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Celiac Disease Foundation Resource Directory

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The hardest part about starting the gluten-free diet is knowing which foods are safe to eat and which foods are not. When I first started the diet I made a huge notebook with lists upon lists of products that were gluten-free. The notebook went to the grocery store with me every week.

While this was great for the first few months, we all know that things change. Manufacturers make their products “new & improved”, which may end up leaving the product no longer gluten-free. Shopping gluten-free is much easier today than it was 6+ years ago. I am sure part of this is due to experience, but it is also due to increased awareness and many companies making the labels easier to read.

The Celiac Disease Foundation has a wonderful new resource available to the gluten-free public. The Resource Directory is a wonderful one-step guide to everything gluten-free. More about the directory:

Welcome to The Celiac Disease Foundation’s Gluten-Free Resource Directory!  Our mission is to provide you with a unique and easy, one-stop guide to all things gluten-free. Each category has been carefully selected to provide you with products and services that simplify and demystify the gluten-free shopping experience.

Once considered part of the dietary fringe, gluten-free foods have been embraced by a wide variety of consumers and mainstream distributors and ultimately has been accepted as a healthier alternative than their conventional versions.

The gluten-free Resource Directory is dynamic in that it is constantly evolving, growing, changing and being updated with new products and services every day. So, be sure to check the site often to take advantage of some great promotions and new-to-market products available to you and your family.   Before starting on a gluten-free Diet please consult your health professional.

The awesome directory not only includes foods and grocery store items, but stores, travel information, baking equipment, Celiac centers, and labs for testing.  Boy, I wish this resource would have been available 6 years ago!  There is a new product section that lists all of the newer products on the market.  I think this is my favorite part of the website, as I love to explore and find new gluten-free food and treats!

What resources do you use to shop?

Finding Gluten-Free Food at Airports

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During a recent trip, we made an unplanned detour to JFK airport in order to get back to Atlanta. Because I knew that finding a safe lunch at the first airport we were at that day might be tough, I had my own food in my bag and had plenty to eat for that meal. However, I had no way of knowing I’d also need to find something to eat for dinner later on. To add a little extra stress to an already horrifically stressful travel day, we had very little time to get from the gate we arrived at to the gate our last flight was departing from at JFK. I knew I still had some tiny snacks in my tote bag and assumed they would have to suffice for a makeshift dinner.

As we rushed by The Healthy Gourmet kiosk just before getting to our departure gate (and finding out our flight was delayed due to no pilot), a sign caught my eye. There on the corner was a round display of Food Should Taste Good chips. This line of chips is not only nutritious, but the flavors are also totally unexpected. I have not tried them all yet, but so far I’m partial to the delicious Olive chips. Since we now had some time before boarding, I decided to check out the offerings at The Healthy Gourmet.

The fact that the Food Should Taste Good sign listed gluten-free for every passerby to see delighted me on a trying day. It was a little like seeing a rainbow after the rain. I grabbed a bag of chips and proceeded to check out the rest of the items at the kiosk. To my surprise, there was a very fresh-looking salad (several of them, in fact) that clearly listed every ingredient and allergen info to boot. I chose a salad that included salad greens, turkey, cheese, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and mandarin oranges.

When I went to pay for my airport dinner, I was offered a packet of dressing, but I was not in the mood to read the label so I declined the offer. Not only was the salad gluten-free, but it was also shockingly delicious for airport food. Our flight ended up leaving even later than first expected so I had time to check out some other things at various kiosks and there was a shocking amount (to me) of gluten-free labeled items. Various types of chips and bars were among the offerings.

At the Atlanta airport, there were also several options such as bars from Oskri and yet more Food Should Taste Good chips. I’d noticed them on the way to our gate over a week before. Even though I was not in need of any safe food at 9 am that day, I appreciated the fact that they were available. And even better, I like knowing that most people buying the items are not in need of gluten-free food. They just want a snack and buy items they either know they like or that look good to them.

To say we’ve come a long way in the past five years is quite an understatement. Gluten-free options are growing every month and more mainstream consumers are embracing them for whatever reason. While it annoys me that trendy gluten-free diners are out there who would not know if they were served gluten by mistake, on the retail side of things, the more gluten-free purchases made the better for all of us.

As an aside, I’d like to thank Delta Airlines. The Atlanta-based company came through for us in a big way and we arrived home safely because of their excellent customer service. Their help was greatly appreciated considering the fact that we were using frequent flyer tickets for the trip and the fact that we missed our departing flight was not related to Delta in any way.

