I had the pleasure to sit down with the Nature’s Path Foods’ VP of Marketing & Product Innovation, Arjan Stephens.

Nature’s Path is a family run organic-based company founded in 1985 by Arran and Ratana Stephens in British Columbia, Canada. Since then, the Stephens family has expanded as well as the Nature Path’s family of foods.

In 1989, Nature’s Path introduced their first gluten-free cereal, gluten-free corn flakes, when gluten-free was a virtually unknown term to most people. They developed the EnviroKidz brand in 2000, which is completely gluten-free and focuses on children’s cereals, cookies, waffles and cereal bars. Since then, business has been booming, and gluten-free households around the world have been singing their praises. Read More »

Where can you shop for gluten-free foods if you don’t have a Whole Foods Market or specialty health food store near you? Try your good old grocery store.

First, it is important to remember that most basic foods are gluten-free. There is no reason you can’t make a delicious and nutritious meal from fruits, vegetables and meats. You should actually be eating this way every day to ensure you are eating healthy food options. You can even purchase rice, potatotes, corn and items to make a marinade, and you will almost always have a great gluten-free meal. Read More »

The next time you just want something sweet or need to bake something in a flash, try making a Rice Flour Cake (or cupcakes if you feel so inclined). The recipe below is quick and easy, and can be paired with your favorite fruit or other gluten-free topping. What’s even better about this cake recipe is that it won’t break your budget…or your diet. So grab a spoon and start baking to enjoy a nice fluffy treat that is sure to be a hit among your friends and family.

*Rice Flour Cake recipe courtesy of Whole Foods.

Ingredients
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup evaporated cane sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups white rice flour
1 teaspoon baking powder Read More »

With the onset of flu season, we are all looking for ways to boost the immune systems of our gluten free kids and keep them from getting sick. This is especially important for kids who may already have a compromised immune system due to Celiac Disease.

Unfortunately, finding just the right vitamins and immunity boosters can be difficult when you need to have something that is gluten free. Gluten is a popular additive in a lot of medications and could be hidden under several names. Add to that the problems of multiple allergies and you may feel a bit stuck with no real options.

Never fear! You can give L’il Critters to your little critters and be worry free! These gummy chews are gluten free and also free of: wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and soy. Read More »

Unilever Issues Allergy Alert on Wheat in a Limited Number of Tubs of Breyers® Ice Cream
Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:11:00 -0500

Unilever United States, Inc., of Englewood Cliffs, NJ, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is voluntarily recalling a limited number of tubs of Breyers® ice cream because it was mispackaged and may contain undeclared wheat. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat run the risk of allergic reaction if they consume this product.

On a limited number of tubs, the lid describes the product as “Breyers® All Natural Cookies & Cream” ice cream, and the tub portion of the package describes the product as “Breyers® All Natural Mint Chocolate Chip” ice cream. The product inside of the tub is “All Natural Cookies & Cream.” The ingredient statement on the tub does not declare wheat, which is an ingredient of the Cookies & Cream product. Read More »

P.F Chang’s China Bistro has a wonderful gluten-free menu, complete with appetizers and dessert! There are 2 P.F. Chang’s locations in the Columbus, OH area – Tuttle Crossing & Easton.

For starters there are the tasty Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The dish is served with iceburg lettuce leaves for wrapping up the stir-fried chicken mixture.

There are many appetizing options for the entrees. Philip’s Better Lemon Chicken, Chang’s Lemon Scallops, Ginger Chicken with Broccoli, Moo Goo Gai Pan, Singapore Street Noodles and many more. Rice comes with the entrees – brown, steamed white or fried. The gluten-free fried rice is a newer addition to the menu. Pictured below is the Singapore Street Noodles. Read More »

Saving a life means more than just keeping a person from dying. It means helping them get well.

While practicing medicine as a registered nurse, Cleo Libonati regularly saved people’s lives. Now her book “Recognizing Celiac Disease” is doing the same for people across the country and around the world.

Here is a letter telling how one family credits the book with saving their lives…

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Dear Cleo,

I have been “sick” most of my life (I turn 40 in July) with random things, too many to list here. I have been really sick the last 10 years, but started feeling as though I was “dying by the inch” in 2004. I finally broke down and went to my primary when premature ventricular contractions were occurring every 5-10 seconds that felt as though my heart was going to jump right out of my throat. I had many other random multiple sclerosis type symptoms, but the severity of the PVC’s were what scared me the most, that is until 2006. I began to have many gastro symptoms that kept me in the bathroom several times a day with alternating elimination problems, I couldn’t keep food down, and pain in the left side of my swollen, hard, tender abdomen every time I ate. I had an EGD and colonoscopy on 2/15/07. The three days before the test were the best I had felt in 4 years. Since I worked in Oncology and was used to seeing patients doing prep for them, I put myself on clear liquids 2 days before the Go-Lytely. So, I was gluten-free without knowing it for 3 days prior to testing. Read More »

Autumn is in full swing with the leaves changing and crunching beneath our feet as we take weekend jaunts to pick apples and pumpkins. Once we return home we realize, what are we going to do with all of these apples?!

Eating them plain is an excellent treat, especially the early season Honey Crisp apples, but sometimes it is necessary to get more creative and break the routine. This recipe was originally found in Southern Living, and has become a fall favorite of mine. It was not originally printed as a “gluten-free” recipe, but easily became one with a couple of modifications. This sandwich quickly becomes a satisfying and impressive meal. Read More »

Alas, the school cafeteria: A place where gluten and other allergens are free roaming. Don’t fret, there are plenty of wonderful GF conveniently packaged foods your child will enjoy (And many non-GF kids might get jealous of how delicious they look!)

Here are my favorite gluten-free products for school lunch: Read More »

Want to know if your food is really, truly gluten-free? Depending on your own individual sensitivity to gluten, you might want to consider investing in a box of E-Z Gluten test strips. The E-Z Gluten test strip kit is easy to use, and you can have results in about 5 minutes. We use the E-Z Gluten test strips to batch-test our products in our catering kitchen.

Read More »