Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by Natural Noshing and taking a few moments to learn a bit more about me. My name is Nora, and I am an active, thirty-something “foodie” with a passion for nutrition and eating natural, real food — nothing too fussy, over-processed or complicated. Growing up, I was the girl that didn’t read novels or magazines – I read cookbooks and recipes. I was always looking for new recipes to tweak and put my healthy twist on each. I’ve been following food and fitness blogs since 2009 and decided I wanted to start one of my one. I love cooking food, I love talking about food, I love pictures of food – perfect fit, no?
I always eat gluten-free and (mostly) refined sugar-free as well, minus a few holiday sweets or special occasions (something’s gotta give occasionally!). I have found that avoiding gluten and limiting my sugar intake resolved my ongoing struggle with digestive issues and improved my overall health and energy. I’m an avid runner and love being active, whether it be walking our dog, hiking or attending weekly bootcamp (Shout out to FitSoldiers!).
Why Natural Foods and Gluten-Free/Refined-Sugar Free?
For years, I thought I was lactose-intolerant. Well, that’s what my physician suggested at least, so I went with it and I avoided dairy like the plague. Taking digestive pills never fully solved my stomach issues plus through high school and college, I struggled with my yo-yoing weight.
In 2009, I heard more about “going gluten-free” and researched what it was all about and the symptoms people experienced with gluten intolerance – basically fit me to a T. In March 2009, I gave up gluten in attempt to relieve my turbulent tummy. Within a month, I felt much better and after two months, I was basically a brand new woman!
Within those first six months, I was on a GF product rage and wanted to try everything from highly processed cake mixes and cookies to bread and crackers. I was on sugar overload, and although my stomach was on board, my energy was lacking. I scaled back on the “boxed goodies” and started to focus on whole foods and more simplistic, balanced meals. Worked like a charm! Within several weeks, my energy was back, my weight stopped fluctuating and I even ran my first half marathon!
I hope to share my ideas, gluten-free recipes and adventures in fitness and life with you. Thanks for tagging along : )
Hugs and Health,
Nora
Natural Noshing 
You are amazing! I am so proud of you and eager to continue with you on your new journey here. What you have learned about fitness, nutrition and gluten intolerance should benefit a lot of other people. They will be smart to get on board and follow you, too!
Hi Nora, nice to meet you. I too have started to blog about gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free…and, unfortunately, diet recipes as well. Anyway, I’m going to try your beet chips!
Claire
Hi Claire! Nice to meet you as well : ) Thanks for stopping by, always nice to meet a fellow blogger – esp one that cooks similarly! I love your blog – your Quinoa-Flax Sweet Potato Squares and Faux Lasagna sounds right up my alley!
Great! Enjoy! Your quinoa waffles inspired me, and I’m in the process of sending you some “link love.”
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I just stumbled across your blog (well, being directed from Taste Spotting is hardly stumbling, but) and already have three recipes to try this week. I gained a bit of weight this winter but besides that, I was just tired, listless, lazy, etc. I’ve been overhauling my life and my diet and I’m so excited to see your offerings! Thanks and looking forward to more!
Hi Cara, thanks for stopping by! Glad you found some recipes that caught your eye 🙂 that’s always fun to hear! I completely understand overhauling your life and diet, I’ve totally been there and can completely sympathize! If I can help in any way or if you want to see a certain type of food or a healthified version, feel free to let me know! hugs!
hi there, just came upon your blog..and am so intrigued! looking forward to trying some of your recipies. i am having gall bladder surger in a couple of weeks. i have given up red meat FOREVER, and am strongly considering becoming a vegetarian, don’t know if i can do the vegan route, but am very interested in healthy eating & taking care of my body. (also…the cruelty to animals has been weighing heavily on my mind). so thank you for your blog…look forward to following!
I hope all goes well with your upcoming surgery! I am glad you came across my blog too, I am always happy to meet readers! I definitely enjoy vegetarian meals and hope you can find some meal ideas 🙂
love your blog! I’m making your crispy sweet potato fries tonight! thanks for the recipe and ideas for a dipping sauce! 🙂
Thanks so much Lindsay! I hope you enjoy the fries, I love the dipping sauce…vegenaise rocks! 🙂
Hi Nora! I just stumbled across your blog while I was looking for better and healthy take out meals. I was reading through a lot of your recipes. I can’t wait to try your ground curried turkey burger recipe..Iam looking forward to try more recipes.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hello Jean! I am glad you found a recipe you wanted to try, I hope you enjoy the curried turkey burgers : )
Hi Nora, I just stumbled on your site with your awesome looking sweet potato fries. I also think I might be gluten intolerant because I have had trouble with my stomach since I can remember and I have self-diagnosed myself as lactose intolerant. I am nervous about giving up wheat since I make a lot of recipes with couscous and bulgur but its nice to find your website and see some of your delicious recipes. I will look forward to more great recipes.
