Eating Gluten-free at Disney

                                       

This is the time of year that everyone is packing up and looking forward to getting away to some place sunny; Everyone...except US :/ I can't really complain, though.  Between the house, baby, new jobs (all wonderful things that we are very thankful for :) we don't have the time or money to go anywhere but the park down the road.  So instead of being bitter toward all of you headed out, I've been spending happy time in my mind thinking of memories of vacations past...aka crazy cabin fever behavior :)

I have to admit, since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease I haven't had much of a desire to do a "real" vacation - I mean, a vacation is all about letting-go, relaxing, and total enjoyment; Let's be honest, that just doesn't happen when you have to be gluten-free. Not only do all of the rules of safe gfree dining-out apply, now add to it the fact that you've never been to this place before and all the gluten-free'ers around town could be a bunch of crazies for all you know!

That's why most recently my favorite vacation was my last time to Disney World! I'm not sure it qualifies as a vacation because it was so short and running 26.2 miles in the blazing hot sun was involved...but that just tells you how awesome the rest of it was! I've been to Disney World a few times, but January 2013 was my first time gluten-free. 

BREAKFAST

My brother, mom and myself stayed at the Coronado resort.  The resort is geared more toward an adult crowd looking for a island-y tropical stay - there is a lake/bay of water lining the interior...it was beautiful. We ate breakfast at the main restaurant 2 of the 3 days.  We were so impressed after our first day that we could hardly wait to get back again - on the second day: pretty much picture two grown adults furiously scrambling to get to the restaurant and front of the line, tossing happy disney-minded kids aside in pursuit of another round of gluten-free pancakes, bacon, hashbrowns...the works!!! The only reason we didn't eat breakfast there all 3 days was because we had to be at the marathon site at some ridiculous time like 3am.  

    

LUNCH

We decided to make our one park day Hollywood Studios since we had never been before, and we ate lunch at the Sci-Fi cafe.  Again another WIN for us...it was all around an awesome experience.  When my gluten-free Reuban sandwich, french fries and vanilla milkshake arrived I swear I heard a choir of 5,000 angels rejoicing! In all honesty, I was so in-love with my food I couldn't even tell you what my brother had! Not only was the food great, we were so happy to be able to take part in the whole atmosphere - we could eat and experience just like everyone else!!! The restaurant is set up like the yard of a vintage drive-in, complete with retro-convertables and cheesy old "scary" movies. To those of you with kids - it is fairly dim inside so keep that in mind. Also, the convertables seat two in the front side-by-side and the same in the back...but there are round umbrella tables to actually sit around in the back if you need those accomodations instead. 

DINNER & DESSERT

Our last night we met my cousin and his family and ate at T-Rex in Downtown Disney (I read recently that they had a fish tank crack so they may not be open right now? I'd check that out before going any time soon). Its an interactive restaurant with moving dinosaurs and simulated rainstorms - fun for the kids. The sounds were pretty realistic and forceful so, again, just something to keep in mind.  Personally, I loved it.  I had the gluten-free salmon and it was perfectly cooked, delicious.  Mostly the reason we wanted to go in to Downtown Disney was to visit Babycakes bakery stand.  They are a gluten-free and vegan bakery that originated in NYC.  We stocked up on cupcakes for our post-marathon pig-out - now when I say 'stocked-up' and 'pig-out' I mean I ate 6 cupcakes immediatly after arriving back at our room and it was glorious!!! I specifically delight in the memories of the french toast cupcake, yum :) The hipster styling of the cupcakes and their packaging is cute...although Ricky could care less about that, he still loves the cupcakes.

OVERALL EXPERIENCE 

It is very clear that Disney has their act together when it comes to gluten-free food service...of course...everything they do is magical! By the end of our short stay Ricky and I were trying to devise a plan as to how we could live in Disneyworld...telecommuting, finding "serious" work at one of the parks...yes, two grown adults, we aren't ashamed :) At every place we ate the chef/cook came out to talk with us specifically - this is how I train the restaurants I work with...I don't see how or why it should be done any other way! I recommend Disneyworld to all my friends and clients - especially if its your first time vacationing gfree.  Below is a checklist of the system we used that made our gluten-free trip to Disney a sucess.

