Category: Uncategorized

Snacking is often mentioned as a challenge number one, when it comes to switching to healthy eating. Many students of our Healthy Cooking School share, that they manage to stick to healthy lunches and dinners, but craving for snacks (especially if they work in an office)  is something that they really struggle to take control of.

But, wait, is snacking really that bad at all? 

For example, Ayurvedic nutrition explains that everyone’s body is different, and hence, while snacking is the worst idea for one person, it can be not at all as bad for another. 

The problem with snacks, of course, lies not just in a snacking habit as such, but with the types of foods that we end up consuming in large quantities. Large bags of chips, waffles, chocolates, cookies, store bought crackers – all these items are loaded with salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, artificial flavours and other unwanted additives. These things are not “just” unhealthy – they are simply harmful.

What if there was a way to satisfy your snacking craving in an easy and healthy way? 

Here, we put together a list of 50 healthy snacks, that don’t require any cooking, which you can always have around, and help yourself when it is needed. 

1.Nuts, roasted or activated

Nuts are the most filling of snacks, full of protein and vitamins. Make sure to roast or soak them before consuming, otherwise they might become a little too heavy for your digestion system. 

2. Dry Fruits

Dry fruits are a great snack for a sweet tooth. Try to buy organic dry fruits, that don’t have added oils, sweeteners or sulfites.

3. Nut Butters

Peanut butter or almond butter are two classic options They can be enjoyed on their own, or with your favourite fruits or vegetables. 

4. Popcorn

Many people consider popcorn to be an unhealthy snack. However, as long as it is homemade (preferably from organic corn) and doesn’t have extra salt and flavour enhancers, popcorn is one of the healthiest and most enjoyable snacks.

5. Frozen Green Peas, spiced

It will take just a couple of minutes to stir fry or steam the frozen green peas. You can add some garlic, salt and olive oil, or go wild with spices, to add an extra flavour boost.

6. Energy Balls

Energy balls are usually made of dry fruits, nuts and seeds. They are very easy to make and have loads of nutrition (in our Healthy Desserts Course we dedicate one whole chapter to energy balls and bars)

7. Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread is the only bread you should be eating. It’s very nutritious, easy to digest, and rarely has the negative effects that we know from the store bought bread, made with commercial yeast. Enjoy it on its own or turn into a sandwich. 

8. Celery Sticks

There are a few vegetables that can satisfy your craving for something savoury – and celery is definitely one of them! In fact, celery is sometimes used as a salt replacement, so it really gives a great desired kick for your taste buds. 

9. Frozen Green Beans, Spiced

SImilar to frozen green peas, frozen green beans are a wonderful option for a comforting and even a slightly spicy snack, if you like. Just stir fry them or steam them slightly. 

10. Bananas with Nut Butters

Bananas are fantastic on its own, but if you add some nut butter, or even a bit of dark chocolate, then it takes the whole sweet snacking idea to a whole different level. 

11. Fruit Leather

If you haven’t heard about the fruit leather, you are truly missing out.  It’s a savour for those who love sweets and chewy consistency, something like gummy bears (we are teaching  it in our Healthy Desserts Course as well, by the way)

12. Hummus

Hummus need no introduction. Made from chickpea (or sometimes from other types of beans), it can even replace you an entire meal.

13. Fruit Chips

Fruit chips are basically crispy dehydrated fruits, that you can either buy or make it yourself. Fruits are so flavourful on their own, that no other additives are needed to make them enjoyable. 

14. Carrots

If you are brave enough to carry a carrot peeler around, this snack can always stay super fresh, wherever you go. It’s also lots of fun to eat the whole carrot, crunchy and orange, and it can make people around you smile, as well 😉 

15.Peanut butter

Peanut butter deserves a separate category, because there are endless ways to flavour it and eat it! It can satisfy both your sweet and salty cravings, depending on what kind of spice, flavour or sweetener you decide to add to it.

16. Chickpeas, Spiced

Boiled chickpeas can be enjoyed just like that, on their own. But it’s also very easy to give them some extra flavour with a bit of spice, fresh herbs, or maybe with a tiny bit of flavoured oil.

17. Brown Chickpeas, Roasted

Roasted chickpeas are crunchy and filling, in other words, they are a perfect snack. Brown chickpeas are even a better option for this type of a recipe.

