Gluten free

Yay for all those were too scared to try out one of those great new frozen yogurt places nearby. Now there is one that is guaranteed to be safe for the gluten-free eater.

Red Mango announced that the company’s frozen product has been certified as gluten-free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO). Red Mango is the first frozen yogurt retailer in the U.S. that has been approved by the GFCO to use the GF Certification Mark, stating that its frozen yogurt has met strict gluten-free standards. Read More »

Nature’s Path is introducing two new gluten-free cereals to their family of gluten-free foods. Crunchy Maple Sunrise and Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise.

These two new exciting organic cereals are an excellent source of whole grain, fiber and omega-3. They are made with organic corn, rice, flax, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth. Read More »

Halloween can be a difficult holiday to navigate for a gluten-free child or allergic child. Here are some tips for an easy gluten-free Halloween and some great sources for gluten-free Halloween candy.

Organize a Gluten-Free Halloween Party for Kids
Kids love parties, especially when they can eat all the goodies. Host a party where everything is safe for your child. Carve pumpkins, have a costume contest, and eat gluten-free Halloween treats (such as Halloween Sugar Cookies.) Inexpensive party supplies and art supplies can be purchased online at www.orientaltrading.com. Read More »

Coconut bliss is quickly becoming a favorite in the ice cream world. It can be found at most local grocery stores in the frozen food aisle. This delicious treat is creamy with a hint of coconut. Some favorite flavors include dark chocolate and naked coconut. It’s hard to believe this treat is gluten and dairy free.

The idea began with the intention of creating a delicious ice cream without using dairy, soy, or sugar. Although this sounds like a big task to take on, the creators of Coconut Bliss did not disappoint. Using all natural ingredients, the makers found the combination of coconut milk and agave syrup to be just right. To learn more about Larry and Luna and their full story, click here. Read More »

For better or worse, the Gluten Free lifestyle is gaining in popularity. While some in the community may bicker over its trendiness, one thing is for certain: bringing GF food into the mainstream is causing more and more restaurants and stores and manufacturers to sit up and take notice. There are more GF offerings at more locations than ever before.

One surprising addition has been The Olive Garden’s Gluten Free menu. Who would have thought that an almost strictly pasta restaurant would have GF offerings? Of course, you can always get their salad sans croutons, but now they have a GF pasta on their Garden Fare options menu. Pennine Rigate with Marinara is a hearty marinara sauce made from tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and herbs served over gluten free penne pasta. Read More »

Many places in the U.S. are not gluten-free friendly and many places are great to visit if you’re gluten-free. New York City and Atlanta are fantastic in terms of gluten-free shopping and dining, while Panama City Beach, FL is horrid. For this reason, many people who can’t eat gluten pack an extra suitcase full of food for any trip.

Taking your own food on trips is often a good idea. It is a terrible feeling to find yourself without something safe to eat – even if it’s just a cracker to nosh on when others around you are dining on gluten filled appetizers. It’s a good idea to keep a survival pack of food in your car, even if you’re not leaving town. There is something comforting about knowing there is safe food available, should a need for it arise.

If you are traveling from the U.S. to some parts of Europe, you might want to rethink your packing habits. Planning our first visit overseas after my celiac diagnosis was scary. Through much research I knew that it seemed easier to eat out outside the U.S. than at home, but until you experience that for yourself you’re a skeptic. Read More »

Food and Wine.

This is an easy-to-make, delicious entree that is gluten-free, inexpensive and fantastic. It’s as good as any dish I have had in any Thai or Vietnamese restaurant in the Houston area. Do not fear the Asian fish sauce…it adds lots of flavor, and it is easy to find in the Oriental foods section of just about any grocery store.

Adapted from

1/2 pound dried rice noodles, about 1/4 inch wide (I used Caravelle brand, available at HEB)

3/4 cup fresh grapefruit juice

2 large garlic cloves, minced Read More »

Although gluten-free eating is not impossible to do in most any restaurant including (but much harder) in Italian settings, there are restaurants and bakeries appearing throughout the City which tailor specifically to the gluten-free crowd. Below is a listing of several of the most talked about places. If you have dined here, or planning to, we would love to hear your recommendations!

Risoterria
270 Bleeker Street, btwn 6th and 7th Ave.
www.Risotteria.com

Everything from pasta dishes, to paninis, to cookie dough All gluten-free.

Friedman’s
75 Ninth Avenue, at Chelsea market
www.Friedmanslunch.com

A great lunch place where all items on the menu (even sandwiches) can be served gluten-free. Read More »

Eating on the run is one of the hardest things to do when you have to follow a strict gluten-free diet. No one likes to have to depend on fast food or food on the go, but let’s face it, in this day & age, it is inevitable. It isn’t always possible to plan ahead & pack something safe to eat. Enter: fast food restaurants. More fast food restaurants are starting to cater to those with special dietary needs. Hardee’s is a great example.

Hardee’s not only has a gluten-free burger, but they have a salad & breakfast bowl option as well. Hardee’s sent me the following email today: Read More »

With increasing regularity folks are asking if they should start the “new” gluten free diet to lose weight. They’re serious. Too often eating plans designed to combat specific diseases become money making marketing machines in the form of weight loss fad diet products, usually with poor long term results.

Many people now see the gluten free labels in the health food section of the grocery store, the thin people reaching for them, and well, you see the fore drawn conclusion. What they don’t realize is that the thin person may have celiac disease or other autoimmune disorder, and he or she actually weighs a healthy 20 pounds more since starting a gluten free diet, putting an end to malabsorption problems. Conversely, some people do lose weight eating gluten free, not because they are using the lifestyle as a specific weight loss program, but because addressing their underlying disease resulted in improved body composition.

In the later case, weight loss may be a side benefit of removing the offending food, thus allowing the body time to heal and absorb nutrients normally. However, a gluten free lifestyle is not intended to be the next fad weight loss program. Consider two other dieting trends over the past two decades: Read More »