hCG Diet- What is it and Why is it SO DANGEROUS?

I apologize for not blogging anymore, but 17 units in school, wedding planning, and getting ready to start the dietetics program is overwhelming!
I had a request for a topic on the hCG diet, so here goes!
From surgical fixes such as lap band and gastric bypass to crazy "quick weight loss" diets, these methods have always been something I'm opposed to. Fad-diets such as Atkins (low-carb, high protein), low-fat, no sugar, gluten-free, they make me want to scream! The most recent fad-diet that is gaining a lot of attention is called the "hCG diet", and it makes me sick to my stomach. It should be called the "voluntarily anorexic" diet, and that's putting it nicely. Featured on Doctor Oz, the hCG diet is slowly, but surely being exposed for what it really is, DANGEROUS.
So you may be asking, what exactly does this "diet" entail? What is HCG? Why is it so bad? Well that's why I'm here, everyone, to answer your questions and concerns regarding this ridiculous fad. 
First of all, hCG is a hormone, scientifically defined as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.
It is a natural accruing protein hormone that develops in the placenta during the first trimester of pregnancy shortly after conception. There is the old way of using it in injection form, and today an oral form also exists. 
This protein hormone is considered a peptide. Peptides are a class of hormone that are secreted into the blood stream and aide in endocrine function. SO how can a hormone that is the means of measuring pregnancy in women able to assist in weight loss and "curing obesity"? It is the hormone that has been studied to have an effect of jump-starting the hypothalamus and tells your body to breakdown body fat, keep lean muscle, and assist in keeping muscles intact and not depleted while restricting your calories.
People have found great results, meaning super FAST [which by now you know means UNHEALTHY] weight loss. It has NOTHING to do with the hormone itself. It has to do with the fact that the main part of the "diet" is restricting your calories to less than half of which should be consumed in a day at MAXIMUM weight loss of 2lbs/week (1200 calories per day). The guidelines to this diet are to consume between 500-800 calories a day along with taking in this hormone, and viola! You have lost insane amounts of weight! 
FYI: ANYBODY that consumes 500-800 calories a day is going to lose weight, fast. This hormone is not promoting weight-loss, but instead, trying to make such an unhealthy amount of calories consumed LESS detrimental to your body but preventing muscle-wasting, a common symptom of starvation. Just because it supposedly promotes the holding on of lean muscle, doesn't mean it is preventing your organs from failing, your brain activity from declining, and your body from starving itself thin. 
The hormone is also said to lower your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), but if your body is literally eating it's own muscle, tissues and organs, what does your RMR really matter anyway?


Bottom line, this is one of the most pathetic fad diets I have seen. It is nothing more than a starvation diet that makes you think you are starving yourself in a healthy way. HCG does not promote healthy weight loss, and eating less than 1200 calories a day for females (1800 for males), can be very detrimental to the primary functions of your body. Claiming to get the extra calories your body needs from abnormal and excess fat from your body is BULL. Although the rounds are usually for only a few weeks at a time, this doesn't excuse it from being extremely unhealthy. And recurring the process on a regular basis can permanently damage your body. It takes time to put weight on, it takes time to take it off. The faster you lose it, the faster it will come back. Be smart about weight loss, don't exceed 2lbs a week, don't eat less than 1200 calories a day, and don't give in to crazy quick fixes! 


Have a Healthy Week!


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PREGNANCY- Healthy Eating during pregnancy, NOT "Eating for Two".