Hi Melissa, nice to meet you! I am sorry you are having tummy troubles but for me it was definitely worth giving up some of my fav foods to solve some of my health issues. You can buy brown rice coucous that is gluten free that is similar to the wheat version. As for the bulgar, I’d think a close sub would be millet, quinoa or teff. Although it’s not 100% the same, it might be worth it if you feel better? Let me know if I can help in any way! Hugs and health, Nora
I’m a new fan of your blog! This place is so great, Nora–I love it. We have similar food issues and so I’m excited to check everything out 🙂
Thanks for stopping by Cara and saying hello, it’s nice to meet you! I checked out your blog and look forward to following you too!
Yay for blog friends 🙂 hehe
Hi Nora,
I am so glad i stumbled across your blog! I’m very interested in how to make food healthier and I have digestive issues as well. 😦 However, I am still not exactly sure what causes mine…maybe it’s the gluten, like it was for you! Love your blog and can’t wait to read more! 🙂
Hi Angela, I am so glad you stopped by! Thanks for saying hello 🙂 I am so sorry to hear you have digestive issues too, it’s definitely no fun!!! Have you considered eliminating gluten to see if that’s the culprit? It took me a couple months to feel better but it worked! Sometimes a good cleanse could help your digestive track as well depending on how severed your issues are, keep me posted!
hi! i am soooo loving your recipes! i am a health nut and am always looking for awesome recipes i can try out! i was shocked to see we use the same exact ingredients! cant wait to try ALL of your stuff! going to make the hot chocolate now!
p.s. the hot chocolate was BANGIN’!!!!
Thanks so much Alani! It sounds like we have a lot in common! It’s always nice to meet another like-minded foodie – I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the hot cocoa 🙂
Your blog looks terrific, and I’m definitely using it as inspiration for my own gluten-free, pro-health, quality food, and lifestyle blog. Thanks so much for putting it together and I’m looking forward to more beautiful recipes. 🙂
Thank you SO much Fork Yes! I am honored to be of some inspiration for your own blog – I can’t wait to check yours out! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!
Found your blog and I am really inspired! Love it! Keep up the great work!
Thank you, thank you! 🙂 It’s comments like yours that really motivate me!
Hi there. Just found you via Fork & Beans and I am looking forward to reading all your recipes! I’ve been wondering if I have gluten issues as well… I’ll be back!
Thx,
Jen aka CN&E and clean/green/eat/repeat
I am so glad you found me Jen! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Cant wait to check out your blog too!
Hey, i stopped by your blog and will definitly check it out more as im staying away from wheat for now, maybe even gluten, lets see how it goes. You inspire me!
Hi Anne! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 I am so happy to hear that my humble little blog can provide you a source of inspiration – that always makes me smile!
Hi Nora! I have really enjoyed following your blog and I just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! I realize that you’ve already won this award but your blog is definitely in my top 15 so I nominated you again. 🙂 You can read more here: http://thelittlegsp.com/2012/04/16/versatile-blogger-award/
You are the sweetest, THANK YOU so much! I appreciate you thinking of me, I love your blog too!
Nora! Wow, your blog is awesome. The photos are beautiful and the writing is straightforward and genuine. However, I am curious about what kinds of ‘medical devices’ sell for work? Care to share?
Once again, thanks for the inspiration and I’ll be sure to add your link to my blog so others can enjoy this as much as I have!
-the cc
I am so happy I came across your blog!!! So amazing, healthy and tasty recipes, I don’t even know where to start! I have already made several recipes and thrilled with them all!! Keep it up 🙂 🙂
I’m so glad I just stumbled across your blog. I’ve recently made the switch to being gluten-free but just can’t seem to get myself to give up sugar, stupid sweet tooth…
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Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular post!
It’s the little changes which will make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Cabbage rolls look delicious! Can’t wait to try them. Keep up the good work and great recipes!
Hi Nora,
I went through a very similar adventure with food. I am so excited to enrich my table with your recipes. Thank you for sharing your recipes and your story!
Grateful, Dana
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I just discovered your website through red tricycle . They had the baked carrot chips . I have not yet made this recipe but this long weekend I will be trying it to see how it works out . Hope my son loves it . Finally found someone that gets the simplicity of cooking . I’m hooked
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