Since massage is cancelled...how to stay healthy

 So clearly, any upcoming massages are postponed for now. So a little advice for yourself to stay healthy:

1) If you feel sick at all, do NOT exercise or self massage at all. That just spreads the illness around your system more. That's the time to just rest in bed, drink lots of fluids (chicken soup of course). 

2) Please take this time to meditate, even if it's 2 minutes a day to just sit quietly and breathe deeply. 

3) Do not watch the news 24/7. It's never healthy, especially now. But do keep informed. 

4) If you are healthy, do spend more time exercising than eating! There are tons of online workouts for the home, everything from yoga to boot camp. You don't want to spend a month gaining 10 lbs and 10 years trying to get rid of it. 

5) Work on new recipes that are healthy. Don't binge on comfort food. The sugar, fat and calories will make you more sluggish, emotional and possibly depressed. You want fighting food! So make big stews with lots of green veg and beans, quinoa, lean meats, etc. Instead of letting your house smell like disinfectant, let it smell like stew! There are some great online cooking classes (http://www.carlacontreras.com/) and my cookbook (Fighting For Allergy Free Food). And if you're home with kids, now's an excellent time to teach them about cooking, cleaning, and taking care of themselves. 

6) Self massage. Again, do NOT do this if you feel at all sick. But do use rubber balls or tennis balls for your own trigger point work. Lay on the floor so your body can relax and put the ball under you wherever you have knots and just sink in up to 100 seconds. Use your favorite lotion to massage your feet and hands and anywhere you can reach. Take baths. Steam your face and massage it, along with your scalp. Throw a dance party for yourself. 

Sending good health and love to you all. 

If you have any medical questions, or exercise, or food, or anything. Please don't hesitate to reach out. 

Sincerely, Tamar

Allergy Free Pantry

Here is my resource list (from CaptainPurple.com's links page) for all your special diet needs. Be sure and check the ingredients on every package before you buy it!

SPECIAL DIETS:   any links you don't see, let me know! And email me for more info on food intolerances/allergies.

PLACES TO ORDER:

http://www.glutenfree.com/

http://www.glutenfreemall.com/

http://www.glutino.com/english/interieur/index.cfm?myMenu=products

http://edwardandsons.com

http://www.mrsleeperspasta.com/

http://www.pamelasproducts.com/Products_frames.html

http://whatnowheat.com/    No food products.

http://enjoylifefoods.com/

http://shopbydiet.com/

http://www.bobsredmill.com/catalog/index.php?action=express

   all kinds of stuff for baking, supplies, flours, dried fruits, everything.

* http://www.allergygrocery.com    can search by allergy

http://www.food4celiacs.com    to order a range of food

if you're in the CT area, check out:

http://shaynabsandthepickle.com   get the Wendy's! Now you can order online!

glutenfreeexpert.com

Allrecipes.com has a gluten free section!

foodnetwork.com just search for gluten free/dairy free, etc.

epicurious.com   just search for gluten free/dairy free, etc.

http://gfgreatbakes.com

http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/       blog

http://www.samisbakery.com/products/breads/ best breads!

http://byebyegluti.com has all kinds of pasta/gnocchi/pizza to try.

http://bobandruths.com   trips/cruises for gluten free people!

http://aglutenfreeguide.com    awesome blog with all kinds of help.

http://www.foodallergybuddy.com/ (can get free allergy cards to pass out)

http://bakeryonmain.com

schar.com breads, rolls, baked goods. Can’t find elsewhere yet?

Soy jerkey original flavor, yummy.

http://www.veganessentials.com/ (they have sharkies!)

http://www.veganstore.com/index-store.html?parentid=2&deptid=17063

http://www.sheltons.com/ turkey jerkey, yummy.  Available at Fairway

Contespasta.com frozen markets.

http://www.samisbakery.com/products/breads/  best breads!

http://www.katzglutenfree.com/   my new favorite bread products! (contains egg)

You can search for gluten free (or any free) recipes at foodnetwork.com, epicurious.com, morethangourmet.com or any other recipe site! 

Thanksgiving For Food Allergies

I know it's a little early, but I can not believe that Thanksgiving is 2 months away. And all this talk of food allergies suggests I should give away some of my secrets for a successful Thanksgiving meal for you and all your restricted diets friends and family.

Every year my boyfriend and I do Thanksgiving for a bunch of our, "orphan" friends. About 14-16 people in our small apt and even smaller kitchen. We cook all but the desserts ourselves. Here's the challenge:

•  I'm allergic to wheat, milk, eggs, and chocolate.

•  I have 2 friends lactose free.

•  1 friend who doesn't eat pork.

•  at least 1 vegetarian.

•  We've had a vegan join us one year.

• And a vegetarian friend who was on a sugar free diet.

When the email invites go out, I ask for all food restrictions. Then we work around what we can and can't do, making sure there are plenty of food choices for everyone.
 The turkey gets made without butter. Just oil.
 We make 2 kinds of stuffing (one Gluten Free, one not). The prep is the same and then divided into 2 pans with different bread.
 My boyfriend made homemade ravioli for the vegetarians, whole wheat for the Sugar Free one.
 One year, we made 3 gravies: 1 regular, 1 gluten free, 1 vegan from mushrooms (make ahead).
 He makes homemade crescent rolls, white and wheat. I eat a gluten free version.
 I made a ton of vegan veggies and salad, to make up for the uber fattening ones he makes with a ton of butter and sugar. (I like roasted veggies like brussel sprouts, broccoli, asparagus).

That way, you have plenty of choice, no one feels deprived, and if you want to eat healthily, you can. The guests bring desserts and by the time I'm done eating, I'm not tempted by the chocolate...I'm too full.

Some party tips:

• If you're making a buffet table, the day before, line up the hot pads and utensils with a little post it saying each dish. Then you know where each dish will go, what utensils you need, and if you have enough room. 
• Do prepping in stages. Our kitchen is tiny, so I make all veggies the night before, cooked to about 90%. Then at the last minute, I microwave them to heat them through, cooking the rest of the way. That way, I'm not using the oven when my boyfriend needs it and everything's hot at once. 
• On the buffet, always put healthy items first. That way people fill up on the good stuff, and hopefully only eat a little of the more decadent food. 
• Throughout the year, we save the take out containers so that at the end of Thanksgiving, we can give away some leftovers to our guests, and the container doesn't need to come back. Otherwise, freeze some if you have too much. Don't eat the same dishes for a week! 
• and the biggest tip: MAKE LISTS! Make time lines for cooking and setting up. Leave room in your schedule to prepare so you're not stressed out. And always allow for extra time.

If you haven't seen my 1 minute pitch on youtube, please watch here!
share, comment, LIKE and spread the word please.
And please read the ingredients of your food. If you don't know what something is...don't eat it. 

I think it's important that someone with food allergies tells the host, in advance (for Thanksgiving, at least 2 weeks in advance) what the allergies are. No one wants to hurt someone else, or limit them, or embarrass them. So email or call them and offer to bring dishes for everyone, that you know you can safely eat. Communication is key. And education is important. So eat up! And very happy Thanksgiving.