My DairyFree GlutenFree Life

Clean Living Eating Plant Based Foods

$25 Starbucks GC Giveaway #fallingforprizes

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falling-for-prizes-giveaway-hop

I’ve joined another Giveaway Hop with Planet Weidknecht and LeahSays’ Views for some giveaway fun!  All the bloggers who have joined will be giving away prizes valued at a minimum of $25.

You all know that I love to go to Starbucks so I figure everyone else does too!  And if you don’t I bet a friend would love one as a gift! We are giving away a $25 Starbucks GG to those who fall for prizes and give them a bit more fun!  So enter our giveaway below, then check the linky party hook up under our giveaway and visit the other bloggers to see what fun prizes you could win!

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Vegan Chili Recipe

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There’s nothing more comforting on a chilly night than a nice, hot bowl of chili. This vegan Chili is a perfect go-to meal. It’s easy to make, delicious and loaded with protein and nutrients.

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Vegan Chili Recipe

This simple Vegan Chili recipe uses just a few ingredients, but packs a serious flavor punch. Although you can pull this dish off in under an hour, the longer it cooks the better it tastes. The leftovers the next day are even better!

As you can see, with just a few ingredients you can create a hot, comforting bowl of chili. What’s your go-to cool weather comfort food?

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Vegan Chili

There’s nothing more comforting on a chilly night than a nice, hot bowl of chili. This vegan Chili is a perfect go-to meal. It’s easy to make, delicious and loaded with protein and nutrients.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 249kcal
Author: My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium Serrano pepper finely chopped (optional)
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 large green bell pepper chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 15 ounce cans kidney beans or beans of your choosing

Instructions

  • In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat
  • Add Serrano, onion, bell pepper and garlic and saute until onion is soft, about 8-10 minutes
  • Add chili powder, cumin, crushed tomatoes, and beans to pot, stirring to combine
  • Lower heat and cover
  • Simmer, covered for at least 40 minutes, and up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally
  • Uncover for the last 10-15 minutes

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 635mg | Potassium: 1076mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2330IU | Vitamin C: 46.2mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 5.4mg

 


Dear Diary, A Day in the Life of a Dairy Free Woman

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writing-22

Dear Diary…
A Day in the life of a Dairy Free Woman

7:00 am
Dear Diary,
Life of a Dairy Free Woman. Currently watching my husband eat 2 huge bowls of cereal with lots of milk poured on top this morning. I remember how much I love the taste of  milk, but I also remember long trips in the bathroom as my digestive system rebelled against it. This morning, I joined him and had my Crispix with my favorite, unsweetened almond milk. I actually am to the point where I don’t even notice that I’m not drinking milk! That is a miracle. Thought you’d want to know.
Love, me

10:00 am
Dear Diary,
I decided to share my grocery list with you this morning. It has changed so much in the past year. Here it is:

almond milk, cherries, salmon, dairy free cheese; shredded and slices, soy yogurt, oatmeal, rice, quinoa, pistachios, soy ice cream and napkins!
Pretty different from my old grocery lists which were filled with every form of dairy, huh?
Love, me

12:00 pm
Dear Diary,
Getting stuck at the store, there was a huge sale on ice cream today and the whole town showed up! I got so hungry and last year I would have grabbed a slice of pizza while I was out and then paid for it later with terrible stomach cramps. I’m glad I packed a baggie of nuts with me! My nuts tided me over until I got home.

Now I am sitting down to a big salad with spinach, romaine, purple cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, leftover salmon from last night and raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I’ll feel so much better with this power salad in my system!
Love, me

3:00 pm
Dear Diary,
After working in the garden all afternoon, I came into the house hot, thirsty and hungry. Last year I would have had a big glass of lemonade and then sat down to a bowl of ice cream.

Today, I came in and drank a big glass of water and made myself a smoothie. I used frozen strawberries, soy yogurt, almond milk and fresh raspberries. It was amazing! I feel refreshed and energized! I feel like I could tackle some laundry now, too. I wonder if being dairy free has given me more energy, too? I used to feel much more sluggish. Talk to you later!
Love, me

chili-1

5:00 pm
Dear Diary,
Well, it’s time to make dinner. I’m glad I planned ahead and filled my pantry and fridge with lots of healthy, dairy free options. Tonight I’m going to sneak dairy free cheese into our main meal. I get tired of making special meals just for me. I think if I don’t tell my family it’s dairy free, they won’t even notice.