Although I can't say I've been pregnant and gone through the whole "craving" thing, there is a line that shouldn't be crossed during pregnancy. Many women in fact do use being pregnant as an excuse to overeat and over indulge in almost anything and everything, when in fact, you are doing more harm than good to your body. I promise that if you are planning on becoming pregnant or are pregnant now, your post-baby body will thank me if you follow the healthy guidelines to eating right during pregnancy!
There is an extra allowance of calories during each trimester of pregnancy, but empty calories and an entire big mac + fries is NOT the way to go, especially on a regular basis. 
For the extra calories you're allotted (don't worry we'll get to exact numbers soon) during pregnancy, you want to go with foods that are nutrient rich and offer healthy benefits to you AND your developing baby. Calcium is crucial to help with the formation of bones and tissue throughout fetal development. Folic acid is also very important (is in many breads and whole grain foods such as lentils, tortillas, pasta, as well as spinach, etc.), it prevents spina bifida, miscarriages, and birth defects. You can also take a prenatal vitamin to assist in getting your essential vitamins and nutrients while pregnant if you are worried you may not get adequate amounts from your food. Empty calories, refined sugars, high-saturated fatty foods are not the way to go when pregnant. These will pack on way more pounds than necessary when pregnant, without offering nutritional value, and the more weight you gain, the more weight you will need to lose after your little one is born, and it can be a struggle, especially when you don't have a lot of time to work out. The whole "baby fat excuse" isn't valid after 9 months. They say this because it takes 9 months to put it on, it should only take 9 months to get it off. But the harder and longer it will take the more unhealthy food you eat during your pregnancy.
Let's talk about numbers. The expression "well, I'm eating for two" is not a reality, people. If you were eating for two you would be eating close to 4,000 calories a day, and and at that rate you would be putting on about 5lbs a week, and we all know that's nonsense. The average, normal weight, woman doesn't need to change their caloric intake during the first trimester (an extra 100 calories/day is acceptable), and only needs about 300 extra calories a day during the last 6 months of their pregnancy. If you are underweight, overweight or have preexisting health conditions when you become pregnant, you should definitely consult your physician on what an appropriate diet plan would be throughout your pregnancy. 300 calories is really not much when you think about it, 3 oreos and an 8 oz glass of milk is 300 calories. 1 piece of fruit and a slice of toast. A bagel with cream cheese. A nice big salad. NOT a double-double, french fries, and chocolate shake, which totals about 1800 calories in itself. The occasional shake, ice cream, french fries, will not hurt you if in moderation (just as if you were not pregnant), but on a daily basis, needs to be avoided, not only for your health and weight, but for your baby. Scientific research proposes that mothers who eat an unhealthy diet while pregnant, the babies are at a higher risk for long term health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. One reason gestational diabetes (diabetes of the mother while pregnant) is so high is because the amount of sugar of the unhealthy foods they are consuming can't keep up with the amount of insulin being produced by the body. So many factors, it seems complicated, but it's really not. 
Light exercise can also be maintained during pregnancy, if ok'd by your doctor. Normally women can perform light physical activity, walking, gym, etc., through their second trimester, if they are not a high-risk pregnancy. But your doctor knows what's best for you, but doing NOTHING while pregnant will not only get you out of the notion, but make it more difficult for your body to bounce back after your little one is delivered.
Bottom line, being pregnant is not an excuse to overeat and "eat for two". 300 calories extra per day is acceptable during your second and third trimester and you should try to make these 300 calories nutrient-rich, rather than icky foods that are high in saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and refined sugars. Include a daily prenatal vitamin (make sure your doctor agrees) to assure that you are getting adequate amounts of folic acid and other vitamins and minerals that are essential to fetal growth and development. Love your body, and your baby. The average, healthy, amount of weight to gain while pregnant if you are normal and healthy-weight woman is between 25-35 pounds. If you are underweight, 27-40 pounds, and if you are overweight 15-25 pounds. Obese women should consult a physician but attempt to not exceed 15 pounds of gestational weight gain. 
Pregnancy is not an excuse to eat whatever, whenever you want. It is about maintaing a healthy lifestyle for you and your baby. The more unnecessary weight you gain during pregnancy, the harder and longer the process to take it off. Some women never do get back to the pre-baby weight, and blame it on children, but if most would have maintained a healthy diet and exercised regularly ( as instructed by a doctor), would have lost the weight in no time at all. Be aware!
<3

Best foods/drinks before, during, & after exercise!! Treat your body right!

