Barilla started making a gluten free pasta available at you regular grocery store! This is a great development for us eating gluten free. Many probably know that Barilla is a big company that is well known for making quality pasta products for many years. Now, they have started making a rice and corn blend of pasta that is gluten free. I recently saw it as a new item in the Safeway grocery store. It was on promo for 2 for $4. This is amazingly inexpensive for quality gluten free pasta. I saw straight spaghetti, penne, and rotini but there may be other shapes available.
I tried the straight spaghetti and the penne. Both were excellent and had a great texture when cooked al dente, according to the package. My husband tried it and said that it was the closest thing to real pasta he's tried of the gluten free options. This is a huge win and it's very exciting!
Check your local store and try it today. I've even seen coupons!
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013
New Pizza Option at Trader Joe's
I have recently discovered my joy of shopping at Trader Joe's. The selection is fairly small at our Spokane, WA location, but it's a nice change from the variety at the other grocery stores. I was a big customer when I lived in California and preferred it to any other store around.
Since I've recently begun shopping there again, I have found a gluten free flatbread in the prepared foods section. It is a small 2 pack of par baked flatbreads that you add toppings to and bake around 8 min and then enjoy. They have a great flavor and texture and make for a very easy and fast lunch, dinner, or snack. Great find! I'm very excited!
Since I've recently begun shopping there again, I have found a gluten free flatbread in the prepared foods section. It is a small 2 pack of par baked flatbreads that you add toppings to and bake around 8 min and then enjoy. They have a great flavor and texture and make for a very easy and fast lunch, dinner, or snack. Great find! I'm very excited!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Gluten Free on the Oregon Coast
Recently, my family and I took a road trip to the beautiful Oregon Coast. I did a little research before the trip, as I always do to see what options come up in our various destinations that will have gluten free menus or gluten free options. I found some great places!
Most people have had the luxury of walking into a bagel shop or coffee shop, ordering a bagel and a delicious coffee. I have never done that, but always been jealous about. When I was diagnosed, I was really much younger than most people probably start going to coffee shops with their buddies. Plus, at that time, a gluten free bagel, was a joke. I don't think anyone had even considered it at the time. So, I thought it would be something I would never experience. Not the case!!! A bakery located in Portland, Oregon is a dedicated gluten free bakery and delicious gluten free bagels and amazing coffee! It was such a treat! If you live in Portland or a visiting soon, treat yourself to some goodies at New Cascadia Bakery. I had a poppyseed bagel with cream cheese and a vanilla latte that I now daydream about.
They don't ship yet, but they are considering it and I really hope it happens soon!!
Another favorite find on our trip was in Newport, Oregon. Its a delicious little place called Nye Beach Market. They had amazing breakfast and I even ended up going back for lunch! The best part? They have absolutely delicious gluten free clam chowder! It's incredible and truly a wonderful find! Plus, they are incredibly friendly and helpful!
Most people have had the luxury of walking into a bagel shop or coffee shop, ordering a bagel and a delicious coffee. I have never done that, but always been jealous about. When I was diagnosed, I was really much younger than most people probably start going to coffee shops with their buddies. Plus, at that time, a gluten free bagel, was a joke. I don't think anyone had even considered it at the time. So, I thought it would be something I would never experience. Not the case!!! A bakery located in Portland, Oregon is a dedicated gluten free bakery and delicious gluten free bagels and amazing coffee! It was such a treat! If you live in Portland or a visiting soon, treat yourself to some goodies at New Cascadia Bakery. I had a poppyseed bagel with cream cheese and a vanilla latte that I now daydream about.
They don't ship yet, but they are considering it and I really hope it happens soon!!
Another favorite find on our trip was in Newport, Oregon. Its a delicious little place called Nye Beach Market. They had amazing breakfast and I even ended up going back for lunch! The best part? They have absolutely delicious gluten free clam chowder! It's incredible and truly a wonderful find! Plus, they are incredibly friendly and helpful!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Gluten Free Cookbooks and Resources
Sometimes, one of the most difficult things about following a new diet is finding good recipes. I know that when I was diagnosed in 1991, the options were extremely limited and baking was pretty much out of the question. Cooking was tricky, because it required first finding a recipe that appealed and then tweaking it to suit a gluten free diet. The options for ingredients for breading, pasta, breads, flours to thicken sauces...well, the list goes on and on....was extremely difficult.
Now, we have so many great options! How lucky we are! Trying new recipes and especially finding great cookbooks is a joy!
Here are some of my favorite cookbooks and resources:
Gluten Free on a Shoestring Quick and Easy by Nicole Hunn she also has a great blog http://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/ and she is on Facebook as well. I follow her on both
and I enjoy reading new recipes often.
and I enjoy reading new recipes often.
The famous New York City bakery Babycakes has also come out with a couple of great cookbooks!
They are MOSTLY gluten free and they specialize in vegan goodies as well. If you are lucky enough to
have one of their locations, then you are probably familiar with their goods. They have locations in
NYC, LA, and Vegas as well as some Disney locations, I believe. I have 2 cookbooks by the owner, Erin
McKenna.
Babycakes (original book)
Babycakes Covers The Classics
I love the Living Without magazine. It covers several allergies and even has occasional coupons. It's a
great resource for beginners
A wonderful book that I highly recommend for newly diagnosed Celiacs is called Celiac Disease A Hidden
Epidemic by Peter Green, M.D. and Rory Jones. I believe this book is a MUST HAVE for Celiacs
because it dispels many myths associated with gluten intolerance and Celiac Disease and clarifies a lot
of information.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
The Basics
Some of you might be thinking: What IS gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and most oats. Essentially, gluten helps give products their body and makes them soft and stretchy. An example is pizza dough: when you toss pizza dough in the air or stretch it out, you develop the gluten more.
