2014 Reflections - Best of the Year - Top 5

During 2013, we learned a ton about the digestive health of this family. And with it came a long line of diet restrictions and changes. So our diets have evolved. They have been refined and tweaked and then re-tweaked as we figured out what worked, and didn't work, with our bodies. 2013 has been a year of experimentation and learning.  Of listening. Of feeling. And of taking action.

So my recipes were a bit inconsistent as I figured out what diet would work best for me. For instance, I kept trying to keep dairy in my diet. I finally resigned my self to the fact that it DOES NOT AGREE WITH ME. Or my kids. Yes, its is delicious and its hard to give up. Yes, life goes on.

I have done the Wheat Belly Diet, Paleo, Clean Gut and Candida diet. I got my food sensitivity panels re-run and confirmed I have a sensitivity to banana's, whey, yogurt and yeast.

Basically, I generally follow a Low Carb diet - one that is gluten, dairy, caffeine and sugar free as much as possible. And I avoid grains, for myself, when I can. Sugar is without a double my biggest weakness. What I struggle with every day. Sometimes it feels like every minute.

My daughter has different sensitivities. Plus - she's a kid. She can handle more carbs. But she has a nasty case of leaky gut and food sensitivities to everything (gluten, sugar, eggs, dairy, peanuts, soy............etc). So I make some higher carb recipes for her that are generally gluten-free and vegan.

I know it has been a bit confusing if you are trying to follow my recipes and prefer to stick to a single type of diet. My RECIPE INDEX or RECIPAGE is the best place to browse all of my recipes.  Or if you are a visual person (like me) you might want to just check out my PINTEREST recipe board.

At the end of the day you need to adjust any "diet" to what WORKS FOR YOUR OWN BODY. We are all different. So at the very least I hope I have given you some ideas. And I will keep giving you ideas in 2014. Because I get bored with eating the same things all the time.

Anyway, here is a little snapshot of the best of 2013. Its hard to pick..................

1. Most "LIKED" and "SHARED" recipe on the Internet:

This one has dairy in the recipe and mushrooms. So I make it Candida and Mama-diet friendly by omitting the cheese (on my half) and leaving out the mushrooms. But a great base recipe!

2. QUICKEST & EASIEST recipe for a Weeknight Meal:

Great topped on a salad.
Even my hubby can do this. Enough said. 

3. BEST COOKIE

I love these cookies. They save me from devouring other "illegal" sweets.
Or they did before I went off the rails. 

4. Best LOAF

I ate so much of this. Sometimes I use pumpkin instead of zucchini.
Just as good.  I make a double batch and then freeze in individual servings so I always have a grab and go snack ready to take with me.

5. Most FREQUENTLY EATEN (drank) Recipe

I probably averaged one of these (or some variation thereof) about 5 or 6 times a week. Almost everyday. They are super tasty, portable and satisfying. Sometimes I make them the night before, freeze and then just take it to work with me for an afternoon snack. 

That's just a quick snapshop. Only 5 of the over 100 recipes I developed this year. Yikes. 

So here's to 2013. A year that was full of experimentation and lessons. Now I KNOW what my body likes and what it doesn't. No more excuses. 2014 should be easier if I just stick to what I know - no dairy, no sugar, no caffeine and no grains. 

Some would say no fun. Not me. I get to keep experimenting with recipes. And I get to be the best, most energetic version of myself. Or keep trying to be.

What are you going to do in 2014? Do you feel your best? 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!