THM Part 3 - Specialty Items

If you've read the book... all 607 pages of it, you can easily be overwhelmed by the number of specialty items they mention, new (complicated at times) recipes they provide, and supplements they mention.  And I haven't made ANY of those healthy drinks they tell you to sip on through the day.  Not the Singing Canary, the Good Girl Moon Shine, or the Fat Stripping Frappa.  Nor MANY of the other amazing creations.  They might be wonderful, and delicious, and perfect.  But I don't have time!  I drink water, from my refrigerator door.

However, there are a few "new to me" items that I had to start buying in order to make THM possible for us.  Most of these items are included in the recipes I'm going to share with you.  After 9 months on the diet, I can comfortably say that these are my staples and I can get by with only these extras.

I order the following items from Amazon for price and free shipping (I'm an Amazon Mom Subscriber).
1. Almond Flour - I bought Anthony's Almond Flour.  Bob's Red Mill is also a great brand.  I've used both.
2. Coconut Flour - I like Anthony's Coconut Flour too.  But again, Bob's Red Mill is another great option.
3. Stevia Extract - This is a personal taste.  I use NOW Stevia Extract in my coffee cause the Almond Milk and Creamer cover the bitter flavor.  I use NuNaturals NuStevia in my Chocolates.  My mom loves Sweetleaf Stevia Extract and Liquid Sweeteners.  And now there's even a THM Brand of Stevia Extract.  The important thing is to buy an "Extract" and then realize IT IS STRONG.  So you will have to get used to all new ideas about measuring your sweeteners.

4. Erythritol - I buy the NOW Erythritol.  I have tried Xylitol (which is a perfectly acceptable alternative), but I seem to like the Erythritol better.  And I use this to make my own "Truvia."  There is also a new THM Erythritol on their website and their own "MYO Truvia" called "Sweet Blend," but I haven't tried it.
5. Oat Fiber - I don't even remember what brand it is.  And it seems to last me forever because there is very little in each recipe... for good reason kids.  You could probably skip this item if you were trying to be minimal.
6. Glucomannan - I buy the NOW Glucomannan 100% Pure Powder.

**On a side note, my daughter Erin was diagnosed with Swallow Dysfunction at 2 months old and it required us to thicken ALL of her liquids.  It took us 4 LONG months of trial and error with 6 different thickening agents before we found a good solution.  Thanks to THM, my baby was able to drink breastmilk bottles thickened with Glucomannan.  Neither her pediatrician nor the feeding specialist had ever heard of it.  But it was our saving grace and the only thing that worked for her.  I LOVE THM for what it did for my baby.  Glucomannan thickens ANY liquid with very little powder and was only 2 calories per bottle.  Just Amazing.**

7. Coconut Oil - I tried a few expensive brands from Amazon.  But ended up preferring the "cheaper" stuff from Publix. So I use LouAna in everything. And I don't feel guilty that it's not the "higher quality oil."  It's better than vegetable oil, canola oil, etc.  So leave me alone.

8. Protein Powder - Since I am dairy free, it was difficult to find a protein powder that fit our needs.  But the SunWarrior brand came highly recommended from other THM moms and I really like it.  We buy the Warrior Blend - Vanilla Flavor.  This works great in smoothies or the Protein Packed Peanut Butter Cups.

9. Golden Flax - I quickly learned that I MUCH prefer Golden Flax to Flax Seed, etc.  I substitute Golden Flax any time I see "Flax" in a recipe.  My mom found this bag at Sams and it has lasted me a LONG time.  I really like it.  And I'm hoping she'll buy me another when I run out ;)  No pressure mom, this is only a public blog.  And I don't have a Sams Membership :/

That's it for my speciality items.  However, I recommend that you stock up on Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder, Vanilla Extract (I use Immitation), Lots of Eggs, and TONS of Peanut Butter.  I use these items ALL THE TIME.

Alright, go find your ingredients and I'll start posting recipes!