Since moving to Everett January 1, I have not been able to go to my favorite grocery store, Central Market as often. I go when I work and I do not work every day. Someone reminded me that there is a food co-op in north Everett, the Sno-Isle Food Co-op. Yes! It’s less than a mile from here. Today I went out, on Valentine’s Day for my “treat”. Though normally I hate grocery shopping, the aisles can be too small, the people rude. If I can browse a store that is full of alternative things without rushing, I’ll actually have fun and find cool things.
I did, must have taken 20 minutes and I walked out with five things, nutritional yeast, an oatmeal mix, castile soap, hazelnut milk and Flax4Life muffins. The muffins are what I will rave about. I have had them before. Today, I bought them for Rick and for me. Though we know nothing for certain, Rick may have a gluten allergy. We’ll know if he does have a certain, very uncomfortable allergy in about a week or more. This morning he had shredded wheat with almond milk and was feeling sick within an hour. Our deduction went a little like this. Yogurt, which he also had, does not make him feel ill. All the ingredients in the hazelnut milk he has had before without problems. The shredded wheat is the only thing that seems to bother him. Each time he has tried it he has felt poorly. It takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours for things to move from the stomach to the small intestine, which is where the problem would be if he had this certain problem. (Think, like celiac disease.)
He was so miserable he swore off wheat today. I felt bad for him because I know he may be forced to give up all sorts of yummy things. Though he doesn’t eat a lot of wheat, mostly artisan breads, gluten allergies cuts out more than just bread – some noodles, buns, cakes, muffins, and many cereals. As I was browsing today, I ran across the muffins I had enjoyed so much in the fall last year. I bought Tantalizing Cranberry and Orange muffins. They are gluten free and are actually healthy because of all the natural ingredients and one specific ingredient, flax that is very high in omega 3 fatty acids. These little bits of heaven are made in my favorite town, Bellingham, Washington. They have a cute little website, will ship to you, and are carried in many local stores and co-ops. Please check out Flax4Life. Baker Kasondra has family members whom have celiac disease. A simple over view of this disease is that it is an allergy to gluten, which kills the villi in the small intestine, which impedes absorption of nutrients, resulting in unhappy, unhealthy people. The fix for this disease is to quit eating gluten-containing foods. Read the About Us page for the full story.
I have tried the tantalizing cranberry & orange and the chunky chocolate chip. There are three other flavors, wild blueberry, faithful carrot raisin, and Hawaiian pineapple coconut. I can hardly wait to try them! It’s great for this “modern hippy” because I was supporting the local co-op and a local baker – thus great for the environment. These muffins have only traveled about 60 miles from Bellingham to Everett, versus many big brands that must travel many states to get here from their huge plants.
Oh and of course so far, Rick has no complaints, he thinks they are wonderful!
