Help Send Children to a Gluten-Free Summer Camp

Here is a special holiday fundraiser to benefit the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) gluten-free summer camp in Southern California. Simply donate $2, and your donation will be matched this week only! All donations go directly to the CDF for camp scholarships. The camp is for any child age 7 to 15, who follows a gluten-free diet. It will be held in San Bernardino, California from July 30 to August 3, 2012.

“This week only, giving just $2 of your hard-earned money will go toward providing scholarships for children to attend a gluten-free summer camp hosted by the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) next summer in Southern California.

But this week, donating $2 doesn’t mean you’re just donating $2…

This week through Sunday, December 25, Gluten-Free Saver has partnered with Van’s Natural Foods to raise money to send children to next summer’s CDF-sponsored summer camp, and Van’s is matching all donations up to $1,000!

The goal is to raise $2,000 – and when you donate $2, you’re really contributing $4.”

You can read more about the fundraiser and make a $2 donation now on the Gluten-Free Saver website. Visit the Celiac Disease Foundation website to register for the camp or to make a future donation. Gluten-Free Saver is a great new gluten-free deal site, offering "limited-time promotions on your favorite gluten-free products at 37-80% off retail price." Happy Holidays!

Gluten-Free Cupcakes Finally Win Cupcake Wars!

Kyra Bussanich of Crave Bake Shop returned to Cupcake Wars and this time, her gluten-free cupcakes won! In December 2010, Kyra first appeared on Cupcake Wars and her gluten-free cupcakes almost won.

On tonight's episode, The Closer 100th Episode, Kyra said that this is a "win for the entire gluten-free community." I couldn't agree more! After watching three seasons of Cupcake Wars, it is fantastic to finally see a gluten-free winner on the Food Network. Cast members of The Closer loved the cupcakes and said "we are all going to gluten-free."

Season four of Cupcake Wars airs Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT. This episode reairs on Tuesday, December 20 at 8 pm ET/PT.  If you missed the episode, watch this clip of the ending to see the first gluten-free champion.

Limited Edition Pumpkin Cream Cheese

I was so excited to find two brands of gluten-free pumpkin cream cheese. Both Trader Joe’s and Philadelphia (Kraft) make delicious limited edition pumpkin cream cheese. The Trader Joe’s pumpkin cream cheese has a lighter whipped texture, but it tastes similar to the Philadelphia one. Both are perfect to spread on an English muffin, bagel, or toast. While you are stocking up on gluten-free limited edition pumpkin products, don’t miss Silk Pumpkin Spice and Edy’s pumpkin ice cream!

Frozen Gluten-Free Egg Rolls: No Longer a Dream

By the end of this year, you will be able to buy frozen gluten-free egg rolls made by Feel Good Foods. For years, I have been wishing for a gluten-free egg roll, so I am extremely excited to hear this news! 

Today @gfliving tweeted about the egg rolls at Expo East. I immediately called the company and learned that they will be available in three flavors: chicken, shrimp, and vegetable. They can be heated in a microwave or oven. 

Feel Good Foods also makes gluten-free Asian style dumplings, which are currently sold in many stores. The company said that soon Whole Foods may carry their products. Now, there truly is a gluten-free version of almost everything!

Gluten-Free News: New Magazine, Protein Bars, Omni Hotels, and Much More

My gluten-free Google Alerts have been filled with positive gluten-free news over the last two weeks. From gluten-free menus at hotels to an Olympic pole vaulter with celiac disease, celiac awareness is increasing.  

Silvana Nardone, the founding editor-in-chief of Every Day with Rachael Ray, is now the editor-in-chief of the brand new Easy Eats digital magazine. The first issue of the beautiful magazine is completely free. Simply click on subscribe at the bottom of the page and choose special introductory deal. A one year subscription (6 issues) is $16. You can also sign up to be an Easy Eats recipe tester. The premiere issue has many recipes and a great article listing the Best Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread in a variety of categories. 

Speaking of magazines, Gorton’s is giving away 100 subscriptions to Living Without to celebrate their line of grilled fish fillets that are now gluten-free. 

NuGo Nutrition Debuts the First Almost Sugar-Free Protein Bar Without Maltitol or Artificial Sweeteners at Expo East. The new certified gluten-free bars have 15 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of sugar from real dark chocolate and chicory root. Since I work for the company, I already sampled the new NuGO Slim bars. My daughter and I loved them!

