrate I made cupcakes, and tried a different recipe from last time. Using this recipe I made the base, then a cream cheese frosting (same as before).

Coconut Flour Cupcake 2
  • 1/2 c coconut flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp pink himalayan sea salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/3 c extra virgin oil 
  • 1/2 c agave
  • 2 tablespoons Lactaid
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Preheat the hot box (oven) to 350F. Mix dry ingredients. Then wet ingredients. Then mix them all together. Line a muffin pan with liners (I went with plain brown since Sur La Table had sold out of full sized liners). Fill with 1/4 cup scoops of cupcake mix. Bake 20 minutes or until cooked all the way through.

Let cool. Top with spooky frosting and decorations of your choice - I made orange cream cheese frosting and a mix of halloween sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles. Try to refrain from eating them all in one evening :)

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