                 

Now all we need to do is get the Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii all set-up with gluten-free food and that will be my next vacation *sighs dreamily*... Last time I checked they were "in the process" of getting the other Disney landmarks up-to-date with their gfree food service - hoping that good news comes sooner rather than later :)

guilt-free gluten-free spaghetti & meatballs

                                      

This version of spaghetti and meatballs is better than the original for a couple of reasons! Not only is it easy to make, it's gluten-free and its healthier than the traditional version.  I know, I know - usually those things would mean 'not-as-good,' but even I was surprised how well this turned out!  

I really love a good heaping bowl of spaghetti and meatballs, but it poses a few problems for me:

1. I find it hard to serve a vegetable "along with" spaghetti.  The pasta fits so nicely in it's own bowl, so where do you put the vegetable?

2. I try to limit how often we have red meat so I usually save our red meat quota for a nice juicy steak.  Plus, the veal/pork/whatever the third meat in the meatball trifecta is supposed to be makes me feel sad - I'm a meat eater, but baby-anything is hard for me to get down

3. Gluten-free pasta can be annoying to prepare.  If anyone ever thought it was difficult to make "regular" pasta, I say "wah!" - because it's a cinch compared to making gfree pasta. 

So, this is how I fixed those problems:

                                    

1. I put the vegetable inside of the meatballs! Cauliflower meatballs...let me see you tootsie roll (I kept singing that to the beat of the Tootsie-Roll song that I used to jam out to at high school dances...and still today in my living room.) I used finely chopped cauliflower in place of bread crumbs, just a 1 for 1 exchange - gluten-free and better for you.  The cauliflower adds nutrition and moisture to the meatballs, plus a slight hint of fart to the kitchen which will keep your guests on their toes and out of your way :)

2. I used ground turkey which cuts a ton of the fat and calories (and i just baked them: saved the calories from pan-frying first, plus less dishes & less mess/clean-up!)

                                  

                                  

3. I use corn pasta - if you don't do corn you can substitute brown rice or whatever pasta you like, but I've found that corn pasta is the easiest to work with and provides the best "al dente" mouthfeel (that word makes me feel uncomfortable!). 

As you can see, I didn't use fancy ingredients.  I'm sure I'm committing some type of sin for not using a special cheese blend or something, but I used ingredients that I already had on hand at my house. Most nights what I make for dinner is based on a restaurant commercial I saw on TV that makes me angry hungry at which point I don't have the time or patience to get the 'right' ingredients. 

Angry Hungry:  when you see something that looks so good, but you can't have it - so now you are both hungry and angry.

So there you have it, guilt-free spaghetti and meatballs! Try it out, first, before you judge...if you still hate it after you've tried it, well, then that stinks :)

                                    

New Gluten-free Product Review!

       

I'm always on the look out for new gluten-free products on the market.  My friend, Kasey, recently sent me a message about a new GF snack.  Pepperidge Farms has come out with a "gluten-free" version of Goldfish called 'Puffs.' Their package does say gluten-free but no gluten-free certification accompanies this label. I haven't seen the label myself, so I decided to contact the company to ask about their manufacturing process - you know, to check out the contamination issue!

I got on the Pepperidge Farms website for more info.  Well, thank you Pep Farms for providing no information on your website! It literally just says "...and they're gluten-free" at the end of a product description.  They don't even list the ingredients for the product - that just seems shady to me! They also don't provide any statement on how they deal with allergies and special dietary needs.  There's also no way to actually call them, you have to send one of those annoying message-things and wait to hear back from them and then they don't even answer your question.

