
Call for Gluten-Free Help…and Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa!
(Yes, I really want this book!)
I need your help.
All of you knowledgeable foodies out there!
As I mentioned in last week’s What I Ate Wednesday post, my naturopath has suggested I try out food combining to see if some minor symptoms I am having go away.
I have looked into food combining and while it confuses me quite a bit, I am willing to give it a try. However, before I get into it I thought I would try a couple of other experiments first.
I’m going to try giving up gluten for 3 weeks, and then introduce it back into my diet, and then try giving up dairy for 3 weeks. I could try them both at the same time but then I won’t know which was bothering me (if any are).
I don’t have very bad symptoms at all, so it’s not a major quality-of-life issue going on here, but I am curious to see if I notice a difference either way.
In general, I avoid eating a lot of gluten. Pasta and bread are not foods I eat on a regular basis at all. And it’s easy enough for me to buy rice pasta and some gluten-free bread. But I want to try out some interesting recipes to get me through this three weeks of ‘gluten freedom’.
I started a board on my Pinterest account for gluten-free recipes and scoured blogs I know are great for healthy eating with gluten-free options, such as Chelsey’s, Gina’s, Holly’s and Angela’s blogs. I got some great recipes… but they’re not exactly suitable ‘meals’. Take one look at my board and you’ll know what I am talking about…um, gluten-free brownies? Sure! Gluten-free muffins? Oh yeah. Gluten-free pancakes? No worries.
So I guess I liked the look of the gluten-free goodies.
However, you guys have always impressed me with the range of health issues you’ve all battled, so to any of you who follow a gluten-free diet, please share your tips and tricks wtih me! I am particularly looking for dinners that don’t involve gluten-free pasta, because I already have a bunch of those (thanks Chelsey, thanks Angela!) and I can’t wait to try them.
Any other advice is well received too! And if you have your own story about how changing to gluten-free eating changed your health, and you don’t mind sharing, please do! Either publicly in the comments below, or by emailing me. I am so curious to see how this dietary change affects people.
Now to change topics really quickly (keep reading for today’s recipe!) – I added a page to my blog…a Recipes page. It can be found along the top menu of my blog’s homepage – I’ve indicated where in the image below (check out the big pink arrow!):
I hope to keep this page regularly up to date – it has a listing of all my recipes by category: BREAKFASTS, APPETIZERS/LIGHT MEALS, MAIN MEALS and DESSERTS.
On each category’s page is a list of all my recipes with a link to their page and, next to the recipe name, an abbreviation letting you know if the recipe is vegan (VGN) or gluten-free (GF). Also, if it was a recipe which was sweetened, I will put in brackets after the recipe name which natural sweetener was used (stevia, maple syrup, agave nectar, coconut sugar, Sucanat etc). This way if you’re sensitive to a particular sweetener or you’re looking for a recipe that can be made vegan or gluten-free, it’s easy for you to find one!
If you have any feedback on this page please let me know, I’d be happy to hear. It’s brand new and so I am sure there will be a lot of kinks to work out ;).
For now, I’m happy to share with you a delicious gluten-free breakfast that I enjoy – apple cinnamon breakfast quinoa!
Now, I’ve had a love affair with my breakfast oatmeal for as long as I can remember (click here for one of my favourite variations on this morning oatmeal).
But, as I mentioned in my What I Ate Wednesday post, my naturopath really recommends alternating breakfasts with something else. She says that having the same breakfast every day can lead our bodies to become sensitive to what we’re eating, even if what we’re eating is really good for you (and she heartily approves of my oatmeal recipe, you’ll be pleased to know ;)!)
So I’ve started making some different breakfasts, such as (and feel free to steal these ideas!):
- gluten-free waffles with nut butter, Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey
- a slice, of gluten-free bread, toasted and with a smear of margarine and some scrambled or poached eggs
- on days when I’m less hungry, an apple with some nut butter such as almond butter or tahini
- breakfast quinoa!
Here’s my recipe for my latest breakfast quinoa concoction – my favourite so far – apple cinnamon breakfast quinoa. It’s easy to omit the apple addition and use pumpkin instead and change it up that way. Kate has a quick and easy recipe for pumpkin quinoa.
This recipe is high in protein, gives you one full fruit serving and will keep you full ALL MORNING.
Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa
INGREDIENTS (serves 1 – just double the quantity for 2, and so on):
1/4 cup quinoa
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup almond milk (you can use your preferred type of milk)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 apple, cored, peeled and diced
1 tsp cinnamon
Sprinkle nutmeg
2 tsp maple syrup + 1 tsp maple syrup (separate)
1 tbsp chopped walnuts
1 tbsp ground flaxseed (optional)
1 tbsp Greek yogurt (or coconut milk yogurt for vegans)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Place quinoa, water and milk in a small saucepan and heat slowly. Quinoa will take 10-15 minutes to cook fully, so give it time and heat it over a low heat.
