Gluten Free (not taste free) Pizza

Pizza is absolutely my favorite food. Growing up on the East Coast it was a staple in my diet. Friday night was pizza night. And during the Summer months, pizza was lunch...everyday! So when I found out I couldn't eat gluten (wheat) and cheese, my first thought was, "no pizza?" The year after I was diagnosed with food sensitivities, I continued to eat pizza. And I paid for it. Migraine headaches, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, vomiting...bad news bears.

For many years, I went without pizza (insert sad song here). Well, that's not entirely true. I ate "regular" pizza and umm, no need to go into further details about the outcome. I tried some gluten free pizza options, but to be honest, they tasted like cardboard. But that was years ago. The good news is that there are now several gluten free pizza options in the marketplace! For those of you with wheat intolerance, wheat allergies, or gluten sensitivity (celiac disease), one of the best resources out there is http://www.celiac.com/. Check out some gluten free pizza recipes by clicking here.

There are also several easy gluten free pizza crust products available to make your own pizza at home. Arrowhead Mills, Bob's Red Mill, and Namaste Foods are three great options.

So for all of you gluten intolerant pizza lovers out there, there's hope. Pizza does not need to be a distant memory. Nor does it have to taste like cardboard. Healthy, delicious options are available at the click of your mouse.

Breastfeeding Doesn't Suck

I read an article today in the LA Times stating that infants introduced to solid foods before 4 months of age had a six-fold increase in the odds of being obese at age 3. There are plenty of other obstacles in life that increase the risk of obesity. Introducing solid food too soon should not be one of them. So, I decided to write a short piece on why breastfeeding doesn't suck.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of breastfeeding. Infants who are breast fed have a decreased risk of developing eczema, asthma, and allergies. Breastfeeding enhances immune function and infants who are breastfed have a decreased risk of illnesses and infections. But that's not all...Breastfed infants have been shown to have greater intelligence - higher IQ, greater cognitive development, and greater social development. They have better dental health, decreased risk of developing diabetes and a decreased risk of cancer. For all of you skeptics out there, click here to check out a website that has sources (from peer reviewed medical journals) for all of the above information.

Breastfeeding also has some benefits for mothers who breastfeed. Moms who breastfeed have a decreased risk of developing cancer (breast, ovarian, endometrial, uterine), better emotional health (less anxiety), and a decreased risk of developing osteoporosis.

So to all of you early food interventionists and anti-breastfeeding groupies out there, I have two words for you: SUCK IT !