Genetically Engineered Foods Pose Health Risks for Children

Genetically Engineered Foods Pose Health Risk for Children
By Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception
In a study in the early 1990’s rats were fed genetically modified (GM) tomatoes. Well actually, the rats refused to eat them. They were force-fed. Several of the rats developed stomach lesions and seven out of forty died within two weeks. Scientists at the FDA who reviewed the study agreed that it did not provide a “demonstration of reasonable certainty of no harm.” In fact, agency scientists warned that GM foods in general might create unpredicted allergies, toxins, antibiotic resistant diseases, and nutritional problems. Internal FDA memos made public from a lawsuit reveal that the scientists urged their superiors to require long-term safety testing to catch these hard-to-detect side effects. But FDA political appointees, including a former attorney for Monsanto in charge of policy, ignored the scientists’ warnings. The FDA does not require safety studies. Instead, if the makers of the GM foods claim that they are safe, the agency has no further questions. The GM tomato was approved in 1994.
Americans eat genetically modified foods everyday. Although the GM tomato has been taken off the market, millions of acres of soy, corn, canola, and cotton have had foreign genes inserted into their DNA. The new genes allow the crops to survive applications of herbicide, create their own pesticide, or both. While there are only a handful of published animal safety studies, those conducted by the biotech industry are often dismissed by critics as superficial and designed to avoid finding problems. Scientists who voice their criticism or discover incriminating evidence have been threatened, stripped of responsibilities, denied funding or tenure, or fired. For example, a UK government-funded study demonstrated that young rats fed a GM potato developed potentially pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune systems, partial atrophy of the liver, and inhibited development of their brains, livers and testicles. When the lead scientist went public with his concerns, he was promptly fired from his job after 35 years and silenced with threats of a lawsuit.
Other research shows: Rats fed GM corn had problems with blood cell formation. Those fed GM soy had problems with liver cell formation, and the livers of rats fed GM canola were heavier. Pigs fed GM corn on at least 25 Midwest farms developed false pregnancies or sterility. Cows fed GM corn in Germany died mysteriously. And twice the number of chickens died when fed GM corn compared to those fed natural corn.
Soon after GM soy was introduced to the UK, soy allergies skyrocketed by 50 percent. This might be due to the fact that the most common allergen in soy, called trypsin inhibitor, is substantially elevated in GM soy. In addition, GM soy contains a protein that was never before part of the human food supply, and might be allergenic. In fact, sections of that protein are identical to those found in shrimp and dust mite allergens, which should have disqualified GM soy from approval, according to World Health Organization recommendations. Moreover, since the sequence of the gene that was inserted into soy has inexplicably rearranged over time, the protein it creates is different than the one intended, and was never subject to any safety studies. It may be allergenic or toxic.
Without follow-up tests, we can’t be sure if the introduction of GM soy was the cause of the allergies, but we do know that the composition of GM soy is different. Ask the animals. Eyewitness reports from all over North America describe how several types of animals, when given a choice, avoided eating GM food. These included cows, pigs, elk, deer, raccoons, squirrels, rats, and mice.
Differences in GM food will likely have a much larger impact on children. They are three to four times more susceptible to allergies. Also, they convert more of the food into body-building material. Altered nutrients or added toxins can result in developmental problems. For this reason, animal nutrition studies are typically conducted on young, developing animals. After the feeding trial, organs are weighed and often studied under magnification. If scientists used mature animals instead of young ones, even severe nutritional problems might not be detected. Monsanto’s study on their GM soybeans used mature animals instead of young ones.
The UK government also sponsored a study on GM soy—the only human feeding study ever conducted. It showed that the gene inserted into soybeans spontaneously transferred out of food and into the DNA of gut bacteria. This has several serious implications. First, it means that the bacteria inside our intestines, newly equipped with this foreign gene, may create the novel protein inside of us. If it is allergenic or toxic, it may affect us for the long term, even if we give up eating GM soy.
The same study verified that the promoter, which scientists attach to the inserted gene to permanently