18. Apples, Plain or with Nut Butters

Apples are the best fruit “to go” because you don’t need to peel it, and it never gets mashy (unlike bananas, for example). To make them more filling, pair with a nut butter of choice.

19. Radishes

Red round radishes will give you a refreshing crunch. Because of their vibrant pink  color they can also give you some extra energy even by just looking at them (yes, colors in your food do matter!)

20. Cherry Tomatoes

Juicy, easy to carry and to eat, cherry tomatoes are a perfect snack. THey are also a wonderful addition to other snacks, like a sourdough sandwich.

21. Frozen Grapes

Frozen grapes are an amazing treat and we really recommend to always have them in your fridge. Luckily, most offices have no fridges as well, so you can enjoy it at work, too!

22. Organic Puffed Rice

Puffed rice is very light, and can satisfy your desire to munch on something crunchy. You can roast it and combine with spices, to turn into a much more interesting snack.

23. Organic Puffed Barley

Barley is another great option for puffed cereal, which will have more nutrition than puffed rice, but it is also a little less easy to digest. 

24. Rice Cakes (plain, unsalted)

Some people call it rice cakes, but basically it’s also puffed rice, made into a cracker. Tastes wonderfully with toppings like hummus.

25. Napa Cabbage

Crunchy and non-messy, napa cabbage is a powerhouse of nutrition. It is also juicy, and is a wonderful option for those who don’t like dry snacks.

26. Rice Paper Rolls

Anything can be rolled in rice paper: your favourite vegetables, fruits and even hummus. There are no rules, just choose the ingredients you love the most, and the rice paper will hold them together.

27. Cucumbers

If you manage to get a hold of tiny cucumbers, that are also very sweet in flavour, then you don’t even need to cut them. Besides, cucumbers are also a perfect option for hydration, and suit best for those who live in hot climates.

28. Broccoli Florets

Broccoli florets are another option of no cook fresh vegetable snacks. Just beware that for some people broccoli might not be as easy to digest (Ayurvedic nutrition goes into big detail on this matter!).

29. Avocado Toast

Avocado toast must be one of the most trending breakfasts in the world, and for a good reason: it’s very easy to make and keeps you full for a long time, thanks to its healthy fat content. For the same reason, it makes a wonderful snack as well.

30. Zucchini with a Dip

You can have zucchini both raw and grilled, whatever you prefer. It goes best with creamy and cheesy dips, as well as with hummus.

31. Flatbread with a spice dip

Make flatbread yourself or find a good artisan producer, and your snack problem is set. YOu can flavour it with various spices, herbs and dips.

32. Crunchy Seaweed

Seaweed was declared to be one of the most powerful superfoods. Good news is that you don’t even need to cook it before eating.

33. Berries

A bowl of berries in season is one of the most powerful health boosters. It is best not to mix berries with anything else, that’s why they are simply a perfect snack.

34. Frozen Banana Ice Cream

Ice cream made from frozen bananas is a satisfying and nutritious snack, that is the best option you can imagine for summer. You can premake it and keep it in a freezer in your office, and avoid sweet ice cream cravings during the day that way  (this type of ice creams is covered in detail in our Vegan Ice Cream Masterclass).

35. Dates with Sweet Stuffing

Dates make a great snack on their own, but if you add some almond butter or tahini inside, then it will be even more satisfying and will keep you full for longer.

36. Edamame or Fresh Green Pea

Edamame or fresh green peas are not just delicious, they are also great fun to eat.

37. Fresh Coconut Flesh

Coconuts are one of those inexpensive nutritious bombs, that are often overlooked on the supermarket shelves. People feel intimidated because they have to break them, ut it is much easier that it seems.

38. Kale Chips

Fresh raw kale might not be enjoyed by everyone, but nicely spiced kale chips turn this health food into one of the most delicious snacks ever.

39. Stuffed Avocado

Just take an avocado, cut it in half and add lemon juice, spices, or any favourite seeds on top. You can make it even nicer with some sliced cucumber and tomato. 

40. Olives

Olives are full of healthy fats, and will help you to stay full for longer. Choose the ones that were made in salty brie or in oil, without and additives. Pair with sourdough bread or rice crackers to balance the salt.

