Old Mother Hubbard

I have recently given up wheat in my diet but did not have the inner strength to purge the pantry of it all. It's kinda like your old "stand by" pair of fat jeans...just in case you ever have a weak moment and need them again, you keep them around. I wanted to make sure. Before dispersing and tossing the food that has caused me so much trouble...I had to make sure we were in this for the long haul.

Sunday was the day....to purge our home of the unwanted gluten. ..I went forth with a vengance. For someone who, for so long, has made her meals of toast and Cream of Wheat...ritz crackers and rolled oats, it was a daunting task to say the least. three trash bags full of half consumed boxes of pasta and open boxes of uneaten cereal went in the trash. One small box of unopened pastas went to a friend. It was difficult, but I did it! I will share with you that I was left with a very light feeling. I didn't have to worry anymore that in a moment of desperate weakness I will pull out the Cap'n Crunch or Cream of Wheat and begin Day 1 all over again. However, in addition to the light floaty feeling, I was also left with a dreadfully bare pantry....not unlike Old Hubbard's cupboard....Here's hoping I can provide some satisfying options for my family so they don't completely hate me when one of them starts craving a big ol' slice of buttery white bread or steaming bowl of pasta, cream and cheese.

Here is a list of five of the things I have found are such great alternatives(most can be found in our Kroger or HEB stores here)...and of course Basic Foods.

1.Blue Diamond(my savior with their NutThins)

2.I love all the Quinoa pastas but my parents bought some new pasta at Wal Mart that I swear is better...its call HeartLand Pasta and it was so close to the real thing...

3. Cream of Rice cereal is also my savior on cold mornings...my childhood favorite having been put out to pasture..has been replaced with a good enough substitute.

4. BisQuick now makes a gluten Free product...so we can have our skinny pancakes back!

5.Of course you can eat all of the cheese, meat, dairy, rice and potato you want...but what about crackers for your cheese?

Crunchmaster makes these fantastic crackers...my favorite is this one, toasted onion, but there are about four kinds to choose from.

Betty Cracker also has a whole line of Gluten Free products now that are quite tastey too!

It's nice to see some companies I recognize are trying to make life a little easier and healthier for us!