The Public Health Crisis No One Is Talking About

I just got back from the Czech Republic last night. I am tired but have lots I want to share with my readers about traveling gluten-free overseas. This will come in the next few days. In the meantime, I wanted to share this article that was published on the Huffington Post while I was gone. The author, Sasha Cagen, is not only a Celiac but she is a world traveler. I love these people that embrace the gluten-free lifestyle overseas! The article is well-written and the comments are quite thought-provoking. Enjoy!

The Public Health Crisis No One Is Talking About
by Sasha Cagen

Imagine there is a food additive that slowly poisons you and can even kill you. Now imagine you have no way of knowing whether it is in your foods. Three million American celiacs and I find ourselves in this situation. We have been patiently waiting for the FDA to pass a gluten labeling law while Brazil, the European Union, and Australia acted years ago.

On May 4, activists will be baking a 12-foot gluten-free cake in Washington, DC to get the FDA and Congress to take long-overdue action on this public health crisis. It's high time the U.S. caught up with the rest of the world.

Read more...

Naked Pizza in NYC

Naked Pizza is coming to NYC this spring! The first and only time I tried the gluten-free Naked Pizza was in South Beach Miami last summer.

The concept behind Naked Pizza is to start with a "naked" pie and build your pizza with sauces, cheeses, and toppings. They have some really fun icons on their menu to represent "flora (you know, plants)," "fauna (for the carnivores)," cheese, and crust options. The gluten-free crust is a rice-based crust and in Miami was only available in a medium size pie.

By this summer, there will be not one but TWO locations of Naked Pizza in New York City. You can follow the progress of Naked Pizza NYC on Twitter and Facebook.

Naked Pizza NYC COMING SOON:
954 Third Avenue, NYC, NY 10022
150 East 14th Street, NYC, NY 10003

Stay tuned for some exciting news including an NYC Celiac Meeutp at Naked Pizza as opening day at Naked Pizza NYC approaches.

Gluten-Free Fun Nominations

If you are reading this blog, hopefully you are a fan. It is my fans that helped me win Best Gluten Free Website, Blog or Social Site Winner at GFreek.com in the beginning of the year. You all voted and I won, which was such an honor. Thank you all!

Now, it looks like some fans have nominated me in the Women's Health blog contest. Until a blog reader emailed me to tell me about this blog contest and that she voted for me, I had no idea it even existed. I think it would be wonderful if a gluten-free blog made the Women's Health blogroll, especially if it is Gluten-Free Fun! I encourage you to vote today!

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/features/blogcontest

Here are the details:

Nominate your favorite blog for the Women's Health BLOGS WE LOVE round up! We're looking for the best fitness, health, weight loss, and lifestyle blogs on the web and we need your help!

Just submit your favorite blog in the entry form below (you can submit as many as you like). Then come back to vote on the top submissions at the end of March!

Want to nominate your own blog? Go right ahead! If you're selected as one of the BLOGS WE LOVE 2011, we'll share your story with our readers and send you a nifty Women's Health badge for your page!

Remember to share this contest with your followers and friends and be sure to use #WHbestbloggers to track the conversation on Twitter.

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/features/blogcontest

Gluten-Free Fun Camp

No, I am not hosting a camp this summer (I WISH!) but I did find this camp online when doing a Google search about my blog. As I have mentioned before, my summers at D.P.F. 4-H Camp are some of my best memories from growing up. I went out there for 7 consecutive summers and even worked my way up to senior counselor. My sister and I often reminisce and talk about the day when we can both quit our jobs and go back to being summer camp counselors. When I was a kid, there was no such thing as a gluten-free camp. Lately, it seems that these camps are popping up all over the place. This Gluten-Free Fun Camp is located in Maple Lake, MN and is sponsored by Twin Cities R.O.C.K. volunteers and Camp Courage. Read on for more information.

Gluten-Free Fun Camp

If you have a child with celiac disease this could be a treat -- a camp experience like none other! Campers get all the whole package: cabins, swimming, horseback riding AND the entire menu is gluten-free. No one feels left out or different, Join us for Gluten-Free Fun Camp at Camp Courage in Maple Lake, Minnesota August 10-13th, 2010.

Deadline for camp registration is July 15th! Or sign up for our one-day, Day Camp too (see below)!

Preparing for Camp: packing, check-in instructions and more

A partnership between Twin Cities R.O.C.K. volunteers and Camp Courage, Gluten-Free Fun Camp allows the food part of a celiac lifestyle to become secondary to having fun. At school, parties, and other camps, these children spend every day carefully planning meals, reading labels, considering food options, and eating something different than most of their peers. At Gluten-Free Fun camp, all of the food is gluten free and carefully prepared to ensure safe eating for the campers leaving no reason for the campers to wonder “can I eat this?”