41. Spiced Peanuts

Did you know that peanuts are actually legumes? Which means that you can enjoy the same health benefits when eating them, but literally need no time for cooking them? Add your favourite spices to make this snack irresistible

42. Roasted and Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

Roast pumpkin seeds with cinnamon and a dash of sugarcane sugar, and you will not ever want any sweet snack again. Add some chilli and sal again, and here you go, your unhealthy chips craving will be satisfied immediately.

43. Chia Seed Pudding

Soak chia seeds in coconut milk and add your favourite fruit on top – here it is, your snack is ready! And it can be made even at your own desk.

44. Watermelon or Melon

During hot summer season, there is no better snack than watermelon and melon. For digestion, it’s better not to ix melons and watermelons with anything else, so it’s a wonderful snack during the day.

45. Granola

Homemade granola, or handmade organic granola are some of the best snacks you can have during the day. Pair with a bit of coconut yoghurt, and it will turn into an entire meal.

46. Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is crunchy and refreshing, and is a great alternative for those who are tired of cucumbers and celery.

47. Ripe Pears with Walnuts

Pears are often baked to increase the sweetness, but if you have no time to cook, just pick the ripest pear possible, top them with some walnuts or pecan nuts, and your healthy snack is ready.

48. Dark Chocolate

There is a huge difference between different types of chocolates. While sugary chocolate bars will do you no good, the true dark chocolate actually has a lot of health benefits, as long as its consumed in moderation.

49. Baked Potato Wedges or Sweet Potato

There is something satisfying about potato. Don’t reach out for potato chips or French fries, try to make some easy baked potato wedges at home, and take them with you to office.

50. Mango or Pineapple with Spices (red chilli powder, black pepper, jeera etc.)

This is a very typical snack in Mexico in India: take any sour fruit and spice it up. It is a great idea for hotter climates, as well. 

If you are ready to invest some time in meal prep, then there are also lots of wonderful ideas for healthy snacks, that you can make ahead in your own kitchen, and enjoy for many days to come. Check out the Sesame Brittle or Chocolate Tahini Bars, or take a look at our YouTube Channel for more unique ideas of Healthy Snacks.

In this article we are going to give you an overview of best quality pans and pots that can make your daily healthy cooking much easier. The characteristics of a pan and its (non)toxicity depend on the material that was used to make it, as well as on the quality of the material. 

Even though we will focus on the frying pans, we will also touch upon the utensils that are used for baking and boiling, as almost always the same safety principles apply regardless the method of cooking.

We categorized the pans, keeping the basic principles of healthy cooking, so they have to match the following criteria: 

• allow to cook with as little oil as possible
• shouldn’t release any toxic chemicals into the food during food preparation
• the cooking surface should be durable, it shouldn’t be damaged easily

Let’s take a look at the materials that are commonly used for cooking pans, and which of them a the best, non-toxic option for healthy cooking. 

The safest cooking pans: 

Cast iron pans

If you asked me to name you one, the most durable, and the healthiest cooking pan material, I would say cast iron. In fact, it’s a traditional material that’s been used in many regions in the world for centuries. It’s perfect for cooking on fire and on gas, and besides cooking in it on the stove,  you can also put it into the oven (as long as no other materials are used for handles). Cast iron pans are perfect for slow cooking as well. 

This is also a material that doesn’t leak any chemicals in your food, even if the surface gets slightly damaged. It can, however, “leak” iron into your food, though the amount is safe for consumption. In fact, some experts recommend cooking in cast iron for people that have iron deficiency, as small amounts of iron are transferred to food. 

From the cooking prospective, cast iron pans cook very fast and even, because of its weight and heat distribution.

Some cooking blogs  claim that cast iron is a non stick, but it’s not exactly true and will depend a lot on your stove. Cast iron might be not the best choice if you try to cook without oil completely, but it’s great if you want to cook with a minimum amount of fat.