Omni Hotels will be offering gluten-free breakfast buffet stations at all of their locations. Read about other hotels with gluten-free items in Hotels Go Gluten-Free. 

“Omni Hotels is rolling out a gluten-free breakfast buffet station companywide. The station will include gluten-free cereals, granola and a variety of breads and muffins. It has its own table—and toaster—to avoid cross-contamination with products containing wheat.

“We’re getting great positive feedback from our hotel guests on recognizing the importance of people with celiac disease,” says Rosenstock, who, personally, keeps gluten-free by choice and claims improved health as a result. “We’re getting letters from people who say they’ll always stay at Omni.” 

Rosenstock points out the gluten-free options don’t cost a hotel more money. It’s all about sourcing differently and planning for it.” 

A British home baker, Jennifer Buls of Absolute Treats, won the title of UK National Cupcake Champion with a lime and coconut cupcake. She bakes gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic-friendly, and vegan cupcakes and has secured a permanent location for a tearoom in West Wales.  

There has been lots of coverage of the FDA’s proposed gluten-free labeling standards. A story was even featured on CBS News. For more information about submitting your comments to the FDA and to read what others are saying, visit Gluten-Free Living.

Jenn Suhr, an Olympic pole vaulter, was diagnosed with celiac disease this summer after “suffering leg cramps, dehydration and general weakness for months.” She competed last week at the World Athletics Championships in South Korea and finished fourth. Jenn is hoping to win Gold at the 2012 Olympics. 

Olympic runner Amy Yoder-Begley also has celiac disease and packed gluten-free food for the 2008 Olympics. She suffered for 10 years before being diagnosed with celiac disease. She is currently recovering from an injury and hopes to make it to London in 2012. It is so exciting to imagine celiac disease being mentioned during the 2012 Olympic broadcasts!

Big Gluten-Free News: Glutino Acquisition, FDA Gluten-Free Labeling Proposal, and Schwan’s Pizza

In a shocking announcement yesterday, it was revealed that Smart Balance paid $66.3 million in cash to acquire Glutino Foods! 

"We are very impressed with the Glutino management team, led by Terence Dalton, and believe the skill sets of both the Glutino and Smart Balance teams will contribute to improving the performance of both companies. Both companies have similar missions and values. Through this combination, we believe Smart Balance's core competencies in sales, marketing and product development will help Glutino realize its growth potential, ultimately creating long-term value for our shareholders, and exciting opportunities for our new and existing employees.”

Earlier this week, the FDA held a teleconference about gluten-free labeling, and said that gluten-free labeling rules are expected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2012. Read this great recap of the teleconference from The Savvy Celiac. To submit your comments electronically to the FDA about the gluten-free labeling proposal, follow these steps. Comments are due by October 3, 2011.

1. Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
2. Select submit a comment from the task bar.
3. Enter FDA-2005-N-0404 in the keyword box and click search.
4. Go to the actions column and select submit a comment.
5. You have 20 minutes to complete your form before the session will timeout. 

As kids are getting ready to head back to school soon, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has exciting news about school pizza.

“Schwan’s Food Service, Inc., a leading provider of pizza to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities and other foodservice venues, has introduced two new gluten-free pizza products to the market. With nearly 40 years’ experience bringing pizza to 75% of the nation’s schools, Schwan’s is committed to ensuring their products are nutritious and delicious. The two new gluten-free pizzas – one for the K-12 market and one for colleges and other operations – are the latest examples of this commitment. Schwan’s Food Service teamed up with the NFCA to better understand the challenges of gluten intolerance and celiac disease, provide training for their sales force, and offer training to their customers.”

The pizza is certified gluten-free and individually wrapped on a baking tray. Many children will be able to enjoy purchasing gluten-free pizza in their school cafeteria this year!

The Goal to Cure Celiac Disease in 10 to 15 Years

According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, the goal is to cure celiac disease in 10 to 15 years! They will be hosting the 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium in September 2013, and have made this fantastic video to promote it.

While the first two minutes of the video are about the city of Chicago, the remainder of the video sends a powerful message about celiac disease. “It would take 936 cruise ships to hold every American with celiac disease.” This is one of several statistics mentioned in the video. 