Camp Courage is located on more than 300 acres of land, which includes lakeshore on Cedar Lake. Campers will enjoy swimming, boat rides, tubing, horseback riding, hiking, bonfires, crafts, beach parties, night games and more! This is the whole camp experience. Camp counselors are provided by Camp Courage and are fully trained to assist children with medical needs. They also will be eating the same gluten-free food as the campers.

Our Food Coordinator along with ROCK volunteers carefully prepare each delicious gluten-free meal and snack. While the goal is for the campers to forget about food for awhile, cooking staff strives to make each meal an event to remember. Past favorites include a pizza party, cotton candy and snow-cones on the beach, and a chocolate fountain.

Who can come to Gluten-Free Fun Camp?

Children ages 8-17 who have celiac disease or who are on a gluten-free diet are welcome at Gluten-Free Fun Camp.

Friends and siblings of children with Celiac or on a GF diet may also attend camp (Important: all campers and staff must adhere to the gluten-free diet while at camp). All children must be 8 before September 1, 2010.

Other dietary restrictions can also be accommodated.

It is $270 for a child to attend Gluten-Free Fun Camp. For more information on the fee structure or to apply for a scholarship, download the registration form now. Deadline for camp registration is July 15th!

One-Day, Day Camp at Gluten-Free Fun Camp

If you have a child who doesn't meet the age requirement yet or isn't ready to sleep away from home, you can still experience camp for a few hours. Enjoy two gluten-free meals, plus horseback riding, swimming and more! Our "Day Camp" option will be available on August 11.

Details: Check-in is at 11:30 AM, followed by introductions and a craft for the kids. We will then eat a great gluten free lunch with the overnight campers. A tour of the facilities will be given and special activities, such as a beach party and horseback riding, will be planned for day campers. Then we will all join the campers again for dinner.

There is a charge of $10 for one parent and one child. Additional parents are $7 and additional children are $3 each. The maximum a family will be charged is $20. This can be paid when checking in on August 11.

If you want to RSVP for Day Camp or have additional questions about it, contact our camp coordinator by locating "Gluten Free Fun Camp" in the Contact Us dropdown. Please RSVP by July 15th.

Gluten-free. A Fad or a Trend?

I saw this graphic on the Hartman Salt website and was blown away that only 5% of the gluten-free food purchases are for people with Celiac Disease. This really is an excellent visual representation of the gluten-free trends in the United States.

Here is what Hartman Salt had to say:
"The year 2011 is quickly becoming the Year of Gluten-free. But will it last? While a number of people have made a very conscious decision to avoid gluten in their diets, a very small percentage of consumers have valid health reasons for doing so. What we saw in the case of low-carb tells us a few things about the long-term viability of gluten-free analogs as a successful product category. This HartmanSalt infographic begins to makes sense of the gluten-free maze."

Click here for the larger picture.

Conscious Nosh Gluten-Free CoCoMoons

A former colleague of mine recently introduced me to his sister-in-law's company, Conscious Nosh. Since they were local and gluten-free I was happy to connect with them. Conscious Nosh makes CocoMoons that are "vegan, gluten-free and organic treats and made in small batches, with love, in bi-coastal kitchens."

The first thing I noticed when I opened my samples of Conscious Nosh CocoMoons was the super cute packaging as you can see in the above picture. The next thing I noticed were the really unusual flavors including Blackberry Lemon, Chili Maple Vanilla, Mexican Chocolate, and Simply Lemon. I was excited to give all four flavors a try.

Hands down the group favorite was the Blackberry Lemon. The Chili Maple Vanilla CocoMoon was an interesting second place favorite. The treat is sweet when you first bite it with a definite chili kick once you swallow. We were all commenting about how we weren't really exciting that kick of heat at the end, but you definitely get it and it doesn't disappoint. The other two flavors were good too, but the first two were my definite favorites. 

Note: The flavors are seasonal, so be sure to check their website if you are interested in ordering CocoMoons.

Here is a picture of the runner's up: Mexican Chocolate and Simply Lemon.
We finished the winning flavors before I could even take a picture!

Since I got two packages of samples, I saved bushel #2 for day 2. I have to say, the second day the CocoMoons were even better. I think the first day the first batch was slightly frozen from being out on the delivery truck in the tundra that is NYC. The second batch was much softer and much more the consistency of what I think of when I think of a macaroon. It was soft (aka not frozen) and just as flavorful, but much more enjoyable since we could actually bite right into these rather than cut the frozen CocoMoons with a knife.

I would definitely recommend this dessert if you are looking for a vegan, organic, and gluten-free treat. They are sold in a few locations throughout NYC as well as online through the Conscious Nosh etsy store. 

Thanks to Conscious Nosh for letting me try their delicious CocoMoons!

More about Conscious Nosh

http://consciousnosh.com

Conscious Nosh CocoMoons are vegan, gluten-free and organic treats and made in small batches, with love, in one Brooklyn and one San Francisco kitchen.