switch it on, also transferred to gut bacteria. Preliminary results also showed that the promoter transferred into rat organs, after they were fed only a single GM meal. Research on this promoter suggests that it might unintentionally switch on other genes in the DNA— permanently. This could create an overproduction of allergens, toxins, carcinogens, or antinutrients. Scientists also theorize that the promoter might switch on dormant viruses embedded in the DNA or generate mutations.
Kids are regularly fed GM soy-based infant formula. The digestive capacity of small children is less than adults, suggesting that more GM DNA might survive with more transgenes ending up inside gut bacteria or possibly inside organs.
What about corn genetically engineered to create its own pesticide? If the inserted gene were to transfer from the corn that children eat into their gut bacteria, it could theoretically transform their intestinal flora into living pesticide factories. Preliminary evidence shows that thirty-nine Philippinos living next to a pesticide-producing cornfield developed skin, intestinal, and respiratory reactions while the corn was pollinating. Tests of their blood also showed an immune response to the pesticide. Mice fed the pesticide developed an immune response equal to cholera toxin, misshapen and excessive cell growth in their small intestines, and an increased susceptibility to allergens.
GM corn and most GM crops are also inserted with antibiotic resistant genes. FDA scientists described this as “A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZAARD.” They, and health organizations worldwide, are concerned about the possibility that these might transfer to pathogenic bacteria inside our gut and create new, antibiotic resistant super-diseases. The biotech industry countered these fears by insisting that the DNA was fully destroyed during digestion and therefore no such transfer of genes was possible. The human feeding study described above, published in February 2004, overturned this baseless assumption. Unfortunately, children prone to ear and other infections may be at risk of facing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, due to the use of antibiotic resistant genes. The British Medical Association cited this as one reason why they called for a moratorium of GM foods.
No one monitors human health impacts of genetically modified foods. If the foods were creating health problems in the US population, it might take years or
decades before we identified the cause. One epidemic in the 1980’s provides a chilling example. A new disease was created by a brand of the food supplement L-tryptophan, which had been produced through genetic modification and contained tiny traces of contaminants. The disease killed about 100 Americans and caused sickness or disability in about 5-10,000 others. The only reason that doctors were able to identify that an epidemic was occurring, was because the disease had three simultaneous characteristics: it was rare, acute, and fast acting. Even then it was nearly missed entirely.
Children are more susceptible to problems with milk
Milk and dairy products from cows treated with the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH) contain an increased amount of the hormone IGF-1, which is one of the highest risk factors associated with breast and prostate cancer. The Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association called for more studies to determine if ingesting “higher than normal concentrations of [IGF-1] is safe for children, adolescents, and adults.” Sam Epstein, M.D., Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition and author of eight books, wrote, “rbGH and its digested products could be absorbed from milk into blood, particularly in infants, and produce hormonal and allergic effects.” He described how “cell-stimulating growth factors . . . could induce premature growth and breast stimulation in infants, and possibly promote breast cancer in adults.” Dr. Epstein pointed out that the hormones in cows could promote the production of “steroids and adrenaline-type stressor chemicals . . . likely to contaminate milk and may be harmful, particularly to infants and young children.”
Schools can protect children
Our entire population is being fed GM foods daily, without knowing the impact of these foods on our health, our behavior, or our children. Thousands of schools around the world, particularly in Europe, have decided not to let their kids be used as guinea pigs. They have banned GM foods.
With the epidemic of obesity and diabetes and with the results in some schools showing that food influences student behavior, parents and schools are waking up to the critical role that diet plays. When making changes in what kids eat, removing genetically modified foods should be a priority.
To become more informed of the dangers of GM foods and to learn how to avoid buying and eating GM foods, see www.seedsofdeception.com.
© Copyright Jeffrey M. Smith. Permission is granted to reproduce this article in whole or in part.

