Demons in the Icebox

I must say, that is a clever title to a blog post. And, sadly, I can not take credit for it! A friend of mine gave me the idea ;)

One of the many wonderful experiences about traveling is the food. For me, food is what brings people together. No matter where you come from or where you are going, it is through food that you make some of the best memories and meet some of the most unique people of a culture.

And, what would Italy be without it's amazing food? The pastas, pizzas, and pastries are why so many people travel to this country. And, unfortunately, it is here that I have discovered that I have a gluten sensitivity. Of course. Me...the foodie...allergic to the product that binds all of Italy (and most of Europe for that matter) together. However, I would rather live without it and feel great then eat it and regret that decision later.

I know what you are thinking...

"You are 24! How did you JUST now realize this??"

In truth, I have always longed for a cast iron stomach. But, it has always been sensitive. However, in Dallas, I rarely ate bread. Things like pasta, pizza, burgers...etc just were not in my daily diet. But, try getting by in Italy without bread for 24 hours. Trust me, it's next to impossible. So, my body was in gluten OVERLOAD and just flat out did not like it. After doing a lot of research, I discovered that gluten was (or could have been) in so many of the foods that was eating! Hence the stomach always being slightly sensitive. Foods like: canned soup (no I am not above it), peanut butter (read the label first!), sauces (soy, BBQ..etc), salad dressings, gravies, processed lunch meats, sausages, seasoning, candy, chocolate, ice cream, herbal teas...you get the picture. 

Needless to say, my life and my diet have both drastically changed. Now, in the states, it is quite easy to find gluten free foods. After all, being gluten free is kind of the "cool" thing to do now right? With Whole Foods, Central Market, and Market Street, eating gluten free is pretty easy. Plus, a lot of restaurants even offer gluten free dishes. However, in Italy that trend is not so "cool". Sure, there are options and there is one gluten free bakery here in Sesto. But, it is much more challenging. Not to mention, a little tasteless. Here are a few (or all) of the gluten free options I have found within walking distance:

Naturally, unsalted rice and corn cakes leave something to be desired. So, for some flavor, I made some trail mix with cashews, almonds, dried grapes, and some pumpkin seeds that I roasted with olive oil and salt:

Then, I decided to get a little more creative and satisfy my occasional salty/sweet cravings. So, I roasted the rest of the pumpkin seeds with olive oil, honey, cinnamon, and a dash of salt:

Of course, fruits and veggies are always an option. After all, I don't want to load up on carbs simply because these are carbs that don't make me feel "bad". So, this is the current state of my refrigerator:

All organized and ready to go! Everything has been washed, peeled, chopped, sliced, diced...and believe me...it took a while!!

I also am a fan of pre-made salads. Or really anything that is pre-made is a luxury for me these days. The whole grab-and-go concept hasn't caught on here either. So, I made a Greek inspired salad with green olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, chick peas, carrots and grilled chicken that I marinated in lemon juice, salt, and pepper:

So there you have it! My gluten free diet...in Italy.

Buon Appetito ya'll ;)