Gluten-Free Emergency Kits

Last Updated on by the Celiac-Disease.com Staff 1 Comment

Do you have a gluten-free emergency kit? Has the thought ever crossed your mind in the case of a disaster of some sort? Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or even summer storms can wreak havoc and leave destruction in their wake. If your power was out for longer than 12-24 hours, what would you do?

After 9-11, I really began to freak out about being prepared for an emergency. I live nowhere close to NYC, but what if some kind of a disaster were to strike close to our home and we were unable to get food for whatever reason? This was all before we had to eat gluten-free, too. Sure, keeping gallons of water, flashlights, batteries, and blankets is easy whether you are gluten-free or not. Keeping food around may not be as easy unless you plan ahead.

There are checklists available here to outline the most important items to have on hand. Included in the link above are basic lists and then suggested additions. A three-day supply is suggested for food and water. Make sure to take into account that water is per person. If you have pets, do not forget to plan ahead for them. Here are some basic gluten-free food items that can be included in an emergency kit:

  • Lara Bars, Pure Bars, Zing Bars or other fruit/nut bar
  • Canned meat – tuna and salmon are good choices
  • Canned beans – good source of protein/carbs
  • Nuts
  • Non-perishable, pasteurized milk (Horizon Organic makes individual boxes)
  • Vitamins
  • Gluten-free crackers
  • Gluten-free cereal
  • Peanut butter (other nut butter are good, too, but some need to be kept in the refrigerator)
  • Dried fruit

Gluten-free Emergency Kits sells pre-packaged emergency kits for 24 hours, 72 hours, or 30 days. The 72-hour kit feeds a family of 4 and has a shelf life of 5 years. A description from the site:

The kit is shipped in boxes, has a shelf life of four to five years if stored properly between 68 to 70 degrees. The products are packaged in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.

Mixes From The Heartland Inc. has developed a complete gluten-free emergency food kit that supplies the necessary ingredients to provide meals for a family of four to six people for seventy-two hours. The purchaser of the kit needs only to add water to have savory, gluten-free meals that can be consumed by the whole family.

In addition to food and water, make sure to set aside any medications that family members may need in case of an emergency. Extra glasses or contact lenses, extra batteries for hearing aids, and information on any medical devices, if used.

After you get the emergency kit figured out, be sure to make a plan. Making a plan includes things like subscribing to alert services, informing all family members how to contact one another, and including pre-paid calling cards or money in the kit.

The last bit of information is to be informed. What kinds of unexpected situations could require your family to put an emergency plan into action? Forms and publications on the plans and some of the links provided above can be downloaded or ordered here.

Gluten-Free Gifts

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

Sending a food-related gift for someone that is gluten-free is tough. There are many non-gluten-free options – Cookie Bouquets, Cheryl’s Cookies, Harry & David, Hickory Farms, etc. It is always tough when we get a gift from one of the aforementioned places & Jon can’t have any of the treats. While there may be a piece of fruit from Harry & David or cheese from Hickory Farms, the gluten-free options just aren’t as plentiful.

There are some gluten-free options out there. Edible Arrangements are a great option for gluten-free gifts. The main ingredient is fruit and the fruit, if not dipped, is gluten-free.

Mariposa Bakery has gift sets you can order. I did a review of Mariposa’s products which can be seen here. All of the gift baskets are under $40 and would make an excellent gift. Some of the options include several varieties of brownies, coconut lemon squares, coffee cakes, biscotti & more. There is a dairy-free gift set as well. Other fun options are the brownie-of-the-month club, biscotti-of-the-month club & a gluten-free sampler club.

Illinois Nut & Candy has many gluten-free gift ideas. Some of the wonderful options include shaped chocolate bars & lollipops, popcorn balls & shaped sprinkles. I love all of the holiday options for Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, and more.

Live gluten-freely has a wonderful new option. For $24.99 plus shipping LGF will include a gluten-free, full-size assortment of General Mills gluten-free products. This would be perfect for the newly diagnosed or for saying thank you or congratulations. The box includes:

  • Betty Crocker® gluten-free Brownie Mix
  • Betty Crocker® gluten-free Yellow Cake Mix
  • Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting
  • Honey Nut Chex® Cereal
  • Betty Crocker® Create-A-Bug® Fruit Flavored Snacks
  • Betty Crocker® Fruit Flavored Snacks Variety Pack – Fruit Roll-Ups®, Fruit Gushers®, Fruit by the Foot®
  • Peanut Butter Cookie Lärabar® Snack Bar
  • Betty Crocker® Potato Buds® Mashed Potatoes
  • Betty Crocker® Red Serving Spoon
  • Coupons and More!

