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Sex and the Celiac: Dating Tips for the Gluten-Free

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Valentine’s Day is right around the corner even though it just seems like Thanksgiving was just yesterday.  There are some very important things to consider when dating gluten-free, especially if your date isn’t gluten-free. The NFCA (National Foundation for Celiac Awareness) has generously provided the following tips to help keep you safe.

When you have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder, dating can be fairly tricky. With so much focus on restaurant outings, movie theater snacks and the post-date kiss, people with a gluten-related disorder have a lot more to think about than just finding the perfect outfit.

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) shares these 5 tips for navigating the dating scene while staying gluten-free.

Pick the restaurant yourself. Suggest a few restaurants that you trust will serve safe gluten-free food. Do some research to find a few different options so your date can have a choice, too. If you’re not comfortable picking the place or bringing up your gluten-free diet on the first date, why not cook at home? You can always pack a picnic basket for lunch or dinner at a local park so you don’t have to bring up your diet right off the bat.

Be prepared to quickly and simply explain your gluten-free diet. You shouldn’t be embarrassed by your gluten-free diet (yes, this even applies to the men out there). If your date involves food, you can quickly explain that you can’t eat gluten for medical reasons and if you do, you’ll become very sick. Don’t feel pressured to give all the details on the first date, and focus on what you can eat. For example: “I can’t split the cake with you, but this place makes fantastic homemade ice cream. How about we each order a scoop?”

Skip the food. Who says a first date has to be all about food? You can go on a hike, head to a museum or show off your ice skating skills at the nearest rink. This way, you don’t have to worry about finding safe options on the first date and can just have fun and enjoy the company.

Be mindful of that kiss. Use your discretion when it comes time to lean in. Did your date just finish a bowl of pasta? It’s a good idea to hold off, at least until your date can find his or her way to a toothbrush. If you both shared a day of gluten-free meals, then you should be all clear for that smooch.

Relax! Your mind can do incredible things – including make yourself sick from worry. So relax, have a good time and plan ahead so you can enjoy the moment!
For more Dating Dos and Don’ts, see NFCA’s article in GREAT U.
Want more information about Sex and the Celiac? Register for the upcoming free webinar “Sex and the Celiac: A Focus on Reproductive Health” on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 8:30 p.m. EDT/5:30 p.m. PST.

For more information on Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet, check out the many different resources on the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness website.

Do you have any tips to add to this list?

Preparing for a Gluten-Free Wedding

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These days there are so many people who are more sensitive as to what they are eating and putting in their bodies. Whether it is just for a diet or for a food allergy, the most conscious of wedding planners will provide different dining options for all their guests needs. Being attentive of a guest’s needs prior to the big celebration will make for a much more enjoyable event with fewer complications. One popular dietary need that is more on the rise that wedding planners should be aware of is food that is free of gluten.

It may be tempting for some to try to do a completely gluten-free wedding, however this may add to an already long list of things to plan out for the big day. Instead, just a few minor adjustments to food options will allow everyone to be safely fed at your event.

Gluten-Free Menu Ideas:

Obviously planning a wedding can be quite expensive. Add into that the fact that many gluten-free manufactured foods often come with a hefty price tag and you face the possibility of running up a very large bill.  Fortunately there are many naturally gluten-free foods that will allow you to make an amazing spread without spending an amazing amount of money. Two popular items to pair with any meat or main dish is quinoa or rice. Both are grains without gluten and are relatively easy to find and moderately priced. Other recipe ideas are:

  • Hummus- provide some gluten-free crackers or better yet fresh vegetables
  • Roasted pepper and chickpea and feta salad
  • Chicken with white beans and tomatoes
  • Salmon or halibut or any fish paired with steamed vegetables and beans
  • Roasted quinoa, cilantro and bean salad
  • Balsamic chicken and rice

Whether making the whole wedding menu gluten-free or just providing some substitutions you are sure to make your wedding “guest complaint free”!

This article was contributed by Trisha Jefford, a self proclaimed foodie and wine enthusiast who loves to scour the net for new ideas and trends in food creation and presentation.

Navigating the Holidays Gluten-Free

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Yes, I did just mention the “H” word. It seems only fitting since we are in the second week of October and you know the stores will have their holiday decorations up shortly if they don’t already. As a matter of fact, I was in Bed, Bath & Beyond last week to visit the wall of coffee, and noticed a small Christmas display in the back. It wasn’t a full-on holiday, dripping with Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, etc, but a small sign that it is coming.

If this is your first year navigating the holidays gluten-free, you are probably feeling a little apprehensive. Even those of us who have navigated the holidays gluten-free before feeling this way. There are so many factors and variables involved, that it is certainly an event or season that must be planned out, but not necessarily worried about or avoided.

turkeyBelow you will find some links to articles with some wonderful information about navigating the holidays gluten-free whether you are at home or traveling.

  • Last-Minute Holiday Tips
  • Thanksgiving Timesaving Tips
  • Thanksgiving Survival Tips Part 1
  • Thanksgiving Survival Tips Part 2
  • Twitter Party Recap of Holiday Tips

One of the reasons that I am writing this post now is to ask our readers what kind of information you would like to see over the next month or so about the holidays.  Are there specific recipes you want or need help adapting?  Are lists of gluten-free holiday foods, brands, and/or establishments something that would help make things a little easier for you?  Please take this time to share what we can do to help you in the comments section below.