I’m going to make vegetarian chili with sides of cornbread and fresh fruit cups. My husband likes to put shredded cheese and sour cream on top of his chili, tonight I will serve the dairy free in dishes on the table, so he can’t see the packages. I hope everyone likes it! Don’t tell!
Love, me

7:00 pm
Dear Diary,
Would you believe that no one noticed my switch? I am shocked! Of course, I have tried many brands of dairy free foods and now buy the ones I think taste the best, so I shouldn’t really be so surprised, right?

My husband just gave the kids some money for the ice cream truck and they are bringing back an ice cream sandwich for Dad. I am content to eat my bowl of strawberries with dairy free whipped cream-yum! I never thought I could go dairy free, but it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. Thanks for being my sounding board, Diary, you’re the best!
Love, me

strawberriescream

10:00 pm
Dear Diary,
Well, it’s that time to hit the sack! It feels good to go through a whole day without stomach cramps, rashes or acne break outs! I feel so much better than I did on dairy.

I can be pretty sure that I will not wake up with horrible cramping and have to run to the bathroom unless I catch a virus. When I focus on all the good foods I can eat, instead of things I can’t, I have a much better outlook. Choosing dairy free substitutes that I enjoy makes me feel like I am not missing out on anything! Good-night, Diary, until tomorrow.
Love, me

Butternut Squash Risotto, Vegan Gluten Free

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What better way to welcome in the fall than with a Butternut Squash Risotto recipe!  This Butternut Squash Risotto tastes absolutely decadent. Its rich, creamy flavor is surprising in this vegan and gluten free dish.

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Butternut Squash Risotto, Vegan Gluten-Free

Butternut Squash Risotto, Vegan Gluten-Free

Risotto is elegant enough to serve at a nice dinner party, but can be enjoyed any night of the week with this easy recipe.   You can garnish your Butternut Risotto with some fresh, chopped herbs like thyme or sage for an extra level of flavor.   The recipe calls for a blender or food processor and I highly recommend the Blendtec Blender !  and check out my Blendtec review HERE!

 

butternut squash risotto 1

Recipe for Butternut Squash Risotto, Vegan Gluten-Free:

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Butternut Squash Risotto

What better way to welcome in the fall than with a Butternut Squash Risotto recipe!  This Butternut Squash Risotto tastes absolutely decadent. Its rich, creamy flavor is surprising in this vegan and gluten free dish.  
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 473kcal
Author: My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life

Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 ½ cups risotto short grain rice, like Arborio
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons vegan butter like Earth Balance
  • 5 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 small butternut squash cubed and roasted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Cut butternut squash into 1 inch cubes, and roast for about 30-40 minutes
  • In a medium saucepan, heat oil and butter over medium/high heat
  • Saute onion until golden
  • Add risotto and stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes
  • Just cover risotto with broth and simmer, stirring constantly
  • As risotto absorbs the broth, add remaining broth, a little at a time
  • Continue stirring until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes
  • Remove from heat
  • In a blender or food processor, puree squash
  • Stir pureed squash into risotto

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 642mg | Potassium: 757mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 20510IU | Vitamin C: 41.4mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 4.5mg

 

Shopping list from Amazon.com:

risotto 
olive oil
vegan butter 
vegetable broth

 

6 Tips to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Beautiful brunette female leaning against a tree looking out

It is that time of year when Seasonal Affective Disorder,  also known as SAD, shows its ugly head. Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression, is experienced during the fall and winter. Most people begin experiencing the disorder when the days begin to shorten.

I’m going to share 6 tips to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder with you. You can do may things on your own such as, light therapy, CBD Oil, Gummies or Lotion but psychotherapy or medication may be needed in addition.  Always check with your doctor for treatment.  I am sharing with you what has worked really well for our family who are affected with this disorder.

6 tips to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder:

TIP 1. Light Therapy – Light Therapy has been the number 1 thing that has helped our family who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

This is the SAD lamp that I use and it is recommended by my mental health professional.  All you need is 15 – 20 minutes daily, first thing in the morning when you get up – sit in front of this light or another SAD lamp that has 10,000 lux of light.

