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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

Two Post Cereals Labeled Gluten-Free

Another mainstream cereal giant, Post Foods, is officially entering the gluten-free market. Perhaps Post is following the excellent example from General Mills. Soon, Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles will be labeled gluten-free and have less sugar. Previously, the ingredients did not contain gluten. Read the entire press release about gluten-free Pebbles.

"Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles, rice-based cereals, will also be certified as Gluten Free, a relatively unique distinction in the cereal category. In response to increased concerns over celiac disease and products containing wheat gluten, the brand went through a rigorous process to achieve Gluten Free status on both Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles products."

As always, check the box and make sure you are buying the new gluten-free one. I hope Kellogg's is paying attention. Remove the barley malt from Rice Krispies, please!

Update - February 2011: These cereals will not be certified gluten-free. For more information, read this blog post by Jules Shepard.

Video: Kids Making Gluten-Free Granola Bars

I stumbled across the cutest video of two kids making gluten-free granola bars. The video is from the My Kids Make blog. The recipe looks very easy and delicious. 

If you have a gluten-free blog, consider letting your kids do a blog post. They will be so proud to see their work published on your blog! Read my daughter's blog posts and reviews. Leave a comment sharing blog posts from gluten-free kids.
 

Book Review: Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?

Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? A look at the sunny side of being gluten-free is a new picture book for kids. Katie Chalmers sent me the book for free for me to review. I am 9-years-old, and I feel a bit too old for this book partly because they say Mommy instead of Mom. Mommy, What is Celiac Disease? is a conversation, not really a story. The mom and the child take turns speaking about the child’s new diet and celiac disease. The book is all facts about celiac, but does not talk about getting diagnosed or cross-contamination, which is an issue.

I would recommend the book for ages 4-8. You can read the book to your child, and they will probably know about celiac disease. The book’s setting is in the park. To explain what they are going to do when they go home, they make connections about what she is doing at the park like “we can spread the word just like you are blowing that dandelion fluff around.” I think that your child will love the book, and have a positive attitude about eating gluten-free.

Comment from the author, Katie Chalmers:

"This is really meant to introduce the child to celiac disease and get them thinking positively about it from the get-go. The book's website does talk a lot about cross-contamination issues, so hopefully when both resources are put together, everything is covered."

Book Review: Cilie Yack is Under Attack

Cilie Yack is Under Attack is a new fiction chapter book for kids ages 5-11. I am 9-years-old and do not have celiac disease, but I know a lot about it because my mom does. Caryn Talty sent me the book for free to review. It is a very funny book about a 9-year-old boy named Cilie Yack who gets diagnosed with celiac disease and does not want to give up cake and other foods. He is worried about not being able to eat some foods he loves. Cilie comes up with a way to be able to eat what he wants.

The book’s narrator is Cilie. He is a troublemaker in some of the book. It does have some Irish words in it because the setting is in Ireland. The Irish words make it a bit harder to understand, but the author does try to explain what they mean. Cilie Yack is Under Attack has some true facts about celiac disease.  It is fun to have a book that has both fiction and facts.  I think that you don’t have to have celiac disease to love the book like I did! Be careful - you won't be able to put the book down once you start it!

A New Gluten-Free Support Group for Teens

Teen Advocates with Gluten Sensitivities (TAGS) is a new support group, which is part of the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG). The president of the group is 16-year-old Mari Cleven, who was diagnosed with celiac disease last year. She lives in Kitsap County in Washington and is looking to connect with other gluten-free teens, both locally and nationally. Here is more information about TAGS.

"Our Mission:
Gluten Sensitive Teens advocating for support and awareness for themselves and others.

Our Goals:
1. Provide teen support through the internet
2. Provide a model for local support groups, event planning and Gluten Free Awareness activities
3. Tags helps to fulfill GIG's mission on a local and national level through programs tailored towards teens.

Our Local Goals:
1. Provide a social outlet for teens dealing with gluten sensitivities
2. Provide safe gluten free activities for gluten sensitive teens.
3. Provide positive support for teens to advocate for themselves.
4. Share stories"

Support TAGS by buying a cool glow in the dark teen awareness bracelet for $2 from GIG. If you are interested in joining TAGS, complete this contact form. Share this article with others and help what may become the "teen version of ROCK" grow!

Review: Chobani Champions

Chobani Champions is a line of Greek yogurt for kids that is sold in a package of four, which contains two flavors. I purchased the Chocolate and Honeynana. There is also a Veryberry and Strawnana pack. I am big fan of Chobani Greek yogurt, so I was eager to try the Chobani Champions. All Chobani is certified gluten-free.

The cups are smaller than a regular Chobani cup – only 4 ounces. Each small cup contains 9 grams of protein. For kids who find the texture of regular Chobani too thick, the Champions line would be perfect. Not only is the yogurt thinner, but it is also creamier.

The Chocolate Chobani isn’t rich and there is a bit of a tangy taste. Kids would probably want a stronger chocolate taste. I don’t normally eat chocolate yogurt, but I would eat it again.

The Honeynana is fantastic and is now my favorite Chobani flavor! I quickly finished the small cup and scraped every last bit of yogurt out of it. I felt like Heidi Klum in the Dannon Light & Fit yogurt commercial!

Fourth-Grader with Diabetes and Celiac Disease Qualifies for the Junior Olympics

Sage Donnelly, a 9-year-old who lives in Nevada, will be competing in the Junior Olympics this summer in kayaking. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 3-years-old and celiac disease in 2008. She is also a vegetarian.