The Everything Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Cookbook

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I love to read cookbooks! I especially love to read them when they are written by someone that I have chatted with over the years about all things gluten-free. The Everything Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Cookbook is one awesome cookbook written by Carrie Forbes of the Ginger Lemon Girl blog. Carrie has put together a wonderful resource for all things gluten-free, with a plethora of recipes that can be made in your slow cooker!

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The cookbook begins with the basics of the gluten-free diet. What is safe, what isn’t, baking ingredients, pantry makeover, and cross-contamination concerns.  Great information not only for those newly diagnosed but for veterans as well. If slow cooking is new to you, the next section will answer any questions or concerns that you may have.  I know when I first began using my slow cooker I was very concerned about the food not being heated to a high enough temperature, especially if raw meat was involved.  I now know that there are precautions that must be taken, but if done correctly, the food is perfectly safe.

Slow Cooker 101: Recipes is a section chock full of basic recipes, including broths, roasts, stews, granola, applesauce, and much more. Then comes the good stuff – recipes for everything you could possibly think of:

  • Breakfasts
  • Appetizers
  • Soups, Stews & Chilis
  • Casseroles and gluten-free Pasta Dishes
  • Poultry
  • Beef, Lamb & Pork
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Kid-Friendly Meals
  • Five Ingredients or Fewer
  • Gluten-Free Breads & Desserts
  • Beverages

I never had any idea that some of the recipes in this book could be made in a slow cooker. Bread? French Toast? Omelets? I love the variety and creativity that shines through in each and every section of this cookbook. Recipes that are on my list to make in the very near future are:

  • Shrimp Risotto
  • Tamale Pie (loved this dish as a child – can’t wait to try it in the slow cooker)
  • Butternut Squash and Walnuts with Vanilla
  • Vegetable Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings
  • Easy North Caroline Cheesy Grits Casserole
  • Orange Chicken
  • Old Fashioned Chocolate Cobbler
  • Crustless Apple Pie
  • One-Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Pizza Pasta

The Everything gluten-free Slow Cooker Cookbook can be found on Amazon.com.  What is your favorite dish to make in the slow cooker?

Review: Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cooking

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My favorite thing about looking through cookbooks is the beautiful pictures that often accompany the recipes.  It is hard for me to get interested in making a recipe unless I have a picture of the finished product. If a recipe sounds good enough, I will make it if there is no picture, but I am definitely more likely to do so if I can see it first. I think a lot of people are like this – the visual image of the dish seals the deal.

This cookbook is chock-full of gorgeous photos!  I sat down with a notebook to jot down the recipes that I wanted to try and had almost a full page full!  The forward is written by Silvana Nardone, author of Cooking for Isaiah: gluten-free & Dairy-Free Recipes for Easy, Delicious Meals. A little more about the cookbook:

IMG_1365Whether you suffer from celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or want to avoid gluten, you know how challenging it can be to stick to a safe, nutritious, and delicious diet. Most gluten-free cookbooks are just collections of simple, basic recipes that get the job done without offering much creativity. But with Betty Crocker gluten-free Cooking, the most trusted name in home cooking serves up a collection of recipes that are safe for celiacs (and others avoiding gluten), and delicious too!

These accessible, delicious recipes cover breakfast and brunch, appetizers and snacks, main courses, gluten-free breads, sides, and desserts—giving you plenty of great-tasting options for every meal of the day.

  • Includes more than 150 delicious gluten-free recipes, including contributions from popular gluten-free bloggers
  • Features 75 beautiful full-color photos that offer mouthwatering inspiration
  • Bonus material includes authoritative information on maintaining a healthy, happy gluten-free lifestyle

Betty Crocker’s gluten-free Cooking presents delicious recipes and handy advice from a name you can trust. Take it from Betty Crocker, going gluten-free doesn’t mean giving up flavor!

After making my list, I got right to work making the Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake.  I knew this one to be a great surprise that Jon would love for breakfast!  The recipe utilizes Bisquick gluten-free, as many of the recipes in the book do. The coffee cake took less than 45 minutes from start to finish and my house smelled heavenly while it was baking!

This coffee cake says that it makes 6 servings. I am betting it is gone in three. I can’t believe how moist this coffee cake is!  I love the flavor of cinnamon and the streusel topping.IMG_2264

If you aren’t a fan of Bisquick gluten-free, no worries. The front of the book has a couple of other recipes for flour mixes.  Additionally, some of the baked goods use several individual flours as opposed to packaged all-purpose flour or a pre-mixed recipe.  If you are looking for a cookbook that you will use to make more than just one recipe, this is that cookbook.  It would also make a great gift for someone just starting out on a gluten-free diet.  The recipes are well written and easy to follow.

The Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cooking cookbook can be purchased on Amazon.com for $11.00 or on Kindle for $10.99.

Are you more likely to make a recipe if you see a picture of the finished dish?