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Gluten-Free Easter Candy

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff Leave a Comment

Another holiday is quickly approaching and we all know that means a round of candy that is shaped specifically for the season.  While these varieties sure are cute & enticing, they may not be safe like their “normal shaped” counterparts.  Just when you think you have it all figured out, what is safe to eat & what is not, things change.  I know how frustrating this can be.  Sometimes it feels like all of the hard work I put into deciphering labels & making phone calls is for nothing.

Celiac.org does all of the work for you. They have one of the best Easter candy lists around.  Not only does this list seem to include every piece of candy that I looked up, but it is current.  There are many lists floating around cyberspace and while I appreciate the hard work that went into these lists, especially having compiled one myself, the list is only as good as the date the information was gathered.  Even candy that was verified last year or season needs to be checked on again.

Why?  Why is it that we have to constantly update these lists?  Manufacturers change their procedures; they look to improve their product, and inadvertently end up adding an ingredient that contains gluten; they change suppliers to get a lower-cost product and make a bigger profit. There can be any number of reasons. The bottom line is – always read the label, look it up or make a phone call – just like it was your first time checking the gluten-free status.

MP900314158Here is a prime example of the confusion that surrounds the reason for this post:

Are all Cadbury Mini Creme Eggs safe for a GF diet?

NO!

Even if they all look identical, they are not all made at the same place or under the same conditions. Before eating any of these Easter treats, you must determine what package they originally came from. Here is why:

154g & 381g bag of mini creme eggs – NOT SAFE
“May contain peanuts, tree nuts and/or wheat.”

154g & 381g bag of assorted mini eggs (caramilk, dairy milk, creme eggs) – NOT SAFE
“May contain peanuts, tree nuts and/or wheat.”

80g tube of mini creme eggs – SAFE!
“May contain peanut, tree nuts.”

Happy and Safe Easter!

If you have questions about a specific candy and are unable to find the status on their website, please email them with the following information & they will do their best to find out for you:

brand name
product name
size
upc
If you have children that are gluten-free and friends and family are purchasing candy for them, make sure to share this list.  Nothing is worse than telling your child that he/she can’t eat something because it is unsafe, especially when others around them are able to enjoy said candy.  Even better, keep a stash on hand for quick swap-outs to help avoid any potential disasters & meltdowns.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Spinach Protein Wrap

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 4 Comments

Egg whites are a great source of naturally gluten-free protein and make a great staple for breakfast or lunch. They are great for those who are vegetarian or trying to cut back on their meat intake. I used to make an egg white & spinach frittata for breakfast every day, but I fell out of the habit. The other day I was craving an egg white wrap and it ended up being one of the best I have made!

This lunch took me less than 15 minutes to put together & was very satisfying.  I paired my wrap with carrot sticks and Blue Diamond rice chips.

Spinach Protein Wrap

IMG_0733*20+ grams of protein

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese
  • spinach
  • Brown rice tortilla (La Tortilla Factory Teff or homemade)
  • Sea salt & pepper

Directions:

  1. Heat the pan on the stove & spray it with cooking spray.
  2. Cook egg whites until white/solid.  Flip & add feta cheese.
  3. Sprinkle with salt & pepper to taste.
  4. Heat the tortilla for 30 seconds in the microwave.  Place cooked egg white & handful or 2 of spinach on top & roll up.

Enjoy!

**If you are cooking for more than one person, just double the ingredients for 2 servings, triple for 3 servings, etc.

If you are interested in making the tortillas from scratch, here are a few recipes:

After having been on a gluten-free diet for over 6 years now, I really should try to make my own tortillas.  Perhaps I see a new goal in my future!

How to Tell if Drugs are Gluten-Free

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 2 Comments

As if following the gluten-free diet isn’t tough enough when we feel good, having to make sure that medication is also gluten-free can be a challenge. Over-the-counter meds don’t seem to be as much of a problem in my experience. Some OTC companies even label their medication “gluten-free” on the bottle. I find the most trouble with prescription medication.

There is a website is maintained by Steve Plogsted, a pharmacist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, that lists hundreds of gluten-free drugs. I have used this resource countless times to check medications that have been prescribed for myself or my son. There is a new update on the top of the page that I feel that it is important to pass on:

Some drug companies have been telling people that some of the drugs that they manufacture contain gluten. When I investigated their claims it appears that the reason they are blatantly claiming that their drugs are contaminated is because they have used a sugar alcohol as an excipient.

Sugar alcohols are not truly sugars or alcohols rather they are carbohydrates that provide a source of calories. The sugar alcohols are naturally found in a number of fruits and vegetables and may be extracted from many sources including any starch, including wheat. During the manufacturing process they are completely refined leaving behind no gluten proteins similar to making table sugar. The mostly widely used sugar alcohols used in prescription drug manufacturing are mannitol and xylitol. Both of the products are used either as sweeteners in liquid drug products or as bulking agents in the solid dosage forms.

The sugar alcohols are used in many diabetic products as well as in many health foods such as nutrition bars. Any person who consumes one of the sugar alcohols in significant quantities can experience gastrointestinal disturbances and diarrhea which may mimic symptoms celiac patients may suffer after being exposed to gluten.

National celiac organizations such as the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America. consider mannitol to be safe for use in celiac patients. Additionally, if you go to the Celiac.com website dated 11/29/07 you will find a list of items safe for the celiac patient to consume. On that list you will also find both mannitol and xylitol as well as the following sugar alcohols sorbitol, malitol, lactilol and isomalt.