New Gluten-Free Books to Pre-Order on Amazon

What are the trends in new gluten-free books? From browsing on Amazon, it looks like gluten-free vegan cookbooks and quick recipes are hot. New books will be released from popular gluten-free authors, including Beth Hillson, Carol Fenster, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Robert Landolphi.

Below is a sampling of gluten-free books scheduled to be released in 2011 and 2012. Some are also available as Kindle eBooks. When you pre-order books on Amazon, you are guaranteed to receive the lowest price.






The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Vegan Cooking





Deliciously G-Free: Gluten-Free, Flavor-Packed Cooking for Everyone by Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Book Review: What’s Eating Your Child?

If you are searching for the cause of your child’s health or behavioral problems, the answer may be a food intolerance or dietary supplement. In the new book, What’s Eating Your Child? The Hidden Connections Between Food and Childhood Ailments, Kelly Dorfman, a leading children’s nutritionist, shares practical solutions based on fascinating stories from her clients. Common food intolerances are discussed, including gluten, dairy, and sugar, as well as dietary supplements, such as zinc, probiotics, and fish oil. 

Dorfman explains the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance, however, some of the information needs clarification, especially about celiac testing and oats. She recommends two gluten-free breads, Deland’s millet bread and Udi’s. Since I never heard of Deland’s, I called the bakery to inquire about the bread, and discovered that it is not gluten-free because of significant cross-contamination.  

Dorfman offers a surprisingly simple plan for picky eaters. She also includes a chapter on Sensory Processing Disorder. Nutritional disorders may be the cause of a variety of ailments, from anxiety and ADHD to ear infections. In some cases, her clients were able to stop taking prescription medications after following her recommendations.  After reading the book, you will learn how to be a nutrition detective.  

I received a complimentary copy of the book to review. Although it turns out that we live less than 10 minutes from Kelly Dorfman’s office, we have never spoken to her. I certainly learned some things that we may try, and I do recommend this interesting book. Purchase it on Amazon or look for it at your local book store. If you are interested in learning more, attend one of her upcoming book signings throughout the country and read her blog. Should my daughter need a nutritionist, we would definitely go to Kelly Dorfman.

Gluten-Free News: Hamburger Helper, Frito Lay, California Pizza Kitchen, Celiac Vaccine, Petitions, and a Twitter Party

If you like gluten-free Hamburger Helper, stock up before it is gone. In an email posted on Celiac-Disease.com, General Mills states that it will no longer be gluten-free.

"Essentially, our three Helpers items, Hamburger Helper Cheesy Hashbrown, Asian Helper Chicken Fried Rice and Asian Helper Beef Fried Rice will soon no longer be gluten free. This is due to a change in manufacturing facilities, and although gluten will not be used as an ingredient in any of the three products, we will no longer be able to guarantee that they will be free from cross-contamination."

Also on Celiac-Disease.com, you can find the new Frito Lay gluten-free list. It appears that they now have a larger list of products that they test for gluten.

At the end of June, California Pizza Kitchen will be adding a gluten-free pizza crust. For more information, read this Gluten-Free Philly blog post.

There are promising results for a celiac vaccine as explained in ScienceDaily this week. The Phase I trial of Nexvax2 was conducted in Australia. The Phase II trial is expected to begin in 10 months.

Please take a few minutes to sign these two important gluten-free petitions.

Encourage the Girl Scouts to sell an allergen-free cookie

Encourage the FDA to finalize gluten-free labeling rules
For a detailed recap of the 1in133 event and how they built the world's largest gluten-free cake, read Jules Shepard's new blog post.

On Wednesday, May 25 at 8 pm ET, the US Potato Board will host a gluten-free twitter party and will offer five prizes. The US Potato Board created a new gluten-free recipe collection, which includes 80 recipes, such as gluten-free potato lasagna.

Celebrate Celiac Awareness Month with NFCA

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is celebrating Celiac Awareness Month with several social media activities. In April, they collected approximately 500 photos of people with celiac disease and compiled them in this amazing mosaic. If you are in the Facebook photo, make sure you tag yourself. Also on Facebook, answer the weekly question. "What's one thing you can do now that you couldn't do before going gluten-free?"

On Twitter, NFCA is sharing signs of celiac disease in their #youmighthaveceliac tweets. Join the #gfchats about gluten-free nutrition every Tuesday night in May at 8 pm ET, beginning on May 10. The chats will be led by the Ask the Dietitian Experts.

