What Do You Miss?

[em2005]

POUTINE!!!!!!!!!!!

Mmm...fries with cheese curds and gravy...esp. the ones you get at the casse-croûte stands. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

[gdobson]

I miss being able to go into any restaurant and looking at the menu and saying, "hmmm, I've never had that before. I think I'll try that," and not having to wonder or care what was in it.

I also miss Pizza Treats!!!! And my memory of those Hostess Cupcakes and Snowballs - definitely Snowballs. I know it sounds way weird, but I just want to touch one to remember that spongey texture. Oh, and Miller Genuine Draft. sigh

[jaten]

Have you tried real latin american tortillas?

I'm not sure where to get them. Can you tell me? Thanks, Jennyj, for your suggestion of Mission brand, too. Yes, I've tried Mission. I don't know. There was a thread on here a couple of mos ago about corn tortillas. I've tried all of the ones that I could find around here. I get sick every time. But I can eat On the Border tortilla chips and many other corn products, but not a single corn tortilla. It doesn't make sense to me. (I wish On the Border made corn tortillas). I don't want to hijack this thread. Thanks for your suggestions, though!

[Guest ~jules~]

I'm not sure where to get them. Can you tell me? Thanks, Jennyj, for your suggestion of Mission brand, too. Yes, I've tried Mission. I don't know. There was a thread on here a couple of mos ago about corn tortillas. I've tried all of the ones that I could find around here. I get sick every time. But I can eat On the Border tortilla chips and many other corn products, but not a single corn tortilla. It doesn't make sense to me. (I wish On the Border made corn tortillas). I don't want to hijack this thread. Thanks for your suggestions, though!

I buy the mission corn tortillas, and chips. I like mission products because it simply states "gluten free" so I can pick it up and throw it in the cart instead of standing there reading the label. Its just more convinient, any shot of eating being simple I'm taking it....plus they taste really good. Now I'm on a "tort. chip kick" I've been melting cheese over my tort. chips, and drowning them in Newmans Own chunky salsa...Yummmy

Also, (this may sound gross but its actually really good) Dip your cool ranch doritos in cottage cheese....Don't knock it till you try it....lol

[jerseyangel]

Also, (this may sound gross but its actually really good) Dip your cool ranch doritos in cottage cheese....Don't knock it till you try it....lol

One of my favorite snacks, pre dairy free, was potato chips or Fritos dipped in cottage cheese! I really miss cottage cheese.....

[Guest ~jules~]

One of my favorite snacks, pre dairy free, was potato chips or Fritos dipped in cottage cheese! I really miss cottage cheese.....

I'm sorry I really do feel for those of you with multiple food allergies. It really makes me appreciate the things I can eat. When I first got here I was so mad at doctors and the lach of food. Now that I've gotten to know more about the people here, and the extent of food allergies I'm a lot more posative about eating....

[L.A.]

Trashy breakfast cereal...Alpha Bits, Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops Or maybe it's just the fact my choice is gone---sigh.

[jerseyangel]

I'm sorry I really do feel for those of you with multiple food allergies. It really makes me appreciate the things I can eat. When I first got here I was so mad at doctors and the lach of food. Now that I've gotten to know more about the people here, and the extent of food allergies I'm a lot more posative about eating....

Oh, don't feel bad! It's ok, really I feel so much better, that it makes it pretty easy to stay away from the foods that I'm intolerant to.

I just had to comment on the cottage cheese dipping--I was surprised to see that someone else did that

[burdee]

My answer to that question would depend on when you asked ... When first was diagnosed with celiac disease, I found many great gluten-free substitute foods and didn't miss anything. After my dairy diagnosis, I tried to substitute soy products for dairy, but really missed cottage cheese. When I realized I also didn't tolerate soy, I really missed ice cream, yogurt, butter and other dairy products. Then I found almond milk, some sorbets and margarine substitutes as well as other new foods. So I stopped missing anything and enjoyed new favorites. However in August I was diagnosed with additional egg and cane sugar allergies (and confirmed soy intolerance). So I really missed mayonnaise at first. Then I started using guacomole or hummus spread in sandwiches. Strangely I did NOT miss eggs as a food. I also found many egg replacement foods for baking.

I don't miss cane sugar per se, but I SURE MISS CHOCOLATE!!! I had previously found some dairy/soy free chocolate which had sugar. I can't tolerate many artificial sweetners (especially alcohol derivatives like sorbitol, etc.). So I have not yet found a safe chocolate candy substitute. However, I suspect that once I start experimenting with recipes from my new food allergy cookbooks, I'll come up with a pretty good fudge substitute recipe.

Above all I miss spontaneity ... I can't just walk into any restaurant and find something suitable on the menu. I stick with classier ($$$) restaurants who want to please their patrons and prepare safe meals or Mexican restaurants where I can substitute corn tortillas, avoid deep fried foods possibly contaminated by gluten foods in the same fryer and pass on cheese. Frequently I order simple grilled meats and steamed vegies, while enjoying a glass of wine. Nevertheless, I sure don't miss that chronic cramping pain, bloating and gas. I'm happy to abstain from 5 different foods to avoid those symptoms.

BURDEE

[Pearia]

Fish & chips, pizza, a GOOD sandwich, BEER, Big Mac & Filet of fish, french bread with pasta, the list goes on & on.