Like her parents, Sage is skilled at outdoor activities, including skiing and rock climbing. She hasn’t let her medical conditions slow her down. Sage is homeschooled and spends about half the year traveling to different rivers for kayaking competitions and practice. She is looking forward to kayaking in Mexico and hopes one day to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

Visit Sage’s terrific website, view her two recipes for gluten-free and diabetic friendly cookies, and become a fan on Facebook.

Video: High School Tennis Star with Celiac Disease

Watch this video of an award winning high school tennis star recently diagnosed with celiac disease. Brooke Ferslov-Jensen is a freshman who is the top player on the varsity tennis team at Sultana High School in California. She was diagnosed with celiac disease when she was in 8th grade.

Book Review: Bagels, Buddy, and Me

On Twitter, my mom found out about Bagels, Buddy, and Me: A story about gluten intolerance and celiac disease. She emailed the author, Melanie Krumrey, to see if she could send me a free copy to review. The book is based on the true story of the Krumrey family, and the story is told by a boy named Cooper, who is 8-years-old like me.

Bagels, Buddy, and Me is a great book! I especially like that it was also about gluten intolerance and that somehow Melanie Krumrey made the pictures in the book look like crayon drawings. It looks like she drew it in black and then colored it in.

The book is funny, and it is hard to believe that it is based on a true story. I think that kids in elementary school would love the story. You can buy the book at the Bagels, Buddy, and Me website and learn more about the Krumrey family on their blog called Gluten-Free Krums. If are looking for a book with more facts about celiac disease and eating gluten-free, read my review of The GF Kid. If you are looking for a funny story about finding out you need to eat gluten-free, then Bagels, Buddy, and Me is the book for you!

Study Shows Benefits of Attending a Celiac Camp

A WebMD article reports the findings of a study about gluten-free camps done by the University of California, San Francisco. The study found that kids with celiac disease developed a more positive outlook about their dietary restrictions after attending a week long camp.


"The researchers tracked 104 youngsters at a gluten-free camp, 70% of whom had been on a gluten-free diet for less than four years. The children, aged 7 to 17, were given a 14-question survey at the start and end of the camp that gathered information on how they felt about themselves.

'All seemed to benefit from camp, no longer feeling different from other kids or feeling frustrated with a restricted diet,' the researchers write. 'Improvement was observed in each of the three categories of questions: well-being, self-perception and emotional outlook.'

But the camp experience had a greater effect on those who had been on a gluten-free diet for less than four years. Children who had been on a gluten-free diet for more than four years already had high positive ratings at the beginning of camp, so their ratings at the end of the camp session changed less."

The study was published in Pediatrics and concludes "durability of these observations on return to daily life requires additional study." If you would like to register your child for a gluten-free camp, view this list of summer camps from Nancy Lapid About.com Celiac Disease and reserve your space now!

Videos: Kids Talking About Celiac Disease and Eating Out Tips

These celiac disease videos are from Children's Hospital Boston. This is a good four minute video featuring several kids talking about living with celiac disease. The kids share some experiences and advice. The ending is very positive.



This video about eating out shows the questions to ask at restaurants.



The above videos and 10 other Celiac Family Health Education videos are clips from a two hour long DVD available for purchase.

Book Review - The GF Kid: A Celiac Disease Survival Guide

This book was written in 2005. The GF Kid is for ages 8 and up and teenagers would like it too. The girl in the book is named Paris and she is 11-years-old. I am 8-years-old, and I could easily read almost all the words. I read it by myself and only had a few questions about the book because my mom has celiac disease and I know a lot about it. I would recommend that if you are 8-years-old and you only know a few things about celiac disease, then you should read it with a grown up.

The only thing that upset me was that the author made up a few words like “glutenfied” and “gluteny”. I was happy that there was a list of gluten-free companies with phone numbers and a list of candy. I also like that it had recipes in the back of the book to use as a cookbook and that it listed restaurants and stores.

I think this book would be really helpful for kids that are newly diagnosed and would help parents too. I especially like that it mentioned that celiac disease is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy, and that it is not contagious! This book had several details about cross-contamination. We got this book from our public library. Also read my other book review called Eating Gluten-Free with Emily.

Review: Speedy-Bake Mixes from Gluten-Free Essentials

Speedy-Bake is a line of six gluten-free mixes for kids that can be baked in an Easy Bake Oven or a regular oven. Since we don’t have an Easy Bake Oven, we baked them in a regular oven. I received two free mixes through Gluten-Free Dee. The mixes are also nut-free and dairy-free, if you use dairy-free butter. All Gluten-Free Essentials products are made in a 100% dedicated gluten-free facility.

We made the fudge brownies and the Yella-Vanilla cake. Both mixes required a ½ stick butter, 1/3 cup applesauce, and one egg. We used Musselman’s Natural applesauce and found that 1/3 cup is almost an entire applesauce snack cup, which makes it easy for kids to measure. Both the cake and brownies were extremely moist! They stayed moist for several days when stored on the counter in a Ziploc bag.

The brownies tasted like chocolate cake and had large chocolate chips. While certainly they weren’t as good as Betty Crocker gluten-free brownies, they were still good. More chocolate chips would make them even better. The vanilla cake smelled like cake, looked like cake, but tasted like a pancake, not cake. In fact, the Spice-is-Nice cake mix can be used to make pancakes by adding extra liquid. Regardless, kids would enjoy baking and eating these mixes, and parents would enjoy eating the brownies too.

There are additional instructions on the website for making a portion of the mix for use in an Easy Bake Oven. Each package will yield approximately five batches in an Easy Bake Oven. Speedy-Bake mixes cost $3.99. For more quick baking products, Gluten-Free Essentials sells Hug in a Mug, an instant microwave cake in a mug, and some varieties are even “diabetic friendly”!