Each day in May, NFCA will profile a blogger in “A Blogger a Day, the Gluten-Free Way”. I will be profiled on May 6. For a great list of gluten-free blogs, visit NFCA’s celiac bloggers list. Many of these bloggers will be profiled during May. Happy Celiac Awareness Month!

For more NFCA news, visit these links:

NFCA’s Kids Central

What We’ve Been Up To

Where We’re Headed

Gluten-Free Chex Launching in Canada

Here is some great news for gluten-free Canadians. Two varieties of gluten-free Chex will be coming to Canada in summer 2011. Below is the message that was shared on the Gluten Freely Facebook page.

"General Mills is excited to announce that we are bringing two varieties of gluten free CHEX cereal to Canada! Great tasting Honey Nut Chex and Rice Chex will be available in the cereal aisle at national retailers across the country by the end of June."

Sign up here to receive more information.

Review: New Rice Krispies Gluten-Free

 
Today, two complimentary pre-launch samples of the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free cereal arrived at my door! The two 12 ounce boxes are samples not intended for sale. The front and back of the boxes are the same image and both side panels are the same nutrition facts with no information about manufacturing. For information about manufacturing and testing, read my previous blog post.

Rice Krispies Gluten-Free is made from brown rice and contains 50% of the daily value of iron. The cereal looks like original Rice Krispies, except for some brown edges on many pieces. As soon as I poured the milk, I heard a loud "Snap, Crackle, and Pop." The taste and texture of the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free are very similar to the Rice Krispies I remember eating four years ago, but slightly different. My daughter loved them. 

I also received a recipe to make Rice Krispies treats. While I am sure they will make excellent Rice Krispies treats, I am going to savor every last bowl of Rice Krispies until they hit store shelves in June and I can buy them. The MSRP is $3.99, which is the same as original Rice Krispies.

Rice Krispies Gluten-Free: Manufacturing Information

I just received an email from a member of the Kellogg's Rice Krispies Brand Team, who is sending me a pre-launch sample of the new Rice Krispies Gluten-Free. I immediately inquired about manufacturing and received the following response.

"And as for testing it for gluten, to ensure the gluten-free status, the product is made in a separate production facility that has been making gluten-free items for nearly a decade. Every batch of product is tested for gluten, as is the production line."

I am so happy to hear it is tested for gluten. I look forward to trying it and blogging about it! Look for Rice Krispies Gluten-Free to hit select U.S. store shelves in early June 2011. Currently, the product is only being launched in the U.S., not Canada.

Video: Kumquats Educational Puppets Explain Celiac Disease to Kids

Kumquats are adorable educational puppets. There is something very comforting about seeing puppets talking about celiac disease. While the video is very simple and short, it is a good starting point for talking to kids about celiac disease. The ending was my favorite part and made me smile!

New SimpleNutrition Tags at Safeway

Locating gluten-free products at Safeway is now even easier with the introduction of SimpleNutrition. Green shelf tags, with two nutrition and ingredient benefits listed in different colors, can be found throughout the store. The color of the gluten-free tag is orange brown. Only products that have been identified as gluten-free by the manufacturer can receive the gluten-free tag.

"The 22 benefits included in the program encompass two groups of messages: those that meet lifestyle or dietary needs, and those that meet specific nutrition or ingredient criteria:

• 4 benefit messages for lifestyle/dietary needs: Gluten Free, Organic, Natural, and also Calorie Smart

• 18 benefits with specific nutrition criteria: Made with Whole Grains, Good Source of Fiber, Fat Free, Sodium Smart, Low Saturated Fat, Low Fat, Sugar Free, Good Source of Calcium, Good Source of Vitamin A, Good Source of Vitamin C, Good Source of Iron, 0g Trans Fat, 100% Juice, Low Cholesterol, Good Source of Antioxidants, Good Source of Potassium, Good Source of Folate, Lean Protein"

"Although a product may have more than one or two key nutrients or ingredient benefits, the green SimpleNutrition tag displays the benefits that are most relevant for that particular product."