Stop eating hydrogenated foods

What Exactly Does it Mean When Foods are Hydrogenated, and What Risks Can it Pose?

Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction -- widely used in the processing of cooking oils and fats -- that turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Technically speaking, during this process unsaturated bonds between carbon atoms are reduced by attaching a hydrogen atom to each carbon. Simply speaking, hydrogenation is a process in which hydrogen atoms are added to vegetable oils.
Aside from margarine and vegetable shortening, partially hydrogenated oils are commonly found in crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad dressings, bread and more.
When the process is not carried out completely (which is common in industry) the ending product is described as being "partially hydrogenated."

Why are Foods Hydrogenated?
The French chemist Paul Sabatier discovered the hydrogenation process back in 1897. However, it wasn't until W. Normann, an Englishman, received a patent in 1903 for the hydrogenation of liquid oils using hydrogen gas that the process became part of industry worldwide.
When a food is hydrogenated, its molecular shape changes, making it more solid and rigid. An oil, for instance, that is hydrogenated will become solid, even at room temperature (such as hard margarine or shortening).

There are two major reasons why foods are hydrogenated, and they both boil down to dollars and cents:

• It increases the shelf life of foods.
• It increases flavor stability in foods.

Food manufacturers, therefore, love to use hydrogenated oils and fats because their foods stay fresh and good-tasting much longer than any natural food ever could.

The Big Problem
"Hydrogenation, which is used to turn oils into margarine, shortening, or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, produces trans-fatty acids, which are twisted molecules. Twisted, their shape changes, and they lose their health benefits and acquire toxicity instead," says Erasmus.
The creation of trans fat is the major, and until recently overlooked, health risk of eating hydrogenated foods. In fact, major may be an understatement.
So toxic are these fats that the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. Yet, unknowingly, some Americans eat 30 to 40 grams of trans fat daily.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, trans fats:

• Double the risk of heart attack
• Are responsible for the deaths of 30,000 Americans every year
• Increase the risk of diabetes

Other research has shown that trans fats:

• Raise your body's level of bad cholesterol (LDL) while lowering the good cholesterol (HDL)
• Increase triglycerides and inflammation
• Interfere with vision in children
  Hinder liver detoxification
• Correlate with increased prostate and breast cancers
• Impede insulin function
• Interfere with reproduction in animals

Trans fats are found in a wide range of processed foods from the obvious (fried foods, margarine, baked goods, vegetable shortening) to the unexpected (bread, cookies, snack crackers, salad dressings, granola bars, cereals, frozen dinners and much, much more).
In fact, trans fats can be found in 40 percent of all processed foods in supermarkets today.
The Good News
As of January 1, 2006, new FDA regulations require food manufacturers to list trans fats on food nutrition labels (directly under the line for saturated fat). So, as a consumer, you can now avoid trans fats much more easily, just by reading nutrition labels. If you also read ingredient lists, terms to watch out for include anything that says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, along with vegetable shortening or margarine, which may also be hydrogenated.

Gluten Free Cinnamon Rasin Bread

No Bake Cookies

A windy day at the park

Today we went to the park in Kuna. It is 50 out today, but I think that the wind is almost at 50 too. It is nice to get out of the house. The girls start soccer next week so they were excited to get out and kick the ball.

15 FOODS TO BUY ORGANIC

15 Foods to Buy Organic

Meat, Dairy, and Eggs: Organic meat, milk, and eggs are free of antibiotics, added growth hormones, and pesticides. Unlike their conventional counterparts, the animals used for organic products are raised without antibiotics or hormones. Chemicals present in animal feed can end up in conventional meat, dairy, and eggs. However, organically raised animals eat an organic diet that does not contain pesticides or fertilizers. That's why the top three items on our buy-organic list are:

• Meat including Beef, Pork, Chicken, and Turkey
  
• Milk and Dairy Products
  
• Eggs
  

Fruits and Vegetables: The fruits and vegetables listed below have high levels of pesticides even after being washed, so these are a priority for buying organic. Most are thin-skinned, making them very susceptible to contamination. In general, produce with thicker skins retain less pesticide residues. According to the Environmental Working Group, the following items contain the highest concentration of pesticides.

• Peaches and Nectarines: Peaches require a large amount of pesticides to grow conventionally and have extremely delicate skin, making them the top organic fruit pick – with nectarines not far behind.
  
• Apples: Apples are the second priority when choosing organic produce, as their pesticide loads consistently test high.
  
• Bell Peppers: Bell peppers are the number one vegetable to buy organic. They have thin skins and are heavily sprayed with insecticides.
  
• Celery: Celery lacks a protective outer layer and needs many different chemicals for conventional growth, making it number two on the list of vegetables to buy organic.
  
• Strawberries: Strawberries rank high on the organic priority list. They are treated with very large amounts of pesticides, including fungicides. When purchased out-of-season, they probably come from a country with inadequate pesticide regulations.
  
• Cherries: Cherries continually rank high for pesticide contamination.
  
• Lettuce and Spinach: Lettuce and spinach are often found to have high levels of various pesticides – sometimes very potent types.
  
• Imported Grapes: Imported grapes are likely to have higher pesticide levels than domestic. Vineyards may be sprayed with a number of different pesticides throughout the growing season. Because grapes have a permeable skin, even peeling will not eliminate the residues.
  
• Pears: Pears consistently show high levels of pesticides when tested.
  
