Day 2. Zack had a few bad screeching fits today, which I can’t really blame on anything diet-wise since it takes a lot longer than 24 hours for evil proteins to escape his body. But still, I’m finding out more and more that some of the items that I THOUGHT were GFCF have ugly, hidden forms of the not allowed. To my dismay, I shelved some more of the food items and searched online for the perfect “staples” grocery list. Removing items we don’t use in my house and adding more produce since that’s what Zack and I like best, I created my own GFCF grocery list of items that I want stocked here always. I also wrote out the list I was given of ingredients that hide gluten and casein. These lists will always be available (and updated if needbe) as a resource for you. Please familiarize yourself with the ingredients list if you’re planning on shopping for your little autie! I wish I had had a printed out copy with me during our grocery trip this week.
Owell. Any new lifestyle change is about trial and error, right? My goal for us is to have only GFCF products in the house by 2008 so I have a month of “live and learn” mistakes to make. Hopefully, I won’t need the whole month!
Zack’s breakfast today was a bigger success than yesterday and yesterday wasn’t bad. I scrambled an egg (using a little water since I found out the rice milk I have isn’t CF and the only almond milk I have is chocolate). I melted a little GFCF American cheese in it and served it with a handful of grapes and a glass of almond milk. Zack enjoyed it a lot, thank goodness! He’s starting to get frustrated that he can’t just open the fridge and grab a gallon of skim milk and bring it to me anymore but he’s 3 and that’s something he can forget as he adjusts. His snack at school was a bag of grapes again.
Lunchtime was a little harder. My husband wanted to eat out and I didn’t argue! I get restless staying at home with 2 little ones and a puppy so when my husband is all for getting out of the house, I am too. But, I really didn’t plan it like I should have. We went to Taco Bell, where I figured we’d be fine. Taco shells are made from corn and the Taco Bell shells I have in my pantry have no bad ingredients. If we order him a taco without cheese, what is it? Corn tortilla, meat, and lettuce! And, nachos without the dipping sauce are still yummy. Well, Zack was really frustrated about not having any dipping sauce. And when we got home and I went through websites upon websites of eating out GFCF information, I discovered that Taco Bell announced that the seasoning they use in their taco meat has gluten. Ugh!! So, lunch wasn’t as safe as I thought it was.
His afternoon snack was an OKAY hit. I gave him some banana chips and raisins. He didn’t hate them but he wasn’t really big on the banana chips either. That’s okay… he can have fresh ones, which are better for him anyway… and I personally LOVE them so I’ll keep them in the pantry for me instead.
Dinner was rice crackers topped with peanut butter and raisins, baby carrots, a fresh banana, and some chocolate almond milk. All of it was a success, except Zack ate most of the peanut butter off the crackers without really touching the crackers. I think I need to find a GFCF bread afterall.
I know he’ll adjust to this as we continue, but I still feel so bad for him. He had favorites and unfortunately, all of them except the produce are now off limits. No more PB&J sandwiches until I can find a safe bread. No more Yoplaits. No more Kraft cheese. I’m finding safe alternatives, sure but I still feel bad that I’m taking things away. We didn’t eat badly before GFCF… or so I’d thought.