Here are some recommended cast iron pans: 

Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inch (Lodge)

Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Cooker Combo (Kookantage)

Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet with Wooden Handle, 9.4 Inch (Carl Victor)

Carbon steel

Carbon steel is also considered to be the safest material. and it has similar qualities to cast iron. This type of material is often the choice number one by professional chefs, because it can last literally forever, and when it’s season right, it also has non-stick capabilities. Carbon steel, however, is more expensive than cast iron, and this can be seen as the biggest disadvantage of this material

Here are some recommended carbon steel pans

Carbon Steel Non-Stick Fry Pan, 9.5 inch (Mauviel)

Carbon Steel Fry Pan, 11 inch (De Buyer)

Stainless steel

Stainless steel, along with cast iron, is usually the choice number one for professional kitchens, as they can literally last forever. You will find a bit of controversial information about the safety of stainless steel, yet it will be the material most of the cooking pots are made of, including pressure cookers. 

Although the risk is minimal, poorly constructed stainless steel cookware can potentially leach a small amount of nickel into food (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4284091/). So, the most important  thing when choosing a stainless steel pot is its quality, as the brand you choose should guarantee that it used a good quality material, but not the scrape metals. 

From a cooking point of view, stainless steel of course has a big downside, because without oil the surface mill become very sticky. So, it suits best for the non-frying cooking methods, including cooking with water, even if just with a very small amount. If you want to stir fry, for example, at least a small amount of oil use will be inevitable. 

Here are some recommended stainless steel pans: 

Generally safe cooking pans, but need special care:

Ceramic-coated pans

Generally, ceramic surface is very safe for cooking. Here, it’s important to note that most of the pans that are sold as ceramic, or with a ceramic coating are actually made from aluminium base. Basically,  a pan is shaped from aluminium, and then it’s dipped into the coating. It means that if the surface gets damaged (for example, scratched or cracked), you risk exposure to aluminium. If you choose a high quality pan with thick ceramic coating, of course, the risk of damage is much smaller. With this type of coating it’s very important to take a good care of the pan. Be careful when using it on an electric stove, that reach very high temperatures very fast (extreme heat can damage the surface). Wash it without a scrubber and only use wooden or silicon spatulas when cooking.

Depending o the quality of the surface, ceramic-coated pans can be used for cooking without oil, as they have non-stick properties.

Here are some recommended ceramic-coated pans: 

Granite pans

A great alternative for classic ceramic-coated pans are granite cookware, and this is the type that we use in our kitchen a lot. To be precise, “granite” pans are not actually made of granite. It’s a different type of a ceramic coating, that resembles granite by its look. 

When the surface is of a good quality, I personally found the surface much sturdier than  a classic ceramic pan. Moreover, in most cases food doesn’t stick to the surface even if you cook without oil. 

Here are some recommended granite pans: 

Enamel pans

Enamel pans are a truly traditional cookware and can be found in many grandmothers’ kitchens. This surface is safe, as long as it’s maintained in a good condition. Some enamel pans are actually made of cast iron, so this can be a good option to minimize the risks. Keep in mind that some lower-priced enamel cookware, which resembles porcelain-enamel, has an enamel finish that can be damaged very easily.

Unfortunately, the enamel pans are not the best option for cooking without oil, the surface is quite sticky. It is, however, a good choice for boiling and baking in the oven. 

Here are some recommended enamel pans: 

Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, 10 inch (CAVANI)

Enameled Cast Iron (Klee)

This was an overview of the best cooking pans with the focus on frying, cooking without oil and boiling. If you are looking for the safest materials for baking, than take a look at fully ceramic (clay) cookware and consider baking on stone. We will be covering these materials in further articles. 

There is an incredible choice of ice cream makers available in the market, and you might spend weeks trying to choose the right one and trying to figure out, which features are important for you. These precious hours of summer, which is always not long enough, are always best spent eating the ice cream, instead of figuring out how to make it!

If you are considering to get an ice cream machine for yourself or as a gift, you came to the right place to learn all you want about best ice cream makers in a few minutes. We’d love to help you save your precious time, but still make the right choice for a type of a machine, that  fits your budget and your needs best.

First, we are sharing our general recommendations for the easier choice of the right equipment, but it you just want to see our list of the Top 5 ice cream makers, than simply scroll to the bottom of the article.

What to look for when choosing and Ice Cream Maker

Ice cream maker is an ice cream maker, it just should make the best ice cream possible, doesn’t it? Well, it’s just a tiny bit more complicated than that. There are a few features you should look at when choosing an ice cream machine, and I’m not talking just about its price and size. Here are the key points you should consider, before deciding which purchase is right for you.

Ice cream, gelato or sorbet?