You can purchase a lamp on your own but if you have a prescription from your health care provider, it is covered by insurance. We have used our lights for about 15 years and the light bulbs are still going strong!   My husband, son and myself each have our own light therapy lamp just like the one shown above!

Dawn Simulator – These are awesome little devices that you set on your bedside table. They wake you up slowly by using a series of increasingly bright light. So when it’s time to get up, the light is at its brightest, waking you up gradually.

TIP 2. CBD Topicals, edibles and oil – is the 2nd line of products that has greatly reduced my depression from seasonal affective disorder.  I prefer to take oil drops which are highly effective for me.  But, many people enjoy the ease and flavor of edibles.  Whereas, many others prefer to soothe the blues with Charlotte’s Web topical CBD lotions.

TIP 3. Vitamin D – Vitamin D deficiency is suggested to be one of the major factors in seasonal affective disorder. Think about the amount of time that you spend inside or unable to get into the sun. If you are in the sun you slather on sunscreen – you could be deficient!  I was and I spent hours in the sun!

A physician or health care provider orders a specific blood test to see if you are clinically deficient.  IF you are, adding  supplemental Vitamin D3, “Cholecalciferol” and monitoring your blood levels will help you. See my story of how I found that I had a Vitamin D level of 11!

Tip 4. Exercise – Keep yourself moving, even though you don’t want to! Exercise releases endorphins, which are proven to improve mood. Go for a quick walk outside at lunchtime or find an exercise video online or on-demand.

Get Outside When the Sunshine is the Brightest – When it’s dark and cold outside, it’s so hard to want to look out into the world. However, it’s best to keep curtains or blinds open during the midday for when there is sunshine. If the sun is out,  get out and do your exercise to get the most exposure possible.

Tip 5. Get Enough Sleep – Your rhythms are already disturbed by the change in the season, so get extra sleep by going to bed earlier and getting up at the same time every day.

Tip 6. Eat properly – Be sure to follow a balanced diet with a variety of healthy foods. Include as much fresh food as possible, especially fruits and vegetables. Eat foods in a multitude of colors!

These are just a few simple tips that everyone can do to feel better through the winter.  Even if you don’t have seasonal affective disorder, we all want to feel our best.

**I am affiliated with Charlotte’s Web, they have the best CBD Isolate Oils, Softgels, Gummies and Creams! Free ground shipping on orders over $75

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

$800 Back to School Cash Giveaway

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Back2School My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life

I have joined forces with a bunch of great bloggers in bringing to you this great Back To School Cash Giveaway!  TWO WINNERS will each win $400 PayPal Cash.  You don’t have to have kids going back to school, you can still enter this fabulous giveaway and win!  And this giveaway is open WorldWide!  It’s always great to have some extra moola to use for yourself or for the upcoming holidays!

What would you do if you won some extra CASH?  I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below!

Terms and Conditions:

  • The Back to School $800 Giveaway starts on September 1st @12:00AM EST and ends on October 1st @11:59 PM EST.
  • There will be two winners ($400 each).
  • The winners must be 18 years or older to win.
  • The giveaway is open world wide, void where prohibited.
  • Full Lives Reviews will choose the winner no later than Oct 6th 2015 and the winner will be contacted no later than October 7th 2015.
  • The winner has 48 hours to respond by email before forfeiting the prize. The co-hosts will be notified no later than October 10th 2015 with the winning names.

By entering on the Rafflecopter below, you agree to the terms and conditions above:

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$25 Amazon GC Giveaway #EndofSummerHop

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End of Summer Hop Event Hosted by LeahSay's Views & Planet Weidknecht Sept 1-15.

 

I’ve joined with Planet Weidknecht and LeahSays’ Views for another fun Giveaway Hop celebrating the End of Summer! All the bloggers who have joined this event will be giving away prizes valued at a minimum of $25.  We are giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Code!

I’d love to know what are you doing to celebrate the End of Summer?   I’m heading to Oregon for a girl’s trip!

After entering my giveaway, make sure you use the linky below to hop over to each blogger participating and enter to win their prize offered!

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20 Gluten-Free Barbecue Recipes

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20 Gluten-Free Barbecue Recipes

Labor Day Weekend is almost here, and it is famous for family and friend get-together’s and a barbecue!  It’s farewell to summer and hello school time.   WE have a yummy Gluten-free Recipe round-up for you!   A lot of them are indeed Dairy-Free also and there are even some Vegan recipes here too!  So there’s something for everyone.   Check them out and bring a new recipe to your next family potluck.

