Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in Austin

 

I'll be attending Living Without's Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest this weekend in Austin. I am thrilled to be able to attend this! Be sure you are following me on my social media sites:

 

Facebook or www.facebook.com/MrsWendler

 

Twitter or @BrandyWendler

 

 

Instagram @BrandyWendler

so you don't miss a moment of all the excitement that the weekend will hold. If you are able to attend, please come and say hi to me!

A Gluten-free Present to Warm Your Heart (and Giveaway!)

Lets face it - I am horrible with my blog right now. I used to post really diligently but life kind of got in the way. I'm working on getting better but I'm not perfect. I used to post different stuff every month - fun, gluten-free info, recipes and products but lately, I haven't posted much and I'm sorry. However, I have a suggestion for new products you should look into until I get back in the habit - Love with Food. Have you heard of my awesome friend, KC, of G-Free Foodie. She has partnered with this company to bring you a fabulous, gluten-free product. Check out her facebook page here. You should defineitely be following her because she posts ALL the time and has FANTASTIC info and recipes for all your gluten-free needs. Anyway . . .

Love with Food is a company that I've really fallen in love with. (Perfect for a month that is known for love, right? - February.) They send you a box of junk-free and gluten-free goodies to your house (shiping is FREE - my favorite price!) for $24.50/month. In return, they donate TWO meals to the hungry in the USA. So not only do you get a gift for yourself, a box of 8-12 wholesome, gluten-free new treats for you to sample, but you give a gift as well. A gift to someone at home in America who is in need too not somewhere in another country. Who knows? You could be helping out someone who lives in the next city or just down the street. How amazing is that? I received my first box last month and was completely delighted!

Check out the picture:

There were several different types of chips and crackers, a yummy chocolate bar (that disappeared quickly), cake mix, a cookie sample, seasoning mix and more. Everything was non-GMO and dairy-free too (or vegan) which I really appreciate. Most of the items were full size as well which was awesome! Sometimes, the gluten-free world can be hard to maneuver and I appreciate a box of the month to help me find new flavors and wholesome products. Did I mention there were coupons in there too?! Some were for the products but one was a $25 gift card for Le Tote which is like Netflix but for women's fashion! Love with Food totally gets me! 

Here's the best part of this post though - since Love with Food is so awesome they are working with me to do a giveaway! Just write a comment at the bottom of this post. Any comment - maybe tell me your favorite valentine candy, why you enjoy being gluten-free, or maybe why you eat non-gmo. You choose, just talk to me. I'll announce two winners on Monday. Pay attention to this blog and my facebook to see if you're a winner. Even if you don't win, do yourself a favor and check this company out. You can sign up for your very own box at https://lovewithfood.com/subscriptions. Let me know what you think. 

 

Check them out on social media too!

 

Love with Food - Facebook

Love with Food - Twitter (@lovewithfood)

Until the next post -

xoxo

Brandy

Go Red! February is American Heart Month

We like to distance ourselves from things that make us uncomfortable. Perhaps that's why we still have a huge misunderstanding in our society that heart disease just affects older males like they show in the movies or on television. I'm here to tell you that heart disease affects everyone - yes, even you! We are way past the point where heart disease occurs in isolated age groups of our society. Cholesterol and clogged arteries begins in childhood now. Research shows us that even toddlers may be developing clogged arteries due to inactivity and poor diet. So listen up!

 1 in 3 men and women will die of heart disease and stroke - 80% of this is preventable.

So this month, take time to make a promise to yourself. Find out your risks for heart disease and what you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.

Ask yourself these question to assess your risks:

1.  How active/inactive am I?
2.  What's my blood pressure? Cholesterol?
3.  What is my risk for diabetes?
4.  How healthy do I really eat?
• How many servings of fruit do I eat in a day?
• How many servings of vegetables?
5.  What's my family history of heart disease?
6.  How does smoking effect my risk for heart disease? How does my drinking effect my heart?
7.  Am I overweight or is my waist circumference excessive?

 Listen, I care about you. So that's why this post may sounds straightforward or even harsh. I want you to live a long, happy life. So, these are questions you need to know the answers to so that you don't become the next victim of heart disease. Over 715, 000 heart attacks occur in the nation each year and 15% of people that have a heart attack will die from it. I want to make that number drop as much as possible. I don't want YOU to be included in that number - ever!

Need more info? The American Heart Association website is a good source to evaluate your risks and find out prevention tips. Go Red for Women is a great website geared toward ladies (and the red dress you may see out in store windows this month is associated with them.) Or keep tuned to me here or on Facebook for heart healthy lifestyle tips!

Stay healthy my friends!