[Mango04]

Rubios...mmmmmm

Other than that I'm completey okay with being gluten and dairy free...but I miss soy!!!!!!!!! How sad is that? I miss Earth Balance!!!!!!! and all the yummy gluten-free stuff made with soy flour...and this is even more sad...the other day I saw some gluten-free, dairy-free, tofu cheesecake and I just looked at it longingly. Hehe how many "normal eaters" would laugh in my face if they knew all I wanted in life was some gluten-free tofu cheesecake? Okay I'm exaggerating a bit...but still....

[ÆON]

Oh, this is an easy question. I'm a vegetarian and I miss meat substitutes so, so, so bad. Fake chicken, fake lunchmeats, I even had access to fake tuna for a while and it was soooo good.

I get overwrought just thinking about that stuff.

[Guest ~jules~]

Oh, this is an easy question. I'm a vegetarian and I miss meat substitutes so, so, so bad. Fake chicken, fake lunchmeats, I even had access to fake tuna for a while and it was soooo good.

I get overwrought just thinking about that stuff.

I have a veggie friend, she eats alot of morningstar farms chic patties, are they gluten free? I have had them and they are really good. Just curious...

[Carriefaith]

I miss being able to go to any restaurant and eat with everyone else. I always try and recreate the foods I miss myself in a gluten-free and casein free way.

[ÆON]

I have a veggie friend, she eats alot of morningstar farms chic patties, are they gluten free? I have had them and they are really good. Just curious...

No, I'm sorry to say that they're not. Morningstar makes good stuff though, I agree. Alot of fake meat has wheat in it but there are a very few that don't.

Qourn makes some chicken bits (little chunks that go nicely in rice) that are gluten-free and really good and Gardenburger makes a grilled burger that's okay.

My all-time favorite was gravy with fake sausage crumbled up in it over biscuits - ohhh so yummy. That would incapacitate me now - oh well.. memories.

[barbara3675]

One of the things I miss is oatmeal with brown sugar and milk on a cold winter morning......I tried it after being gluten-free for a while and it gave me problems. I know there are some gluten-free people that eat it, but it does not work for me. Some of the things that have been mentioned multiple times, like Pizza Hut pizza, KFC, and good crusty breads would be up there on my list of things that I miss also.

[burdee]

There are safe substitutes for most foods we miss. Our food preferences develop through habits. We can develop other food favorites if we look for appealing substitutes. Lots of people, who say they hate gluten free bread, have not tried all the many gluten free breads available. I dislike most gluten-free breads, but have a few (3-4) absolute favorites which I found after doing lotsa research. I've also found decent substitutes for other former favorites containing gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and cane sugar. Just don't eat choclate in front of me!!! LOL (I wear a teeshirt that says "Just drop the chocolate and nobody gets hurt".)

BARBARA: Quinoa flakes are very similar to oatmeal as a hot cereal or in cookies.

MANGO: Smart Squeeze makes a tasty gluten/dairy/soy free margarine in a squeeze bottle.

ANY VEGETARIANS: Look for soy based meat substitutes if you can have soy.

BURDEE

[jerseyangel]

burdee--

Where do you find that Smart Squeeze Margarine? I have looked everywhere.

[burdee]

I found "Smart Squeeze" at my local QUALITY FOOD CENTER (QFC), but they're owned by Kroeger Foods who also owns Fred Meyer. So you might find them at Fred Meyer Stores. Maybe that's a Northwest Chain. You could also look up the "Smart Balance" (who makes "Smart Squeeze") and look for a store locator or 'google' Smart Squeeze.

BURDEE

[Ashley]

Poptarts. I crave those things all the time! There's almost an edible substitute for everything, except for pastries. I don't miss regular pretzels because there's awesome substitutes. But, I do miss the mustard-flavored ones though. Can't find gluten-free ones.

-Ash

[jerseyangel]

I found "Smart Squeeze" at my local QUALITY FOOD CENTER (QFC), but they're owned by Kroeger Foods who also owns Fred Meyer. So you might find them at Fred Meyer Stores. Maybe that's a Northwest Chain. You could also look up the "Smart Balance" (who makes "Smart Squeeze") and look for a store locator or 'google' Smart Squeeze.

BURDEE

Thanks! I went to their website and sent an email to customer service--they didn't have a store locater. There's also a phone # I can call on Monday

[mouse]

Does Smart Squeeze marg. have corn in it? I bought Spectrum marg. and it does not even melt on my baked potato.

[jerseyangel]

Does Smart Squeeze marg. have corn in it? I bought Spectrum marg. and it does not even melt on my baked potato.

Hi Armetta

I've not actually seen the Smart Squeeze--so I don't know if it has corn in it. That's something I'd want to check when I can read the label.

I've never seen the Spectrum Margarine--dosen't sound too good, though, from what you said--I do love their shortening!

Why is it so hard to find a margarine without soy, corn and whey?

[CarlaB]

Have you tried Ghee? I use it or coconut oil exclusively -- and the benefit of coconut oil is that it's good for you!

[jerseyangel]

Have you tried Ghee? I use it or coconut oil exclusively -- and the benefit of coconut oil is that it's good for you!

I haven't tried ghee, but I'd like to. Do you make your own, or is there a good brand I should look for?

I can't, unfortunately, use coconut oil because I'm intolerant to coconut.