CocoMoons do not contain nuts and are made with gluten free ingredients, including coconut, maple syrup, vanilla beans & unrefined sea salt. Their San Francisco kitchen is entirely gluten free. While the Brooklyn kitchen is not a dedicated gluten-free facility, Conscious Nosh does isolate their utensils and equipment and thoroughly clean all surfaces before use in an effort to reduce the risk of cross contamination.

CocoMoons consist only of plant-based ingredients – they do not use dairy, eggs, or other animal products. Because they work mainly with live (raw) ingredients and dehydrate the product at a low temperature rather than baking it, CocoMoons are also popular among raw vegans. While not technically raw, the choice of sweetener, organic maple syrup, is widely accepted within the raw community due to its nutritional value.

Where to buy Conscious Nosh CocoMoons in Manhattan

71 Irving Place Coffee and Tea Bar: 71 Irving Place

The Bean Coffee and Tea: 49 1/2 1st Avenue
Ground Support: 399 West Broadway
High Vibe: 138 East 3rd Street
Live Live & Organic: 261 East 10th Street
Stogo: 159 2nd Ave

You're Delicious, Angie's Kettle Corn

I was introduced to Angie's Kettle Corn by Allergic Girl when we went out to lunch in January. She raved about their allergen-free product at lunch and connected me with Angie's Artisan Treats.

A few weeks ago, I received a box of Angie's Kettle Corn and I dove right in. This stuff is absolutely addictive. The bag has 7 servings, I ate the whole thing in about three. Probably not the best idea when I am trying to get ready for a vacation, but I really couldn't stop eating it. The Kettle Corn is the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The kernels are big which is really appealing to me; no picking out itty-bitty pieces. Allergic Girl was right, this popcorn is awesome!

In addition to being delicious, "Angie's Kettle Corn is certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization and is produced in an allergen-free environment. Ingredients used in the production of all [their] kettle corn products are free all of the regulated food allergens. [They] do not allow nuts of any kind in our production facility." Angie's Kettle Corn is made with only four all natural ingredients: Popcorn, Corn Oil, Cane Sugar, and Sea Salt. Simple, yet flavorful; it doesn't get better than that.

Angie's Kettle Corn is really delicious and I highly recommend it. This would be a great addition to your Super Bowl spread this weekend. The popcorn is available nationally at stores like Target, Costco and Whole Foods. You can use their website to find out exactly where in your state you can find Angie's products.

ENJOY!

http://www.angieskettlecorn.com
http://www.facebook.com/angieskettlecorn

Gluten-Free Donut Love

What says I ♥ You like a gluten-free Cinnamon & Apple Donut?

I got some free samples of the Kinnikinnick Valentine's donuts the other day. I have been trying to cut back on sugar so after three days of no sugar, I needed one of these donuts. It was totally worth it. They were sweet, but not too sweet, and had a subtle hint of cinnamon. I didn't realize taste the apple, but I didn't mind. These were yummy and small enough to not make me feel too guilty about breaking my sugar fast.

Special for the Valentine’s Day season, Kinnikinnick Foods, leading provider of gluten, dairy and nut free baked goods, is launching a super moist donut with apple puree and cinnamon, topped with a cinnamon glaze and hot pink cinnamon icing.

These donuts are available until February 28th only on the Kinnikinnick website or by calling toll free 1-877-503-4466. Get some for the one you love (and some for you too!).

Gluten Free Rafting Trip in Oregon

I don't remember exactly how I learned about this rafting trip, but it sounds like a lot of fun for those of you in the Pacific Northwest.

Gluten Free Rafting Trip

August 21 - 23, 2011

We are delighted to be working with the renowned Gluten Free RN, Nadine Grzeskowiak, on this very special Oregon rafting adventure.

Having a significant food allergy like gluten intolerance can make people wary about eating out or even taking a vacation. Assurances that the food will be gluten free do not always hold up and then the consequences dramatically impact the quality of the vacationer's experience. Nadine and the gluten free chef accompanying her on this unique outdoor adventure, will make sure the foods that you are served are not only gluten free but delicious as well.

This is a vacation where you can have true peace of mind-no worries about the food being served you, just focus on the fun. Nadine is confident that this trip will address almost any food allergy because the food will be fresh, organic, and free of allergy causing substances. So the added benefit is that if you have food allergies other than gluten, this Oregon rafting trip will also be the perfect vacation.

The dates for this gluten free 2011 Oregon rafting and kayaking trip are Sunday, August 21 (starting about 9 a.m.) through Tuesday, August 23 (ending about 5 p.m.). The cost is $1140/adult and $1080/youth (17 years and younger) and is all-inclusive. This cost covers all meals from lunch the first day through lunch the last day, 2 nights lodging, guides, gear, government fees, shuttle back over the mountain at trip's end, Nadine's expertise (she will be on the trip with you), and the gluten free chef's skills at each evening dinner and breakfast meal. Whitewater Warehouse will prepare delicious, gluten free lunches riverside each day.