There are a ton of myths surrounding the best way to take care of your body before, during, and after exercise. Supplements are not the way to go, and although they make promises of extra fat burn, reduced appetite, increased energy, protein, etc., they are nothing but money-making gimics and scams designed to make YOU, the consumer, pay extra, unecessary money for something your body can get better sources of from the normal food we eat. When it comes to food, we all know that our bodies need a little bit of everything for normal function and activity. Depriving yourself completely of any one substance, such as carbohydrates, fats, protein, & sugar will have negative effects on your body, especially when it comes to energy expenditure, also known as exercise. On the other hand, we know that too much of any of these can also have negative and unhealthy effects on the body as well.
Before exercise: Let's start with the primary source of fuel of your muscles, which as most of you know is carbohydrates. You've probably all heard of "carb loading" which is term that refers to eating large amounts of carbohydrates in the days leading to a marathon or long  competitive event by an athlete. Most people are not doing long endurance-like marathons and do not need excessive amounts of carbohydrates. Too many carbohydrates can also cause gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, and nausea. Carbohydrates are stored in your muscles as glycogen in the days prior to exercise, which is one reason a POST-exercise meal is so important to not only replace this, but prepare the body for it's next workout.
So when do you eat the carbohydrates? Working out on a full stomach is never a smart idea. Not only will it probably slow you down, it has the potential to make you sick (nausea, vomiting, & cramping). You should let the meal you have before your workout fully digest before you begin your exercise. A meal usually digests in about 4 hours. (Less or more depending on how much you've eaten, and how bulky). If you work out early in the morning, it is a good idea to wake up early to have time for your body to digest it's meal, OR have something small to eat or drink that can be easily digested about a half hour before you're due to hit the gym.
Glucose, which is the primary component of carbohydrates, is the primary energy source. So your before-workout meal that you have a few hours before should consist of easily digestible carbs such as pastas, bread, fruits, and granola bars.
During exercise: The key focus is staying hydrated. But there is such a thing as being too hydrated, which often causes low sodium levels, known as hyponatremia, which CAN be fatal. In an average 30-60 minute workout a normal 16.9oz bottle of water should be sufficient, but if you are thirstier, that is your body telling you it needs more. Even if you don't feel thirst, it is important to maintain adequate fluids. Nothing compares to real water, but drinks such as gatorade, vitamin water, and other electrolyte-enhanced waters can be beneficial during periods of rapid sweat-loss (which can lead to electrolyte imbalance).
After exercise: After your workout, you should eat pretty shortly after.  This is the most important meal of the day for active people. Amino acids (the building blocks of protein-used for making muscles, bone, hormones, etc.) AND carbohydrates are essential post-workout. A good protein is whey protein, but for the average person, we don't have the time or money to make or buy a whey protein shake. Other good sources of protein would be lean chicken, beans, egg whites, fish, soy, & cheese. Protein is essential after workouts because it helps feed and repair any damaged or depleted tissues. The average person should consume about 0.15 to 0.25 g of protein PER pound of body weight. Carbohydrates (and as you can see by reading this, are NOT the devil as seen by many people) are essential not only before your workout, but after. Good and healthy sources of carbohydrates for after your exercise would be brown rice, oatmeal, whole wheat bread or fruit juice. Within two hours of work out, 0.3 to 0.6 grams per pound of body weight of carbohydrate is essential to building adequate glycogen stores for your next workout.
Hope this helps all you active people out there! And if you're not active, start, at least it's an excuse to have some extra carbs! :)


Have a Healthy Day! <3

NO Excuses for being overweight, plain and simple..

Many people might disagree with this post and/or get mad at my view, but I am trying to spread the word on how not only dangerous obesity is, but how it is preventable, almost 95% of the time. In that 5% lie incurable hormone imbalances, medications, and very few diseases that ACTUALLY cause weight gain. If you are in this 5% and have been medically told that it is going to be virtually impossible for you to lose weight with diet and exercise, then this topic isn't for you. For the other 95%, please be aware that by me being blunt, I only want to help and make you aware that you have the potential to live a healthier life.
Often times I get the excuse, and debate (even by people that are NOT overweight), that overweight people have an addiction to food, no different than drugs or alcohol. There ARE eating disorders, such as compulsive over eating and binge eating disorder that are psychological disorders characterized by uncontrollable emotional eating BUT what people don't understand is that even if these people are over eating out of emotional distress (which they SHOULD be seeing a therapist and/or seeking professional psychiatric/medical help to work on the issue) there is still 100% NO EXCUSE on why these people can't exercise. Even if you over-eat emotionally, there is nothing emotionally disturbed about the ability to get off the couch and go for a walk/jog, join a gym/etc. I say this as encouragement, that you are not a hopeless cause, and even if you feel like this, there is hope of a healthier life and light at the end of the tunnel with eating less and expending more energy (exercise). But a majority of overweight people don't have a psychological illness, but a desire to eat crap and not be physically active. I say this so forwardly, because I believe that if somebody who has a weight issue reads this, it may open their eyes to the unhealthy way they are living their lives. As you've seen in my blogs over and over again, there are excuses for days on why people can't eat healthier or can't exercise. These excuses are just that, EXCUSES. The average fast food meal costs between $7-8, whereas a pre-made salad at a fast food chain or grocecy store or subway sandwich averages about $3-5. No excuse there. Next, the "I don't have time to work out". If you just walk or exercise for 30 minutes a day, that is 1/48th of your day. I am a full time student, work part time, have my own business starting on the side, have CHRONIC back pain from a serious injury, and still don't make excuses. We are not talking about getting stick thin, but reaching a healthy weight, within normal BMI (get your BMI here) and reducing/reversing the risks and effects of heart disease, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes caused by weight gain. And by the way, no matter what your weight, it is always healthy to exercise at least 30-60 minutes 4-5x a week when healthy enough to do so)
You have no idea how many times I get "well what do you know about being overweight, you've never been fat"...well I do know that if I LET myself eat everything in sight and sit on my butt all day, I would have the potential for being over weight too. My biggest pet peeve is someone who constantly complains over and over again about needing to lose weight or exercise more or eat healthier and never taking a single step to accomplish these goals. You are not alone. There is more hope for you than you can imagine, but just like an alcoholic or drug addict, you have to not only WANT it, you have to be willing to take the steps. The "I'll start tomorrow" doesn't work, and tomorrow will never come. Someone once told me, "you can start your day over at any time". Apply this to food, exercise, and a healthier life. It's officially a New Year. Set goals for yourself, start small, the gradually increase them. From losing weight to eating more fruits and veggies, to exercise you CAN do it, and don't let yourself or anyone else tell you that you can't.