GlutenFreeMall.com has gift vouchers that can be purchased from their site in as low as $25 increments. You can get a $25 gluten-free Mall Gift Voucher here. This allows the person you are shopping for to choose from the hundreds of items that are sold at the gluten-free Mall.

Last but not least, gift certificates to one of the many restaurants that are now offering gluten-free menus. If there is a local restaurant, placing a phone call is a great way to see if gift certificates can be purchased. If the person is newly gluten-free, consider sending along a set of gluten-free dining guides & cards to help ease some of the confusion about eating out gluten-free. Some of the chain restaurants that have gluten-free menus are:

  • P.F. Chang’s
  • Bonefish Grill
  • Pei Wei Asian Diner
  • Z Pizza
  • Red Robin
  • Cheeseburger in Paradise
  • Outback Steakhouse
  • Carrabba’s
  • Olive Garden
  • Chik-fil-a
  • Chipotle

Gluten-Free Gift Baskets

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The holidays are filled with food, fun, and gifts for many of us. Gift baskets are a huge business during this time of year and now there is a multitude of gluten-free gift baskets to send the people in your life that can’t eat gluten. Or maybe you just want to send a nice basket full of gluten-free goodies to yourself!

The gluten-free gift basket companies I researched offer a wide range of gifts at a wide range of prices. There is sure to be something for every budget and every taste. There are themed baskets for everyone from popcorn lovers to BBQ grill masters. One of the gift basket companies even offers to make up customized baskets, based on your budget and product preferences.

Celebrate Gift Basket - Photo courtesy of I Can Have That

Gluten-free gift basket sales have really soared over the last couple of years. With more people going gluten-free every week, that trend is likely to continue for quite a while. Like gluten-free food, gluten-free gift baskets have higher prices than standard gift baskets that contain gluten products.

People who like to create personalized gifts themselves can create their own gluten-free baskets. Choose a container to hold the products you choose for the gift, buy some colored cello wrap at a craft store and tie a bow on top. If the basket needs to be shipped, consider not using any products that come in glass containers. The risk of them breaking is fairly high (if you don’t have experience packing gift baskets) and if they do break, the whole gift will be ruined.

For a pizza lover, buy a gluten-free pizza crust mix, a bag of pepperoni (Hormel is labeled gluten-free and shelf stable before opening) a nice pizza cutter, and maybe a pizza server. Create a nice pasta gift basket with some gluten-free pasta, sauce (in a plastic jar), a pasta server, and a nice stainless colander. Obviously, the combinations of what you can create are endless!

For those of you who would rather let someone else do all the work – check out the fabulous offerings from these creative companies!

  • I Can Have That! – allergen guide is listed with each gift; choose from wheat-free, gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, soy-free, nut-free, and peanut-free; many items of free of several allergens.
  • Well Baskets – Offers themed decoration for each gift.
  • Carriage House Gifts – Offers stock and customized gift baskets.
  • Glutensmart – Offerings include some Kosher gift baskets; teddy bears with most gifts.
  • Cherchies- Mainstream company; added a limited gluten-free section a couple of years ago.
  • The Free Cookie – Atlanta-based company; everything in the line is gluten, dairy, and egg free; artisan quality work.
  • Marilyn’s Gourmet – Atlanta-based company; gluten-free bakery offers gluten-free fruitcake, among other things.
  • Harry & David – Now offers more than fruit for the gluten-free set.
  • Planet Gift Baskets – Offers an impressive array of gluten-free baskets and ships worldwide.
  • Gifts Gone Gourmet – Gluten-free baskets to fit many holidays throughout the year.

happy_holidaysw

The above list is by no means comprehensive. There are many gift basket companies catering to our market these days.  How wonderful it is to find such great options for incredible and tasty gluten-free gifts – for others and ourselves!

These gifts would be great for someone visiting friends or relatives out of town during the holidays. The gift could even ship to the destination and be there on arrival as a surprise for the recipient. Obviously, the person receiving the gift at their home would need to know NOT to open it! The other problem is that doing this likely means one would have to share their treats. After all, it is the holidays!

Note: You can also now purchase a number of gluten-free gift baskets via Amazon.com!