   

        

So for now, I'd only recommend these little fishies to people who are choosing to not eat gluten or have a sensitivity/intolerance.  Since I have Celiac Disease, though, and I can't verify if these are safely free of gluten then I'll just have to wait until I can find out more! Hoping to have good news about these little fishies soon! If you have any info or see something on their website that I missed let me know!

        

        

A Scared Mom-to-Be, Let the Guilt Begin: A gluten-free pregnancy

These past 4 months have been amazing and overwhelming.  In October, my husband and I welcomed a baby girl in to our little family.  She is strong, active and loves to smile and sleep.  At this very moment she is snuggled in next to me, little shallow breaths, arms sprawled as she snoozes - I spend so much of my time just watching her, amazed at this little miracle.  I am thankful, every day, that she is such a happy and healthy girl.  I'd love to say that I enjoyed being pregnant, but honestly, I was worried and anxious quite a bit. 

I remember the night Austin and I found out I was pregnant - so much excitement, especially knowing that both Celiac and Thyroid diseases can cause infertility - I was relieved, but skeptical too.  Some not-so-morning sickness, extreme fatigue and one doctor's visit later I was convinced.  It wasn't long, though, before I found my feelings of "am I REALLY pregnant" had turned to scary thoughts and "what if's" about the baby's growth and health as I carried little him or her (we didn't find out :).  At first, it seemed normal that as a first time mom I would be concerned about the unknowns of this life-changing experience - but it went beyond that.  I battled anxiety throughout the entire pregnancy, mostly related to my autoimmune diseases and how they might effect that tiny person's health.  Before my pregnancy I felt confident in dealing with these diseases - but the thought that one of my mistakes (accidentally ingesting gluten or missing a dose or two of my synthroid) could harm the defenseless little-one became unbearable at times and consumed my thoughts most days. 

My anxiety was fueled when I decided to ask my OBgyn to check my thyroid levels - which had been on my mind for a few weeks beforehand, but with all that was going on I had forgotten to ask.  My levels came back way out of whack." Well, that was it - I was convinced our baby would suffer the consequences of my mistake and suddenly my anxiety was coupled with an equally overwhelming sense of guilt (I know, I'm a mom now, I should get used that feeling :).  I also found myself craving foods with gluten - not just a cheeseburger...a cheeseburger on a regular bun, a real pie crust, things I hadn't cared much about since those first couple months after going gluten-free.  I felt deprived but the last thing I was going to do was anything else that could potentially hurt our baby.  I felt selfish for even thinking about gluten foods...knowing that my body's reaction to them could do the baby harm.  Pregnancy, for me, wasn't difficult because of it's physical demands, but because of the emotional ones.  Of course, my roller-coaster thyroid hormones didn't help either!

What a lesson in faith it was the moment she was born - a healthy, alert and perfectly put together 6lb. 10oz. baby girl.  Since she's been with us I haven't cared much about gluten or anything else for that matter other than watching her grow and develop her charming little personality. Now I deal with a more "normal" level of anxiety as a new mom, and I'm already researching and planning how and when we are going to introduce gluten and monitor for Celiac Disease and Thyroid changes. 


Couldn't resist sharing some photos of her over these 4 great months.

Getting back to Gluten......free :)

                       

                                         Living gluten-free can make you feel trapped :)

Well, It's been a long time coming...I've been out of the blogging game for a while (for good reason :) a post will be coming soon about all that!).  Lately, though I've gotten so many calls and emails from friends and family with questions, stories (some not so pleasant), about Celiac Disease and gluten-free - I hate to say it buuuut "I told ya so!!!" Well, not you, specifically, but more so the "world" haha.  I've been on my soap box for years now working on awareness about the gfree lifestyle and it seems like people are starting to wake up to it a bit more. Unfortunately, for all of us, the mis-information and confusion surrounding the whole topic is still a big problem for those trying to navigate this new way of life the right way.  

All this to say, I'm coming back :) I have a lot of experience and really fancy sounding accolades, but I want the new format to be more of a meeting place for people to come together, ask questions, share stories and find some reputable information - and of course I'll have my two cents (ya know, there are some cray-crays out there :).