<3 Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Gaining weight the healthy way! Here's how!

I have had a request on advice on how to gain weight in a healthy way, and instead of a private reply, I KNOW she's not the only one with this problem, so I decided to make an entire blog topic out of it!
I have been in the position before where I've been told to gain weight. I'm naturally on the thin side, so if I become more active or get stressed and don't eat as much I lose weight fast. Many people have a hypermetabolism and have a similar issue, and for some people it seems virtually IMPOSSIBLE to gain weight, and yes, believe it or not, some people WANT to. If you are overweight, please don't get offended by this blog, my goal is to help people with all types of nutritional problems, from underweight to overweight and beyond. I love sharing my knowledge with people in all positions and encourage you to ask me for requests if you have questions about your own lifestyle, I will always do my best to answer. :)
There are ways besides stuffing your face with pizza and donuts to gain weight in a healthier way that isn't as shocking (and UNHEALTHY) on your body. Just as with weight loss, weight gain is very similar, just reversing the goals. It is never healthier to gain more than 2 pounds a week, just as in it's not healthier to lose more than 2 pounds a week. Same idea. As I've discussed before, 3500 calories= 1lb, and 7,000 calories=2 lbs. So if your goal is weight gain, you need to attempt to add on an additional 500-1000 calories on top of what you usually eat. This will help with the healthy amount of weight gain. Now, although a calorie is a calorie and whether you eat 500 extra calories of spinach or 500 extra calories of chocolate, the weight gain WILL be the same, but increasing one's weight by foods that are high in cholesterol (meat, cheese, dairy, etc.) or refined sugar (candy, baked goods, sodas) is not the way to go. Although people that have a fast metabolism can enjoy these foods a little more liberally, if the attempt is healthy weight gain, you should stick to foods that have significant amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and bulk. Good foods to achieve this would be protein shakes, such as boost, ensure, and others that have a significant amount of calories, but also provide vitamin benefits as well. Ensure has around 250 calories per can, so two a day on top of your normal diet would help you achieve a 1lb/wk weight gain or one a day and an additional 250 calories from another source. (They often use ensure as a supplement in many eating disorder clinics, and with elderly people that have a hard time with their appetite and weight gain). ALSO, protein bars (although I don't believe in them for people that are trying to get "extra protein" for working out, because they are unecessary) also usually have decent amount of calories that can assist with weight gain. Balance bars usually have around 200 calories and also contain the vitamins and minerals that are beneficial. Although protein supplement shakes can get costly, they are probably the easiest way to gain weight in a healthy way. Protein bars are usually a little cheaper (about $1 /bar). You can also include more food in general. Stick to things that are carbohydrate rich, because they usually have more calories. Bagels, rice, couscous, sandwiches, peanut butter, granola bars, NUTS (high in calories and health benefits like omega 3s), trail mix, etc. There are tons of options to incorporate more food into your diet without feeling like you are overly stuffing yourself. Staying active (walking, etc.) is OK, as long as you are making up for these calories, because if you are already thin, any activity will burn more calories that you need to store and often cause weight loss on top of the already fast metabolism. Hope this helps! <3

I also found a website that might be helpful to those of you who want to gain weight :)
http://healthlifeandstuff.com/2010/03/how-to-gain-weight-the-right-way/

Stay healthy!
Keep giving me your questions and suggestions!

