Have you watched Hungry for Change yet?

A few Saturday nights ago, I had nothing better to do than sit in front of Netflix (sad, I know, but let’s stay on topic here). As I flipped through the new releases, a documentary called Hungry for Change caught my eye.

I suppose it was the documentary’s cover image, a happy chick holding a grocery bag full of whole foods wrapped with a measuring tape, that caught my eye.

Because my grocery bags have been looking more and more like that lately (see Can Clean Eating Help Restore Hormonal Balance?), it seemed potentially up my alley.

So, what’s Hungry for Change all about?

We’re fortunate enough to have a guest post today from Dr. George Drinka, child psychiatrist and author. Dr. Drinka’s upcoming book, When the Media Is the Parent, is posed to educate parents about the massive role media (think television, video games, and the Internet).

Today, he’s talking with us about the role media plays in childhood obesity, fast food advertising geared toward children, and how, in time, the media might even help promote healthier eating.

Happy Tuesday, beautiful readers!

We’ve survived Thanksgiving, but with Christmas just a week away and New Year’s just a week after that, it’s safe to say we’re still in the thick of the holiday season.

Which means, for some of us, there are still a lot of stress and anxiety triggers coming our way.

As such, the good people over at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) are hosting a Twitter chat on using complementary health practices like yoga, meditation, and tai chi to manage stress and anxiety – specifically, the safety and efficacy of these mind and body practices.

During the chat, you’ll get to meet John Glowa, Ph.D., the NCCAM expert who oversees the organization’s behavioral health research portfolio, and Daniel Pine, M.D. from the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Note that:

• The chat is today (Tuesday, December 18, 2012) at 3:30 p.m. EST. (Got a free minute between now and then? Check out highlights from a previous NIH NCCAM Twitter chat: 5 Resources for Depression and Complementary Health Practices)
• You should go ahead and follow the NIH NCCAM on Twitter at @NCCAM.
• The hashtag for the chat is #nccamchat.

Hope to see you there!

Image Credit

Happy Friday, readers!

The holiday season is in full swing, and with all the parties and family gatherings usually comes food.

Lots of food.

Vegetable and cheese trays are popular staples this time of year. They’re convenient, simple to prepare, and affordable to buy if you’re short on time!

So, I thought now would be a good time to review my favorite brand of gluten-free crackers for those of you who want or need to keep things gluten free for your physical and mental health this season.

If you missed the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Twitter chat last Friday, don’t worry: You don’t have to scroll through all the #nccamchat hashtags on Twitter to catch up!

The NCCAM has archived the chat so you can browse through the tweets at your leisure.

Continuing with my efforts to review gluten-free foods for folks who follow GF diets for various physical and mental health reasons (plus, GF foods I have to actually make – like the gluten-free brownies – and not just those I can warm in the microwave – like the gluten-free cinnamon rolls…even though they were delicious!), last week I tried gluten-free cornbread!

Now, I’ve tried a few different gluten-free breads before. I had luck with regular sliced bread (like the Schar Gluten-Free Classic White Bread), but not much luck with hot dog buns (specifically, Ener-G Tapioca Gluten-Free Hot Dog Buns).

Fortunately, my experience with this particular GF cornbread was more similar to that of the sliced bread than the hot dog buns!

I spent this past weekend in Asheville, North Carolina.

If you’ve never been, Asheville is an amazing city in North Carolina, part of a four-county metropolitan area and popular for its gorgeous mountains, live music, arts and crafts, locally grown and organic food, historical attractions like the Biltmore Estate and Thomas Wolfe House, and…

…beer.

Asheville is home to numerous breweries (such as Highland Brewing Company, French Broad Brewery, and Green Man Brewery – my favorite), and even more pubs.

So, when we arrived Friday night, having a drink or three was a given, as was having a delicious vegan meal, so the beau and I headed to Laughing Seed (conveniently located above my favorite pub, Jack of the Wood). We both (yes, both of us – I was so proud of him) ordered a vegan, gluten-free burger and a beer while we waited.

Imagine my delight when I saw Dogfish Head’s Tweason’ale Gluten-Free Beer on the menu.

When I first started my gluten-lite journey, it was easy to imagine some types of gluten-free foods.

For example, fruits and vegetables are gluten free, as are fresh eggs, meat, seeds and nuts, and most dairy products.

However, wrapping my brain around other gluten-free versions of certain foods, like breads and pastas, was a different story.

I’ve since discovered that I like some gluten-free bread, I’m not that fond of some kinds of gluten-free hot dog buns, and certain gluten-free pastries are delicious.

I’m just now getting around to gluten-free pasta with Road’s End Organics Gluten-Free Alfredo Mac & Chreese.

Mmm…

It’s a nice, lazy kind of afternoon for brunch, isn’t it?

(Well, it would be if you’re reading this at the time of publishing, ha!)

If you’re looking for a gluten-free food for breakfast or brunch – one that will fill you up as well as satisfy your sweet tooth – might I suggest Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls?

That’s right! It’s time for another review in my ongoing gluten-lite journey!

Another gluten-free food review, hot off the press!

Unfortunately, this one isn’t as favorable as the others have been.

I say “unfortunately” because, well, not only is this one unfavorable, but also there’s just NOTHING good I can say about this product!

PRODUCT:

Ener-G Tapioca Hot Dog Buns. These hot dog buns are gluten free as well as free of dairy, soy, eggs, and nuts, so they’re suitable for a variety of dietary needs and choices.

USES:

I combined these gluten-free hot dog buns with Lightlife’s Smart Dogs veggie hot dogs because I’m vegetarian, but I imagine there’s no reason meat eaters can’t combine them with regular hot dogs.

Also, I used typical hot dog toppings (mustard, ketchup, etc.).