Interested in joining Nadine on this unique trip? Just give the friendly folks at Whitewater Warehouse a call at 1-800-214-0579 today to reserve your space(s). A $300 per person deposit will secure your spot. Or email us at fun@whitewaterwarehouse.com

Breaking News: Schär to Break Ground on US Facility

I was formally introduced to Schär USA, Inc. last July when I attended a wonderful luncheon in New York City. Although I had eating Schär in Italy, I never had their products in the United States. I left with a full belly, a gluten-free goodie bag of Schär products, and a new favorite gluten-free company for breadsticks, cookies, and more.

Today, I learned that Schär is breaking ground on their first United States manufacturing facility in New Jersey on Tuesday. This is great news for both Schär and the gluten-free community. Although Schär tries to keep their prices low, they are still importing most of their products from Europe. A manufacturing facility in the United States will help eliminate those international importing costs which will hopefully keep their prices down.

Congratulations to Schär USA, Inc. for their United States expansion and good luck on Tuesday!

SCHAR – EUROPE’S #1 IN GLUTEN-FREE FOODS - TO BREAK GROUND
ON FIRST U.S. MANUFACTURING FACILITY

(LOGAN, NJ) – Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and other state and local officials will join with Schar USA on Tuesday, January 25 at 2:00 p.m. to celebrate the company’s decision to locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in New Jersey.

Schar USA, which will be graduating from the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, is a division of Italy-based Dr. Schär Srl, Europe’s leading producer of gluten-free products. Dr. Schär plans to invest approximately $15 million into its new facility operation and has purchased over eight acres of land in the Pureland Industrial Park. The company also has an office in Lyndhurst.

What: Groundbreaking and tree planting to celebrate the company’s new facility in Logan Township.

When: Tuesday, January 25, 2011; 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Pureland Industrial Park
Heron Drive (Lot: 12.05; Block: 2803)
Logan Township, New Jersey
The lot is right next to Bentley Trucking (307 Heron Drive)

Winter Getaway at Good Commons (Gluten-Free Meals Available!)

Good Commons Winter Expedition Weekend

January 27 - 30, 2011
Plymouth, VT

Join new friends in the Northeast for a winter escape filled with snowy adventures, gourmet cuisine and rest & revitalization.

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I first learned about Good Commons last summer through Kristen, an amazing sommelier,  friend, and fellow member of my NYC Celiac Disease Meetup group. I had the pleasure of attending a wine tasting hosted by sommelier Kristen in the fall. If Kristen's wine tasting class is any indication of what's in store at Good Commons for their Winter Expedition Weekend, then you are in for a real treat. Kristen is extremely knowledgeable and friendly and doesn't make you feel stupid when you know nothing about wine. (ahem... me!) Kristen, a fellow gluten-freer, is good friends with Chef Matthew Wexler at Good Commons, so I trust you are in excellent hands and that Chef Matthew knows how to handle gluten-free food requests.

I just booked a different vacation (yay!), so unfortunately I cannot make this trip up to Good Commons. I hope to make it to Vermont one day soon to check out everything they have to offer. Chef Matthew Wexler is well-versed in gluten-free meal preparation. If you book this trip, please be sure to call or email Good Commons ahead of time to let them know you require gluten-free meals.

If you end up visiting Good Commons for their Winter Expedition weekend, I would love feedback! Also, if you are interested in attending and getting an additional discount please send me an email and I will put you in touch with Kristen. 

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Join Good Commons, one of the premier boutique retreat destinations in the Northeast for a winter escape filled with snowy adventures, gourmet cuisine and rest & revitalization. To learn more about Good Commons, CLICK HERE.

Limited time discount for my blog readers: www.goodcommons.com/winter2011dis100.html

Includes:
Round-trip transportation on our private jitney, the Good bus (NYC only)
3 nights lodging at Good Commons
Local shuttle service to Okemo Mountain, Killington, and snowmobiling
Meals prepared by private on-site chef
4-course dinner with guided wine pairings and sommelier
Optional yoga classes
On-site certified massage therapist (additional charge)

Itinerary:

Thursday, January 27th
1pm Depart NYC on our private jitney, the Good bus, with gourmet snacks and beverages
Stop at First Stop for equipment rental
Arrival at Good Commons
7:30pm Hearty Winter Dinner

Friday, January 28th
7:00am Breakfast
7:45am Depart to Okemo Mountain*
1pm Optional Midday Drop Off/Pick Up
4pm End of Day Pickup
5pm Optional restorative yoga class
7pm Four Course Tasting Menu with Wine Pairings
*Additional activities at Okemo include ice skating, snow tubing and snowshoeing. Okemo also provides free shuttle service into the town of Ludlow for lunch and/or shopping.