Energy Drinks- what's the deal? Good, bad, side-effects?

I'm not going to lie, occasionally I'll have a red bull, but very rarely, because I personally don't care for them, nor do I feel that "burst of energy" that the commercials talk about, and I certainly don't grow wings. From Monster, Rockstar, NOS, Redbull, Sugar-free Redbull, to Full Throttle, and the hundreds more that are out there, how do you know which ones are good, which ones are bad, and which ones really serve their purpose of providing "energy"?

I'm going to talk a little bit about the facts first. Energy drinks are NOT going to kill most people, BUT they certainly aren't good for you either. I personally don't believe that any of them are good for you, but just an opinion based on the research I have done. I think if you have one maybe once a week or a few times a month, you will be fine, but I know some people that slam these things down like there's no tomorrow.

First I will talk about the negative side of these drinks. Number one: they are EXTREMELY high in sugar (minus the sugar-free ones, but we'll get to those later). We all know sugar in moderation is not a big problem, but in excess, which is what these drinks contain (EXCESS REFINED SUGAR), is not only bad for glucose levels in the blood, it contains massive amounts of calories (15 calories per teaspoon), and excessively high amounts of caffein, well over the FDA limit for soda (which is 65 mg per 12oz can). Caffein can cause a jittery feeling, insomnia, panic and anxiety attacks, stomach problems, rise in blood pressure,  and in rare cases CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS, which is where the heart can skip a beat and in some cases is difficult to get back on track causing death. If you are an unhealthy individual who has history of blood pressure problems, heart problems, gastric distress or diabetes, you should at no time drink these. Not to mention, there is no doubt that these drinks are bad for the teeth and aging processes of your body. How much sugar  and caffeine are exactly are in these energy drinks? (Keep in mind there are variations in flavors, so I'm giving the basics here)

Monster:   16 oz Monster, there is 54 g Sugar
                 Caffeine: 160 mg
Rockstar:  16oz Rockstar, there is 62g Sugar
                 Caffeine: 160 mg
Nos:         16 oz Nos has 54 g sugar
                 Caffeine: 260 mg
Redbull:   8.46 oz can of Redbull has 27 g Sugar
                 Caffeine: 80 mg
Full Throttle:  16 oz has 58 g sugar
                      Caffeine: 144 mg

You can see all of these well exceed the amount of caffeine considered safe by the FDA. There is no daily recommended daily intake for sugar grams themselves, but there is an allowance of carbohydrates, also known as polysaccharides, which as you know from my previous discussion are complex sugars. The carbohydrates recommended per day, for the average healthy adult (both male and female) and child, is 130g/day. Most people eat much more than than this, which is one reason the obesity rate is so high. 1 teaspoon of sugar is 4.2 grams of sugar, which is about 4 grams of carbohydrate. NO MORE than 25% of your 130 g carbohydrate should come from sugar, which is around 50g. In each of these energy drinks the range of TEASPOONS of sugar is about 7 (red bull)-15 (the others),  let's take the 15g so at 15x4 g/carb = 60, so there you have it, you've already had over the recommended grams of sugar for the day. Along with the negative side effects I listed above, you can see why energy drinks are not a great choice.

Negative effects of Alcohol and Energy Drinks:
There been a lot of controversy on alcoholic energy drinks and mixing regular energy drinks with alcohol. Why the buzz? In a very simple explanation, energy drinks are an upper, very high in caffeine, and alcohol is a downer (hello? passed out?), mixing high doses of the two can potentially put the heart into shock. Redbull and vodka for example: Redbull has 80 mg of caffeine, which will cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate, when alcohol is added to this, it can send mixed signals to the nervous system and bring about problems with the rhythm of the heart beat, which in some people who are medically unstable, cause fatal disturbances among the heart rhythms.

Sugar-free Energy drinks:
Although they have less sugar, hence less calories, they still have the same amount of caffeine. So the guideline for the mixing with alcohol remains, and the possible negative effects on heart, blood pressure, and heart rhythm still apply. Because sugar-free energy drinks have less sugar, the effect of the "crash" is much less noticeable.

