Hi friends! I feel like it's been too long since we've talked and I don't like it! For the last six weeks I have been training for a new job in Indiana and have been away from home M-F. To say its been a chaotic six weeks is an understatement! I've done a lot of packing, driving, and hotel living all while trying my best to stick to my lifestyle change. And I"m happy to say that over the last two months I've stuck to my plan about 80% of the time and have had "cheat" meals the other 20% and ya know what? I'm totally okay with that because I think I'm finally finding my balance!

Starting this lifestyle change right when I was going to be away from home for six weeks without the comfort of being in my own kitchen was not ideal but I was determined to be successful. It took a lot of hard work and self-control but it was doable and I'm proud of myself for making it happen! I did a lot of meal prepping on the weekends and had enough food to provide me lunch & dinner through Wednesday and then brought items for breakfast everyday. After Wednesday I would eat at a local Co-op that contained all organic foods and would cater to GF and DF eaters! It was awesome because they would list every single ingredient so I knew exactly what I was eating!

I was so happy to have found a place that I could eat at that was all about healthy foods. It helped me to not get stuck in the vicious cycle of needing to grab fast food when you're in a hurry! Throughout this process I've really learned how saying no to foods that aren't good for me gets easier each time that I do it! I've also found some new recipes + GF/DF foods that I've been loving and I've had a few people ask me what I've been eating so I figured I would share that with you guys today!

Breakfast: My go to meal for breakfast has been DF yogurt topped w/ GF granola and fruit. This is a quick and easy breakfast that contains protein, carbs, and healthy fats! My two favorite DF yogurt brands are SoDelicious Coconut Milk & Forager Cashew Milk. I always buy the unsweetened vanilla + then I add quite a bit of Ceylon cinnamon because I'm kinda obsessed w/ cinnamon! Then I add some GF granola and I've been testing out some different brands because I'm trying to find the best one that's still low in sugar. And lastly, I top it off with some fruit for sweetness and I usually do some type of berries! This is a healthy but still delicious breakfast option that can easily be tailored to fit whatever dietary lifestyle you maintain!

Lunch: I have to be honest, finding things to make for lunch has to be the hardest out of all the meals! Besides just eating leftovers, I find it difficult to come up with new lunch ideas especially now that I don't eat bread. I am happy to say that I found these GF tortillas by Siete that are made from almond flour that are perfect for wraps! And my favorite new find lately has to be this DF cheese made from cashews... yes I did just say DAIRY FREE cheese ya'll! My best friend told me about it and it was love at first bite! The brand is called Treeline Treenut and I buy it at Whole Foods. So on my wrap I usually add the DF cheese spread, Applegate Turkey, tomatoes, cucumbers, and kale/spinach. Then on the side I'll usually do some veggies + hummus or cashews/ almonds and fruit!

Dinner: Ok, I know this kinda looks like mushy nastiness but you guys I promise this is a bowl of deliciousness! It's the Pepperoni Pizza Pasta recipe from one of my new favorite cookbooks, Meals Made Simple by Danielle Walker. Her cookbook is filled with GF + DF recipes and so far this pizza pasta has been a huge win in our house! Its easy to make, doesn't take long, and it's perfect for anyone who loves pepperoni pizza! The noodles are made from yellow squash and it contains mild Italian sausage, pepperoni, and kale! To top it off, I add nutritional yeast which is basically my DF version of parmesan cheese! This meal is definitely going to be a staple in our recipe rotation!!

Drinks: H20 is pretty much the only thing I drink and lucky for me, I love water! I especially love sparkling water and have been enjoying these Italian Sparkling waters from Whole Foods. I also got these adorable glasses at Target in the dollar section for like three bucks, then I add some fresh fruit, and bam I'm feeling extra fancy! But really, it's a great way to stay hydrated and the sparkling water makes me feel like I'm having something a little more special than just plain old water!

I hope you guys enjoyed a sneak peak into what a typical day of eating looks like for me these days! I'm happy that I know I'm putting things into my body that are going to provide it the nutrients it needs and not filling it with junk that only makes me feel like crap! I kinda like feeling like a real food blogger ha, so let me know if you like these types of blogs and I'll have to do more in the future!

-xoxo, M.

What I Eat in a Day: Gluten & Dairy-Free