You can be looking forward to posts about pooping dogs, angry dancing pregnant ladies, and some really good tasting gfree food :) Always a good combo!

        

                            Yeah, its a good thing this girl isn't gfree...cause I could just eat her up!

                                       

                                                     Even doggies need some gfree love!

Posts your questions and comments or just some fun words of encouragement and come back soon!!!

-Lacey

Hello Friends - I don't know about you, but I have been in a wonderful mood these past couple of days...the weather has been perfect, renovations on our house are moving along and our little baby keeps me company 24/7 (especially now that Austin is working nights)! Over the past couple of weeks, well even months really, I haven't been in the best mood though - the stress of all these changes had really brought me down on more than one occasion.  During those times the last thing I wanted to do was be around positive people who were having wonderful days (kind of like how I'm feeling today)...but I'll admit - their positivity seemed to be contagious, and actually it IS! So yes, you've guessed it...this is one of those corny "turn your frown upside down" encouragement posts.  "But gosh darn it" (SNL reference!) sometimes we need these...especially when it comes to being our healthiest and best selves.

It is a fact that surrounding yourself with positive people, redirecting negative thoughts to positive ones and even just a simple smile can help to change your mood! Too many times the negative thoughts interrupt our best intentions - we feel unhappy so we polish off the entire bag of Sour Patch Kids, add the extra scoop of ice cream or watch the third re-run instead of getting out for a walk.  I've noticed that many of us with Celiac Disease turn to food during our not-so-good times. I know, for me, having to be gluten-free feels so restrictive at times that "treating" myself to 4 cookies instead of 1 seems like the best way to escape the negative thoughts.  But, bad days are bound to happen so be prepared for them! Know that they are inevitable, but that tomorrow is a new day and new days bring new opportunities to make better choices! Instead of letting today's bad mood fester and turn tomorrow in to round 2, CHOOSE to turn this day around - smile, call up one of your funniest friends just to say 'hi', get up and go for a 10 minute walk!

Check out the latest page I've added to the new blog, titled 'Nutrition' for some similar perspective on nutrition, wellness and health! All you have to be is better than you were yesterday!

Lacey

A New Gluten-Free 'Bun in the Oven'

It has been a long couple of months since I've last blogged about my life with Celiac Disease. I've been anxious to get back to it, but so many things have had demanded my full attention lately.  To give you a quick update:

1. I've finished my Dietetic Internship - yay! *pat on the back*...so glad to be done!

2. We've moved! Actually, not just moved - we bought our first house.  Its definitely a fixer-upper and has demanded a lot of our attention and care!

3. And speaking of 'firsts' we found out a few months ago that we will adding our first baby to our family - bringing our gluten-free household from 2 members to 3 :)  We couldn't be more happy, even with all of the anxiety and frustration that comes along with being pregnant and having Celiac- and Graves Disease! (I have lots to share about my whole experience so be looking for those posts...and I'll be looking forward to hearing about your tips and experiences too!)

Not to worry, though...if you've enjoyed following my blog as much as I've loved writing it, then you'll be happy to know that it will be back and better than ever in no time! Having had some time to adjust to all the changes we've had recently, I am working on some updates to my blog that I'm excited about and hope you will be too.   Soon I'll be blogging about all things g-free - better than ever! Keep a look-out for updates on the blog relaunch and until then...happy gluten-free living!!!

Lacey

'Plane' & Simple Gluten-Free Snacks

On- The- Plane...In- The- Air *sigh of relief* Marathon weekend at DisneyWorld had arrived! I didn't let myself think too much about the feat that stood (or ran, rather) ahead - 26.2 miles! For my brother, it seemed that getting on the plane was a bigger challenge than the marathon. He hadn't flown since a panic attack on a business trip flight years ago; Needless to say I was busy keeping him (and mom - also uneasy about flying) distracted during our time at the airport...so it was a good thing that I planned our gluten-free travel food/meals ahead of time so we had one less thing about which to worry!

