Gluten-Free foods make you fat, WHAT?

Super good morning I suppose, got my Body Jam on , and even though we're learning a new routine and I was mostly just jumping around incoherently for an hour, it's always a blast when Jesse teaches class. He's like the best instructor in the world, every class I take with him makes so much more sense, and I always get a way better workout. I am incredibly rhythmically challenged and if you can get me on beat and actually dance without falling down, you deserve a freaking gold medal-so I tip my hat to you good sir.

Any who I thought I'd post a picture of the best breakfast ever, I have a new love in my life, his name is Pearl-Pearl Barley, and he goes fantastically with my trifecta of goodness, fruit, nut butter, and honey.

This was my first time using a non-instant Barley, and let me tell you it was amazing. The texture was fantastic (a little firmer is how I prefer them, not mushy) and I cooked them with almond milk and cinnamon and they were so creamy and delicious. I don't know where you get your barley but I found this kind at our local Asian grocer.

 I like getting a lot of my grains at the Asian Grocer, they seem to be better quality products, and are often much cheaper than Whole Foods or other health food retailers. Whole Foods is WAY too expensive in my opinion and I try and buy as few of things from there as possible, but in a small town like ours, there's limited options for more exotic ingredients. My husbands an engineer not a Dr. here people.

You have to grimace a little when you go to Whole Foods and see overweight people walking around with a cart full of DIET foods, that cost a fortune and aren't going to help them lose any weight. Do yourself a favor and go get some spinach and boneless, skinless chicken breast at Walmart, because your gluten-free batter dipped chicken strips aren't going to do the trick guys.

I was watching the news last night and they were talking about the gluten-free rage going around the country right now and how people aren't losing weight on these foods. What I don't think people seem to understand about a gluten-free lifestyle is that, it's not about swapping one crappy starch for another. Rice flour, corn flour, it's not better for you than wheat. It's better if your gluten intolerant, but it's not nutritionally better.

 Living a gluten-free lifestyle is more about eating more fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, like BSCB, fish,  lean beef, and pork-it's about integrating nutritionally superior grains, like Quinoa, Brown Rice, Millet, etc. You can have carbs in my opinion, they just have to be the right ones, and cookies made from rice flour versus regular flour aren't healthier.

 I don't think it's rocket science that you won't lose weight eating diet cookies and rice flour fried chicken, but it seems I'm wrong because I see these over-weight people carting their gluten free chocolate chip cookies around the store all time. Get a clue people! Anyway, away from my rant,
 here's my recipe for delicious not quite oats, barley and fruit.

Not quite Oats, Barley and Fresh Fruit

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Pearled Barley (or Barley of your liking)
1 Cup Almond Milk (or Milk or your liking)
1/2 Cup Water
1 tsp cinnamon
Dash of salt

Directions: Simmer almond milk, water and Barley on medium heat until boiling, add tsp of cinnamon, dash of salt, and stir. Cover pan and cook for 15 minutes or to your textural liking. Stir periodically so it doesn't all stick to the bottom of the pan.

I like mine a little firmer and it was ready at about 15 minutes, you can cook longer if you like yours a little softer. Serve with nut butter, fresh fruit, dried fruit, unsweetened coconut flakes and honey or maple syrup, ENJOY!

P.S Oh yeah and just in case you didn't know Barley is NOT a gluten-free food, so if you're gluten-intolerant Barley would NOT be a good choice for you. 

Barley's a great source of fiber, selenium, and a good source of phosphorus, copper and manganese. It helps you POOP ! which is why I like this grain so much.So if you aren't gluten-intolerant I think Barley is a beneficial grain to add to your diet on occasion`.