Safeway sent me gift cards as a thank you for writing about SimpleNutrition. I found many gluten-free tags throughout the store, but there are also many gluten-free products that aren’t labeled. The tags would be especially useful to someone new to eating gluten-free. The number of gluten-free products at Safeway has also increased recently. From French Meadow Bakery to Waterfront Bistro Panko Breaded Butterfly Shrimp, there are many gluten-free options.

Book Review: Nick and the Shrinking Inner Spaceship

Nick and the Shrinking Inner Spaceship is a fiction picture book that only focuses on the villi. There is a picture in the book of healthy villi, and an explanation about what happens to the villi when someone has celiac disease. In the book, Nick is a kid scientist who invented a shrinking spaceship and uses it to go in his little brother’s body to find out if he has celiac disease. This would not be the book to read to learn all about celiac disease and eating gluten-free. Some people may not like the end of the book, while others might think it is cool.

The book is written by Nick, a boy who has celiac disease, and his mom. You might want to read the note from the authors before you read the book to give you more knowledge. In the back, there are recipes for ribs, pancakes, cookies, and pumpkin loaf cake. That is a useful tool. For a good book that explains about celiac disease, read Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? or Cilie Yack is Under Attack.

This review was written by my daughter, who is 9-years-old. She does not have celiac disease, but knows a lot about it. The author sent us this book for free to review. You can buy the book on the website.

Book Review: The Celiac Kid

The Celiac Kid is a new book that would help young kids understand celiac disease. The book is written for kids around preschool to first grade. Since the book is for young kids, it does not mention cross-contamination or eating out. Unfortunately, The Celiac Kid does not mention barley, rye, or oats. It says that “gluten is in wheat, but it also hides in a lot of other foods.”

I like that The Celiac Kid says that “most of the time I am a regular kid.” It is important to know that you are just like other kids, except for how you eat. I also liked that the book makes it sound like eating gluten-free is easy, and that is how you should feel. It talks about how you might think that it is hard, but that it is not that bad. It is good to have a positive attitude. I think they did not need to mention birthday parties, but that may be helpful for some people. Overall, this book is a good one.

This review was written by my daughter, who is 9-years-old. She does not have celiac disease, but knows a lot about it. The author sent us this book for free to review. You can buy the book on the website or Amazon.

Free From Gluten: Store Review and Discount Code

Free From Gluten is a new online store that carries over 2,000 gluten-free products. In order to review the store, they paid for my order ($56 plus free shipping). Most of the items are sold as a bulk pack of six, but there are several items sold in packs of two. Free From Gluten has large icons on the side of each product page: Kosher, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, trans fat free, cholesterol-free, egg-free, lactose-free, yeast-free, and salt-free.

I ordered several items sold in packs of two and a bulk pack of six boxes of Kinnikinnick Animal Cookies at a good price of $21.03. The box containing the two-pack items arrived very fast from Pennsylvania, but the bulk pack of Kinnikinnick Animal Crackers took about 10 days to arrive from Texas. All items had good dates and nothing was broken. Free From Gluten has a nice selection of products, and some items are priced better than others.

I used this as an opportunity to try some new products. I was eager to try the new Grainless Baker Cheddar Snacks, but unfortunately they have too much pepper, so we couldn’t even finish one serving. We loved the Schar Sub Sandwich Rolls, but they aren't showing on the site now because they are temporarily out of stock. The Schar Sub Rolls were perfect for our meatball subs. I was impressed to see Sunstart Caramel and Chocolate Dessert Delights, which are made in Ireland. These very unique cookie bars were enjoyable. My daughter liked the Orgran Itsy Bitsy Bears with Chocolate Bits, but I didn’t like them.

The site offers free UPS shipping on orders over $50. For frozen items, there is an additional $20 charge per cooler, and each cooler holds up to ten frozen items. Use code GFOPTIMIST to receive 10% off your order. The coupon code is valid until April 30, 2011. I would order from Free From Gluten again, especially since they are always adding new products.

New Gluten-Free Products Debuting at Expo West 2011: Part 2

There are so many tweets about new gluten-free products at Expo West that it sounds like gluten-free paradise. Hopefully, we will see most of them in stores in the near future. I am very excited about the bagel chips and ice cream sandwiches.