All of these three options (ice cream, gelato and sorbet) have different consistency. Usually, cheaper ice cream machines have limited features and will allow you to create treats only with one consistency. Make sure that you are happy with what exactly they can make.

Can you clean it easily?

This could be an overlooked issue when it comes to the choice of ice cream makers. It can, however, be compared to juicers: one can get super excited about the result it creates, but cleaning it might become a real nightmare! Choose the machine that will not add you any extra household work.

How long does it take to make ice cream?

We won’t lie, you might need to wait a while until you can sample your final product. That said, some ice cream makers are faster than the others, with average time for churning around 30-60 minutes. It does not end there, however: many quick ice cream makers will produce a rather soft mixture at the end, that will need to spend several hous in the feezer until it starts resemble a store/bought ice crem. If you have a little more to give away, it is worth investing in a more expensive, but a faster machine.

How noisy is it?

As we know already, creating your frozen treat does take a while. So, for some households it might be really important, that thee is no continious noise for one hour straigh. Pay attention at the noise level that the ice cream maker produces, and if you can tolerate it.

How about the warranty?

If you are targeting more expensive ice cream makers, make sure that it has good technical support, or that it’s even available in your country (it might not always be the case!).

How much ice cream can it produce at a time?

Don’t rely on the pictures, but make sure that you check the exact quantity of ice cream the machine can produce at a time. If you have a big family, or hope to prepare treats for big celebrations, a possibility of creating large volume of ice cream at a time can be crucial. Remember, it can take 1 hour to make a batch, and there are only that many hours in a day.

Top 5 Ice Cream Makers

(we are partnering with Amazon, which means that if you make a purchase by clicking on one of the links, we will get a tiny percentage of the sale, it is crucial to keep this blog up and running. That said, our opinion here is neither influenced nor sponsored by any particular brands, and this overview is as objective as it can be)

1. Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream and Gelato Maker

   Price: $207.99 +

   Makes: 1.5 quart

What we love about it:

• It can make gelato, ice cream and sorbet, which means it can achieve different consistencies
• It’s fully automatic, with a timer
• It will keep your ice cream cool for another hour after it’s ready, even if you forgot about it
• It’s BPA free
• It has commercial-style compressor (meaning it can keep making your ice cream non-stop)
• You can add toppings and extra flavours during the freezing process, without interrupting it
• Takes only about 45-50 minutes to make it to the right consistency
• It’s not very noisy

What’s not so cool:

• Removing ice cream from it might be a challenge
• It’s quite heavy and bulky
• Cleaning some parts of it is not easy

See it on Amazon

2. Breville BCI600XL Smart Scoop Ice Cream Maker
Price: $44.99 +
Makes: 1.5 quarts

What we love about it:

• It can make all possible types of frozen treats, including ice cream, gelato, sorbet, frozen yoghurt etc.
• Keeps ice cream cool for up to 3 hours after it’s ready
• Has both automatic and manual regimes, thus offers flexibility for the desired final product
• Extremely easy to use
• BPA free and has a child lock
• Very reliable brand

What’s not so cool:

• It’s quite pricey
• It’s bulky and heavy
• The machine is rather noisy

See it on Amazon

3. White Mountain Appalachian Series Wooden Bucket Electric Ice Cream Maker, 4-Quart (PBWMIME412-SHP)

Price: $174.80 +
Makes: 4 quarts

What we love about it:

• Gorgeous and eco-friendly design, with a stainless-steel bowl inside and a wooden bucket outside
• Makes a really big batch of ic cream at a time (4 quarts), thus it’s pefct for parties and big gatherings
• Very easy to clean
• It’s an established and famous brand of ice makers, has an excellent reputation of creating a perfect consistency ice cream

What’s not so cool:

• Extremely noisy

See it on Amazon

4. Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker
Price: $65.99 +
Makes: 2 quarts

What we love about it:

• Great price
• Made from stainless steel, BPA free
• Very easy to use and to clean up
• Very fast: takes only 25 minutes to make the ice cream

What’s not so cool:

• At times ice cream comes out significantly softer than you’d like it to be for serving

See it on Amazon

5. KitchenAid KICA0WH Ice Cream Maker Attachment
Price: $44.99 +
Makes: 2 quarts

What we love about it:

• Price! If you have KitchenAid already, this is a great machine if you are looking for a budget option
• It will not take much extra space in your kitchen (once again, given that you own a Kitchen Aid at this point already)
• Takes just 20-30 minutes to make the ice cream
• It’s really easy to clean

What’s not so cool:

• To use it you’ll need to have Kitchen Aid already
• Some people reported earlier that the blue gel leaks during the churning processMight need additional equipment to achieve the perfect result

See it on Amazon

After seeing all the options you might feel that an ice cream maker is too much of an investment, or  may be that your kitchen is packed enough already to add one more gadget to it. In this case, take a look at our No Churn Vegan Ice Cream Masterclass, which gives you great techniques and recipes to make frozen treats without an ice cream maker. Everything we cover in the Masterclass is also dairy-free and refined sugar-free. Even though these are not your conventional ice creams, they are much healthier and easier to make, and they are packed with nutrition too!

Related Article: What Vegan Ice Cream  is Made of?

 

 

Meal planning online courses can be a great help for those who want to embrace healthy eating, but have little time for daily cooking and shopping. Usually, they include meal planning templates, calendars and different tools to ease the process of meal preparation.

Online programmes from our top list offer different approaches to meal planning. Some of them focus on building your personal meal plan from scratch, giving special attention to its nutritional value. Some give you ready-made solutions for weight loss and muscle building, and some simply offer necessary cooking skills and hacks. Regardless of their focus, all these online courses offer great solution that will make your life in the kitchen easier and your diet healthier.

1. Nutrition Masterclass: Build Your Perfect Diet & Meal Plan

This best-selling course can be especially interesting for those who are interested in meal planning for weight loss and muscle building. The instructor Felix Harder, a Health and Fitness coach, teaches his students to create a meal plan of their own. He also introduces healthy dieting and explains common dieting trends.

2. Meal Planning and Food Prep for Real Life

This course is the best solution for those who want to introduce meal planning into their every day life. You will learn to plan, shop, portion and package food in a way that makes sense for you and your family. Instead of teaching what exactly you should eat, the instructor covers practical skills for meal planning and preparation.

3. Meal Planning Masterclass: Create Your Own Meal Plan

One more best-selling course for those who are into muscle building and weight loss, offered by a bodybuilder. It teaches to design a meal plan around your schedule and lifestyle, without excluding your favourite foods. As a special bonus, it even includes cheat meal tips and strategies.

4. Internationally Accredited Diploma in Diet Planning

If you are looking at meal plans from a professional point of view, this might be just the right program for you. Upon completion you can earn an Internationally Accredited Diploma Certificate in Diet Planning and Weight Management’ certified by CPD Certification Service. It offers 72 lectures and almost 4 hours of video materials that teach all you need to create perfect diet and nutrition plans.

5. Vegan Nutrition: Build Your Plant Based Diet & Meal Plan

If you are following a vegan diet, then this course might be just what you are looking for. It will help you understand the fundamentals of vegan dieting (calories, protein, carbs, fat, vitamins & minerals) and create a plant-based diet that is perfect for your needs and lifestyle. This course also focuses on fat loss and muscle building.

6. Paleo Dave Method: Techniques to Master Weekly Meal Prep!

This course is not taught from a perspective of a nutritionist or a health coach, it is taught from a perspective of a professional chef. The instructor will share with you real kitchen secrets to make your meal preparation easier and more efficient. This program focuses on Paleo Diet.

7. The Mediterranean Meal Plan – Never Say DIEt. LIVE it!

The mediterranean diet is believed to be one of the healthiest in the world and many centenarians (people who live over 100 years) are found in the Mediterranean region. This course explained the concept of the Mediterranean Diet and teaches ways to follow it in your every day life.

8. Quick and Healthy Make-Ahead Japanese Meals and Side Dishes

This course derives inspiration from the Japanese cuisine, which is known for its healthy dishes. It focuses on easy make-ahead meals and is full for wonderful ideas for any healthy kitchen.

Do you follow any particular meal plans? Share with us in the comments!

 

Check Out Our Online Programs:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Gluten-free bloggers from our list opted for a gluten-free lifestyle for a good reason, and often it was not their own free choice. Most of them were either diagnosed with Celiac disease themselves or had to live with severe food allergies of their family members. All of them follow different diets: on this list you will find vegan bloggers, as well as those who follow keto or paleo diets, or just simply live without gluten and sugar, without giving it a special name.