Saturday, January 29th
7am Continental Breakfast
7:45am Depart for Killington followed by drop off for snowmobiling
10am Optional yoga class for those not skiing
1pm Optional Midday Drop Off/Pick up
4pm End of Day Pickup
5pm Snack
7pm Family Style Winter Feast

Sunday, January 30th
7am Coffee and light breakfast snacks
7:30am Depart for Okemo Mountain for FREE Hour of Power
9am Optional yoga class for those not skiing
9:30am Return to Good Commons
10:30am Hearty Brunch
11:30am Group Photo
12pm Departure

Tesha Buss is the owner/creator of Good Commons. Raised on a dairy farm and doing back flips by the age of three, Tesha reached her childhood dream of becoming a Broadway performer, only to discover that a new dream--a retreat center to rest and revitalize--would soon reveal itself. She welcomes the revolving door of health and wellness professionals, artists, vacationers and more who seek to "be Good". www.goodcommons.com

Matthew Wexler is your chef for the weekend, as well as a freelance food and lifestyle writer. He is proud to share the bounty of the Northeast with all those who visit Good Commons through fresh, vibrant and accessible cuisine. Matthew's writing can be found at roodeloo.com.

Good Commons was originally built in the 1840’s and operated as a general store. It has been lovingly renovated and restored and now features six bedrooms and a sleeping loft, six bathrooms, two living rooms, and a multi-purpose studio. The property features all of the modern amenities of one’s own home, while still creating a warm and inviting environment that honors the historical traditions that have characterized the house for more than 160 years.

Pricing:
Bedroom prices per person, based on double occupancy
$675 regular --$575 discount - Black Diamond Bedroom, includes deluxe steam shower / SOLD OUT
$650 regular --$550 discount- Standard Bedroom--One Male and One Female Slot Left
$525 regular -- $425 discount- Loft, charming sleeping quarters

All deposits are non-refundable. See website for additional information.

Travel Information:
The Good bus will be leaving from 45th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues at 1pm sharp on Thursday, January 27th. The Good Bus will be leaving Good Commons on Sunday, January 30th at 11:45am to return to the same location in NYC. Providing your own transportation? Inquire about our discount. Please contact: tesha@ goodcommons.com

To register, please click here.

COMB Honey-Based Vodka and Gin

Last Friday, Astoria Wine & Spirits hosted a COMB Vodka and Gin tasting. I don't drink hard liquor much anymore, but this brand caught my eye because they are a honey-based spirits company. This is an exciting new alternative to those of you who are on a gluten-free diet and want to stick to gluten-free liquor.

Although I have heard of potato-based vodkas, I never heard of vodkas made entirely from honey so I wrote to the company looking for additional information. Ed Tiedge, founder of COMB Spirits, replied that "COMB Vodka and COMB 9 Gin are distilled 100% from honey and are gluten free and, in fact, made with no grains at all." Awesome!

Here is what else I learned:

Where is COMB made?
Everything is done in our artisan distillery that is located in Port Chester, NY in Westchester County. There we ferment the honey into honey wine (mead). We then distill it into vodka, gin or brandy and finally bottle and pack it.

Where does the honey come from?
We make our honey wine from orange blossom honey that we source from Florida.

Why don’t you use local honey?
The taste of a particular honey reflects the nectar of the blossom varietal it’s taken from. (Orange blossom, avocado, almonds, etc.) Much of the available local honey is characterized as clover and “wild flower” whose flavors can be quite variable from batch to batch. This leads to inconsistent flavors that don’t always translate favorably to wines and spirits. There are some excellent single varietal honeys in New York State, apple blossom for example, but they are not available in sufficient quantity for reliable production of our spirits.

Do you have your own bees?
Currently we don’t have our own bee hives; however, we are looking at purchasing some hives to insure a reliable supply of local honey from apple blossoms.

How much honey does it take to make spirits?
It takes about a gallon of honey to make a gallon of vodka. Honey is about 80% sugar so it takes less per pound than grains to make alcohol.

How much COMB can you make?
At current capacity, we can make about 100 cases per month.

Who is pouring it?
We’re currently in several restaurants in Westchester County that emphasize high quality local
producers, Blue Hill at Stone Barns use COMB Vodka and COMB 9 Gin, and we will soon be
poured in several cutting edge cocktail bars in New York City.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the COMB Vodka tasting this past weekend but I hope to catch them in NYC soon.

You can learn more about COMB Vodka and COMB 9 Gin here:
www.COMBVODKA.com
www.facebook.com/comb.spirits
Twitter: @COMB_CTO

New E-Book: Gluten Toxicity

I received an email back in October looking for gluten-free bloggers to be included in an upcoming book about Celiac Disease and gluten intolerances. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity to include Gluten-Free Fun and was excited to learn that the NYC Celiac Disease Meetup group would also be featured in the support group section of this book.