• Pur Gum chewing gum
• Chocolate Pirate’s Booty
• Sahale Snacks: On April 1, they will be certified gluten-free.
• Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Littles
• Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss Ginger Cookie Caramel Ice Cream
• Glutino Bagel Chips: Regular and Parmesan Garlic
• Kinninnick Mixes: Pancake and Waffle, All Purpose Flour Blend, Just Add Water Kinni-Kwik Bread and Bun, and Cake (Angel Food, Chocolate, and White)
• The Simply Bar
• Julie’s Ice Cream Sandwiches: Carrot Cake with Ginger Cookies and Cherry with Chocolate Cookies
• Starfish Italian Breaded Sole and Breaded Shrimp
• Sushi Party Sushi Wraps
• Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola Cereal
• Schar Frozen Bread: Hearty White and Hearty Grain 
• Ener-G Biscotti

Special thanks to Jennifer Harris @jenniferGFinGA, Cassandra Gee @delightfullygf, and Kendall Egan @gfliving for great Expo West tweets. For more Expo West gluten-free news, read New Gluten-Free Products Debuting at Expo West 2011: Udi’s, Rudi’s, Enjoy Life Foods, and More.

New Gluten-Free Products Debuting at Expo West 2011: Udi’s, Rudi’s, Enjoy Life Foods, and More

Many gluten-free products will be debuting at Natural Products Expo West 2011 in Anaheim. The trade show opens today, but several companies have already announced new products.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free is rolling out multigrain hamburger buns and hot dogs rolls in May, just in time for summer grilling. Additionally, Rudi’s has a new gluten-free pizza crust. Udi’s Gluten-Free just announced on Facebook that they are debuting hamburger buns, hot dog buns, and two new breads (Millet-Chia and Omega-Salba) at Expo West.

Enjoy Life Foods posted these photos on Facebook of their six new products. Enjoy Life has four new Crunchy handcrafted cookies, Double Chocolate Crunch Granola, and Mega Chunks semi-sweet chocolate. The Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies must be the mystery product the company mentioned one year ago and delayed releasing.

The MSRP for all three Rudi’s products is only $4.49. Here are the Rudi’s product descriptions from their press release. 

• "Gluten-Free Multigrain Hamburger Buns (MSRP - $4.49) – This soft textured bun made with wholesome, all-natural ingredients and a hint of molasses and honey is the perfect complement to a hamburger or veggie burger.  
• Gluten-Free Multigrain Hot Dog Rolls (MSRP - $4.49) – A tasty combination of flaxseed, sunflower seeds and cornmeal provides a flavor the whole family will love and a texture that can withstand a loaded up chili dog just as well as a plain hot dog.
• Original Pizza Crusts (MSRP - $4.49) – Made with all natural ingredients you can pronounce, these gluten-free pizza crusts have a thin, crispy crust that’s perfect for that family pizza night."

  

Below are some other new gluten-free products that will be at Expo West.

• Daiya Pepperjack Style Shreds (dairy-free cheese)  
• Xo Baking Company Gluten-Free Baking Mix
• Crunchmaster New Product Line 
• Pure Naturals Bars 
• Kinnikinnick: New packaging, thin crust pizza, frozen pie crust, new pricing, a mascot, and a partnership with Levy Restaurants to "help bring gluten free to over 170 stadiums, parks, zoos and other public facilities in the U.S. starting immediately."
• Glutenfreeda Pizza Wraps
• Annie’s Bunny Cookies: Two new flavors  
• Amy’s: Sonoma Veggie Burger, Shortbread Cookies, and Sandwich Rounds 
• Kettle Cuisine Thai Curry Chicken Soup
• Marion’s Smart Delights: The first gluten-free lemon bar mix. 

I look forward to following all the gluten-free tweets and Facebook updates about Expo West this weekend.

New Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Confirmed by Kellogg's

After reading an unofficial report on Gluten-Free Appetite that Kellogg's will be releasing gluten-free Rice Krispies, I contacted Kellogg's for more information. Here is the email reply I received last night.

"Thank you for contacting us regarding our cereal products.


We are excited to tell you that we will have a Rice Krispies Gluten Free cereal launching late May 2011. Although we do not have a lot of information to share with you at this time, we encourage you to look for this product on your stores shelves in a few months.


We appreciate your interest in our company and products.


Sincerely,

Natalie Felix
Consumer Specialist
Consumer Affairs
TLXNXF01/cl
021586750AA"

This is very exciting news! Snap, Crackle, and Pop for everyone!

