Just in time for Halloween this year…an updated candy list courtesy of our friends at GfreeFoodie.
Cold and flu season…it’s coming!
Well, if not already here for some of us.
What’s someone on a gluten free diet to do? When you’re sick you just want immediate relief; you don’t care where or how! Right? However, if you suffer from Celiac then picking up the closest cold medicine is not necessarily the right avenue of escape.
As already discussed on here, Advil liquidgels contain gluten. What about other medicines?
Being someone who is often sick (I have a weaker immune system and I’m a high school teacher…BAD combination!). I’m exposed to over 100 extra germs every Monday-Friday. 
So, I’ve learned a thing or two about which medicines are safe. I’ve called distributors and researched online to find what is ok for me to take.
Here’s some drugs I’ve researched:
Zicam-a life saver if you catch your cold early enough, right?
On their site:
In honor of Celiac Awareness Day I HAD to share with you this amazing recipe that was shared with me.
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As Celiac’s, and others who have to avoid gluten, you understand the excitement when you find a good cookie or cake. I mean, a GOOD one! Right? It’s like finding the perfect shoe for your wedding (or prom if you’re a little younger). For guys, umm, it’s like watching a good game? Ha, sorry, I’m not so savvy in that department.
But, anyways, back to the cookie. When you can’t have “normal” cookies, you’ve had to go through some awkward, if not awful, cookies looking for something yummy. And, due to that fact, your awesome friends (you know, those who understand) send you recipes when they find something gluten free that they think you might like.
So, this recipe today is for a gluten free AND vegan S’mores cookie! Doesn’t that just sound divine! My lovely friend, Crystal, sent me the recipe and I can’t WAIT to try to make them. Yes, I have not yet tried these cookies. But, I did look through the ingredients (and some delectable pictures) and I just couldn’t wait to share with you. Having been quite sick the last few months (more on that later, but we don’t have time now…HELLO, I’m about to give you a cookie recipe!) I’m not sure when I’ll finally have the energy to whip up a batch of these.
I figured, hey, my readers are good people. Good people who have, sadly, had to endure some not so good gluten free cookies. So, if I can get your hands on what I’m betting is a great recipe, why make you wait? Seriously, I haven’t been able to cook in like three months, so it could be a LONG while before I can give my opinion.
In the meantime, check these out.
Gluten Free and Vegan S’mores Cookies...complete with tons of gooey pics!
Hope you enjoy! If you do make them, PLEASE share your thoughts…I can live vicariously through your baking.
Summer may be winding down as kids and teachers have gone back to school, but that doesn’t mean the fun of summer has to be over.
Well, maybe a little. I mean, we can’t just continue to stay home because we want to.
BUT, we can definitely still enjoy some of the great flavors as we sit by the pool or BBQ this weekend. Maybe even a little treat for yourselves tonight? I say, go for it!
As I’ve shared before, I’m loving the joys of Pinterest. It’s completely addicting (at least for me). Have you been sucked into the world of pinning yet? If not, let me know and I’d be more than happy to send you an invite. If not, that’s ok too. But, you may find some of these pins I’m about to share just too enticing!
In honor of summer, I wanted to share some refreshing treats with you today.
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First up we have, peach popsicles.
Gluten free AND refined sugar free! Yum!
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Next, a fun blueberry, basil lemon water.
This may sound a little different, but check out the the ingredient list. Simple and delicious!
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Another icy treat. This time, blackberry frozen yogurt.
Added bonus for this one is that it only has three ingredients.
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Lastly, I just couldn’t resist adding this one for all you margarita lovers. Watermelon Margarita.
I’m sure this will be a BBQ favorite for many of you!
***NOTE: As always, double check any ingredients you are using to insure they are gluten free.
Enjoy! As always, we’d love to hear of you’ve tried any of these or if you have a different, favorite refreshing treat for the summer.
When first diagnosed with Celiac disease it is very easy to concentrate solely on which foods are ok to eat and which are not. These are a valid priority for sufferers as one misstep, depending on the severity of the allergy to gluten, can have consequences. However, there are other reassessments that need to be made too. Some medications are not gluten free. Learning to deal with this new allergy means learning to cook new recipes, understand nutrition labels and to pick the right medications. There are a wealth of resources on gluten free food on this website, this article introduces some quick tips for finding gluten free medications.
1. Don’t Panic
Most importantly, do not panic about finding medication. As the list at the end of the article suggests, there are a lot of gluten free medications around. With each year the list grows as manufacturers become more aware of the allergy and the need to change their production practices in order to help allergic customers.
Be aware of panic announcements on web groups, email lists and forums dedicated to gluten allergic people. Not all of these announcements are based on facts, so wary of each one unless it is backed up with valid links to newspaper articles or expert advice. If the message raises flags then do some of the following steps.