The new e-book is finally finished! It's called "Gluten Toxicity: The Mysterious Symptoms of Celiac Disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, and Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance" and is now available for purchase and download at the author's website. Shelly Stuart, R.N., B.Sc.N., the author of the book said it was a "2 year project... [and] a resource to increase awareness" about gluten. With 30 chapters covering everything from types of gluten intolerances to in-depth explanation of symptoms to diet and finally support for your gluten-free lifestyle, I think this book is full information that is very helpful to both the newly diagnosed and the veteran Celiac. You can read more about Shelly below.

As I mentioned, you can order this e-book at Shelly's website. In addition, Gluten Toxicity will be available as a paperback from Amazon.com and will be available in some stores in British Columbia, Canada. Congratulations to Shelly for finishing this book and helping the gluten-free community with the new book Gluten Toxicity.

From the back cover of Gluten Toxicity:

Are you suffering from fatigue, anemia, indigestion, bowel symptoms, skin rashes, joint pain, infertility, poor bone density, headaches or other neurological issues?

These symptoms, along with many others, can be triggered by immune reactions to gluten. Unfortunately for those who are suffering, gluten intolerance is very under-recognized and under-diagnosed by doctors. Sadly, patients often suffer for decades with incomplete diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

"Gluten Toxicity" provides a comprehensive checklist of symptoms, in depth analysis of the diagnostics tests, an outline of the gluten-free diet, tips to help with a new lifestyle adjustment, and recommendations to consider when complications arise. Helpful checklists will assist the reader to keep track of blood test results, and tasks to help with healing. If you are looking for a definitive guide that provides comprehensive information about gluten intolerance, then this book is for you.

Shelly Stuart is a Celiac Nurse and Gluten Intolerance Consultant in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has been a Registered Nurse for 21 years in a variety of clinical areas, including gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel disease. Shelly and her eldest daughter have Celiac Disease, and her other two daughters have food allergies. Her extensive medical background, along with her experience as a mother, have been valuable assets in helping others with diagnosis and healthy lifestyle adjustments. Helping patients navigate the maze associated with gluten toxicity has become a way of life for Shelly.

To learn more about Shelly, please visit the following links:

Blog: http://www.celiacnurse.com
Blog: http://paleolithicrn.blogspot.com
Twitter: CeliacNurse1, PaleolithicRN, GlutenToxicity

GlutenFreeTravelSite Announces Mobile Version of Website

Mobile Version Offers Free and Automatic Access to Gluten Free Restaurant Information and Dining Reviews via Any Smart Phone

South Riding, VA, January 5, 2011 – GlutenFreeTravelSite.com
today announces the launch of a mobile version of the site, automatically available on any smart phone. The mobile version provides visitors with a user-friendly format for accessing the site’s gluten-free dining information when “on the go” or traveling.

GlutenFreeTravelSite is a website that helps people following gluten-free diets find “safe” places to eat, whether they are looking for a restaurant in their town or searching for suitable places to eat or stay when traveling. The site contains a database of thousands of reviews of restaurants, hotels/resorts, cruises, and grocery stores throughout the world -- submitted by people following gluten-free diets.

“The mobile version of GlutenFreeTravelSite is incredibly easy to use, and more importantly, gives you instant access to a wealth of gluten-free information,” said Chad Hines, founder of the Gluten-Free Faces social networking site. “You have the ability to browse through local gluten-free restaurant reviews, view restaurant menus, and even access all your favorite social media sites -- all while on the go!"

Similar to the main site, the free mobile version of GlutenFreeTravelSite allows visitors to search reviews by city/town or zip code, with the search results appearing on a Google map. Users simply click on any establishment listed to link to the review. Most places reviewed are “hidden gems” such as independent restaurants, stores, resorts, and inns/B&B's that Celiacs may not have heard about elsewhere.

The mobile version of the site also incorporates the
Gluten Free Restaurant Menus section, which lists national and regional restaurant chains that offer gluten-free menus – and provides direct links to their gluten-free menus and locations. Users of GlutenFreeTravelSite’s mobile version can even visit the site’s Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages, and read the Featured Review of the Month, a review that is chosen from the prior month’s submissions for special showcasing.

Most people who follow gluten-free diets do so because of Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease in which the body is unable to digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac Disease affects 1 in 133 people in the United States and rates are even higher in some other countries. People with “gluten intolerance,” autism, and other health concerns have found that a gluten-free diet can also help reduce their symptoms.

“People following gluten-free diets have somewhat limited options when it comes to dining out and traveling,” said Karen Broussard, founder and president of GlutenFreeTravelSite. “With the mobile version, people can now have the helpful resources of GlutenFreeTravelSite at their fingertips at all times – whether they use an iPhone, Blackberry, or Android-based smart phone.”

