Friday, June 4, 2010

Cheeseburger in Paradise

When I lived in New Orleans I was told that the red bumps that I got on my face were probably related to alcohol and/or shellfish. Clearly this was a problem with a solution.

Accordingly, it was not until I got pregnant 15 years later and didn't even want (1) a drink or (2) food, that I was able to test the theory. It was not the alcohol or the shellfish.

A few years later, I learned that wheat can cause a similar reaction. So I cut out the wheat and, lo and behold, no more red bumps on my face. If I eat little bites of wheat, the bumps come back. I haven't had bread or flour tortillas or bagels or croissants in a few years now. Or pizza. Or beer. Or pasta. Oh, and my stepdaughter is vegan. Wanna come to dinner? We're having rice.

Just recently, the owners of our favorite restaurant opened another restaurant - an eco-friendly, morally responsible, grass-fed cow burger restaurant. (As my son pointed out, the end result is the same for the cow, but I do feel very good about the fact my straw is made out of recycled materials). The best part about this place, however, is that they have gluten free buns!!! Do you know how long it has been since I have had a whole hamburger. Screw lettuce wraps - Not. The. Same. Last night I had my first burger in years. And it was good. It was so very very good. I may have moaned while I was eating it.

And that night I was so very very ill. Not food poising throwing up ill - but tummy ache, feeling green ill. My bread-free body just couldn't handle going off the wagon. So you would think that the smart thing to do would be to perhaps not eat there again. Oh but no. The smarter thing to do is to go back again tonight to build up my tolerance.

2 comments:

  1. Or maybe it is because a hamburger is very very bad food combining. If you aren't used to eating things like bread and pasta with wheat it will hit you hard! Our digestive systems are no made to process grains and meats at the same time.

    I have recently gone wheat free and frigadig it is bleepin hard! I am just getting into the groove but the first couple of weeks were brutal!

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  2. awwww!

    sometimes i have wondered if going off a certain food would help clear up my skin a little bit (i have mild, post-adolescent acne) ... there's just so much out there i don't know what to believe!

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