20 Gluten-Free Barbecue Recipes:

Portobello burgers from Driftwood Gardens
Grilled eggplant rolls from Not Enough Cinnamon
Smoky black bean beet burgers from Minimalist Baker
Artichoke spinach cauliflower bean burgers from Vegan Richa
Margarita chicken bowl from Just Us Four
Grilled fajita stuffed chicken breast from More With Less Today
Grilled salmon with peach-bourbon barbecue sauce from Love And Olive Oil
Easy mexican stuffed mushrooms from Vegan Family Recipes
Spicy shrimp pasta with broccolini from Our Four Forks
5-Ingredient lemon pepper chicken from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Grilled gluten free pizzas from Around My Family Table
Rainbow veggie kebabs from Rabbit Food For My Bunny Teeth
Santa Maria tri-tip from Against All Grain
Grilled pineapple and lobster salad from The Healthy Foodie
Dogs in a garden from Eliana’s Pantry
Marinated carne asada from Serena Bakes From Scratch
Clean eating barbecued pork ribs from The Gracious Pantry
Grilled summer vegetable quinoa from Healy Eats Real
Grilled eggs in portobello mushrooms from Frugal Mom Eh
Grilled corn with chili lime butter from Menu Of Musings

Can Broccoli Sprouts Help Treat Autism?

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There is a new debate about treating autism, and it involves a familiar vegetable. Experts and families are wondering if broccoli sprouts can help the condition. A small study, titled “Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder,” found that a chemical from broccoli sprouts helped improve autism symptoms.


4-Tray Kitchen Seed Sprouter


Food To Live Broccoli Seeds for Sprouting 

The Study

The study included a placebo-controlled trial, but one of the issues is that only 29 people with autism received the treatment. Critics believe the sample size is too small, so more research is needed before families and caretakers start piling broccoli sprouts on their dinner plates every night. However, the study gives hope that a chemical from a common vegetable could one day help treat the condition.

Sulforaphane

Sulforaphane is the chemical that was derived from the broccoli sprouts in the study and given to patients in capsule form. Researchers found that 42 percent of the people who received the treatment had better verbal communication. In addition, 46 percent of the people who received the treatment had better social interactions. Furthermore, researchers noted that they were less hyperactive and less irritable. On the other hand, the patients who received the placebo did not show any improvements.


Source Naturals Broccoli Sprouts

Stopping Treatment

There is one part of the study that some have found disturbing. Once treatment with sulforaphane stopped, the improvements researchers noted disappeared. The progress made with the chemical did not last. It appears that ongoing treatments are required, but more studies will be necessary to understand this.

Diet Caution

Researchers point out that the extracted sulforaphane from the broccoli sprouts was at a very high dosage that cannot be replicated at the dinner table. Unfortunately, adding huge amounts of broccoli to a patient’s diet may not be enough because the concentration of sulforaphane is limited. In addition, seizures and liver enzyme problems appeared in a few cases during the study. Experts recommend using diet caution.

SOURCE:

http://www.pnas.org/content/111/43/15550

 

Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal

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Is there any way to start your day that’s more comforting than a big bowl of oatmeal? This Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal is a hot, hearty bowl of goodness. It tastes best when it’s cooked stovetop in almond milk, but it can be prepared with water, and even in the microwave if you’re pressed for time.

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Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal

Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal

Walnuts add some protein to this breakfast, and are the perfect complement to the cinnamon and maple syrup.  This Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal is a sweet and satisfying breakfast that also happens to be vegan and gluten free. What is your favorite vegan and/or gluten free way to begin your day?

Here is what you will need:

Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal 1

Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal 3

Recipe for Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal:

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Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal

Is there any way to start your day that’s more comforting than a big bowl of oatmeal? This Cinnamon Maple Walnut Oatmeal is a hot, hearty bowl of goodness.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 509kcal
Author: My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond milk or water
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats
  • ¼ cup walnuts chopped
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Cook oats in almond milk or water according to package directions (If using microwave, water works best)
  • Stir in other ingredients and add an extra splash of almond milk to cool down and add more creaminess

Notes

Nutritional values are based on one serving

Nutrition

Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 410mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 37g | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2.6mg