You probably noticed I hadn’t been posting bentos as much lately. Hoping to remedy that. I’ve got a backlog of around 100 and I’ve realized I can push them straight to BentoYum from Flickr. Saves tons of time and makes it far more likely for me to post them.

Thanks also for the well wishing. It’s going to be tough making some of these changes, but I know it will be worth it in the long run.

Celiacs cannot have any form of gluten (in wheat, rye, barley, spelt and oats). This makes life a bit difficult as gluten is in many staple foods. We often feel limited on the diet and feel like we’re always eating the same things over and over. Well, not any more. Thank you for helping us think outside of the (lunch) box.

My daughter and I are on a gluten/dairy/soy and egg-free diet (as we’ve discovered that we don’t do well with these foods…not due to celiac, but a different form of food intolerance). It was interesting for me as I never thought I had issues with these foods and always ate healthy, low-calorie, low-fat meals with an emphasis on whole grains and yet had issues with weight. When I went gluten-free, I lost 17 pounds in the first 3 weeks without even trying to! I’ve lost 50 over the past year and a half and am down to my weight in high school….back in a size 4. I don’t count calories and eat gluten/dairy-free chocolate daily. lol! I just stay away from common food allergens (lost 10 more pounds in 2 weeks when I gave up dairy), emphasize whole, nutrient-dense foods and go on my merry way. Plus, I’ve gained tons of energy, sleep better than I have my entire life and my moods have stabilized to a very positive keel. I don’t know if this info will help you…but I wanted to share something considering how much you’ve shared with me.

I wish you the best of luck in winning your contest. If karma has anything to do with it….you will win by a landslide!

I tend to put more thought into bentos, which means they are healthier and more balanced. Plus, those boxes are SMALL. I mean crazy small, so you really do limit yourself in how many calories you can get from them.