While a short 2.5 hour plane ride wouldn't normally be a concern, making sure that we had enough gluten-free carbohydrates (what people often call 'carb-loading) each day was. Knowing that airports/airlines are not the most reliable for food service for safe gluten-free needs, I took some time to plan our half-day's worth of travel food (something that's easy to overlook when a week's worth of food for vacation is staring you in the face). Also, I'm not going to lie, packing fun treats gives you something to look forward to and can help keep an anxious flyer distracted during the flight.

The food and snacks I packed were perfect. They each fit my pre-marathon nutrition criteria and also met my safe gluten-free standards. Even better, they each passed easily through airport security.

1. GoGo Squeez - I would normally just eat a whole apple, in all its fibrous glory, but with my limited carry-on space, the squeeze pouches ended up being easier for travel. Apple Strawberry is my favorite flavor. Each one of these pouches is 3.2 oz making it a perfect snack and airline-okay. Plus, it provides a basic 15 grams of carbohydrates (typically considered 1 serving) from all natural, no additive, all fruit goodness. Now, I'll admit, sometimes I feel a little funny toting these pouches around in public; they don't come in the most mature looking packaging. But when it comes down to it, a healthy gluten-free, convenient snack is worth it!

2. Popcorn Corners - Carmel. I usually don't prefer carmel flavored popcorn treats, but it satisfies the desire to have something sweet without it packing a bunch of saturated fat. Its a light, crunchy, sweet and salty treat that doesn't leave you feeling full and heavy. Also, the saltiness of the 'chips' encouraged me to keep drinking lots of water!

Hopefully you'll find these convenient (whens the last time you were able to describe your g-free food that way?!) treats just as fun and enjoyable!


Happy Snacking and Be well!

Lacey
The Gluten Free Nutritionist

When Life Gets Tough...Run a Marathon

Yikes! It has been way too long since I last blogged. It sounds cliche, but life has just been too chaotic and busy. To give you a quick idea: the holidays, bronchitis, comprehensive case study for internship, Austin with an unidentified illness, marathon training, moving, and most importantly some very sick family members.  

 Two little ladies in my life have been battling sickness; our 16 year old Lhasa Apso, Holly, with a chronic eye infection causing blindness, arthritis, and progressing cancer has been having a rough couple of days, and my Aunt Theresa has been bravely battling Stage IV Ovarian Cancer since August of this year...the reality of their situations has really snapped my priorities in to place. While at times the sadness of it all   overwhelms me, it even more so motivates me to pursue each day and each task with joy and immerse myself in the moment.  It has even meant me making an effort, every day, to keep my health a top priority (keeping on top of doctor's visits, being strict about gluten-free, a healthy and wholesome diet, and lots of exercise). 

To keep myself motivated in these ways, and being inspired by my aunt and even our little Holly, I've taken on new challenges to ensure I'm always working toward something and not becoming complacent in the day- to-day shuffle. Not really knowing what I was getting myself into, marathon training has done the trick...it keeps me motivated and EXHAUSTED! My brother, my Celiac sibling, has been training for a marathon too! We've decided to run the Disney marathon together this coming January 2013, both because it's The Walt Disney World (what better atmosphere to take on 26.2 miles) and because of their gluten-free accommodations (Thank you Disney for always thinking out of the box...even when it comes to special dietary needs for guests!). 

What's even better is we are running for charity with Team in Training; an organization that raises money for cancer research! Not only is this cause close to my heart because of my aunt, my grandma Keefer, and Holly but because cancer affects so many of our friends with undiagnosed/unmanaged Celiac.  Please donate to this cause today...any amount is appreciated! Think about it this way: forego the box of Glutino cookies (save yourself the calories too :) and instead put that money towards curing cancer! Check out our fun site http://pages.teamintraining.org/uny/wdw13/keefer

Be well,

Lacey

Celiac Corner - Guest Author

Readers and Friends:

I know, its been a very long time since my last post...far too long! I would use the old "things have just been so busy lately" excuse, but lets face it, who isn't feeling busy all the time? To be honest, aside from the time it takes to manage a safe gluten-free life, some personal and family matters have taken priority over sharing my gfree insights online. Admist marathon training, clinical rotations, Celiac Events, the holidays, etc. there have been some exciting things happening!

