So Here Comes Lent!

LENT:
Noun

The period of 40 weekdays that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence.

 

Today is fat Tuesday! Which explains the bag of chocolate chips and massive peanut butter jar next to me at this very second! But fat Tuesday leads way to...
ASH WEDNESDAY:

Noun

The first day of Lent

 

Usually I give up french fries, or soda for Lent... but since moving to the Queen City, I have noticed that I am not consuming these foods on the daily. And Lent is supposed to be about choosing something hard to give up- something that represents the decision to fast and give up the things we find necessary every day.

 

That's why I have decided to give up two things that I usually eat at least once a day-

CHOCOLATE

  &

 

GLUTEN

 

Chocolate is pretty self explanatory... But for those of you unaware of what gluten-free entails, it means no:

• White Flour
• Durum Wheat
• Graham Flour
• Triticale
• Kamut
• Semolina
• Spelt
• Wheat Germ
• Wheat Bran

Foods that are usually made with wheat include:

• Pasta
• Couscous
• Bread
• Flour Tortillas
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Muffins
• Pastries
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Beer
• Oats (see the section on oats below)
• Gravy
• Dressings
• Sauces

This may seem like a long list, but there are gluten-free versions of these foods available in most grocery stores. You just have to look for them!

Gluten Surprises

You may not expect it, but the following foods can also contain gluten:

• broth in soups and bouillon cubes
• breadcrumbs and croutons
• fried foods
• imitation fish
• lunch meats and hot dogs
• matzo
• most chips and candy
• salad dressings
• self-basting turkey
• soy sauce
• rice and pasta mixes

(LIST OF FOODS FOUND HERE)

Updates are to follow. Recipes, creative work arounds, and so on... Bring it on Lent! It's time to get raw and real... Literally!