Headaches, Insomnia, or Joint Pain: Get Tested for Celiac Disease

Headaches, insomnia, and joint pain are three of the over 300 symptoms of celiac disease. If you are experiencing any of the 300 symptoms, get tested for celiac disease!

The good news is that if you have celiac disease, a 100% gluten-free diet will greatly improve your health and decrease the likelihood of additional complications. It is important to keep eating gluten until you have completed all testing for celiac disease (blood tests and possibly an endoscopy).

Before I was diagnosed with celiac disease in January 2007, I spent five years searching for the cause of my headaches, migraines, insomnia, and severe knee pain. Today, if you google headaches, insomnia, and joint pain, either individually or as a phrase, it is still unlikely that you will find information about celiac disease. I hope this blog post will change that!

Video: New Gluten-Free School Lunches

Skaneateles Schools in New York will begin offering gluten-free pizza and deli sandwiches in March. Watch this news video, which does a great job explaining the necessary measures to prevent cross-contamination. This quote about prices raises an interesting point.

"Skaneateles has been trying to get gluten-free foods through the door for a couple years now. Crysler says those foods were more expensive and the cost just wasn't in the small district's budget, but I see as there's more diagnoses and more people that are in need, the prices have come down."

Gluten-free options are already offered in three other central New York school districts: North Syracuse, Liverpool, and Baldwinsville. 

Imagine how thrilling it will be for kids with celiac disease to be able to go through the lunch line. If you are trying to get gluten-free options in your school district, share this video. Hopefully, gluten-free school lunches will become a nationwide trend!

Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Foods: 10 Great Websites with Accurate Information

When searching for an answer to a question about celiac disease or a gluten-free diet, these websites provide reliable and updated information. In addition to this alphabetical list, many celiac centers have websites with accurate information.

Celiac.com was excluded from this list because of their forums. While forums are good for connecting with other people, most contain a plethora of misinformation. The web is flooded with outdated information about celiac disease and gluten-free foods, so this list will help you find accurate information. 

• Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University
• Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF)
• Celiac Sprue Association (CSA)
• Gluten-Free Dietitian (Tricia Thompson)
• Gluten-Free Drugs
• Gluten-Free Living
• Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG)
• National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)
• University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center
• University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research

 

Gluten-Free News: Dumplings, Hotels, Vending Machines, a Dog, and More

It is only the second week of the New Year, and there is already lots of gluten-free news. The most exciting news is about the first gluten-free Asian dumplings. A luxury hotel chain, Fairmont, introduced gluten-free options at all of its locations. Organic vending machines with gluten-free snacks are making their way across the country. For a truly fascinating story, read this article about a woman who trained her dog to sniff her food for gluten. 

Elisabeth Hasselbeck launched a new line of high protein bars made in a shared facility with wheat, and there is no information about testing for gluten. She has several upcoming television appearances promoting her book, now available in paperback. While I do not recommend her book and am concerned about the spreading of inaccurate gluten-free information, I hope the appearances will encourage viewers to Google gluten-free and get tested for celiac disease.

In addition to two certified gluten-free cereals, Pebbles now makes two gluten-free treat bars. The Gluten-Free Travel Site launched a new mobile version and named the DC area as the winner of their annual contest to choose the “World’s Most Celiac-Friendly Destination.” It has certainly been a great week for gluten-free news!

2011: Gluten-Free In and Out List

What’s hot in gluten-free in 2011 and what's not? Take a look at this list I created. What do you think? I welcome all comments - disagree, agree, or add your own! Happy New Year!

Out                       In

Bunless Burgers....Flavorful Cuisine

GF Desserts....GF Appetizers (eggrolls, please)

Casein-Free....Allergen-Free

Rice Flour....Healthier GF Grains

Nuking/Toasting Bread....Udi’s

Processed GF Food....Naturally GF

Digestive Celiac Symptoms....300 Celiac Symptoms

Biopsies....Blood Tests

Confusing Labels....Certified Gluten-Free

Yahoo Groups....Twitter

Salad....Gourmet Vegan Food

Paying Full Price....Promotions, Sales, and Coupons

Outback (except Roswell, GA)....The Melting Pot

Wendy’s.....Chipotle

Menu Disclaimers....GREAT Kitchens (NFCA Training)

Shared Fryers....Dedicated GF Fryers

Sugar....Natural Sweeteners

Pizza....Chinese Food