Day 4: KISS...It's the simple things

I'm sure you've all heard that saying keep it simple stupid. When dealing with any food allergy this is the best way to go. In the beginning I would read every ingredient on a label and half of them I had to Google. Most of those items that we can’t even pronounce were created in a lab to make food taste better, but also yield a higher profit.

That's how things became complicated in the food industry. Most companies have lost sight of nutrition and are more worried about their bottom line. We wonder why in the last 30 years Americans have become so sick with food allergies and diseases. Maybe the answer is right on the label. I mean where in nature can you find xanthan gum?

I found this explanation of it online:

“Despite its rather alien-sounding name, xanthan gum is as natural as any other fermented corn sugar polysaccharide. The name is derived from the strain of bacteria used during the fermentation process, Xanthomonas campestris. This is the same bacteria responsible for causing black rot to form on broccoli, cauliflower and other leafy vegetables. The bacteria form a slimy substance which acts as a natural stabilizer or thickener. It was developed when the United States Department of Agriculture ran a number of experiments involving bacteria and various sugars to develop a new thickening agent similar to corn starch or guar gum.”

You can check it out here: http://m.wisegeek.com/what-is-xanthan-gum.htm.  However, if you look at other sites you will find that the definition is the same, but none of them care to explain what the bacteria is. 

Seriously we are eating that? Sure it's from corn but slimy bacteria?! So the next time you pick up a package of anything Google some of the ingredients. You will be surprised at the unmentionables that find their way to your table.

If you’re curious how I kept today simple, below is a picture of my dinner.  One of my favorite ways to eat tuna was with Miracle Whip and onions.  Growing up my Nannie Fayrene would always make this for me and we would eat it with crackers or bread.  Today with my allergies I have had to create a new version of this.  Instead I used mustard and lettuce.  Doesn’t taste anything like Nannie’s but the ingredients in mustard are gluten free and simple.