Glutino Gluten Free Cookies

Hi!

When I first began my gluten free (GF) journey one of the things I dreaded the most was giving up the baked goods. I don't have what you would call an over indulgent sweet tooth, but I don't like being limited in my choices of food either. Let's face it, I like to eat what I want when I want to eat it. Well, that is no long an option, now is it? So for my first food related post, let's talk about cookies.

Ah yes, cookies! And what better time to talk about cookies than Girl Scout season. I was so excited when I realized it was February and my favorite little girls in their adorable little uniforms would be selling things like Thin Mints, Samoas and, my favorite, Savannah Smiles. And then reality hit! I would not be having Girl Scout cookies this year and, possibly, ever again!

While perusing the many aisles of my favorite grocery store, Publix, we came across the GF section. If your Publix does not have this I strongly suggest you check a different Publix. I have discovered that not all Publix are created equal. There are approximately 5 within a 5 mile radius from my home and only ONE has a GF section. But in this GF section were Glutino Gluten Free Cookies.

In addition to the chocolate chip there is a generous selection of other flavors. My Publix had the vanilla creme and chocolate vanilla creme cookies AKA Oreos and blonde Oreos. I do plan on trying these in the near future. However, on the Glutino website it shows the other cookie varieties they offer. I am dying to try out the lemon wafers. Mmmmm lemon wafers....

Sorry! Back to the point at hand. The texture and taste of the chocolate chip cookies reminded me of Chips Ahoy! Of course they had that "not made with enriched flour" taste. I'm not sure how else to describe it. It's different, but not in the way it would deter you from these cookies. Another plus, they retail, at my Publix anyway, for $3.69 for 18 cookies! In the world of GF, that's cheap! But they don't taste cheap. They taste delightful. Especially with a glass of milk.

So I ask you, GF readers, have you tried Glutino cookies? Did you enjoy them compared to other brands? I would love to hear what cookies fill your GF heart with joy!

xoxo,

Mary

*Nothing in this post was sponsored or endorsed by Publix or Glutino. Pictures and thoughts are entirely my own*

My Journey to a Gluten Free Life

Let me start by saying that I do not have Celiacs Disease. Nor have I ever been diagnosed with a gluten intolerance or allergy. However, for the past 8 years I have suffered from a random myriad of symptoms that have no common etiology except for gluten intolerance. These symptoms would be anything from migraines, joint pain, stomach cramping, nausea, constipation, etc.

I was in the hospital a few times from 2007 – 2012. Most of these visits were brief and generic, and after some medication and fluids I was sent on my way. Last year, things changed in more ways than one. My husband and I had officially relocated to Jacksonville, FL where I was to begin my first career as a medical technologist at the Mayo Clinic. Sounds pretty exciting, huh? I was excited. And then I got sick. This time it was bad. It happened on my second day of orientation at work. This time the meds and fluids didn’t help. Between February and April of that year I spent approximately 2 weeks in the hospital with 5 days being my longest consecutive stay. But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is having almost every GI lab, scan and procedure performed and they find nothing. They diagnosed me with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), put me on an anti-depressant as well as an arsenal of pain and nausea meds, ‘should my symptoms reoccur’, and sent me on my way.

I don’t take ‘last resort’ for an answer. It’s a cheap way of saying ‘we don’t know what’s wrong with you’ and ‘we’re sick of guessing.’ I looked up CVS. Did my research. Spoke with people who’ve had it themselves or knew people with it. They, as well as I, don’t believe this is what I have. For some reason gluten intolerance was still nagging at the back of my mind. I felt like I saw articles, recipes and products for it everywhere. So, just like I did with CVS, I did research, talked with people who had it and all of a sudden I had a light bulb moment. (You know, that moment where the light bulb goes off, everything is suddenly clear and makes sense?) I knew it wasn’t Celiacs Disease, they tested for that. But then I saw Gluten Intolerance. There is no test for a Gluten Intolerance. The only way to know if you have an intolerance is to give up gluten products for 3 weeks and see how you feel…

Well, I’ve been gluten free since January 2014. Yep, a little over a month. And I feel GREAT!!! So here I plan to share with you my likes, don’t likes,  things I think are amazing, and those I think are a drag, ups as well as downs as I navigate this very exciting yet, most of the time, frustrating world of being Gluten Free.

xoxo,

Mary