Heart Disease and You

The holidays are typically a merry season where we spend lots of time with family and friends exchanging gifts and tasting delightful treats and just enjoying each other's company in general. It is this time of year that reminds us of how much we are loved and how full and blessed our lives are. Part of what I love so much about the holidays is that it brings family and friends together. The days are easy-going and full of laughter and yearly traditions and games. The nights are spent in front of the fire and lights of the Christmas tree with a warm drink remembering past holidays and adventures from other times in the year and viewing seasonal movies or home videos. Part of being able to enjoy this season year after year with one another is taking care of ourselves and staying healthy. So, while you are together with those you love, take the time to talk to one another about something that affects us all - Heart Disease. Heart Disease kills over 30% of our population every year. 

It is the #1 killer of men and women in the United States. 

All of us know someone affected by heart disease whether it is something as simple as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or diabetes or something more complicated like a stroke or heart attack. Did you know that 80% of strokes and heart attacks are preventable? Learn statistics to find out if you’re at risk and what you can do to protect your heart and live a longer, healthier life and enjoy more holidays with friends and loved one!

If this image is hard to see click here

Foster Farms Giveaway winners!

Thank you to all the people who participated in the Foster Farms #gluten-free corn dog giveaway on my Facebook page! I am happy to announce the winners of a coupon for a free box of their very own!

1) Rick N Kimberly A.

2) Meaghan H.

3) Kim F.

4) Susan N.

5) Karen C.

I posted on my Facebook page for the winners to please send me their e-mails so I can have the company contact them for their address for the voucher. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do and they bring back wonderful memories! If you didn't win, please know that the product can be found in multiple different stores nationwide! Here is a list of places to find them:

1) Safeway (Von's, Randalls, Tom Thumb)

2) Kroger (Fry's and Smith's)

3) Raley's

4) Lucky

5) Albertsons

6) Giant Eagle

7) Woodman's

8) Copps/Roundy's

9) Schnucks

10) Food Lion

11) HyVee

12) Marsh

If I didn't name a place in your area, feel free to contact the company at 1-800-255-7227 for help finding a retailer in your area. 

Foster Farms Gluten-Free Giveaway!!

Recently, I was contacted by the fabulous people over at Foster Farms to trial their new gluten-free corn dogs. I have made corn dogs myself in the past (see recipe here) but it usually take a lot of time and effort. My husband and I used to have Fair food Fridays during the fall where we would make different types of our favorite fair foods that were gluten-free but when I started doing pageants that tradition stopped for awhile. Also, since moving to South Carolina my kitchen isn't as big as my old one, so I have had to downsize some of my cooking utensils and my big fryer went with it.

That being said, when I found out that a well-known company was putting out their own version of a gluten-free and dairy-free corn dog and they wanted to send me samples, I got really excited. Corn dogs are one of those things that reminds me of being a kid when everything was easier. My mother used to treat my sister and I to corn dogs (or cheese dogs, remember those?) at the mall if we behaved. Not the best food for a balanced diet as an adult, I will admit, however, there is just something about the taste of a corn dog that makes me feel like everything will be ok. Occasionally, as a celiac, I need that, don't you?

As part of my excitement and the generosity of the company, they sent me a sample to taste (Check out the picture below) as well as five coupons for a free box of corn dogs if you enter my giveaway! These corn dogs are certified gluten-free by GIG, contain less than 10ppm of gluten per serving, and feature a 100% chicken frank dipped twice in a honey crunchy batter. What's not to love?!

Check my Facebook page to enter. Simply tell me your favorite memory associated with corn dogs or your favorite way to eat them in a comment under the post. You must also like the Foster Farms Facebook page but as soon as you do both things, you're entered!

Winners will be announced Sunday evening!! Good luck!

January Product of the Month

After cooking for what feels like two months straight, I've been looking for some easy yet healthier meals for me and my hubby. On nights when we have both had busy days, I am grateful for Perdue's new gluten-free chicken tenders. They are easy to make, taste great, and don't have any ingredients I have allergies too!

The directions call for cooking them for 10 min but my husband likes them crispier so I flip them after ten minutes in the oven and put them on for ten minutes more. I guess it just depends on your preference. I get them at our local Harris Teeter in Charleston but have also found them at Publix in the Atlanta area.

Alternatively, Tyson has a gluten-free chicken tender as well. However, the Tyson version has soy oil in them so I am unable to eat them. I have also heard through people on my Facebook page that the Tyson ones don't taste as good either so that makes me feel like I'm not missing out. :)

I add a side of two vegetables and/or brown rice for a quick dinner that my husband and I both love. I have also paired these with my Vegan Mac & Cheese which I know can helps appease a picky crowd!