• Potatoes: Potatoes are at high risk for pesticide contamination and may also be affected by chemicals, such as fungicides, in the surrounding soil.
  Other top buy-organic foods:
  
• Coffee: Conventional coffee farming depends heavily on pesticides and herbicides. Furthermore, coffee is typically grown in countries where these chemicals are not strictly regulated.
  
• Baby Foods and Juices: Whether you make your own baby food or buy commercial varieties, organic is best for your little one – especially when you're using the items listed above.
  

Safer Non-Organic Foods

Fruit: pineapple, mango, kiwi, banana, mango, papaya, blueberries, watermelon.

Vegetables: onions, avocado, sweet corn, sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant

Our Nachos

So this is how we made for dinner tonight. They were great.

Brown 1 lb. Organic Beef
1 Chopped Onion
1 Minced Garlic Clove

Add:
1/2 Jar Organic Salsa
1 TBSP Organic Cumin
1 Tsp. Sea Salt
2 Cans Organic Pinto Beans(I put them in the food processor)

Cook ingredients for 15 minutes on low heat.

Layer Organic corn chips, meat mixture and cheese. Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

Served with sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole and salsa.

Enjoy

Don't Dye Your Young

Six days ago we stopped eating food with artificial dye. Kennedy has always been a very active child. Since the gluten free diet we had noticed an increase in her inattentiveness. She was having difficulty sitting still and was often throwing small tantrums. I had talked to her doctor about it at our last check up and was told to give her more protein that she be having a change in her blood sugar that could be causing this. We did increase the protein and noticed no changes. After more researching I had decided to discontinue artificial food dye. After 2 days we noticed a huge change in her. It is another thing that we are eliminating from our lives and I feel like the FDA should take a closer look.

Nonprofit watchdog group the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the artificial food coloring it refers to as the "secret shame" of the food and industry and its regulators. As well as Yellow 5 and Red 40, these are Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, and Yellow 6.

The CSPI said the UK had already banned some of these.

The CSPI reports that exposure to artificial food dyes has risen sharply in the last 50 years. Also, FDA figures show that the amount of food coloring passed for safe use was 12 milligrams per person in 1955, compared with 59 milligrams per person in 2007.

Giving examples of how the dyes are used to enhance the shelf appeal of food, CSPI said look at Kraft's Guacamole Dip, the green colour does not come from avocados (not surprising since the product hardly contains any, said the watchdog), but from food dyes, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue 1, to be precise.

And another product, Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles, get their blue hue not from real blueberries but from Red 40 and Blue 2, they said.

Foods high in artificial dyes tend to be sugary cereals, candy, soda, and snack foods marketed to children. Convenience and fast foods also contain them. The CSPI listed some examples:
General Mills' Fruit Roll-ups and Fruit-by-the-Foot flavored snacks: these are dyed with Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, and Blue 1.

General Mills' Fruity Cheerios, Lucky Charms, and Trix; Kellogg's Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks; and Post's Fruity Pebbles also contain "several of the problematic dyes" said the CSPI.

More than a dozen varieties of Kraft's Oscar Meyer Lunchables kids' meals contain artificial food dyes in the US, but not in the UK.

Mars products like Starburst Chews, Skittles, and M&M candies contain the "full spectrum of artificial colors" in the US, but not in the UK, where they contain natural colorings.

Even foods that aren't brightly coloured have dyes, including some brands of macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes.

For example, Betty Crocker's Au Gratin "100% Real" Potatoes contain Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 (both derived from coal tar said the CSPI).

In the UK, the strawberry colour of McDonald's strawberry sauce for sundaes comes from strawberries, whereas in the US, it comes from Red 40, said the watchdog.

Artificial Food Coloring Dangers
Artificial food coloring ingredients (food dye) contain plenty of chemicals. Many are derived from highly toxic sources and can cause many different diseases, disorders, and mutations in humans. Although it seems unlikely that a trivial amount of food coloring in a piece of a candy you eat (like liquorice) would have any harmful effect on you, you would be wrong, because it does.

Artificial colors look great. They make food look vibrant and appealing. The majority of food colors are made with petroleum. They are a derivative of Petrochemicals and Coal tar. These chemicals are in no way made to be ingested by humans or any other animal. In fact, food dye is pulled off of the market regularly because of health concerns. Yellow #2 food dye will likely be the next to go. It’s be shown to cause ADHD, multiple types of cancer, male sterility, and many other issues.

Artificial Colors aren’t just in junk food or sodas. Some salmon farms actually add red food dye to their salmon to make them appear more appetizing. It works. When looking for fish a customer always wants the freshest they can buy. A pink/red salmon is much more appealing to eat than one that’s gray or just darker.

