I’m cautiously excited to write this post. I’m just not sure I want to publish it. It’s sort of like making a very public resolution to lose weight….or quit smoking. It’s great to be kept accountable, but what if you don’t do it. What if you fail? Then everybody knows.
So, in the effort to preserve my dignity (Because apparently, I value my dignity. But at least I admit it?), I’m giving myself a timeframe. 21 days. Starting tomorrow. I know 21 days is not that long but I’m being realistic. Small goals.
So what exactly are my goals?
In no particular order….
1) Maintain a gluten and dairy free diet for 3 weeks. Kiddos too. Hubby probably won’t do this at work but that’s what we’ll be eating at home!
2) Eat locally and organically where possible.
3) Read EVERY label (talk about a novel idea, then we’ll actually know what we’re eating!)
4) Dramatically reduce intake of food coloring, preservatives, and refined sugars.
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You may be wondering why I am giving myself this little challenge. There are actually many reasons but here are a few just so you know where I’m coming from!
* My family lives with food allergies. I feel like I will be able to give my boys a more well-rounded diet if I have (get?) to experience it myself occasionally. I don’t want them to be in a food rut. I want them to be accustomed to the widest variety of food possible.
*Along that same vein….and this is by no means a noble reason, I am tired of being a short-order chef. I need a break. For the next few weeks, we will all be eating the same thing!
* I’ve watched King Corn. And Food Inc. And Food Matters. They change the way you look at food. Period. Whether you like it or not 
I like it….mostly.
So there you go. Who’s with me…..anyone?…(crickets chirping). Well, feel free to offer up any thoughts or advice! I’ll keep you posted. Follow along on Facebook and I’ll try to keep you informed of any successes….or failures:-)
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
You can do it! We have made similar adjustments lately because of similar movies/literature. The dairy (cheese) has been the hardest adjustment for us but even just cutting meat out has made me feel like I’m on the right path. Good luck to you!
Thanks Danielle:-) To be honest, I have done this before…when my boys were nursing I avoided all of their allergens until they were weaned. But, it’s been awhile and I’ve never watched preservatives or food dyes very carefully. And we all know how much I like sugar!!
I’m a sugar lover too but there are lots of alternatives now. I still slack on this one more than I should!
“Meat & Veggies, Nuts & Seeds, Some Fruit, Very Little Starch and NO Sugar.” I’m on my 3rd week. It’s kinda tough at first, since I’m doing it alone. With your family already doing it, I’m sure you will find success. All the Best!!!
Thanks CH, I’ve always heard to focus on all the foods you CAN eat rather than what you can’t. We can definitely do this!
I went dairy free about 6 wks ago and now gluten free for about a week. I am doing it for health reasons and have to say I feel much better. I haven’t tried baking yet and was wondering what kind of flour is the best to use (I am in Canada). I saw your recipe for the gluten free banana bread which looks lovely but I am allergic to bananas, have you tried making a gluten free zucchini bread?
Hi Jackie!
I have not tried a gluten-free zucchini bread yet but I LOVE zucchini bread so maybe I’ll give that a whirl soon:-) In the meantime, you could try replacing the banana with pumpkin. Watch the blog over the next few weeks…I’m going to be trying some new gluten and dairy-free recipes….including a new flour blend! Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to check out the allergy-friendly tab at the top of Becky Bakes.
Hi Becky, you may also be interested in perusing the book Clean by Dr. Alejandro Junger. It offers a Functional Medicine approach to “cleaning your gut” in an attempt to get a better handle on food allergies/sensitivities. His team has a website with a lot of support material as well. I did my first 3-week program in 2009 and followed the elimination diet for a few years after that. I am not as strict about diet now, but have incorporated many of its tenets.
Thanks Michele! I’ll check it out!