2019-05-01_Better_Nutrition

(^12) • MAY 2019
trendWATC H
Paleo. Keto. These are the diet words
on everyone’s lips these days. Both involve
minimal carbs and varying amounts of
proteins and fats. They promise every-
thing from weight loss to increased
energy to improved cardiovascular health.
For Amy Lacey, the dietary challenge
was more specifi c and more urgent. Her
health was poor, her energy levels non-
existent, her weight fl uctuating. After
being diagnosed with several autoimmune
diseases, it became imperative for her to
investigate and implement major changes
in her diet to allow her to deal with her
body’s infl ammatory betrayal of itself.
The Passion: Food as Medicine
The original ketogenic diet was designed
in 1923 at the Mayo Clinic for the treatment
of epilepsy. Eventually it broadened to
include treatments for other diseases that
have an underlying metabolic dysregulation.
The Paleo diet is of more recent origin,
stemming from a theory of eating based
on hereditary genetics. Both have features
that lend themselves to a regimen that
help support immune health.
Amy Lacey proved that good food, good
people, and good deeds are a formula for
success in life as well as in the marketplace
/// By Neil Zevnik
Neil Zevnik is a private chef in Los Angeles who tends to the culinary needs of the rich and famous; blogs about food, nutrition, and the environment for The Huffington Post; and
volunteers with marine mammal rescue whenever he can. Learn more at neilzevnik.com.
So Amy
embarked upon
a journey to
fi gure this out
for herself, for her family’s sake as well
as her own. Grains were out—many
infl ammatory disorders can be triggered
by them. Trial and error across the food
spectrum led her to vegetables, and
specifi cally to caulifl ower. There were two
primary attractions, as Amy discovered:
“Caulifl ower is an antioxidant and is full
of vitamins, and it takes on the fl avors of
anything you put with it, making it unique.”
What she was really looking for was
something that would allow healthy
eating within a proscribed spectrum of
infl ammatory responses, and yet off er
satisfaction and convenience with no
feelings of deprivation. Surely there
was a way to make her food safe and
non-reactive, but still fun and delicious.
The Product: Cali’Flour
Thus was born Cali’Flour. After much
trial and error, Amy developed a reliable
fl our made from caulifl ower that can be
swapped with any
fl our substitute.
And an additional
perk? “I love the
fact that I can use
the entire head
(including stems
and leaves) and
the Passion
behind the Product
eliminate food waste.” Then she set about
using this fl our to create convenient foods
that could make life easier and better—not
just for her, but for everyone looking for
healthy and simple deliciousness.
Pizza crust was the beginning—versatile,
quick, and good for you. Then came
crackers, and red lentil and caulifl ower
pasta. And last but not least, individual
fl atbreads that open up a world of
endlessly varied culinary possibilities.
And in case you were wondering what
to do with these treats, check out Amy’s
Cali’Flour Kitchen cookbook.
The path forward wasn’t always
easy, but Amy has persevered, buoyed by
the community that developed as people
discovered her products. “One of my
highest moments was learning about a
little boy named Gavin, who was put on
a ketogenic diet after being diagnosed
with cancer. He is now six years old,
cancer-free, and I learned that Cali’Flour
Foods gave him pizza again!”
Amy believes that giving back is an
essential component of any endeavor. So
she founded Cali’Flour Cares, an online
store that supports several nonprofi ts that
assist women, children, and lupus suff erers.
“One of the best gifts we have in life is the
ability to serve and give to others.”
Online-Only Recipe!
Our recipe of the month—Cali’Flour Flatbreads with Watercess Pesto
& Wild Mushrooms, shown above—combines peppery watercress with
earthy mushrooms and tangy feta cheese. It’s so delicious, and it’s only
available at betternutrition.com.
From pizza crusts to
crackers, Amy Lacey’s
company Cali’Flour
makes a variety of tasty
cauliflower foods.
Crazy for Cauliflower
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