Writing on a daily basis is much easier than trying to recap important events over the course of several months. Yet, for simplicity sake, please allow me to streamline:

I have stuck to the BTD principles as much as possible.

I offer all four-food groups at every meal in order to accommodate the different nutritional requirements of different family members (rice milk counts as dairy in my book.)

I have postponed a multitude of family responsibilities in order to prepare for my upcoming 3-day exam. (Personal Trainer Certification.)

I need to schedule 3 dentist appointments and two doctor appointments for family members.

I need to buy 3 family birthday gifts.

I need to Christmas shop.

And last but not least, I need to vent my frustration with AFAA (Aerobics Fitness Association of America.)

Why? Because they have cancelled my exam, and the next available exam is over three hours away from my home.

How incredibly inconvenient. I was notified 24 hours prior to the start of the workshop. Now of course, anything could have caused this. Perhaps the instructor fell ill. Perhaps I was the only participant who signed up for the exam and the workshop was no longer economical for the host. Whatever the reason, I find myself with little to show despite all of the effort and study time I have put into trying to prepare for this exam.

I am furious.

However……..

Maybe just maybe – there is a guardian angel trying to protect me from something. In the past, I have been severely disappointed by goals that fell through unexpectedly, but in the end it was a blessing in disguise. I suppose these challenges will only make my eventual success taste somewhat sweeter. (Ha – that’s the mature part of my brain talking. I am still furious.)

AFAA is going to be plagued by phone calls from me until I receive reassurance that my next scheduled exam WILL NOT BE cancelled!

Ok, ok – on with the diet.

Prior to Thanksgiving, I stupidly drank 16 cups of coffee during “cleaning day.” It was one of those mindless things where I just kept sipping from my cup and kept on brewing a new pot until the work was done. I also gave myself one of the longest heartburn episodes I have ever experienced.

My family doctor had explained to me once before that heartburn can actually ‘simmer’ in your stomach for a long, long time and be reactivated at every meal. So, it was easy to figure out why my stomach kept on hurting after day three. What does one eat after one has damaged their stomach with coffee?

Brown rice. In my humble opinion, it was a simple brown rice pilaf (basmati brown rice from Lundberg farms) that finally calmed my stomach. I had to eat it for three or four meals, but I started to feel relief after the first. In fact, I find myself craving it. Throw in some white beans, leftover turkey, chicken, etc and it is definitely a ‘comfort’ food on a cold winter’s day. The recipe is on the back of the rice package.

Anyway, I am about to phone AFAA for the fourth time today – maybe I will try e-mail instead. Take care everyone. God Bless.

Delicious. Everybody thought so. What a joy it was to cook for family, play with the kids and eat to our hearts content. And like every other Thanksgiving, there are always those minor setbacks which make the day anticlimatic ......

On cleaning day, both the hubby and I ran out of steam. No problem. We will just have to finish it off early in the morning. I had planned 4 or 5 different baking items, along with some new vegetables. As the hubby dutifully got up to throw the turkey in the roaster, I rolled out of bed for my lemon water. Only one small problem -- the brand new still in the box roaster didn't work! Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into our eating time! I called my parents and advised a light lunch. The husband ran to his mother's house, hoping to 'borrow' her roaster - but couldn't find it amoung the maze of stored goods in their basement. Eating time was postponed from 1 pm. until 2:30 as we threw the turkey into our oven and hoped for the best.

Meanwhile, I had discovered that cold winter winds had blown over several of our garbage cans. I found broken pieces of glass scattered throughout our side lawn. At this point, I sat down and revised my to do list. What will be, will be.

Certain facts are simply considered tradition. For example, both my parents and my sister are always late. This year was no exception. And the turkey? It hit the 180 degree mark at exactly 5:00 o'clock. No wonder everything tasted so good!

The menu - you wonder?

