5 No-Nighshade / AIP Game-Changers

It's been a while since I've written anything related to no-nightshade but with the Autoimmune Protocol Diet becoming more prevalent I've noticed that suddenly we have a lot more resources to work with.  Ingredients labels are more specific when listing individual spices, Pinterest is full of no nightshade recipes (Autoimmune protocol is like Paleo with the additional elimination of nightshade, nuts, and eggs). Grocery stores are carrying a wider variety of allergy friendly foods and on-line markets are catering to specialty diets.  This is a list of the things that have rocked my world in the last few months by making cooking & eating nightshade-free safe, easy, and inexpensive.

1. Instant Pot:  I had been hearing the buzz about Instant Pots for a while but I figured it was just another kitchen gadget that will, after a few months, end up collecting dust in the pantry. I got an Instant Pot for Christmas and already this thing is my go-to for just about everything.  It now lives on the counter-top where the crock pot used to live. The crock pot is now collecting dust in the basement.  I'm just starting to explore the possibilities but already I've made bone broth multiple times; roasted beef, pork, and a whole chicken, and cooked dried beans both soaked and unsoaked. From what I've read this is just scratching the surface of what this thing can do.  It's a rice cooker, bread baker, & yogurt maker. It can cook fast or slow, steam, saute, and pressure cook. About the only thing it doesn't do is grill. I can live with that.
2. Thrive Market: There are SO MANY online grocery options to choose from. Thrive Market is the one I stuck with. I use it for my specialty items - the things that are hard to find and usually cost more at the co-op or grocery store or the staples that I'm willing to pay a higher price for to have the best quality. You can't get anything fresh or needing refrigeration. I buy my cooking oils, bath products, home cleaners, Epic paleo snack bars, and Laird Superfood Creamers, and occasionally try or buy other things when they are on sale. The prices are legitimately lower than grocery store prices and just about every day there is a sale or freebie. I wait for a sale or freebie on something I want and stock up for additional savings. Your first order is 25% off if you click here and shipping is free for orders over $49. After the 30 day free trial, there is an annual fee of $59, which I more than made up for on my first order. In full disclosure: I will receive a $25 credit if you activate the annual membership but I would recommend it even if I didn't. You can earn credit too, if you love it and tell your friends about it and they sign up using your link! 
3. Laird Superfood Creamers:  Most days I am out the door by 6 a.m. I fill up my coffee cup with my coffee and coconut milk creamer and hit the road. By the time I get to town an hour later I'm definitely ready for another cup but no-one serves Bullet Proof coffee in my town. The closest you'll get is coconut milk (the super processed milk replacement) which really just waters down the coffee. A few months ago Thrive Market had a great sale on Laird Superfood Creamers so, after reading the ingredients and a little bit about the product, I gave it a try. I ordered the regular, cacao, and turmeric. YUM! It is delicious, healthy, and ethically sourced. It's in a powder form and doesn't need refrigeration so I keep a bag in my purse. I use the cacao or turmeric flavor mixed with coconut milk for a night-time treat and the regular for my coffee. Next time I order I'm going to try the instant coffee with creamer. It's less expensive than buying my dark roast at the coffee shop. I'm always looking for ways to save a few bucks.  
4. Epic Bison Bacon Cranberry Bars:  If you know me you know I always carry a little lunchbox with me, full of snacks.  On work days I'm out of the house for 12 - 16 hours. If I'm not prepared I end up spending too much $ on too little nutrition at the most convenient restaurant, market, or gas station.  Most paleo snack bars and jerky contain either nuts or spices that I can't have. Epic Bison Bacon Cranberry Bars have no nightshade spices and are pretty darn tasty. I've also noticed that my hair which, because of a thyroid disorder is normally dry, brittle, and thin, always looks and feels shinier and healthier when I am eating these bars on a regular basis. Bonus!
5. I'm going to start this one with a disclaimer: I am not a fan of MLMs (Multi-Level Marketing). I avoided Isagenix for years despite seeing the results my friends got strictly because it is a MLM.  After frustration at steady weight gain and declining health I finally reached out to a friend, who I trusted would not be pushy or try to sell me anything I didn't want or need and gave it a try.  I had been using meal replacement shakes as a convenience meal for years anyway so why not try a different brand?  The problems with meal replacement shakes for me have always been the same, regardless of the brand:
• They don't taste very good so you end up adding fruit, sunflower butter, and other ingredients to make them taste better which end up adding to the calorie count.
• They fill you up for about an hour. Then you are hungry again and end up eating so you are in essence, adding to your daily calories rather than reducing them.
• They are expensive.

Simply put, I found the Isagenix shakes to be tasty, satisfying, and (if you are on auto-ship) a little less expensive than the other brands I was using. I can have one as a meal and it will sustain me to the next meal, even with my activity level. If you are strict about sugar you should know that there is sugar in them. Maybe that's why they taste better than the others.  There are a few flavors that are safe but you do need to read the ingredients. Berry flavors are off-limits for sure. My favorite is the dairy free chai. Cookies and cream was pretty good too but it's not always available. The chocolate is a little too chocolatey for me but I mixed it with both chai and cookies and cream and that worked pretty well.  As I said, I'm not a fan of the whole MLM thing but I like the product. If you want to give it a try I'll help you sign up or you probably already have a friend who is doing it. Reach out to them. I'm feeling good again. My energy levels are stable, the mental fog has lifted, and I'm steadily dropping pounds without starving myself.