There have been petitions to ban these chemicals and dyes, but most of them still remain on the market. It will really take a lot more research and widespread awareness to ban these chemicals from making their way into our food.

Blue 1 and Blue 2

Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.

Red 3

This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.

Yellow 6

As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.

 
Today I got a bread machine. I am hoping that this will make it easier to make Kennedy's bread. I make gluten free bread about every week.

The Organic Belnaps

O.K I have done my research this week and the more I know about organic food vs. genetically modified food it all becomes so clear. There is a reason for an increase in obesity, food allergies, cancer, ADD and autisim. I am trying so hard to figure out why Kennedy has become so ill because of the food we eat. Eating organic and avoiding food dye is a healthy start. Our family will make better choices when it comes to food. I have also noticed that organic tastes better.

I want The Manning's to come to my party

So Sunday we are watching the NFL Pro Bowl and course I have an interest in the game and it seems Kennedy does too. We are watching the Manning brothers both play, what a day. Kennedy has always been drawn to Eli and during the game she tells me to call Eli Manning and invite him to her birthday party. She wants to invite Eli and Peyton to her party! Where does she get this? Monday I pick her up from school and she has made the brothers an
invitation.

Lactobacillus For Kennedy

Today we are going to start Kennedy on probiotics. We are hoping this will help her intestines get back "normal". I will keep you updated. We will give her one packet each day.

Making Pancakes

Kennedy had a 1 month check up today with her Pediatric Gastroenterologist. She is down a couple of pounds. She now weighs 42 lbs. She has also had a little growth this month. We discussed we have seen few changes. Her coloring in her face looks better, but not 100%. We are diligent in what we feed her and her body is still not able to get over the "hump". We will test her blood in 8 weeks and if no changes she may have to go on 3- 6 months of immunosuppressants. THAT IS A SCARY THOUGHT!
So tonight I lay out the ingredients and get ready to make the girls pancakes in the morning. When I finish the set up I am dead to the world. This is such a learning experience. I just keep telling myself-Health is not valued until sickness comes-and it is so true.

THE ORGANIC BELNAP'S

O.K. I am 1 month into this new life style and the more I pound the Internet the more knowledge I have of the food we eat. I am sickened by what I have ignored. I thank God today that Celiac has been brought into our lives. As a mom it is my responsibility to give my children the best start in life. I now know that nutrition is more than a whole wheat sandwich. I used to think that buying organic was weird and now look who was the dummy. I have found a great website with a lot information on genetic modified foods. Please take time to look at this site. http://www.responsibletechnology.org/GMFree/Home/index.cfm

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren

Well today is Super Bowl Sunday and the Airzona Caridnals and Pittsburg Steelers are playing. Today we watch the game wishing the Colts were playing. Maybe next year.

Life is not always eggslelent

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Here is a picture of Kennedy eating her first boiled egg earlier this month. I was so proud when she actually liked it. I thought it would be a great source of protein. Three weeks and 4 dozen eggs later we found out that she is allergic to eggs!!! UGH!!

EGG ALLERGY

Well I called Kennedy's doctor today because she does not seem to be getting better. Apparently they did allergy testing on her and she is allergic to EGGS!!! We are not to give her any eggs. For the last three weeks I have been making her eat scrambled, boiled and making food with eggs!!! I have been making her sick!! UGH!! So here we are again starting over without eggs in her diet. And to think about all the food that I have bought the last three weeks and we are unable to feed it to her. We were cooking gluten free chicken nuggets when the doctor called us tonight. After I got off the phone I looked at the $8.00 box of nuggets and noticed that they are too made with eggs. So now we are cooking macaroni and cheese for dinner. I guess I will be going back to the grocery store tomorrow to find food made without eggs.

Our first batch of buttermilk biscuits

O.K. so these were NOT KFC biscuits, but for our first time making gluten free buttermilk biscuits they were pretty good.

Ingredients
1/2 cup potato starch
3/4 cup cornstarch
1 3/4 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup cold butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
3/4 cup buttermilk
Directions
1Preheat the oven to 375°F Spray a baking sheet (preferably a baking stone) with cooking spray.

2Place the starches, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar into the bowl of a food processor. Process with six 1-second pulses.

3Sprinkle the butter cubes evenly over the flour mixture, cover, and process with 12 1-second pulses. The mixture should resemble coarse crumbs.

