Like Ginger Snaps? Do you buy them from the store? Better yet, do you buy Gluten Free? Well, save your money (and your health!)

Ingredients in Mi-Del Ginger Snaps:

http://www.midelcookies.com/products/gluten-free/ginger-snaps

Gluten-Free Flour (Corn Flour, Soy Flour, Potato Flour, Rice Flour, Corn Starch, Potato Starch, Xanthan Gum), Organic Dehydrated Cane Juice, Canola Oil, Unsulphured Molasses, Ginger, Soy Lecithin (Used as an Emulsifier), Eggs, Baking Soda, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor.

Warnings
Contains: egg, soy. Produced in a peanut-free facility that also processes wheat and milk.

Does this list of ingredients make you cringe? Are you unsure? Well let’s just look at the majority of ingredients listed in these store bought ginger snaps.

1. Corn Flour

2. Soy Flour/Soy Lecithin

3. Potato Flour

4. Corn Starch

5. Potato Starch

6. “Organic” Dehydrated Cane Juice

7. Canola Oil

8. Natural Flavor

Those ingredients are enough for me to run for the hills!

CORN: Here ya go! Educate! Know the truth. This is why I avoid corn.

http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/killer-corn-12212012

Did you check out that list of “other names for corn”? Yes, the food industry is catching on. They realize people are getting smarter and reading labels. So, what is their solution? Hide corn by using other words. BE SMARTER than the average bear! When you see words like Magnesium fumarate OR Lauryl glucoside even if you have NO CLUE what that means, your little red flag should go up and you should just avoid that product. Also, please know, MANY GMO corn products are hidden in beauty supplies like shampoo, conditioner, make up etc. www.ewg.org has a list of products to avoid (and products that are safe) Check out YOUR products on their website.

SOY: The dangers of soy is EVERYWHERE! Had a hard time picking ONE article. I think the best book is, “The Whole Soy Story”. That is a life changing read.

http://www.wholesoystory.com/

The few words that pop in my head when I think of “soy” are: Thyroid and Hormone DISRUPTER! Really!? You want to eat that!? Ever notice how “soy lecithin” is in EVERYTHING processed?? Yep… Read on...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/17/the-whole-soy-story-the-dark-side-of-america-s-favorite-health-food.aspx

POTATO FLOUR: Processed, high starch food that can cause inflammation and gut bacterial issues. If you are going to eat Potato, just eat it grown from the ground in moderation.

ORGANIC DEHYDRATED CANE JUICE: A.K.A= processed SUGAR. Do I need to write about sugar? Probably not if you are reading my blog! The word “ANTI-NUTRIENT” sums up sugar. So, you know that healthy salad you ate followed by that processed Gluten Free cookie form the store? Well, your body will use all that salad JUST TO PROCESS that sugar you ate. So, you thought, “Oh good! I ate a salad! All that nutrition will go to my eyes, hair, skin, etc.” BUT NOPE! All that nutrition will go to process the anti-nutrient SUGAR!

CANOLA OIL: Not sure if I need to write about this one either? Bottom line: Poison.

http://www.naturalnews.com/canola_oil.html

I pull from Mercola and Natural News because of the research that backs up what I am saying.

NATURAL FLAVORS: Given this list of ingredients I can assume “Natural Flavors” in this product is MSG. Again, not sure I need to speak about avoiding MSG. One word to sum up MSG: BRAIN TOXIN. Okay, well that was 2 words. Needless to say, most people know these days to avoid MSG. Like corn, MSG has a zillion different names hiding the word. Here is yet another list:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

See why reading labels on processed foods is so important? OR just avoid.

Now with all the doom and gloom reported here I also have a solution! COOK! Yep, that’s right! If you want to ensure you are getting REAL, NON GMO, NON PROCESSED foods, you need to just cook it.

I use this FABULOUS recipe on The Spunky Coconut’s website! Excellent recipe! Delish! Please check out her website and fantastic recipes!

http://www.thespunkycoconut.com/2013/07/gluten-free-ginger-snaps/

GLUTEN FREE GINGER SNAPS WITH RAISINS

Wet Ingredients:
1/2 cup organic palm shortening
1 egg

Dry Ingredients:
2 cups (224 grams) almond flour
1/2 cup (80 grams) coconut sugar
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 & 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2) Whisk the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
3) Add the wet ingredients and mix with an electric mixer.
4) ) Use a 3/4 oz (size 40) scoop with a lever. Pack the scoop and level it off. Then use the lever to place it on the paper. (Or use your hands to make small balls of dough.)
6) Wet your hands and use your palm to flatten each ball to about 2 inches wide. (They don’t spread very much in the oven.)
7) Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, then cool on wire racks.
Note: They can be chewy if they cook for less time or if there is moisture in the air.

Makes about 22 cookies.