The Dreaded "Crash":
If you've noticed that quick uppity feeling after you consume and energy drink and notice that about 45 minutes to an hour later you get sluggish and tired, you're not imagining it. The amount and type of sugar (glucose and fructose) that went into your system are high in their glycemic index so they spike your blood sugar rapidly (which is why they are so dangerous for diabetics), but after that spike, your blood glucose levels drop dramatically, which cause fatigue (tiredness), difficulty in concentration, etc.


They "work" for some people, others they don't. In my opinion, when I have an energy drink, I do not care for the jittery feeling, rapid heart rate, and the crash later. I wouldn't recommend energy drinks to most people more than once every week or two, if you feel the need. The side effects are more dangerous and detrimental than I think are willing to risk. The calories, the sugar, and the outrageous amount of caffein are not healthy for your body. It's you decision, this is just my view, giving you the facts.

Have a Healthy Day! <3

What is Celiac disease and how to take charge of your gluten-free diet!

Until I began studying nutrition, I had never heard of Celiac disease. Now it is more commonly known and discussed in the media for being more prevalent than ever. Even without this disease, many are taking on a gluten-free diet in hopes of weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. I don't see it as something that should be done, unless people suffer from this disorder. Whole grains are beneficial to those who can handle them, so please do not cut out grains unless medically needed!
Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the villi on the small intestine when gluten is eaten and makes it difficult to absorb nutrients from foods. It is considered an auto-immune disease, but it's cause and reasoning is still much a mystery to the dietary and medical world. We know it's genetic, but it can go unseen throughout one's life and suddenly become prevalent after a surgery, having a baby, or during a time of emotional stress. So what exactly is gluten? Gluten is the protein in wheat, rye, and barley. It is not limited to foods, there are also some medications, vitamins, and even lip balms! What happens to people with this disease if they eat gluten? Physiologically, the villi (which are the hair like things attached to your small intestine) are damaged and flattened when gluten is eaten. Over time if Celiac's goes undiagnosed, they can become permanently flattened. These villi are responsible for the absorption of nutrients from your small intestine into your blood stream, and when not working properly, this can be a big problem. The person can become malnourished no matter how much they eat or how much they weigh.
There is tons to be said about Celiac itself, BUT today I am here to talk about the great gluten alternatives there are out there for those that suffer.
Personally, I do NOT suffer from Celiac, but I have friends that do. As a frequent shopper of Trader Joes, I have tried tons of different things, including some gluten free peanut/granola bars and other products that I have found to be yummy. A main problem with gluten-free foods is that they tend to be more expensive, but if you do some of the cooking yourself, there are thousands of gluten-free recipes out there, just google it! :) When it comes to every day living, it is a very hard thing to adjust to. Wheat and wheat flour is in almost everything we eat on a daily basis, and don't even realize it!
Gluten is found in:

• Pizza
• Bread
• Pasta
• Crackers
• Bagels
• Many cereals that contain barley, wheat, rye or anything that says the word "malt" or "malted"
• AVOID BEER

On a gluten-free diet you can still eat:

• Eggs and milk products such as cheese. Some cheese and cheese spreads may contain gluten, so check the labels for additives. You may need to avoid milk and milk products at the beginning of treatment.
• Flours and starches made from rice, corn, buckwheat, potatoes, soybeans, or tapioca.
• Fresh, frozen, or canned unprocessed meats. Examples of processed meats are hot dogs, salami, and deli meat. Read labels for additives that may contain gluten.
• Fresh, frozen, dried, or canned fruits and vegetables, if they do not have thickeners or other additives that contain gluten.
• Certain alcohol drinks, including wine, liquor (including whiskey and brandy), liqueurs, and ciders.

They do make gluten-free breads but, the costs can be outrageous and I hear it doesn't taste great. The sad reality is that most bread and pasta products will need to be cut out of the diet when the gluten-allergy is bad, unless strictly noted as gluten free.I recommend trying Whole Foods and Trader Joes and researching most affordable prices. Trader Joe's, like I said before, has really great gluten free peanut/chewy bar things! (In the granola bar section)
Here is a website that provides a list of brands that are gluten free for all types of foods.
http://www.glutenfreeinfo.com/Diet/glutenfreeinfo.htm
I wish I could be more helpful, but there's not as many substitutes out there as I thought!!
Have a happy, healthy holiday!! <3