Baking Therapy and Going Grain Free
Over the past few weeks I’ve made a major shift in what I eat to include going grain-free. As I’ve mentioned her on the blog I am anxiety prone. Not just a little anxiety, I’ve been diagnosed with full blown panic disorder. These days I rarely get a panic attack, however that is only due to a consistent self-care regimen, therapy and lots of rest. I also practice mindfulness which has made a huge impact on how I process information and worry less. Practicing joy is another intentional element in my life and as we’ve had shorter days I find myself inside more than ever and with that came baking! Baking has been a pastime of mine over the years beginning with vacations at my grandma’s house when I was little. I loved spending hours with her making our family banana bread, cookies and cream puffs. While some of the other kiddos in the family were impatient at a young age, I found I got more attention from her if I baked and therefore spent tons of time doing so. Before you knew it I picked up a lot of information and realized just how much I absolutely love baking!
As I’ve grown older I realized that my diet largely affects the way I feel. I’ve talked about how I have a skin sensitivity to dairy but I also noticed I feel better when I do not eat gluten. I started scouring the internet for gluten free recipes and information when I came across how it’s linked to both depression and anxiety. I’m all for trying to improve without sacrificing taste. I came across one of my favorite bloggers who mentioned baking from the Sweet Laurel’s cookbook. Instantly it transported me to a sunny afternoon last year in California when I visited their beautiful pink bakery. At the time I had no idea they made wholesome items that were grain free. I was attracted to the gorgeous pink decor and decided to pop in. Here I am over a year later baking weekly from their blog!
Sweet Laurel Cookbook
Collection of easy to bake grain free recipes
After reading about the benefits of a grain free diet I decided to make a move and begin replacing some of my favorites with healthier tasty choices. Did you know going grain free reduces inflammation in the body? It also aids in weight loss and weight management. It’s linked to improve gut health which in turn improves mental health. A few other conditions that are said to be improved include: ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia according to a variety of studies.
Another major benefit of baking is practicing mindfulness. I’ve found taking time to complete simple recipes give me so much joy! You can check out my post on making gingerbread houses and cookies from scratch earlier this month, but baking is both a family or single person activity! You don’t have to be an expert if you cook from easy recipes with clear instructions. Once the item is baked, I either share with family or I store on a pretty vintage inspired dish to display. Not only does my home smell heavenly but I also love walking into my kitchen to see my creation sitting on the counter.