Appetizers and munchies:

Pumpkin raisin muffins (buckwheat and tapioca flour)

Pumpkin raisin bread (buckwheat and white rice flour)

candied walnuts (brown sugar, cinammon, sea salt)

organic apples (small and very crisp)

vegetable tray (carrots, broccolli, sugar snap peas, small red tomatoes)

toasted pumpkin seeds with tamari sauce and raisins

bannanas, pears, etc

The meal:

Turkey stuffed with store bought stuffing (husband's choice)

Homemade turkey gravy using tapioca flour as a thickener, garlic powder, onion powder, Reese's steak salt

Cranberry sauce made from scratch (so easy!)

salad buffet -- spinach, romaine lettuce, store bought and home made dressings (lemon honey)

Mashed parsnips (salt, garlic, onion, parsley)

Mashed potatoes (traiditional)

traditional dinner rolls (husband's choice again)

pumpkin pie and chocolate french silk pie

gluten free cookies

I discovered that I love cranberry sauce. It was delicious on the pumpkin bread, spinach, and turkey! I can't believe that I hadn't prepared it before. We also discovered that my little three year old is also allergic to amaranth. I have been buying the "gluten free" boxed cereals. Looks like I will be eating them now. My father also asked me about our lack of iodine in our sea salt. He said that it is extremely important that we were able to obtain iodine from somewhere and I began to wonder.

I know that my kelp seasoning contains iodine. But is that our only source? I will have to find out! Good eats everyone!

P.S. It dawned on me afterwards that my homemade turkey gravy was contaminated with gluten. Lucky for me, he refused to touch the gravy, but loved the cranberry sauce. Live and learn.

I fear I will have to take a temporary vacation from blogging as my exam day draws near. I have really missed writing, but too much is at stake - and I am certain that I will be back in the kitchen very soon. We had a successful lunch (O secretor, A sec and A non secretor). We enjoyed Shelton's Chicken and Black Bean Spicy chilli mixed with Basmati brown rice. I had cooked the brown rice three days before and simply added the can to my leftovers, warmed it up and BAM! One delicious, nutritious, and easy meal! I am not supposed to have tomatoes, so I guess I need to stop bragging. But, it's a rare thing when Dad and my gluten intolerant A nonsecretor two year old like the same dish. Wish me luck, everyone - I hope I pass!

I think it's safe to say that the natural protocols are helping. My A has dealt with minor allergies as well as what look likes the common cold, and yet it has not developed into another ear infection. We were so close to sticking tubes in his ears!

He is not very happy with the lemon flavored cod oil, but one way or another I get it down him. My O seems pretty hardy, as he has not missed even one day of school this year. I have to attribute that to his naturally sturdy immune system. Both Dad and grandma still pump him full of wheat, but I do my best when I am feeding him.

There are so many minor differences between an A non-seceretor and an A secretor. For example, I just discovered that coconut milk is a neutral for my little guy. Thai cooking methods just became a little easier!

I haven't had much luck with my rice paper rolls. I think I will work on baking with them next. Frying them worked for me, but both boys do not like all of Mom's hidden veggies on the inside. Try, try, try again.

Gluten free Swedish pancakes are the popular breakfast choice for the moment. I still prefer lots of grilled veggies in my eggs. I had one great morning this week when I make scrambled eggs with grilled onion, kale, sea salt, and goat cheese. Serve it up with a side of strawberries and a slice of pumpkin raisin bread! I had energy for hours!

Speaking of energy, I was really low on energy yesterday - which puzzled me because I had all of the essentials in place - i.e my vitamins, plenty of sleep, really good food, and exercise the day before. I wish I could figure it out.

Good eats, everyone.

My last blog was a real challenge as my computer screen continuously flickered on and off. Now that it is fixed, I am happy to be blogging again!

Without double checking with an actual calendar, I believe it's been two weeks since my two year old's last ear infection. It is probably too early to claim that my 'natural solutions' are working, but I am very happy to report that he has been a healthy kid since my last blog. And yes, I have been taking him to the part time day care as needed.

The weather here has been unusually warm. Therefore, everyone's allergies are clinging on. I have noticed a small cough on more than one occaision, and I have quickly turned on the house fan and circulated our air. I notice that my own throat is less scratchy in the morning.

I have reposted my food categories back on my fridge. It really helps with meal planning. I do not worry about what the kids actually eat, but I do worry about offering them a balanced meal. For example, I actually had 5 servings of beans and legumes last week, but I think my two year old chose to eat just one. It's also been on my "to do " list to double check on the meat servings for a non-secretor. I think he may need more meat than I do, but I cannot remember for certain.

Meanwhile, the family is loving fish. I am much happier .