Gluten free diets are most often followed by people suffering from gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease, a condition that results in inflammation and damage to the intestines with the ingestion of gluten. This damage to the intestines makes it difficult for the body to absorb necessary nutrients and vitamins from foods.
You will find gluten hidden in a variety of foods and even body products. Sometimes it is fairly "obvious": like a sandwich roll, pizza, pasta, beer, or a donut. Other times, it can be in surprising products, like yogurt, ice cream, salad dressing, soy sauce, and even beverages. Whether you are on a gluten free diet due to Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or simply by choice, you will have to do some research and become a very diligent label reader. You will have to learn to read the label of absolutely everything you choose to ingest.
Some people are sensitive to gluten in very small amounts and even topically, so they abstain from using lipsticks, shampoos, and lotions that contain gluten. I myself, do not use lipsticks, facial products, or body and hand lotions with gluten in them. It's a personal preference usually, but I figure that an average woman consumes a rather large amount of lip products each year from licking her lips and such, that I'd rather be safe and avoid that possibility. Also, some with sensitivities have a condition called Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). This is a skin condition that can occur in Celiac patients who make still get trace amounts of gluten in their diets. Basically, it is intensely itchy skin and small red bumps forming a rash that usually appears on the knees, elbows, neck, scalp, and buttocks.
The is a lot of misinformation out there, especially here on the internet. I cannot recall the number of times I've read something that seems to be completely wrong and possibly made up posted on a website. It's frustrating that someone new to the GF diet would be confused and overwhelmed. I often meet people who have lived by what they thought were a very strict set of rules on the diet and found out years later that they were staying away from foods that are actually considered to be safe.
In more recent years, gluten-free diets have become part of the world of fad diets. Eating a gluten-free diet is considered by many to be a great way to lose weight, however eating gluten-free often leads to weight gain. It is not necessarily a healthier diet because many gluten free products are more processed and contain more sugar, salt, and fat. Often times, extra vitamins are needed because gluten free foods can cause vitamin deficiencies in Iron, folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, fiber, and magnesium.
About 1% of people in the United States have Celiac Disease, with as many as about 10% who may have a sensitivity to gluten. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and if left untreated, deterioration of the intestinal lining and possibly severe malnourishment and extreme weight loss. However, once gluten is removed from the diet, symptoms usually subside and damage is healed, although this can sometimes take several months.
I do not believe the gluten-free diet is good for everyone. Not only can it be difficult to follow, but there are many nutritional drawbacks and it can be very costly. It is an absolute MUST for those with Celiac Disease and/or gluten sensitivity to follow a completely gluten-free diet, but I'm not sure the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for the rest of the population. If you choose to eat a gluten-free diet, you should consult your doctor to ensure you are getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and most oats. Essentially, gluten helps give products their body and makes them soft and stretchy. An example is pizza dough: when you toss pizza dough in the air or stretch it out, you develop the gluten more.
Gluten free diets are most often followed by people suffering from gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease, a condition that results in inflammation and damage to the intestines with the ingestion of gluten. This damage to the intestines makes it difficult for the body to absorb necessary nutrients and vitamins from foods.
You will find gluten hidden in a variety of foods and even body products. Sometimes it is fairly "obvious": like a sandwich roll, pizza, pasta, beer, or a donut. Other times, it can be in surprising products, like yogurt, ice cream, salad dressing, soy sauce, and even beverages. Whether you are on a gluten free diet due to Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or simply by choice, you will have to do some research and become a very diligent label reader. You will have to learn to read the label of absolutely everything you choose to ingest.
Some people are sensitive to gluten in very small amounts and even topically, so they abstain from using lipsticks, shampoos, and lotions that contain gluten. I myself, do not use lipsticks, facial products, or body and hand lotions with gluten in them. It's a personal preference usually, but I figure that an average woman consumes a rather large amount of lip products each year from licking her lips and such, that I'd rather be safe and avoid that possibility. Also, some with sensitivities have a condition called Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH). This is a skin condition that can occur in Celiac patients who make still get trace amounts of gluten in their diets. Basically, it is intensely itchy skin and small red bumps forming a rash that usually appears on the knees, elbows, neck, scalp, and buttocks.
The is a lot of misinformation out there, especially here on the internet. I cannot recall the number of times I've read something that seems to be completely wrong and possibly made up posted on a website. It's frustrating that someone new to the GF diet would be confused and overwhelmed. I often meet people who have lived by what they thought were a very strict set of rules on the diet and found out years later that they were staying away from foods that are actually considered to be safe.
In more recent years, gluten-free diets have become part of the world of fad diets. Eating a gluten-free diet is considered by many to be a great way to lose weight, however eating gluten-free often leads to weight gain. It is not necessarily a healthier diet because many gluten free products are more processed and contain more sugar, salt, and fat. Often times, extra vitamins are needed because gluten free foods can cause vitamin deficiencies in Iron, folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, fiber, and magnesium.
About 1% of people in the United States have Celiac Disease, with as many as about 10% who may have a sensitivity to gluten. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and if left untreated, deterioration of the intestinal lining and possibly severe malnourishment and extreme weight loss. However, once gluten is removed from the diet, symptoms usually subside and damage is healed, although this can sometimes take several months.
I do not believe the gluten-free diet is good for everyone. Not only can it be difficult to follow, but there are many nutritional drawbacks and it can be very costly. It is an absolute MUST for those with Celiac Disease and/or gluten sensitivity to follow a completely gluten-free diet, but I'm not sure the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for the rest of the population. If you choose to eat a gluten-free diet, you should consult your doctor to ensure you are getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients.
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