What does this means for the celiac patient? If you happen to contact a drug company for information and you are told that a drug contains gluten you really need to push them to tell you which excipient in that drug product is considered the source of the gluten contamination. If it turns out to be one sugar alcohols you may wish to re-evaluate their response. While it is always up to the celiac patient to determine whether a product is safe for them, the prevailing literature continues to suggest that these sugar alcohols are safe for use.

I am glad that I read this, and now feel better armed with information and more confident should I encounter a medication that contains gluten according to the drug company. Another thing to remember is to ask your pharmacist the same questions if they are the ones to call the drug company, as I know mine has done this for me in the past.

Review: Udi’s Gluten-Free Pepperoni Pizza

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 4 Comments

While I am still scouring my local Whole Foods for the new Udi’s gluten-free pizzas, my mom and stepdad were able to find them at the Whole Foods store in Winter Park, Florida. My stepdad, Joe, began following the gluten-free diet last year after finding he had a sensitivity to wheat.

In addition to being gluten-free, the pizza is also soy-free. There are 2 servings per box at 350 calories, 18g fat, 16g protein and 4g fiber each.  The ingredients are as follows:

INGREDIENTS: gluten-free PIZZA CRUST (FILTERED WATER, TAPIOCA STARCH, BROWN RICE FLOUR, EGG WHITES, CORN STARCH, RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA MALTODEXTRIN, VEGETABLE OIL (MAY CONTAIN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: SUNFLOWER, SAFFLOWER, CANOLA OIL), RICE BRAN, CELLULOSE POWDER, CANE SYRUP, GUM (XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM ALGINATE, GUAR GUM), SALT, KONJAC, YEAST (YEAST, POTATO STARCH), ENZYME (CALCIUM SULFATE, ENZYMES)), SAUCE (TOMATOES, FILTERED WATER, TOMATO PASTE, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, SUGAR, SALT, SPICES, GARLIC, CITRIC ACID), MOZZARELLA CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES), UNCURED PEPPERONI (NO NITRITES OR NITRATES ADDED* *EXCEPT FOR THOSE NATURALLY OCCURRING IN NATURAL FLAVORING (CELERY JUICE POWDER). PORK, BEEF, SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF WATER, SPICE, SEASONING (CANE SUGAR, NATURAL FLAVORING), SEASONING (EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, NATURAL SPICE EXTRACTIVES), LACTIC ACID STARTER CULTURE), ROMANO CHEESE (PASTERUIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), BASIL, SEASONING BLEND (BASIL, OREGANO, SALT, GARLIC, MARJORAM, CHILIES, FENNEL, ONION, TOMATO, HONEY POWDER (CANE REFINERY SYRUPS, HONEY), AND SPICES). CONTAINS EGG, MILK.
Read more:

2012-02-05_19-31-47_313The written review, as I received it from my mom & Joe:

gluten-free crust is great.  Thin crust, and crisp on the edges when baked.

Flavor was very tasty. We had the uncured pepperoni pizza, which is also soy-free.  Well presented when unwrapped, and very easy to prepare.  Slices hold their form very well; the crust remains intact and doesn’t crumble.  No shortage of toppings, but the sauce and the cheese could be spread more evenly across the pizza.  $6.99 at Whole Foods in Winter Park, Fl, for a 10 ounce pizza, which was very reasonable.  Very high in sodium, which is a definite downside.  We would definitely buy this pizza again – and also try their other versions.

Udi’s gluten-free is also making three cheese and Margherita frozen pizza varieties.  The pizzas should be available in most Whole Food stores across the nation.  This reminds me that I need to ask at my store’s customer service counter the next time I go in.

Have you had a chance to try Udi’s new frozen gluten-free pizzas yet?  If so, what did you think?

Review: Yoplait Gluten-Free Greek Yogurt

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 2 Comments

Greek yogurt is all the rage these days.  Nutritionally speaking, Greek yogurt has more bang for your buck with twice the protein of regular yogurt.  There are many brands on the market, but today I am going to focus on Yoplait Greek yogurt.

I have been steering towards Greek yogurt when I eat yogurt mainly for protein reasons.  A lot of times I will use yogurt to refuel after my workouts in the morning.  I am not usually hungry right away, so eating something small, like 6 oz. of yogurt, is perfect for me.  I then have time to shower & get the kids up & moving before I sit down for breakfast.  Yoplait now has 6 flavors on the gluten-free Greek yogurt product list.

  • Blueberry
  • Honey vanilla
  • Strawberry
  • Plain
  • Key lime
  • Peach

IMG_0502Yoplait labels their gluten-free products “gluten-free” right on the side, so there is no confusion.  Yoplait is part of General Mills.  Yogurt has many health benefits, including helping to build stronger bones with calcium (35% of the RDA in one serving), vitamin D to help with calcium absorption, probiotics to help keep your digestive system healthy, and protein, as I mentioned above.

 

I have now worked through all of the flavors except the peach and I really like them all, but I think the key lime is my favorite.   I can see making a dessert with it by crumbling up gluten-free graham crackers over the top.   I like to use the plain variety for baking or on my baked potato, like sour cream.  If you are trying to cut back on your sugar intake, buying plain Greek yogurt and adding in your own, fresh fruit, is a great way to do so.  I also like to eat yogurt mixed with a bowl full of cereal or as a topper for my gluten-free waffles.

Yoplait Greek yogurt can be purchased in mainstream grocery stores across the US.  For a $.30 off coupon, click here and find a link on the right side of the page.  **It is important to note that not all of Yoplait’s Greek yogurts are on the gluten-free list or labeled gluten-free.  There are some newer versions (that come in 4-packs or with granola) that either haven’t been added to the list or aren’t safe for us to eat.  Please exercise caution if you are buying something that isn’t on the list. 

Have you tried Yoplait Greek yogurt? How do you like to eat your yogurt?