Most Americans today have pretty busy lives and it is easy to neglect nutrition. Some people do alright by purchasing healthy frozen meals like Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice, but that isn't an option for gluten-free dieters. Sure, there are frozen meals for us, but many are too expensive to purchase and eat everyday.

Having an adequate amount of leafy greens and fruit is essential for good health, but preparation and clean-up takes a while in some cases. Also, those with IBD and healing intestines know that raw fruits and vegetables are hard to digest and can cause pain and other symptoms. I have found that I still can't eat salads even after two years of trying to repair my intestines.

My solution to these problems is juicing. My sister has the same condition as me and received a nice Breville juicer as a wedding gift. She made me a drink containing spinach, carrots, apples, and strawberries which was delicious!! I will admit that it looked gross, but I couldn't believe the taste! I came home and searched for a more inexpensive juicer and found a great Hamilton Beach one. I do have to cut up the fruit, but it works great and clean-up is a breeze. I usually just eat some deli meats wrapped in a corn tortilla for lunch and a quick and simple dinner, so I compensate for my lack of fruits and vegetables by quickly juicing them.

It's a delicious way to obtain the nutrients you need when you are on a busy schedule and you don't want to overwork your stomach. I already feel so much better! It's helped me have more energy and alertness throughout my day. I would recommend juicing to anyone - whether you have IBD, are on a gluten-free diet, both, or neither!

Why I wrote this article: I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease about eight years ago and found out two years ago a gluten-free diet cured my symptoms. Since then, I have been trying to live gluten-free on a college student's budget. Those who follow a strict diet know how expensive living GF can be. Long before I started my GF diet, I developed a love for cooking and baking. I now find a fun challenge in tweaking my original recipes to be GF while keeping the taste and saving money. I recently created a public blog called Simply Gluten-Free where I post recipes, tips, and news for those suffering from a gluten intolerance and/or inflammatory bowel disease. This post is my most recent.

With my blog, I am hoping to offer support to those who have the same condition as me and help them simplify the gluten-free lifestyle.
Please check out my blog for other posts at http://cookinggf.blogspot.com and help by sharing this information with others. Thanks so much!