Oat Start Cookies

 Great find! Oat Start cookies. These come in three varieties; chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin and cran-blueberry. 

Right out of the box I knew they would be good. They came in a resealable plastic container where they can stay fresh for quite a while.  

These little cookies are 50 calories each with 3 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. They hold a lot of nutrients with the oats, flaxseeds, fiber and dried fruits. 

The texture was very moist with no crumbling. Sweet but not too sweet. Nice consistency. 

These are available on their website   https://oatstart.com for 5.99 per package of one dozen   These cookies are little but nutrient dense. Very portable. They would make a good quick breakfast.

I brought these cookies with me when I went visit my brother this weekend. I had my brother and friends try them. Friends and family agreed they were really tasty even if you don’t need gluten free. 

I keep a very strict diet of no gluten or corn. I also avoid all gluten and corn derivatives, such as soy sauce and white distilled vinegar. Being on this diet, of my own making I have been in remission from Crohn's disease. This is through diet alone. These cookies fit in perfectly with my restrictive diet.

Bobo's protein bars

 

This was part of my healthy breakfast this morning along with fresh peaches and fried tofu. And I am pleasantly full! These bars pack a whallop of nutrients. They have 260 calories per bar, 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Nicely portable for the gym or a hike. I like keeping bars with me in my purse for times when I can't find any "safe" foods.

These fit nicely into my diet since I am both gluten free and corn free in order to control my Crohn's and keep it in remission. 

The texture of these bars is both firm and chewy. Really nice with no crumbling. The right amount of sweetness from the date paste. Contains lots of sesame seeds which really enhanced the flavor layering.

These protein bars are currently available in four flavors; chocolate chip peanut butter, almond butter, cherry almond butter and banana peanut butter.

I got this at Whole Foods but they are also available at Walgreens and online through the company's website. 

Soozy's Grain Free Bagels

 

This was a real treat this morning. These bagels by Soozy's made my morning special. They come frozen. One package holds 5 bagels. I'm writing this 4 hours after eating it and I am still full. These are satisfying to say the least. 

Another plus is that they come pre-cut. I wrapped them in a paper towel and heated it in the microwave for 45 seconds. The texture was pleasantly chewy and held together great! 

I had mine with Earth Balance Margarine and honey comb.

These bagels are made with a combination of cassava flour, almond flour, tapioca flour and flaxseed flour. All nice gluten free flours that offer lots of texture.

These bagels are 170 calories each with 4 grams protein. They have psyllium seed which brings the fiber content up to provide 25 percent of daily fiber needs. 

These can be found at Whole Foods

Sugars derived from corn

There are several sugar substitutes out there, all of which can be derived from corn. Why is this bad? Well for me, it is wheat, gluten and corn that flares my Crohn's. I made a decision early on to eliminate these from my diet. I am in complete remission because of it.

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP: This is everywhere, especially in sweetened drinks. Farm substitutes are paying farmers to grow lots of corn. This drives up the price of sugar. As a result, many companies are using the cheaper sweetener. Good for them, bad for me.

MALTOSE: Almost always derived from corn.

DEXTROSE: Chemically this is the same as glucoses, or blood sugar. However it is usually derived from corn. I might be able to tolerate it but better to be safe than sorry.

FRUCTOSE: Sugar that comes from fruits and vegetables, including corn.

BARLEY MALT: This is sugar that is derived from barley. Barley, however, is glutinous so this is a big no no.

XYLITOL: There are actually two sources for this sugar, corn and Birch wood. Unless I am sure of the source I avoid this.

SORBITOL: Usually derived from corn.

POWDERED SUGAR: Usually mixed with corn starch. There are some organic brands that do not use corn starch.

HONEY: Usually ok. However some farmers will feed High Fructose Corn syrup to their bees. I buy from my local farmer.

SUCROSE: Also known as table sugar. Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose. Though sugar is not good for you in general and not in large doses, this is well tolerated by my colon.

In conclusion, it is of utmost importance for me to avoid gluten and corn, even in what seems like minuscule amounts. I almost alway opt for table sugar or honey.

Special Note: If you are diabetic you must use sugar substitutes and follow doctor's orders!!

Black eyed peas with basmati rice

Fabulous dinner last night. A slight variation of typical beans and rice. I started with basmati rice and steamed it with turmeric and a bit of margarine. I like the texture of basmati. It separates nicely and doesn’t have that sticky texture. Then I simmered the black eye peas with fresh kale, tomatoes, curry powder, margarine, salt and pepper. Topped it all with fresh diced sweet onion and avocado.

All of these ingredients are in compliance with my diet that controls my Crohn's and keeps it in remission. All of the spices are pure, meaning no corn starch.

Any rice is good, I just prefer the texture of basmati.

I bought the beans precooked and frozen. Some canned beans may contain dextrose. Dextrose is a sugar that can be derived from corn. I avoid corn in every form. It seems like a small amount but it makes a difference. Always check the label on canned beans.