In fact, what has two thumbs and was a guest author over at Celiac Corner *points-at-self*! Thats right, the good people over at Celiac Corner asked me to share some thoughts on finding nutrition support after a Celiac Diagnosis. Since I love to share about Celiac and overall health and wellness, I was extatic to team up with another group of like-minded people via Celiac Corner!

You can check out the article here!

Hope you enjoy...be well,

Lacey

Did You Choose to be Gluten-Free?

To be or not to be gluten-free?...that really isn’t the question!

 Do you HAVE to be?…now THAT  is the question!

We all know that “Going Gluten-Free” for those that do not medically require it has been the coolest thing since sliced bread (J) for quite some time now.  Lately I’ve been doing a lot of people-watching and a good deal of eaves-dropping too (its amazing what people will say when they don’t think anyone is listening or at least when they don’t know who is listening).  I’m most interested to hear what people think and believe about Celiac Disease and being gluten-free when they have no idea I am “The One” (celiac inside-joke J)!

Despite the fact that professional research organizations and medical authorities, like Dr. Alessio Fasano (a world renowned gluten-related disease researcher), strongly state over and over again that “there is no substantiated evidence to suggest that a gluten-free diet is healthier” than a gluten-full diet for those that do not medically require the restriction, people continue to push the gluten-free “diet” as the healthiest “choice” for everyone.  Anecdotal information on the internet and TV about “choosing to be gluten-free” is piling up like the gfree pancakes I make on Saturday mornings!

While I think its great for people to make their own healthy choices, I just can’t bring myself to get behind the “Gluten-Free By Choice” camp for a couple of reasons:

1.       The healthiest way to eat, and this is by no means a novel idea, means including a variety of all different types of foods, colors, flavors, tastes…in balance and moderation.

2.       You should never restrict or completely avoid any one food or category of food unless medically necessary (as is the case with Celiac Disease, anaphylactic food allergies, etc.)

a.      The avoidance or complete restriction of a food or food group requires careful attention to ensure that you don’t become deficient in any vitamins or minerals and this can be a difficult thing to manage.

b.   In fact, whole wheat is one of the best sources of fiber and its packed with vitamins and minerals!

3.       Last, but certainly not least, people too often claim to be on a gfree diet when in reality they are merely avoiding wheat.  Most (not all) who elect to eat gluten-free do not think twice about cross-contamination, or the ‘hidden’ sources of gluten.  Oooh yeaaah, I see you…at Trader Joes…I envy you: strolling the aisles, dropping beautiful, hearty, convenient, delicious looking “no gluten ingredients” ready-to-eat meals in your basket, without even so much as glancing at the label…because if you did, you would have seen that its processed on the same equipment as wheat-containing products and they cannot guarantee that the products hasn’t been cross-contaminated with gluten.  If you weren’t choosing to be gfree but instead had to be, you’d be with me with your head in the Trader Joe’s gluten-free worksheet knocking small children over as you clumsily zig-zag through the store!

Frankly those that elect to be gluten-free and their ‘different’/often relaxed approach to it, are contributing to a culture and atmosphere in which the public views gluten-free as a choice…and not a very serious one.  Instead, for those of us with a medical necessity, evading gluten at all costs (including cross-contamination, sources of hidden gluten, etc.) has never been about weight loss or preventing the infamous Wheat Belly (another day, another blog post), but is about preventing debilitating disease and cancers, delaying the onset or better managing other autoimmune diseases, and ultimately having a better quality of life. 

I don’t choose to be gluten-free…I have to be!

