Food, Food, FOOD!

Planning a celebration? What's on the menu?

Staff meeting this month? Whose responsible for the snack and what are they bringing?

Lose a loved one? Have you been eating?

Dieting? Can you think of anything other than the next morsel of food that will go in your mouth?

_______ Appreciation Day? Who wouldn't love a baked goody?

Name a life event and it will somehow include food. Something you may not notice until the food being served has been nixed from your diet for life. Three summers ago I received my gluten free life sentence. Three summers ago I began to realize how much of our lives revolve around food.

I am an elementary school teacher. Teacher Appreciation Day is in May. Every year parents show their appreciation by overwhelming the teachers with food. Each year I say, "Hey, I don't need the extra calories anyway!" But I can't help but feel slightly less appreciated while everyone else is in the teachers' room enjoying the feast.

I attended a series of 6 workshops that had lunch provided at each one. Each month, even after being reminded, the people running the workshop forgot to ask for a gluten free option.

I now pack lunches for every training I attend that has lunch provided knowing that outside of some fresh fruit, there will be nothing there for me. I make sure I keep snacks in the car for road trips (or my husband reminds me too), and I try to meal plan weekly.

I am thankful that there are many more options for gluten free now than there was even a decade ago when my grandfather found out he was gluten free. I am thankful for Amazon.com for allowing some pantry variety. I am thankful for Pinterest and the community of people who share their gluten free recipes. I am thankful that I find so much joy in creating delicious food that everyone in my family finds edible.

Tonight for dinner I made almond crusted chicken tenders...

I used this recipe http://www.skinnyminniemoves.com/almond-crusted-chicken-tenders/
but changed it a bit. Instead of buying a chicken breast and slicing it (I hate cutting raw chicken) I bought chicken tenders. After putting the almonds through the food processor, I added just a bit of garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper. I did not use olive oil spray. I kept the tenders in a gallon sized baggie and sprinkled them with olive oil. I then placed the tenders in the almond mix.

This recipe was delicious and easy. I didn't make it home until 4:15 and dinner was completely made by 5:00. I don't see myself buying store bought chicken tenders or nuggets again for a long time!