YumSugar

Healthy Breakfast Ideas From the Community

Michele Foley — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:16:57 PDT

If you're looking for breakfast inspiration, then you've come to the right place! Here are a few of our favorite new recipes from the FitSugar Healthy Recipe community group.

If you're entertaining a large party, then cooking up a healthy breakfast enchilada casserole is an easy way to feed the crowd.

With a decadent name like upside-down banana-bread pancakes with maple cream, who would have guessed this recipe is oil-, sugar-, and gluten-free? Not us.

Gluten-free doughnuts with berry frosting cream? You don't have to ask us twice.

3 Gluten-Free Make-Ahead Snacks to Satisfy Salty Cravings

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:35:31 PDT

When you're craving something salty, crackers and pretzels are a popular choice, but they're not an option if you're avoiding gluten. You could buy pricey gluten-free alternatives, but they're not exactly the healthiest snacks. Here are three salty snacks you can prep ahead of time that are free of wheat, barley, oats, and rye.

Gluten-Free Quinoa Pizza Bites

Made with cooked quinoa, gooey mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, you won't be able to resist dipping and noshing on these chewy quinoa pizza bites. One piece contains 48 calories, .7 grams of fiber, and 2.8 grams of protein. They're so zesty and filling that after three, your salty cravings are sure to be satisfied. Prepare a batch and keep them in the fridge so they're ready when your salty cravings strike.

Keep reading to find out how to make the savory zucchini and sweet potato squares above, and for one more gluten-free salty snack idea.

6 On-the-Go Snacks For Kids With Food Allergies

Lisa Horten — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:46:08 PDT

When your kids' food allergies rule out fast-food stops and airport kiosks as travel-day options, what's a mom to do? "Plan ahead!" says Amie Valpone of The Healthy Apple. Through her clean eating consulting business, Amie helps Manhattan moms come up with manageable, delicious solutions for dealing with food allergies from gluten to lactose intolerance, nut allergies, and more, both on the go and at home. All it takes is a little advance preparation to ensure that everyone stays satisfied and happy, whether your journey takes one hour or six!

Source: Flickr User Martin Cathrae

Kim Kardashian Gets Slim by Slamming Gluten

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:03:26 PDT

Add Kim Kardashian to the list of celebs praising a gluten-free diet. Along with this sexy snapshot, Kim tweeted, "Gluten free is the way to be . . . "

Kim is all about maintaining her slim figure complete with those signature curves. Earlier this year, she revealed the secret to keeping her size-2 body, telling Us Weekly, "Changing my eating habits makes a big difference," which includes eating a more organic-based diet, free of refined sugars. Kim isn't the only celeb linking a slimmer bod to ditching gluten. Miley Cyrus explained that her recent weight loss was due to going gluten-free because of "a gluten and lactose allergy."

While many have had success losing weight by eliminating gluten from their diets, it's important to note that a gluten-free diet isn't the magic ticket to a thinner you. There are many high-calorie foods that are gluten-free (and foods like pizza, bagels, pasta, french fries, and cookies all have gluten-free versions). Not keeping an eye on portion sizes of these kinds of foods can actually cause weight gain. It's hard not to ignore the buzz though, especially if you're having trouble losing weight with the traditional route of exercise and a healthy diet. I'm wondering . . .

Source: Instagram

Gluten-Free Doesn't Mean Better For You - or Does It?

Leta Shy — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:21:22 PDT

A recent opinion paper in a leading medical journal says that going on a gluten-free diet for nonmedical reasons is a waste of money, since many people invest in expensive gluten-free foods that end up containing more carbs, sugar, and calories than their gluten-filled counterparts. But the news hasn't stopped celebs from continuing to tout the restrictive diet as the reason for their weight loss. Miley Cyrus is the latest to say that her new skinnier figure is due to going gluten-free. While she says she had to eliminate gluten because of an allergy, she took to her Twitter to say that everyone should give it a try. "Everyone should try no gluten for a week! The change in your skin, phyisical [sic] and mental health is amazing! U won't go back," she tweeted.

A growing number of people have tried out a diet free of the protein found in commonly eaten grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Spurred by even more endorsements from celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah, many people believe that adopting a gluten-free diet can help them have more energy, lose weight, have clearer skin, and feel healthier overall. Gluten-free products have cropped up on supermarket shelves around the country, exponentially more than the prevalence of gluten sensitivities (which spells good news for those who used to search high and low for suitable foods!). But is it for everyone?

A recent Time survey found that the restricted diet's popularity is due to the fact that most people are gluten-free for the wrong reasons. While only about eight to 12 percent of people buy gluten-free goods because they have a gluten intolerance - including the one in 133 who have celiac disease - a recent poll found that almost 50 percent of people asked thought that "gluten-free" meant healthier, and 30 percent bought gluten-free foods in order to manage their weight. And while it's true that giving up things like pizza, pasta, and bread does mean low-carb, buying products labeled gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean you'll be sticking to your Dukan diet - the carbs in, say, gluten-free cookies and bagels are still there.

But a gluten-free diet may still be beneficial no matter what your allergies - read on to see why.

Bake This: 8 Healthier, Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes

Michele Foley — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:06:24 PDT

Being gluten-free doesn't mean you have to skip out on sweet, doughy treats like cookies. From classic to creative new takes, these healthier, gluten-free cookie recipes will keep you in the kitchen for the better part of the day!

More Than Macaroons: Grain-Free Passover Desserts

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:19:26 PDT

Eliminating grains during Passover can be difficult, especially when it comes to sweet treats. Believe it or not, you can still enjoy cakes and cookies on this holiday, and they don't have to break the calorie bank either. Keep reading to find out about some delicious, yet good-for-you desserts you can whip up for Passover.

*Note: Some of these recipes are made with vanilla extract. For those following a strict kosher diet, use vanilla made with grain-free alcohol or omit the ingredient altogether.

Source: Flickr User liladobbs and Flickr User thepinkpeppercorn

A Reader Recipe: Gluten-, Dairy-, and Sugar-Free Strawberry Muffins

Fit Community — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:59:42 PDT

FitSugar reader Gluten-Free Dom recently shared her vegan, gluten-free strawberry muffins - an adapted recipe from the BabyCakes Bakery cookbook - in our Healthy Recipe group.

Learn how to make these gluten-free treats after the break!

A Reader Recipe: Grain-Free Kitchen Sink Cookies

Fit Community — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:59:41 PDT

Reader AllieNic's Kitchen Sink cookies are chock-full of good-for-you ingredients. She shared her recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Grain-Free Kitchen Sink Cookies (adapted from Une Vie Saine)

Read on for more.

A Reader Recipe: Maple Nut Butter Granola

Fit Community — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:05:11 PST

Cut back on oil and make your own granola! FitSugar reader TheFitCookie shared this recipe for homemade granola in our Healthy Recipe group - a perfect way to start the morning.

Here is an easy and healthy recipe for granola. Best of all, this recipe is allergy-friendly and very affordable! You can even change up the ingredients to make it your own!

Learn how to make the granola after the break!