Summer Salads and BBQ

My blogging friends, I am back on Vancouver Island and back to my 

healthy gluten free living. I've been gone for too long and missed everyone

 greatly. Food porn is in the works to make up for lost time. So enjoy!

Two healthy homemade salads to go with dinner

Caesar Salad with Gluten Free Croutons and Parmesan 

Light and crisp

Organic Baby Potato Salad with Red Peppers

I used Miracle Whip because it's a tad healthier than full-fat mayonnaise ;)

Pork Chops smothered in Barbecue Sauce

Everything paired together

The perfect Summer meal to have shared amongst family!

Swiss Cheese Covered Crackers

This is what happens when you mix Swiss Cheese and BBQ Crispy Minis.

 I was feeling a bit naughty and wanted a snack that went along with it!

Cracker Barrel Swiss Cheese Slices

Ooey gooey and crunchy all in one. The perfect combination for a guilty pleasure :)

Question: What was your last

 guilty food craving you indulged in?

Gluten Free Pantry

Catelli Gluten Free Penne Pasta

Snapea Crisps Original Green Pea Crisps

Breton Gluten Free Crackers

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Noodles

Club House Gluten Free Chicken Gravy

Beanfields Bean & Rice BBQ or Sea Salt Chips

Glutenfreeda Wheat Free Instant Oatmeal, Natural Flavour

Amy's Organic Split Pea Soup 

Glutino Original Breadcrumbs

Kellogg's Brown Rice Gluten Free Rice Krispies

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Here are some photos of our Christmas Dinner. I feel like I have the 

"Post Holiday Eating Blues', already excited for the next holiday season

Almond Soy Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Stuffing, Corn, and Cheesy Rolls/Buns

But the real star was the BBQ Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Cooked on the barbecue too!!! BBQ turkey is fantastic

The busy chef

Our snacks while we waited: Chips, cheese puffs, chocolates, and antipasto

I thought I'd add this sign I saw while I was out for a

walk. Cute, and totally fits the Snacking Squirrel vibe

Question: Are you already missing the 

holidays and have post-celebration blues?

Reading, Eating, and Running

With Summer just around the corner, I have been getting back 

in the routine of eating more balanced meals, heavy on the greens

These breakfast sandwiches pack quite the protein punch; a great start to the day

1 fried egg with 1/3 cup egg whites, 2 slices cheddar cheese, 2 slices
crisp bacon, sliced tomato and red onion, kale, mustard, and black pepper

Tucked between 2 toasted slices of my new favourite gluten free bread!

Oh and Sauerkraut! How can I forget to mention the sauerkraut :) Mmmm

Mid-morning I decided to get active...

...and go for a 10 km run! I love my Adidas by Stella McCartney
shirt, paired with my long-lasting black Everlast running pants

I sort of bent the healthy eating rules to welcome
 a little trail mix into my life, and that's fine by me

It's the same trail mix I posted here, except I made
my own version... I like to think of it as "Trail ReMix"

Original m&m Chocolates, sultana raisins, BBQ peanuts, and Salted
Bar Mix consisting of: Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts

All mixed together in salty, sweet, savory greatness

And as Summer approches and the weather heats up, lazy

 days spent reading a book become a highly treasured treat

Currently, I am reading Learned Optimism by Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D. It's
  an excellent book examining our thoughts and how negative thinking holds us back

Question: What books are you reading
or looking forward to reading this Summer?

Bringing BBQ Back

Time to introduce my taste buds to another new gluten free product

Udi's Classic Gluten Free Hamburger Buns

Sure, they've been on the market for quite some 

time, but I never got around to trying them until now

Gluten free, dairy free, 4 grams fiber and 5 grams protein

I was extremely impressed with the visual appeal 

of these buns, as well as how soft/fresh they were!

Nutrition facts and ingredient list

Per bun: 200 calories, 5 grams fat and 3 grams sugar

Bun-wich Breakfast Sandwich

Aerial view

Poached egg, ham slices, spinach, tomato, red onion and black pepper

All sandwiched between the gluten free bun 

It's no surprise that I would absolutely love Udi's gluten free

 buns as I became a fan the first time I tried their bagels here

It's exciting to see how gluten free products are evolving over the years, to the point

where companies are discovering the right techniques and ingredients to create foods

and baked goods that closely resemble their delicious wheat/gluten-filled competitors