4Pour the buttermilk evenly over the mixture. Process for 8 1-second pulses, or until the dough gathers into a moist clump.

5Using your bare hands, quickly gather a clump of dough, lightly form it into a biscuit shape, and drop it onto the cookie sheet. Repeat this for all the remaining dough, trying to handle the dough as little as possible (it's sticky). I usually make 6-8 biscuits.

6Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

The Value of Health

O.K. I have been two weeks now without gluten and I have lost 13.5 lbs. I definitely miss the bread.

Health is not valued till sickness comes. - Dr. Thomas Fuller

Still Cooking

Well it seem like I have spent the last 11 days in the kitchen. This weekend I made gluten free pizza, pork chops and spanish rice, brownies and potato soup. It is getting easier but the price difference at the store is a killer. With the price of eating healthy it is no wonder americans are overweight.

Gluten in vitamins?

Well who would have ever thought that vitamins would pose a threat to people with Celiac. We have had to put Kennedy on a Gluten-Free vitamin this week. It is amazing all of the things you will find gluten in.

BIGGEST LOSER

So it is a new year and a few of my friends have decided to have a "biggest loser" competition. Each of us have paid $20.00 and have 13 weeks to lose weight. April 13,2009 we will do our final weigh in and winner takes all. So I have my body bugg on and I am focused. I will keep you updated on this new trial.

Gluten-Free Cup Cakes
Yes we did. We made cup cakes today. Made with rice flour, tapioca flour, xanthan gum and more. And to think-last week I did not even know what these ingredients were. I also am making chimicangas for dinner. They are made with corn tortillas. My pantry has NEVER seen most of the foods that pack the shelves.

THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET

Here is a picture of Kevin pounding the information highway(Internet). We have went through our entire pantry and cabinets separating or removing all of the gluten containing food. It is amazing all of the spices and things you would not even think about that have gluten. Today we were at a birthday party and Kennedy grabbed a Ritz Cracker. She placed it in her mouth and from across the room I yelled, "Kennedy, No!" Luckily most everyone at the party knows what is going on and were not completley suprised by my outburst. Of course Kennedy was upset and started crying because it scared her. She has done so good with remembering to not eat food unless she clears it with Kevin or I. She was just walking by the table and grabbed it like she normally would. She is adjusting well to this new lifestyle. Much better than I am.

Paula Deen does gluten-free bread

So here it is. My first loaf of gluten-free bread. It actually tastes o.k. And for only $6.00 you can make your own.

"CELIAC MELTDOWN"

O.K. for the last three days we have been researching and reading food labels. I feel like our doctors have thrown us into an ocean filled with sharks and expect us to survive. I have spent most of my day reorganizing the pantry and packaging Kennedy's food. She seems to be coping with this a lot better than her parents are. I keep telling myself that eventually this will become so much easier. I can't wait until we understand this and are able to know the foods that are safe. We are finding out each day a few more surprising foods that she can eat. I will try my baking skills this weekend and see if I can make a loaf of "bread." I will keep you posted.

What, Leighann is shopping at the Boise CO-OP?

Yes, it is true. Today I took a trip to the Boise CO-OP! Who would have ever guessed? It was a little strange, but I found a few good foods. As you can see it is not cheap shopping for Gluten-Free foods. It is not easy either. I am sure the hour I roamed the aisles of the CO-OP I looked like a deer in the headlights. Tonight for dinner I made hamburger mac and cheese(NOT PAULA DEENS) and rice bread. I will keep everyone updated on our progress. Keep posted and make sure you sign our guest book.

KENNEDY HAS CELIAC DISEASE

We found out today that Kennedy has Celiac disease. We took a trip to our home away from home-Jakes Gluten Free Store in Meridian Idaho. Today's visit cost us $255.00. These pictures will show you the amount of food that we purchased. CRAZY!!! Kevin or I will have to get a second job! All of our family will eventually go gluten free, but we have decided to make the switch over time. For Kennedy-she will start in the morning. It is nice having a diagnosis, but it is a little overwhelming right now.

First Weekend in 2009

What a great weekend. We went to The Little Ski Hill in McCall, ID. Dad, me and both girls went night skiing for the first time. Kennedy did great and Karleigh is a champ. Saturday morning we woke up and went to Brundage Mountain. Kennedy spent the day in the Bear Ski Program. Karleigh kept up with us all day. My mom, brother and his girlfriend all were up there too. What a way to start out 2009.