2. While quinoa is cooking, place diced apple into a small bowl and microwave for 60 seconds. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg and 2 tsp maple syrup.
3. When quinoa is cooked (if all liquid boils away before quinoa is cooked, add more almond milk, rather than adding more water – this will make for a creamier quinoa and a better consistency), spoon it into a bowl.
4. Stir the apple mixture into the quinoa.
5. Top with walnuts, flaxseed if using and yogurt. Drizzle remaining 1 tsp of maple syrup over the top and serve. Enjoy!
Nutritional information:
November 15, 2011
Katie
Oh that quinoa breakfast looks SO good!
I wish I had advice , but I have never had any food issues, but Im happy you are trying to figure things out! I know you will!
xoxo >3
November 15, 2011
Anna
That’s a good thing that you’ve had no issues, so no worries! I’m not entirely sure I do either because the issues I’m having are so minor, and I’m not convinced they’re due to food, but I figure an experiment is fairly harmless!
November 15, 2011
Petra
You can check out the recipes on my blog if you need more inspiration 🙂
November 15, 2011
Anna
Thanks Petra! I took a look at your blog – so cool that in you’re in my neck of the woods (I live in Vancouver and my sister lives in Calgary – I spent a Christmas in Banff a couple of years ago, and I think it’s more challenging to find vegetarian food there than gluten-free!). I hope you have a great trip. I’m not surprised at all about your find at The Cambie Cafe – Vancity has so many food options! Glad you enjoyed your time here and I look forward to trying out some of your recipes :).
November 15, 2011
Kate
I went gf for 2 months and didnt notice much of a difference in the way I felt… now I eat some gluten mostly in the form of bread <3 but I do try to eat it sparingly and really enjoy it when I do…. breakfast quinoa is one of my FAVORITE bfasts though.. it comes together so quick and keeps me full forever !
November 15, 2011
Anna
To be honest I’m not convinced gluten is my problem either – as I said in the post I barely eat it anyway – but I’m giving it a try nonetheless! I have to say, so far I’ve had gluten-free waffles and bread and they are both delicious.
Previously, I’d bought some rice baked goods and they were gross so I was expecting all gluten-free food to be like that, but so far I’ve been really surprised. And yes, breakfast quinoa is a total saviour – I’ve eaten it even before going gluten-free, it’s so good!
November 15, 2011
Lisa @ Healthy Diaries
Hi! This quinoa breakfast looks really good! I know I would love it!
My twin, Maria, actaully was just notified last night to avoid gluten as well for a few weeks! We’re going to try to post more gluten free recipes and will continue to check with you as well!
Good Luck!
November 16, 2011
Anna
It’s always a good one to test out – it may be that it’s not gluten at all (I’m starting to suspect my issue is more with dairy myself) but it never hurts to give it a try! I’d love to hear how your sister does on the diet, and look forward to reading your blog some more, it’s so fun!
November 16, 2011
Diana
YUM that looks so good! I really need to branch out from my daily oatmeal and this recipe looks like the perfect autumnal opportunity! 🙂
November 16, 2011
Anna
I hope you love it! It’s very comforting!
November 17, 2011
blondiebakesandbikes
I love trying gluten free goodies! And I think eating gf makes me feel less heavy and full as well. There are sooo many girls out there with blogs who are gluten free, so I’m sure you’re set with many delicious recipes to try! I should probably switch up my meals, sometimes I get in ruts where I only want a smoothie for breakfast – every day for 2 weeks straight, and then I get completely sick of them and do the same thing with oatmeal. This breakfast quinoa looks fantastic, I can’t wait to try it! I just made this last night and it was fabulous (and gluten free!) http://www.dashingdish.com/2011/01/no-noodles-about-it-the-best-low-carb-lasagna/
November 17, 2011
Anna
That lasagna looks fab! I made some stuffed zucchinis recently and they were amazing so I bet I would love zucchini as lasagna noddles! I agree, I feel better knowing I’m avoiding gluten but so far I haven’t really noticed a huge enough difference to make me think I’m sensitive to it. I think I’m having more issue with dairy, but that’s the next experiment ;).
Thanks for stopping by!
November 30, 2011
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January 8, 2013
The Happy Eater
This is so funny, I got led to this page from your 2013 goals post, and guess what I had for brekkie this morning… Apple, cinnamon, nutmeg quinoa w almond milk! Haha
January 8, 2013
Anna @ The Guiltless Life
Haha that’s awesome! Great minds…!
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