About GlutenFreeTravelSite
GlutenFreeTravelSite was launched in April 2008 to help users quickly and easily access peer-written reviews of restaurants, hotels/resorts, cruise ships, and grocery stores around the world that cater to the gluten-free community. Between the database of reviews and the dozens of national and regional restaurant chains with gluten free menus listed on their Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page, visitors to the site can find thousands of safe and delicious dining options. For more information or to learn about advertising opportunities, visit GlutenFreeTravelSite at http://www.glutenfreetravelsite.com or e-mail
kbroussard@ glutenfreetravelsite.com.

Celebrate the Holidays with Crunchmaster

This holiday season you will probably eat cheese and crackers at a party, enjoy side dishes at a holiday dinner, or probably bake a gluten-free dessert. Well, with Crunchmaster gluten-free crackers you can do all three! Crunchmaster encourages you to go beyond the cheese and cracker plate and use their gluten-free crackers in your next holiday dish. I have included their green bean casserole recipe below, but you can visit their website for many more holiday recipes. http://www.crunchmaster.com/recipes/featured.aspx


Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:
4 oz. fresh sliced mushrooms, washed and drained
7 tbsp. butter, divided
1 cup finely crushed Crunchmaster® Artisan Four Cheese crackers
¾ cup finely chopped yellow onion
4 tbsp. rice flour
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 ccup whole milk
16 oz. frozen cut green beans
1/3 c. shredded Romano cheese

In a medium skillet, sauté sliced mushrooms in one tbsp. butter. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, melt 5 tbsp. butter on medium heat until it begins to bubble. Add rice flour and stir over heat to form a roux, about 2 minutes. Add milk, chicken broth, salt , pepper, and dry mustard. Whisk well over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken. Add sautéed mushrooms. Stir.

In the same skillet used for mushrooms, add 1 tbsp. butter and 3/4 cup onion. Sauté on medium heat until onion begins to brown. Add 1 cup finely crushed Crunchmaster® Artisan Four Cheese crackers to skillet with butter and onion. Continue to sauté until crackers begin to brown. Remove from heat.

In a large mixing bowl, combine green beans, mushroom sauce mixture, and 2/3 cup onion/cracker mixture. Mix well. Pour into a 2qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining onion/cracker mixture, and shredded Romano cheese.

Bake covered at 350˚ for 15 minutes. Uncover, bake an additional 20 minutes.

Serves 6

Great Holiday Idea: Gluten Free To Go

I was first introduced to Rebecca & Devyn's Gluten Free To Go snack packs at the Appetite for Awareness event in Philadelphia this October. I was instantly drawn to the colorful logo, the resealable bags, and the selection of snacks inside each "To Go" package. I was so impressed that I voted these snack packs as my "Coolest New Travel Product" in my A4A Vendy Awards.  If you are looking for a holiday gift for a busy mom or dad, a frequent traveler, or even for yourself then I highly recommend the Gluten Free To Go snack packs.

These Gluten Free To Go bags are "ready-to-go snack packs that are safe, tasty, gluten-free and available free of the eight most common allergens (wheat, milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish.)" These snack packs already contact many familiar brands such as Enjoy Life Foods, Mary's Gone Crackers, Wild Garden, and Sunbutter which is welcoming to those of us who are already comfortable with particular allergen-free products.

There are four Gluten Free To Go packs to choose from including "At the Park", "In the City", "At the Lake", and "On the Trail". Each package has a different selection of snacks and they all come in resealable bags. Right now, the snack packs are available for purchase through the Gluten Free To Go website.

I hope to see these expand into health food markets soon. Or better yet, how awesome would it be if you were in the airport and saw this at one of your favorite news kiosks? Good luck to Rebecca and Devyn with their Gluten Free To Go snack packs.

Buy yours today! Are you a new customer? Get $4 off any 4 snack packs by using promo code BUY4GET4.

Yogi Teas

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I unfortunately came down with a really bad cold. My sister gave me some Yogi Tea and I was curious about their ingredients. I wrote to the customer service team at Yogi Teas and they quickly responded to me. I thought it was especially interesting that they addressed the materials in the tea bag and the packaging in regards to their ingredients. Here is what Yogi had to say:

Gluten concerns, including intolerance and Celiac disease, are taken seriously at Yogi. As with all potential allergies and sensitivities, we strongly suggest that you work with a qualified healthcare provider to identify substances that could trigger your individual symptoms. 

We cannot guarantee that any of our teas are completely gluten free. Yogi Teas that contain barley malt, and therefore, potentially, gluten:

• Healthy Fasting tea
• Stomach Ease tea
• Kava Stress Relief tea
• Calming tea

The four teas listed above are not recommended for anyone working to avoid gluten. Our remaining Yogi teas do not contain added gluten. There is no gluten in the tea bag material or packaging.

Please take the opportunity to read about cutting edge tea news at the Yogi Blog: http://www.yogiproducts.com/well-being/

Gluten-Free Gifts for the Holidays

How cute are these gluten-free gifts?