Make it a Sweet Month with Gluten-Free Candy

It’s that time of year…Halloween is almost here!  That also means that hoards of happy kids will be looking for candy…and us adults waiting to sneak some of their hard-earned plunder; but what about kids (and adultsJ) who are gluten-free? It’s very true that this can be a difficult and scary time, how will people respond when a little wizard or princess shows up at their door, coyly investigates their bowl of candy and proceeds to grill them about the contents of their candy? In order to keep your kids (and yourself) safe from gluten help them prepare before trick-or-treating with this list of gluten-free candy provided by the Celiac Disease Foundation (click HERE to find the list).

 

Take it one step further and suggest (like I have) that your friends and family provide only gluten-free candy this year for Halloween.  There are plenty of sweet and delicious gluten-free candies (like Snickers, Caramel Apple Pops or Smarties) that are popular with kids regardless of their being free of gluten. 

Here’s to a sweet October!

Be well,

Lacey

(you can also follow me on twitter @GFreeNutrition)

The FDA Going Gluten-Free

I spend Friday mornings cleaning up my ‘to-do’ list and reorganizing the projects I didn’t finish over the past couple of weeks. Having been, as Leslie Knope from the show Parks & Recreation refers to it, “Jammin’ on my planner,” I realized this morning that I had not yet shared anything about my experience speaking to the Northeast New York Central Atlantic States Association of Food and Drug Officials (NE-NY CASA).

NE-NY CASA is a conference for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made up of professionals who diligently assess and evaluate the procedures of food manufacturers and producers, restaurants, food trucks and corner stands, etc. to ensure that the food is safe to consume. These conferences work to seek out new information in regards to issues involving food and drugs (pharmaceuticals, self-care products, etc) that then drive the national standards of practice in regards to food and drug safety (labeling, manufacturing practices, etc.) for the national FDA

You can imagine how excited I was when they called to ask if I would come speak to their group about gluten-free food service at their regional meeting at the Department of Agriculture and Markets in Albany, NY. By now if you’ve read this blog, even once, you know that I am always more than happy to raise awareness about Celiac Disease (CD) and what it really means to be gluten-free (GF). Not only did I have a chance to educate and raise awareness about CD and GF for the individuals sitting in the room, but it was doubly a great day for GF, because I also had the opportunity to educate and advocate for truly safe labeling standards and the issues that the FDAs proposed label regulations still do not address - like cross-contamination during manufacturing!

This group was a very well-educated one in regards to food service and had wonderful questions; which (1) told me they were paying attention and were interested (phew!) and (2) were receptive to hearing about this ‘new’ information. Chalk one up to Celiac and Gluten-free awareness! Now, if we could only get some of these other regional CASA conference groups to understand why this issue should be on their radar we would really be making some great progress!

Instead of detailing the whole hour-long presentation (its the weekend…you’re welcome J) here it is not in a nutshell, but in a cloud! You will notice that the most often repeated words are the largest, so its pretty obvious to see the theme of the presentation.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Be well,

Lacey

These are a Few of My Favorite Gluten-Free Things

This is what I look like after I've gotten a few of my favorite gluten-free things :)

The Sound of Music is a yearly tradition for me in the fall...haven't we all dreamed of singing our hearts out in the mountains of the European country-side? ...no, just me?

 

September 13^th was National Celiac Awareness Day, its like a holiday at our place.  Although, due to very busy schedules this time around we didn’t get to celebrate it in our typical pig-out-on-all-my-favorite-gfree-foods-and-treats way.  The day was still a great one for me, and I made sure to celebrate it in other ways. Amidst the busy work schedule and lots of driving time, I talked with friends and strangers about Celiac Disease (CD) and living gluten-free (GF).  I was so happy to share information and tips with an aunt of a newly diagnosed college freshman, help educate a renal physician on some of the details of CD, swap some of my GF baking tips with a friend in exchange for her expertise in regards to her delicious Indian dishes, and reminisce with a friend and my brother about some of our funniest (and not so funny) experiences with CD, and I even made room for 4 treats in celebration of the day! Since I couldn’t hit up my gfree favorites, I thought I’d do the next best thing and share them with you! Hope you can enjoy them sometime too and be sure to let me know if you ever do!