Regardless, in each blog you will find plenty of delicious gluten-free recipes, motivation and resources for a healthy gluten-free lifestyle.

1.Gluten Free Follow Me

Gluten Free Follow Me, a creation by Jackie Aanonsen McEwan, is ore than just a blog – it’s a proper guide to gluten-free life. On her website you will find recipes, products and over 2000 gluten-free eateries.

2. No Gluten, No Problem

This blog is created by Pete and Kelli Bronski, a husband-and-wife team. No Gluten, No Problem received multiple awards as a top allergy and gluten-free blog, and for a good reason. Their website is full of delicious gluten-free recipes.

3. Gluten Free Easily

Shirley Braden leads a gluten intolerance / celiac support group, and she set up this blog to share the information with the group. She shares gluten-free recipes as well as tips on how to lead a gluten-free life.

4. The Spunky Coconut

By changing the nutrition Kelly V. Brozyna could dramatically improve the health condition of all members of her family. She creates gluten-free and Paleo dishes that are similar to conventional wheat/dairy/refined sugar recipes – you can find them on her website and in her cookbooks. 

5. This Mess is Ours

Meg van der Kruik, the creator of This Mess is Ours, has a true challenge: she cooks for a vegetarian and three meat-eaters with a range of gluten and dairy sensitivities. She shares her recipes on the blog, which accompanied by absolutely amazing photography

6. Noshtastic

Sheena’s blog is unique because it features recipes for different types of diets, while staying gluten-free. Thus, you will find gluten-free food ideas for paleo diet, whole 30 recipes, keto diet and low carb recipes.

7. Gluten-Free on a Shoestring

Nicole Hunn, the author of 4 cookbooks, focuses on making a gluten-free diet affordable for everyone. If you consider gluten-free food to be too expensive then her cost-saving recipes will change it.

8. The Gluten Free Lifesaver

The Gluten Free Lifesaver is created and managed by Kristine Ofstad, a coeliac. She features easy and yummy recipes and product reviews. If you are into food blogging yourself, then Kristine can offer you professional help in this niche as well.

9. Spoonful of Health

Dawn Wicks Rofrano, the author of Spoonful of Health is a health coach in Natural Medicine Clinic, where she works along with her husband, a Chiropractic Physician. Her blog is not specifically dedicated to gluten-free lifestyle, but her recipes are free of gluten, grain, dairy and soy. She also shares general health and nutrition tips.

10. Strength and Sunshine

Rebecca, the author of Strength and Sunshine, is a Celiac advocate, healthy allergy-friendly food blogger and a yogi. She shares amazing gluten-free recipes, which include plenty of cookies, breads, cakes and even doughnuts. 

11. CAFE (Celiac and Allergy Friendly Epicurean)

Jackie Ourman, a trained chef, had to switch her diet completely when her children, her mother and herself were diagnosed with life-threatening allergies. She shares gluten-free and allergy-friendly recipes and many useful resources.

12. Hold the Gluten

Maureen Stanley has been gluten-free since 2005. She is the creator of a famous podcast and on her website you will find loads of helpful gluten-free products recommendations, including cosmetics.

13. The Gluten Free Blogger

Sarah is a coeliac who makes gluten-free lifestyle fun! She loves food and calls herself a  “Professional Gluten Free Pizza Tester”. On her blog you will find products, recipes, eateries and even humour.

14. My Darling Lemon Thyme

Emma Galloway, the creator of My Darling Lemon Thyme, is a trained chef. When she took a break from work to take here of her newly born baby she discovered that her children, as well as her, suffer from gluten and lactose intolerance. Her blog is dedicated to “gluten-free vegetarian real food recipes, stories and tips on organic gardening”.

15. Goodie Goodie Gluten Free

Julie is a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach. Her website is devoted to “healthy original gluten-free & plant-based & free-from recipes, lifestyle articles, self-care tips, gluten-free reviews & spiritual growth.”

16. My Gluten-Free Kitchen

Michelle was diagnosed with a celiac disease in 2010. She loves baking and has a serious sweet tooth for cupcakes and cookies, so she had no choice, but to learn gluten-free baking.

