Grain Free THM Wraps (S)

Let your imagination go wild using these wraps! When I started Trim Healthy Mama I was really daunted by the idea of the Wonder Wraps. I was also on a very limited budget so tons of extra ingredients were out of the question.

I wanted something that was relatively inexpensive and versatile to help keep me on plan and I did have coconut flour from a recent Paleo attempt earlier in the year. These wraps really did the trick! They turned out great! I kept my first couple attempts that didn't quite work for layering in casseroles like lasagna and such.

Grain Free THM Crepes:

• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (you can also sub water in a pinch)
• 3 tablespoons coconut flour, sifted 
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil or butter, melted
• 1/4 teaspoon glucomannan
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Coconut oil or butter for pan

Makes about 8 wraps.

Sweet Variation:

All of the above plus 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1-2 doonks THM Stevia to taste. Add unsweetened vanilla almond milk as your liquid to up the vanilla flavor. 

Savory Garlic and Herb Variation:

To the master crepe recipe add 1-2 tsp garlic powder and 1-2 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

To your blender add eggs, almond milk or water, and coconut oil or butter. Add dry ingredients and blend. Let your mixture sit for about two minutes -- don't let it sit too long with the gluccie in it. 

Heat a medium sized skillet over medium high heat. Melt a teaspoon or two of butter or coconut oil in the pan.

Pour 1/8-1/4c of batter in the pan, depending on your pan size. Turn the pan to coat.  You want a relatively thin wrap so it's still pliable. If any spots on the pan aren't covered, just drop a little batter to cover.

Cook for 1 minute. If you watch carefully, the edges will separate from the pan ever so slightly. At that point you can flip. I like to have a second pan ready to flip into. Or you can just use the same pan. Just a gentle reminder, I tend to ruin my first couple and you might to. But do keep them for your lasagna or enchilada casserole.

Layer on to a plate, separate them with wax paper in the fridge or freezer. They should be good for up to a week in the fridge.

You can use these for breakfast burritos, a vehicle for lunch meats and cheeses, or if you're like me, go crazy with quesadillas! I have seen people in the grain free community layer wraps like these into lasagna or other casseroles as well. Let them cool and spoon in choco pudding and top with homemade whipped cream and melted skinny chocolate for a crazy S dessert. :)

Adapted from Danielle Walker

Sugar Detox: My Story and Some Helpful Tips

One of the best things you can do for yourself when you start Trim Healthy Mama is to arm yourself with knowledge and to have a good attitude. Those two things can go a very long way.

Today I want to hit especially on the knowledge department and sugar detox. Some people talk about their first week on THM and don't really mention it. It's not bad -- some people have a really short or no detox at all depending on the sugar they were eating before and how their bodies handle it. But this post is not for those people.

This post is for people like me. I was a hardcore Drive Thru Sue with a little Farm Fresh Tess thrown in -- mostly aspirations and knowledge without the application. I ate candy all day long at work, and most of my protein came from deli meat or hamburgers. Dinner was usually meat and potatoes or pasta with corn or carrots... and rarely a green veggie to be seen in my diet. I thought a "meal" was a double caramel drizzle on my latte and a huge lemon bar from the coffee cart. I ate a lot of sugar because it kept me "happy" and "up" during long days at work and as a new mom.
But there was a downside. I had to have my little "pick me ups" all day or I would get cranky and emotional, not to mention the migraines. I tried sugar detox diets only to end up feeling deprived and in line at the hospital's coffee cart for ... you guessed it... an iced latte with as much caramel as they were allowed to give me only a couple hours after my day started.

I went through complete detox the first time on Daniel Fast. I had a conviction that I should do it, and I didn't want to back out on God. And it was not easy. I am going to tell my story and give a few detox tips from someone who has been there a few times, with emphasis on my first time.

Day 1:  Day 1 wasn't too bad. I ate on plan (Daniel is pretty clean but more like mostly E meals if you are nursing, which I was) and had a dull headache before bed. I took something for it and went to sleep.

Day 2: Day 2 I had a headache again, and I was missing my coffee. If you are on THM coffee is totally OK, so I would GO for it! :D Caffeine helps most people. I felt foggy and confused...even on basic stuff I should have known, like what day it was, or where I had set down that pen I was just using.

Day 3:  Day 3 was a bear for me. I am not going to sugar coat it. At that point my body kicked into total "carb flu." I had never heard of "carb flu" before this...you can get nauseated in addition to the headache and brain fog. I was nauseated a lot of the day and very hungry too. I also got a migraine. At the time I was having migraines anywhere from 2-4 times a month, so this was not as big of a deal. But I didn't feel great.

Day 4:  Day 4 and day 3 were practically the same. My symptoms started to subside in the early evening though.

Day 5:  My symptoms were nearly gone by the morning of day 5. I felt better and my headaches stopped. The nausea was gone and my brain was mostly functional... I still get "mom brain" moments of course!

By day six, the sugar was entirely out of my system and I was feeling better. A lot changed after my detox was finished. I stopped having migraines. My periods got lighter and I had no cramps. I had more energy for the first time ever. I didn't feel the "need" for a cupcake or another cup of coffee with tons of non-dairy creamer. I slept great without waking up a ton at night. I felt...normal.

Detoxing creates a baseline for health. It gives you an idea of where you should be. Not everyone takes a full five days to detox. For some people it's only 2-3 days. For others it's as long as 9-10 days. Whatever it is, you should be 100% feeling better by day 10 or 11. Everyone's body is different.

Tips for Trim Healthy Mamas 

1. Have a good attitude and know this is NOT forever. Try and be positive. It's not easy but think of this as blazing a new trail. Once your body is detoxed, you will feel better and you will know what your baseline is!

2. Set a Timer. This is an important tip for many of us mamas...I set an alarm for 3 hours after I eat so that I don't forget because I am feeling foggy or sick.

3. Don't be a hero.  I can NOT say this enough. If you are like me and you get migraines and you know your triggers, jump on it as fast as you can. If you get a headache, treat it. This won't be every day for forever. Have a cup of black coffee sweetened with Stevia to help the medicine get to your pain centers faster.

4. Focus on "S." If this is your first time on THM, it's important that you get your S meals figured out before you add "E" into the picture. "S" meals also have lots of satiating fats and good leafy greens that nourish your body and help you through detox. Your body is processing out lots of toxins not only from sugar but from processed food you were eating before... all sorts of yucky things. It needs the calories. You will stop feeling so ravenous when your detox is over.

5. Preparing never hurt anyone. Especially if you are a Drive Thru Sue like me, having a few crock pot meals ready to go and snacks already made doesn't hurt. That way if you feel terrible you have something you can eat immediately instead of thinking "Ughhh....I feel rotten...and I have to make diiinnnner." Plan on a week if you are the preparing kind. If you finish in just a couple days you are then set for your week! Win-win.

I hope this helps and encourages you on your Trim Healthy Mama journey. You can do this! I am proud of you!

Trim Healthy Mama: Stay on Plan at Starbucks

I love Starbucks. I love the comfy chairs, the soft music, the smell of hot coffee wafting as you enter. The gorgeous mugs stacked up by the checkout...so tempting. I have definitely succumbed more than once to a cute mug I had to have.  I love meeting a friend, coworker, or customer there. I even love the decor.

I would move into a Starbucks if they would let me.

Before Trim Healthy Mama I developed a love for Frappucinos. Who doesn't love the creamy cold deliciousness that is a Starbucks Frappucino? I loved all the flavors too -- caramel, coffee, java chip...need I go on?

One thing I didn't love was the huge number of calories packed into such a cute little domed container. Even before THM. And especially when I was on one of those diets where you had to add up all the points.

But I still love to take my devotions there occasionally and just spread out all my stuff on a table with a delicious drink.

Starbucks is still a beloved gathering place for my team and friends, so what's a THM'er to do?

Order on plan.

You heard me ladies. It can be done!

Here are some quick coffee and tea ideas for all of us Starbucks fans when we're out on a date with our husbands, out with friends, or just need a coffee on the run at Starbucks or anywhere.

When I am out and about I like to carry one of those little plastic containers of liquid stevia (homemade or storebought) with me so I can just add it to a tea or coffee if need be.

Coffee

Hot or Iced Americano -- If you are new to the term, an Americano is espresso and water. It was a term coined in Europe during World War Two because the GI's missed their drip coffee from home. Order it "with room" and add half and half at the self-serve bar to make it S. Steer clear of artificial sweeteners at the self serve bar and choose to bring your own Stevia in your purse. You'll get your coffee fix and stay on plan.

Espresso -- Ask for as many shots of espresso as you desire (in a tall or grande cup), then add half and half at the self serve bar if you wish. Although personally I prefer not to drink so much half and half...that's borderline calorie abuse!

Breve with no sweetener -- A Breve (Breh-vay) is an American version of a latte made with milk foam and half and half. Order a breve in the size of your choice and specify half and half instead of milk. Not the most calorie conscious choice, but an S option nonetheless.

Rock the Self-Serve Bar -- The self serve 'condiment' bar is there for you, paying THM customer! While we don't want to use any of the sugar or sugar substitutes, the half and half, nutmeg, and cinnamon are there for you! Create your own cinnamon delight by adding cinnamon to your Americano with room, or go for the Pumpkin Spice effect by combining cinnamon and nutmeg. Your drink will look like a PSL without all the sweeteners or calories, and taste darn good too!

Hot Tea

Most of the teas at Starbucks do not come with a sweetener. Most of the time it is hot water + tea bag. If you're unsure, ask. Tea lattes are off the menu, though you can sip some off the top (or ask for room) and add half and half or heavy cream at the self-serve bar for S.

Iced Tea

Here in the North much of our iced tea is unsweetened. Bring your own stevia and you're set. Even the delicious Passion Iced Tea is not off limits this way and is just another delicious way to hydrate yourself.

What about that coconut milk Starbucks has? Starbucks added coconut milk to give customers a dairy free option in their lattes, and at first glance it sounds great. All over the store you can see signs that say "coconut milk from delicious Sumatra coconuts." And of course you think of the coconut milk you would buy -- the "good kind" in a can, as a discerning THM'er. However, the ingredients are mostly sugar and water with a little bit of coconut. I would steer clear.

via

I hope this helps you walk more confidently in your THM journey at Starbucks or anywhere else you might be. :) Happy eating friends!