There are so many foods that are naturally gluten free.  Sometimes we get so excited about all the gluten free pastas, pizzas, breads, cereals, etc. that we forget about all the wonderful food that is naturally gluten free.

It’s fairly obvious that foods in the meat, dairy, fruits and veggies families are all safe and naturally gluten free.  Instead, I’ll stick to the grains and foods in the carb family… here goes (in no particular order):

1. Quinoa – the South American super food!  Is it a grain or a protein?  Or both?  Who knows, who cares!  Just kidding – if you’re interested, check out quinoa on Wikipedia.  Quinoa is versatile, easy to cook and a huge fad right now… which means it’s easy to find at a grocery store or at a restaurant.

2. Rice – Brown Rice, White Rice, Wild Rice, Basmati, Instant, etc, etc, etc.  Rice comes in many varieties and if you keep your pantry stocked with a few different types, even rice doesn’t have to be boring!

3. Spaghetti Squash – A friend had me over for dinner recently and made an awesome spaghetti squash with marinara dish.  Yum yum!  It was pretty easy to do and was a great alternative to the gluten free pastas that are a staple at my house.

4. Legumes – Don’t worry, I’m aware that legumes are not quite a grain…. but this is my blog post and I want to include them here!  Being of East Indian decent, I have grown up eating a lot of daal (lentils).  This is a super tasty and very healthy gluten free food.  Lots of protein too!

5. Foods made with chick pea flour & rice flour – There are many examples in East Indian cuisine where there are great foods made with chick pea flour or rice flour, or with flour made from another lentil.  Try having dosas (kinda like a big gluten free pancake stuffed with potatoes and peas, and served with daal) or anything made from besan (chick pea flour) next time you’re at an Indian restaurant!

Did I leave off a naturally gluten free grain that you love?  Leave me a comment or send me an email about it and I’ll be sure to check it out.

About me: I am a young professional living in Toronto and sharing what I’ve learned about living a gluten free life. Read my blog at http://happyceliac.wordpress.com/

The term superfoods is heard everywhere these days in Canada.  Whether you’re on a low carb, low fat or low everything diet, adding some of these foods to your daily meals can really help increase energy levels, improve your immune system and improve your overall health.  Here is my list of 5 Superfoods.
1. Avocadoes: They are full of the best kind of fat (monounsaturated oleic acid) and they block the absorption of bad fats (cholesterol). They’re are high in lutein for your eyes.  You can eat them fresh or use the oil (great for salads).

2. Acai: Acai is a fruit that comes from the Amazon.  It is a very, very powerful antioxidant and many people believe it is an amazing superfood.  Well.ca carries tons of products with Acai (some to eat and some not)

3. Pumpkin Seeds: Pumpkin seeds are high in fiber and protein they are also a rich source of minerals. I love eating the Eden Organic Spicy Pumpkin Seeds but you can also eat the pumpkin seed butter or take pumpkin seed oil in caplet form

4. Quinoa: Quinoa comes from the Andes where they refer to it as a “perfect food” due to the unique balance of amino acids.  Somewhat like couscous, I love adding it to soups but Well.ca carries lots of Quinoa options.

5. Pomegranate: Rich in vitamins C and B, potassium, folic acid and iron, pomegranate is another superfood that’s great to consume in the fresh form (albeit a little annoying to eat with all those little seeds).  But we also love eating this Pomegranate snack bar

Those are my favourites.  What are your favourite superfoods?