2. Check the Label
Gluten free medications are expanding all the time and information on the ingredients is becoming clearer. As the Journal Sentinel reported recently, pharmaceutical companies are starting to label their products as gluten free to help celiac disease sufferers. This has made it easier to check medications out. Gluten free medications will be labelled as such. Others will contain a list of ingredients. Check it to see if there are any glutens involved. Even if nothing seems to contain gluten, if the label does not say “gluten free” then you may need to do some extra research.
3. Do Research
The internet is a mine of resources, not all of them good, but by the same token, not all of them bad. Many pharmaceutical companies have websites for their products, there are also expert webpages on all things medical. Look up the drug in question and see if you can find what is put into the drug, if there are any gluten warnings or if it is labelled as gluten free. Again, be wary as you sift through the information.
4. Ask a Pharmacist or Doctor
Your doctor will be aware that you now have an allergy to gluten. Taking this into account your personal doctor will be only too happy to help you, where possible, to find out which medications are suitable for those with a gluten allergy. If the doctor does not know the answer, he or she will be able to refer you to someone who knows more. The same goes for pharmacists. They are trained to be experts with medications and as awareness of gluten allergies has spread, so too has their knowledge. Again, if they do not know the answer for a particular drug, they will have enough contacts to find out.
5. Ask the Manufacturer
If your research, doctor or pharmacist has not calmed your fears enough, most pharmaceutical companies have a hotline for patient enquiries. These companies take serious patient enquiries seriously and will have staff on hand who will be able to answer your questions, either immediately or within a short period of time.
Some Gluten Free Medications
The Gluten Free Drugs website contains an exhaustive list of drugs and medications that are officially gluten free. As the website notes, be careful not to use generic versions of these drugs unless you can prove that they too are gluten free. This is not just because some manufacturers include glutens in the actual drug, but because many may use machines that have come into contact with glutens for other products. Think of it as the “may contain nuts” clause for food manufacturers.
Summer is winding down and the school year is just around the corner!
The sleeping in for students (and us teachers) is coming to a close. 
It’s a bittersweet time as I get excited to meet new students, yet sad to no longer be on my own schedule. While this summer has been different than others (more on that later) I still very much enjoy not having to pack breakfast, lunch and a few snacks.
Which brings me to today’s post…
If your child is anything like me, they get really hungry throughout the day. That can prove especially difficult if they have food allergies. From slushies to gummy worms and Gatorade, while the snack selection at your child’s school may have these gluten free options, it may not be what you want your child to eat. I can tell you, it’s definitely not what your child’s teacher wants them to be eating. A classroom full of 40 freshmen hyped up on sugar after lunch is definitely an interesting environment (not speaking from experience or anything).
However, healthy snacks are an essential way to keep your child’s energy and attention up during the day.
So, here’s a quick list of snacks that will hopefully help get you started and keep their tummies satisfied:
-Trail Mix (like the amazing one pictured above, from Trader Joes).
-Fresh fruit and veggies (I find it super helpful to bag these up ahead of time so they can just grab and go in the morning).
-Snack bars (NoGii kids or paleo bars and Larabars have some great, kid-friendly, flavors…I particularly love the pure ingredients of the Larabars).
-String cheese and pretzels (we love Glutino pretzels).
-Yogurt
-Applesauce
It’s amazing, but although coming up with kid and school friendly snacks for your child with allergies can initially be a daunting task, once you start you may find that (like the short list above) there are quite a few options that will be similar to other kids.
It’s never a quick, or easy, task coming up with foods to feed your child, but hopefully this list will help get the wheels in your head turning.
So, what did I miss? I know I didn’t get ALL the good stuff!
One quick side note before I go. I heard a great idea awhile back from a mother whose son has Celiac. To help him feel more “normal” and included, she would talk with his teacher so she could keep track of when there were parties in his class. This way, when the occasion came up, she would make sure he had a cupcake or brownies in his lunch so that he never felt like he was being left out! He didn’t have to just smell their dessert (am I the only one that does that?!?!), he could eat his own!
How cool is that?
Rachel aka Gfreegal
Going gluten free doesn’t have to mean going without your favorite grilled cheese sandwich or French toast breakfast. You CAN have bread and it CAN taste good!
Gluten free just means a little tweak in your staple bread entrees.
However, depending on which bread you choose, you could find yourself thinking you’ll never have a tasty sandwich again. Trust me, we’ve tried some pretty nasty gluten free breads over the past few years. But, we’ve also found some yummy options and have compiled a list for you of the top three brands (and no, none of these companies are endorsing this post; we just want you to eat what tastes good).
Top gluten free bread companies:
Canyon Bakehouse has some of the most moist and squishy gluten free bread out there. We particularly like their cinnamon raisin and 7-grain breads. Perfect for a sandwich!
Rudi’s is also quite moist for a gluten free bread. Their multigrain and cinnamon raisin breads are great for making toast in the morning. We also really like their plain tortillas
Udi’s bread holds a special place in my heart, just because it was the first gluten free bread I tried that tasted good and when toasted I didn’t feel like it was going to break my jaw as I attempted to bite it. I also appreciated that it wasn’t crazy crumbly like other breads (none of these three breads mentioned are!). Again, we like their whole grain, as well as their hamburger and hot dog buns. We also REALLY like their blueberry muffins. They’re a great thing to pack (with Justin’s peanut butter packets) for out of town trips!
