2017 was a BUMMER of a year, and being pregnant twice over half of the year put a little weight on my body.  I basically ate nachos 5 times a week while pregnant with Sophie.  I love nachos! Most of the excess weight is now gone, and I am working through my love of Mexican food and wine to get rid of the rest.  We all have our vices!

No matter who you are and what you have been through, I feel like we are always trying to get healthy, right?  Well, it used to be how much weight I could lose by Friday night.  But, now it is about health for me.  I decided to write this post because I would LOVE your thoughts on restaurants and recipes.  I got diagnosed with Celiacs in September of 2013, and have been gluten free ever since.  My family is 100% gluten FULL.  Maybe some gluten free stuff thrown in for health purposes, but no one eats like I do in my house.  I have discovered over the years that just because Fritos are gluten free, I cannot have two bowls full on a Sunday afternoon.  I’ve learned this lesson over and over, and I’m sure I will have to learn it again.  I miss Fritos!

I did not win my husband’s heart by winning over his stomach.  Or whatever that saying is.  I feel like I used to enjoy cooking more: I had more time, I didn’t have an auto-immune issue. Now, I will admit, I’m a horrible cook.  I rock Taco Tuesdays at the Beucler household, and I may have a handful of other dishes that my family will eat and not complain about.  I do TRY! Over and over again.  But, 90% of the time the meal does not look like the pretty recipe picture, and I set the fire alarm off about half the time.  It is a mess in my kitchen.  But, music is always going, kids are dancing and smiling, so I’m going to keep trying.

Here is a recent picture of the fabulous Indecision Chicken (from The Joyful Home Blog) on the left, and my finished product on the right.  I am told that the grill was too hot from people looking at this picture.  But, I could have told you that when flames were flying and my seven year old was preparing for the fire alarm to go off.  Needless to say, Reid had Chick Fil A that night.

My new health kick is to try to get my kids to eat a little healthier.  This has been my health kick many, MANY times.  Pizza is the favorite food these days, and I’d like to change that.  I have a hard time feeding VERY PICKY people, when I, myself, have to be extremely picky! And, with a crazy sports schedule, we are regularly on the go in the evenings and on the weekends.  Yes . . . I do throw together an edible crock pot meal from time to time, but sometimes it is just easier to grab something while out.  That can make it hard to make great choices.  SO . . . over the last several weeks, we have been eating out a TON.  My kids have enjoyed the “research” for this blog post.  We have found some very HEALTHY (lots of GF options) and kid-friendly places.

Before you check out all of our Dallas favorites, please let me know if you have any more to add! And, if you have an EASY gluten free recipe (again, EASY and unable to screw up), please send it my way. I always love my MI COCINA – we are there far too often and it has become a weekend staple – but we need to branch out a bit.

1. Kozy
I just discovered this little gem thanks to some amazing friends.  It is a gluten free restaurant in Uptown.  After 11 years in the same location, it is moving to Lakewood in September.  I will be following them because their chicken club sandwich and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are my new obsession!

2. Company Café
When can a girl with Celiacs get biscuits and gravy? At Company Café! 99% of the menu is gluten free! The best breakfast in town! And, the mimosas are great too!

3. Shinsei
The bar at Shinsei is one of our favorite date spots.  People watching, anyone? The majority of the food on the menu is (or can be made) gluten free.  We have also mastered the dining at 5:30pm with kids and then leaving before it gets to be too much of a scene. Healthy, great atmosphere, and killer wine list!

4. Rise
The bar at Rise is our other favorite date spot! We love people watching . . . and getting to know bartenders.  It’s our thing!  Menu items offer calorie counts, and you can easily make a soufflé gluten free by removing the wheat flour.  So amazing! Order the crabmeat soufflé.  It’s off the menu!

5. Penne Pomodoro
Okay . . . I know that I said I was trying to move my crew away from pizza . . . BUT . . . Penne has THE BEST gluten free pizza in town.  And the best gluten free focaccia bread.  You literally can’t beat it! Easy fix for dinner, and for some reason I feel better about the kids eating gluten free pizza than I do regular pizza.

6. Flower Child
This place is mostly gluten free, it is super convenient, and where else can you get a plate of amazing steamed vegetables and be full? I always feel like I am doing my body a favor when I eat here! My kids love the steak too! Win-Win!

7. LaLa’s Mexican Grill
Wowza! New spot alert! So fresh, so yummy! Gluten free and organic menu.  Please go eat there so that it sticks around.  Jackson loved this place! Yeah!!

Happy Eating!