You can buy these gifts and more for your favorite gluten-free person this holiday season. Visit the Gluten-Free Boutique today to place your order. Don't delay to ensure delivery before Christmas!

Click here to order from the Gluten-Free Boutique

Shabtai Gourmet Gluten-Free Bakery Wins!

Shabtai Gourmet Gluten-Free Bakery Wins Best New Kosher for Passover Product at Kosherfest's 2010 New Product Competition

Gluten-Free Yidels Devils Food Mini Chocolate Swiss Roll Wins Best new Passover Product at Kosherfest New Product Competition 2010. Shabtai Gourmet is a dedicated gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, soy free, lactose free, casein free, corn free, and kosher bakery. Shabtai ships his gluten-free sweets across the United States & Puerto Rico.

Woodmere, NY, October 19, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Shabtai Gourmet Gluten Free Bakery has just won the Kosherfest Best New Passover Product Competition for the 4th time. This time the winning item was their Gluten-Free Yidels Mini Swiss Chocolate Rolls. The judges couldn't stop raving about this new item when they first saw and tasted it - one judge said he devoured the sweet in 1 bite.

The super mini roll concept was developed by Shabtai while making sampler packs for the kosher, organic, and natural food trade shows. This new item from Shabtai Gourmet Gluten Free Bakery is not only gluten free, but also Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Lactose Free, Soy Free, Corn Free, Certified Kosher & is also Certified Kosher for Passover. Retailers are dedicating more shelf space for Gluten Free Foods and allergen free foods sections in their stores. In fact dedicated Gluten Free Food Stores are popping up all over the country, and only carry gluten free products.

In past Years Shabtai Gourmet has won best new product with some of their other items, such as their Gluten Free Devils Food Ring Ting Cupcakes, Gluten Free Bell Ring Cakes, & their unforgettable Marzipan Sushi.

Some other delectable allergen friendly desserts baked by Shabtai are his: Gluten Free Honey Cakes, Gluten Free Rainbow Cookies, Gluten Free Flourless Chocolate Cakes, Gluten Free Jelly Rolls, Gluten Free Brownie Bites, Sponge Loaf Cakes & so much more.

Many of Shabtai's baked goods contain no-hydrogenated oils, no trans fats, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no preservatives, are all natural, and baked with organic ingredients.

You can find Shabtai gourmet Gluten-Free baked goods at fine health food stores and supermarkets all year round. You can also purchase Shabtai Gluten-Free items at www.shabtai-gourmet.com or www.glutenfreemall.com.

You can use their store locator to find the nearest retail location to you at http://shabtai-gourmet.com/?page=locator

Look for Shabtai products at Wegmans, Shoprite, ACME, King Kullen, DAG NYC, Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Woodmans, Mrs. Greens, Key Food, & Best Yet Markets. You can also find Shabtai Gluten Free Baked goods in select Bloomingdale's stores on the East Coast.

In the weeks prior & during the passover holidays you can find Shabtai Gourmet baked goods at over 35 Supermarket Chains throughout the country. Look for their Kosher for passover symbols listed on their packaging.

Shabtai Gourmet supports various celiac support groups all over the country. Contact them to get involved in your local gluten free event - www.shabtai-gourmet.com (516) 374-7976.

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Silvana's Gluten-Free Holiday Cookie Countdown

I am excited to be a part of the Silvana's Dish Towel Diaries Gluten-Free Holiday Cookie Countdown. As you may know, Silvana Nardone is the author of Cooking for Isaiah and former founding editor-in-chief of Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine. Silvana is filling December with delicious gluten-free cookie recipes and gift giveaways from her good food friends—and some of your favorite people on the planet! Gluten-Free Fun is thrilled to be included! I am partnering with Shabtai Gourmet for a gluten-free giveaway. Stay tuned!

Silvana's Gluten-Free Holiday Cookie Countdown 2010
http://www.dishtoweldiaries.com/whos-your-baker/

Each day, one baker will give away a cookie recipe and a gift to one lucky winner!

COOKIE COUNTDOWN GIVEAWAY RULES
1. WHEN TO ENTER: You can enter online for your chance to win all 31 gifts starting December 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010. One entry, per person or email address per day.

2. HOW TO ENTER: No purchase necessary. To enter, post a comment on each cookie recipe post. One winner will be selected at random using Random.org’s True Random Number Generator from all eligible entrants for each cookie recipe post on or about January 4, 2011. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. The winners will be notified by email or by a comment on the cookie recipe post on or about January 18, 2011. If, for any reason, the Giveaway gift becomes unavailable, you will receive a gift of comparable value.

3. LIABILITY: By participating in the Giveaway, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Giveaway Entities from and against any claim or cause of action arising from participation in the Giveaway or receipt or use of any gift.

4. PRIVACY POLICY: DishTowelDiaries.com values your privacy. Personal information provided by you will not be shared without your permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice.