Leaves of Life

Our practitioners identify the underlying cause/s of illness
and guide patients on an individualized journey to wellness.

7720 Rivers Edge Dr.
Suite 121, Columbus, OH 43235
Mon-Thurs 9:30am-6:00pm
Fri 9:30am-4:00pm

Category: Gluten Free

Gluten is a protein found in wheat (and a few other related grains) and many prepared or processed foods. More and more people are diagnosed with an intolerance to gluten, termed Celiac Disease, however, many more suffer from a non-Celiac sensitivity to gluten that can be potentially more dangerous since continuous, unknowing exposure to an irritant can result in chronic inflammation in the body.

To learn more about why gluten has become such a common culprit in chronic disease and inflammation, check out the books “Grain Brain” by Dr. David Perlmutter or “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis.

Gluten Free, Healthy Desserts, Recipes

High-Protein Blueberry Pancakes

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Photo courtesy of Leaves of Life

Ingredients: 

  • 1 16-ounce tub of cottage cheese
  • 5-6 eggs
  • 1-2 heaping tbsp GF pancake mix
  • Salt and cinnamon to taste, if desired
  • 1 cup frozen wild blueberries
  • Coconut oil for frying

Instructions:

  1. Turn skillet on medium heat and add 2-3 tbsp coconut oil
  2. Blend top 4 ingredients until smooth
  3. Stir in (don’t blend) blueberries (best if used frozen to thicken batter)
  4. Fry on each side 3-4 minutes (a lid helps batter to cook more evenly)
  5. Top with maple syrup and enjoy!

Think outside the recipe: add flax seed, shredded coconut or other fruit to increase fiber and try topping with fresh fruit! You could also include a couple of sausage links.

Dairy-Free, Detox, Elimination Diet, Gluten Free, Recipes

Steel Cut Oats

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Steel Cut Oats

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup steel cut oats
  • 1 cup water
  • Stevia to taste (optional)
  • Cinnamon to taste (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla (optional)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Mix water, stevia, cinnamon, vanilla and salt in a pan on the stove.
  2. Bring mixture to a boil
  3. Add steel cut oats
  4. Return to boil
  5. Turn off heat and cover, but leave on burner.
  6. Allow to sit overnight on the stove.
  7. In the morning, top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Topping ideas: apples, berries, nuts, coconut crisps, shredded coconut, a dollop of Greek yogurt or nut butter.

 

 

Dairy-Free, Detox, Elimination Diet, Gluten Free, Recipes, Uncategorized

Overnight Oats

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Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup steel cut oats
  • 1/3-1/2 cup milk (any variety will work)
  • Stevia to taste (optional)
  • Pinch of salt (optional)
  • Cinnamon or vanilla to taste (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Mix stevia, salt and cinnamon in milk and shake to mix thoroughly
  2. Add steel cut oats and shake
  3. Put in refrigerator overnight
  4. In the morning, add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Think outside the recipe:

For creamier oatmeal, add 1/2-1 tbsp chia seeds before allowing to sit overnight, or some Greek Yogurt after the oats have set overnight (the yogurt seems to inhibit the oats from soaking up the milk). Some topping suggestions: berries, nuts, coconut crisps or shredded coconut.

 

Dairy-Free, Detox, Elimination Diet, Garden Gluttony, Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Recipes

Hamburger Salad

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Photo courtesy of Leaves of Life

Ingredients:

  • Lettuce, chopped
  • Tomato, chopped
  • Onion, chopped
  • Crumbled hamburger, cooked (turkey, grass-fed beef, or bison)
  • Bubbie’s fermented dill relish
  • Dijon or yellow mustard
  • Salad dressing of choice

Instructions:

  1. Assemble salad
  2. Top with warm burger
  3. Dress the salad and enjoy!

Tips: Try different dressings and toppings to mimic the same flavors you enjoy on a burger. A sun-dried tomato vinaigrette can help approximate ketchup, and a creamy Annie’s Goddess dressing helps to stretch the mustard flavor without over-salting.  If these options won’t work for whatever reason, olive oil and vinegar, salt and pepper are remarkably tasty. If you prefer a cheeseburger and you tolerate cheese, top with some shredded, grass- fed cheddar.

Dairy-Free, Detox, Elimination Diet, Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Uncategorized

Baked Chicken “Wings”

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Photo courtesy of Leaves of Life

Ingredients:

  • 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or 3-4 breasts split in half)
  • 1/8-1/4 cup Frank’s Red Hot (aged cayenne pepper sauce)
  • Salt and herbs to taste (rosemary, pepper, garlic, thyme are all great choices)

Instructions:

  1. Spread chicken out flat in baking dish
  2. Evenly coat with Frank’s Red Hot sauce
  3. Sprinkle salt and herbs on top
  4. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until cooked through

Tip:

Take advantage of the hot oven to roast some cauliflower or other veggies at the same time, and maybe a sweet potato, too!

Reserve the extra juices to drip over fresh veggies when you plate it up!

Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Healthy Desserts, Recipes

Chocolate Chia Pudding

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Photo courtesy of Leaves of Life

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup milk (cashew, coconut, hemp, etc)
  • 4 dates
  • 2-1/2 tbsp cacao powder
  • ½ tsp stevia
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 6 tbsp chia seeds

Instructions:

  1. Blend milk and dates in high speed blender until smooth.
  2. While running on low speed, add cacao, stevia, vanilla and lastly, chia seeds.
  3. Allow to sit a few minutes and reblend gently 2-3 times until chia seeds stay suspended.
  4. Pour into serving or storage container.
Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Healthy Desserts, Recipes

Nutty Cacao Bars Recipe

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Photo courtesy of Leaves of Life
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup nut butter (almond, sunflower, cashew, etc)
  • ¼ cup raw honey (or less and add some stevia to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 – 1½ cups puffed brown rice crisps Find this at Whole Foods
  • 4 scoops Bone Broth Protein or Bone Broth Collagen (Pure, chocolate or vanilla flavor)
  • ½ cup cacao nibs (70% cacao or more)
  • Optional: 1-2 handfuls of nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc)
Instructions:
  1. Mix first 4 ingredients together
  2. Add protein powder and mix thoroughly
  3. Fold in rice crisps, cacao nibs. and nuts
  4. Mix thoroughly
  5. Put in 8 x 10 baking pan with parchment paper
  6. Let set up in refrigerator (~30 minutes)
  7. Once set, cut into 1” x 1” squares
  8. Refrigerate until serving

Tips: Try different types of crunchy additives: Dang coconut crisps, toasted nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc

Dairy-Free, Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Recipes

Multi-Seed Crackers

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FullSizeRender (4)
Fantastic snack! Photo courtesy of Patty Shipley.

Recipe courtesy of Bistro One Six

Ingredients
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ cup Bob’s Red Mill Organic Raw Whole flax seeds
  • ½ cup Bob’s Red Mill Whole Seed chia seeds
  • ½ cup Bob’s Red Mill Simply Raw sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup Bob’s Red Mill Simply Raw pumpkin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon Maldon sea salt
  • Your choice of seasonings such as black pepper, chili, onion or garlic powder, oregano, rosemary, or thyme.

Tip: When choosing your seasonings, pay attention to labels to keep the recipe totally gluten free.

Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together plus whatever additional seasonings you might want and stir until combined.
  3. Let sit 10 minutes to allow the flax and chia seeds to become somewhat gelatinous.
  4. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment and spray with cooking spray. Spread mixture out, pressing until the sheet is less than ¼ inch thick.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and slice into crackers (a pizza cutter is super-handy).
  6. Carefully turn the crackers over and put them back in the oven for an additional 20-30 minutes.
  7. Stored in an air-tight container they will stay fresh for a week.
Dairy-Free, Detox, Elimination Diet, Garden Gluttony, Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Paleo, Recipes

Sassy Summer Salad

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salad
Sassy spring salad – plated up and ready to eat!

Salad Ingredients:

  • Mixed greens
  • Your favorite summer berries
  • Pecan pieces
  • Crumbled coconut crisps (suggestion – Dang from Whole Foods, found in or near the bulk aisle)

Salad Instructions:

  1. Combine salad ingredients in whatever ratios you prefer.
  2. Toss with the dressing and serve immediately.

Tip: If you need to put your salad together in advance, put the dressing on the bottom of a salad bowl, next add your berries, then put the greens and crunchies on top. Toss only when you’re ready to serve. This buys you time and avoids soggy greens and coconut crisps!

vinegar and oil
Infused vinegars and oils add flavor depth!

Dressing ingredients:

  • Persian Lime infused olive oil (2 parts)
  • Coconut infused white vinegar (1 part)
  • Honey ginger infused white vinegar (1 part)
  • ½-1 tsp cinnamon (to taste–optional)

Dressing instructions:
Combine dressing ingredients in a sealed jar and shake thoroughly.

Tip: Remember, you can always add more cinnamon, but you can’t take it out!

Tip: I have found the most important part of the dressing recipe is the flavor-infused vinegar.  Just mix equal parts plain olive oil with a fruit- or other flavor-infused vinegar and shake!

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