Another great thing about Udi’s is that Trader Joes is now carrying it!!! I think it’s about $1 cheaper there than the health food store I usually buy it at! Score!
Now, granted, you can buy mixes and make your own gluten free bread, but honestly, we don’t have time for that. When we’re making something with bread (which we don’t do every day) it’s usually something quick like a sandwich or toast. Having these breads handy makes those quick meals that much tastier! Trust us, we’ve tried the funky stuff…it’s gross! 
One SUPER important note…we keep ALL our gluten free bread in the freezer so that it keeps longer and better. We just take off a slice or two and defrost in for 30 sec in the microwave or toast it in the toaster oven (just make sure you don’t burn it!).
Happy bread eating!
Did we miss an amazing gluten free bread on this list? If so, please tell us and we’ll see if we can check it out.
Rachel aka Gfreegal
Did you know that if you have Celiac disease you can deduct your extra expenses in your taxes?
It’s true.
Because the treatment for Celiac disease is to follow a gluten free diet, the IRS allows you to deduct those extra food expenses. It’s a bit of a tricky process and requires consistency and follow through on your part.
To make this easier for you, here’s an easy to follow list from our friends at CeliAct.
Good luck and hopefully this helps ease the expenses for you!
Rachel aka Gfreegal
I came across this wonderful trip today and I just HAD to share it with you!
Jen, over at Zenfully Delicious is hosting an amazing, all gluten free, tour of Tuscany, Italy!
Can you believe it?
This trip sounds incredible!
The tour is October 18-25, 2012 and it will take you through Florence, Chianti, Siena, and San Gimignano as you enjoy the sights, and most importantly, the tastes of Italy!
That’s right, this trip is so stinkin’ awesome that there’s already plans for the meals, along with a cooking class (swoon) for the entire trip!
I promise I’m not trying to sell this to you (I can’t even go!). I just think this is one of the most amazing trip offers I’ve ever seen!
If you can go, you should. And then show me all the pics when you get back so I can live vicariously through you!
Here’s all the details for this awesome trip.
Gluten Free Tuscany Tour 2012
Wouldn’t it just be amazing to go?!?!
Rachel aka Gfreegal
Embarking on a gluten free journey can be a daunting adventure.
If you’re like I was, you had SO many questions and didn’t know where to start. That’s what this post is for (thanks to the suggestion of a friend).
If you think you (or a family member) may have Celiac Disease, or even just gluten sensitivity, GET TESTED! This can save you a lot of time and frustration.
If the test comes back positive, breath. You, or your loved one, will be ok.
Foods you CAN eat:
I’m just going to start here with a basic list (I don’t want to get TOO crazy on you).
All fruits
All vegetables
Meats (unseasoned-seasoning is often where gluten can hide)
Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)
Certain grains (gluten free oats, millet, teff, sorghum, quinoa, buckwheat)
Foods to be careful about:
Seasonings-Often anything “mixed,” such as garlic salt, can contain gluten to prevent caking. I learned this one the hard way, after many months of unknowingly “poisoning” myself. Once I learned about the contamination, I promptly went out and bought garlic powder and salt. Now I just mix the two.
Dressings & Sauces-Again, you never know what could be added to these, so you always want to read the label, call the company, or talk to the restaurant manager to double check that something is safe.
Anything packaged-I know this is hard, really hard, but it’s super important. There are so many products that may seem safe, but in reality that may contain gluten. Check that ice cream container, that frozen meal, and your lunch meat. Those are the top three packaged items that come to my mind that may be dangerous. I always check and double check labels just to be safe.
Foods to AVOID:
Wheat
Barley
Rye
Regular Oats (often processed in the same facility as wheat)
Bread
Cookies
Cakes
Cupcakes
Crackers
Any wheat/flour containing products
***If you’re just starting out on a gluten free diet, again remember to breathe. This is a journey, and while it can often be frustrating, it will get easier.
Hopefully this list helped! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment.
Two last tools to help you:
1. A few grocery stores with gluten free lists-Albertsons, Fresh and Easy, and Trader Joes. Did I miss any?
2. Som great places to eat out at-BJs Brewhouse, PF Chang’s, Outback Steakhouse, In-N-Out, Panera Bread. Again, what did I miss?
*Just make sure you ask to speak to a manager, so that they will insure your food order is safe for you to eat. I know it’s hard and awkward, but it’s important to speak up about your health. Also, at In-N-Out if you tell them you have an allergy to the bread, they’ll mare your burger as an allergy burger and keep it safe for you! Our store cooks it on a separate grill!
***As always, make sure you check and double check everything. These are some tips that I’ve found to be helpful, but always make sure you check for yourself as things are constantly changing,