17. Gluten-free Goddess

Karina, aka Gluten-Free Goddess, who discovered she was gluten-intolerant in 2001, shares an archive of 400 gluten-free recipes. We also love her FAQ session – it has a lot of useful tips for the basis of gluten-free lifestyle.

18. Gluten Free Sage

Jet, the creator of Gluten Free Sage, is sharing her 15 years of experience of living with Celiac disease. Her website is not just about recipes – it offers a real support for those who go through the same challenges and features tonnes of resources and motivation.

19. Eat Without Gluten

Sema is a college student who was diagnosed with Celiac and who makes a gluten-free lifestyle look really easy. Her blog provides “positive, practical, educational and insightful information on the gluten-free diet”.

20. BuenQamino

BuenQamino is a creation of Christina Kantzavelos, a world traveller who has been suffering from food allergies and an autoimmune disease since 2012. Her blog features Celiac, Gluten-Free, Allergen Friendly travel.   

And the best source for gluten-free travel available on internet is to be found on Legal Nomads, a blog, which we earlier featured in our Top 28 Food and Travel Bloggers.

Do you think we missed a great gluten-free blog? Let us know in the comments and we’ll be happy to add it!

 

Check Out Our Online Programs:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Giacomo Gati, a Sicilian producer of artisan vegetarian cheeses is doing even more important work than can seem at first glance. Through his work he is bringing back the old Roman traditions of cheese making and saving endangered Sicilian Girgentana goats from extinction.

Let us tell you his story.

 

Giacomo is a farmer’s son, who grew up close to the south coast of Sicily. It took him many years however until he settled in Campobello di Licata, his homeland, and started running a farm of his own.

When he was 17 he emigrated to Germany, pursuing better career opportunities as a mechanical engineer, but 10 years later a nostalgia for his native Sicilian countryside has brought him back.

Upon his return to Italy in 1979 he searched for Girgentana goats, whose milk taste he remembered since his childhood. In earlier times these gorgeous ancient goats with twisted horns were a common sight in Sicily. Shepherds would walk in the villages from house to house with their goats and sell fresh milk . But it was not the case anymore. At some point, there were around 30 000 Girgentana goats to be found in Sicily. But when Giacomo started his farm, there were only about 600 goats remaining.

 

 

The reason for the rapid decline of the goats population were the new sanitary rules imposed by the government. The goats were not allowed to enter the villages anymore and the farmers could not sell their milk easily. The only way to bring their population back was to make it financially viable to raise them. This is when Giacomo came up with an idea to start producing cheese from their milk.

There were many good reasons to bring milk from Girgentana goats back to the diet of Sicilians:

 

“The milk of this goat ‘capra Girgentana’ owns differents beneficials properties for the body and was the only type of milk which resembles at human milk, recommended for the diet of children and sick because it is low in cholesterol and easy to digests. Some researchers affirm that thanks to the Ubichinone coenzym, the milk of ‘capra Girgentana’ has an anti-tumor action. The goat’s milk also contains more selenium, zinc and iron than cow’s milk.”

 

The cheeses made in his small factory are unique not just because of the milk that they use.  Giacomo was not coming from a family of cheese-makers, and while it can seem as a disadvantage, it allowed him to experiment with different methods of production.

 

 

Most high-quality cheeses nowadays are made with animal rennet – an enzyme, that is derived from an animal (usually calf’s) stomach. In ancient times, however, rennets extracted from plants were used to coagulate cheese, but this knowledge is largely lost. Giacomo had to turn to ancient texts of Roman writers to find out the technique of cheese coagulation with the help of plants, and it took him many years of experimentation to come up with a perfect formula.

Some of the most common rennets that he uses are cardoons and milk from fig leaves. Both plants are growing all around Sicily in the wild.

 

 

One of the most flavourful cheeses was actually invented by mistake – without addition of any other enzymes to the milk at all. The coagulation was achieved thanks to the unique climate conditions, when a hot dry wind came to Sicily from the African coast.

 

 

The production of the cheese at Agricola Montalbo was taken over by a young couple from Licata,  Valeria Orlando and Davide Lonardo, who are carrying on and developing the traditions of ancient cheese-making.

You can find cheeses mentioned in this article here

 

Check Out Our Online Programs:

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]