Foods/Meals

Although I never used to, I LOVE vegetables! They top my list because they are naturally GF and easy to find!

Ina Garten’s (the barefoot contessa) lemon chicken.  She did not specifically design this recipe to be GF, but each of the ingredients can be found, very easily…right at the grocery store, in a GF version. (click here for the recipe)

Wegmans (a grocery store if you are unfamiliar) Microwave Mashed Potatoes! Since being GF requires that the majority of your food be made from ‘scratch’ in your own home, I love finding whole food items that are simple to put together in a pinch and do not sacrifice flavor or nutrition.  I love mashed potatoes but amidst all of the other cooking and baking I do, I love this convenient way to enjoy the creamy-deliciousness of mashed potatoes in minutes! On top of that, Wegmans is a champion for food labeling…they label each of their GF brand products with a clearly visible (right on the front of the package) gluten-free label! It makes shopping enjoyable again! (click here to check out Wegmans)

Betty Crocker GF cake mixes! I love baking, but sometimes I need to get a dessert together in no time.  GF baking often requires the use of multiple flours and ingredients.  Betty’s cake mixes are convenient and delicious! (click here to get a good look at Betty)

My brother and I were on a non-stop hunt for a donut that even somewhat resembled the moist-cakey richness of a gluten-full donut. We tried so many (not complaining), but that buttery mouthfeel was just missing from too many of them.  Then, we found   Vin-chet’s bakery near Buffalo, NY…best donuts we’ve found so far! I’ll be making a trip out there soon and I’m hoping I’ll find some fresh made donuts (wish they would make cider donuts) with which to spend my afternoon J(click here for their website)

Restaurants

Sherry Lynn’s is a 100% totally gluten-free restaurant in Albany, NY.  Sherry & Howie (the owner’s & operators) serve up traditional American fare.  The kind you can’t get anywhere else and know that you are, for SURE, safe from gluten.  I always stop for their Mozzarella Sticks & Mac’n’Cheese! If you visit, tell Sherry and Howie I sent you…after being harassed for a minute for being a friend of mine, you'll get to enjoy some great food! (click here to get a good look at Sherry Lynns)

I’ve written about Mingle before!  I actually did their GF foodservice consulting to help them create a wonderful and SAFE (in regards to any potential for cross-contamination) atmosphere for anyone with CD or GF needs.  If you are ever in the Albany, NY area stop for their Lobster Mac’n’Cheese…you can also check out my review right here on this blog J(click here to Mingle)

Activities

Tis’ the season for apple picking! It’s a great GF activity to do with friends and the whole family…plus it supports local agriculture.

Picnics are fun to have during the summer at a park or in the yard and even during the cold winter months; just clear some space on the living room floor and throw open a comfy blanket.

I love bowling for 3 reasons: #1 its bowling #2 I kind of ‘weirdly’ rock at bowling & beat Austin most of the time (I espcailly love that!) and #3 bowling alleys tend to be so laid back and, frankly, often neglected (in a ‘it has character’ kind of way!), so most will let you bring in your own GF snacks and treats.  Be sure to bring snacks that you can pop in your mouth right from the package or bring lots of handy-wipes J

I come from a competitive family, so sports have been an outlet for generations.  Football season brings back so many fun memories of growing up and continues to inspire new ones.  Tailgating can be a celiac’s best friend and I love it; You can prepare your own food and keep it safe  on separate table with its own utensils, but still interact and experience the pre-game weather and chatter!  Food displayed on pop-up tables, family lounging in lawn chairs, friends huddled around cups of chili…and lots of my gluten-free goodies to share with everyone, it doesn’t get much better than that!

 

Be well,

Lacey