Day 1 of 4 Gluten Free Food Lists

Having to food shop for a son with Celiac has been a challenge to say the least.  Every store has their gluten free section but with different products available. This usually means at least 3 different food stores a week.  A food list is most helpful.  Over the next 4 days I will post a simple  Grocery list guide.

     Bread/Grains      

• gluten free pasta (there are many different types)
• gluten free bread (there are many different types)         
• flax 
• quinoa                               
• corn tortilla ( make sure gluten free)                                    
• rice/rice crackers 
• buckwheat

Last Day Of Hidden Gluten.

Some non-food items that can contain gluten.

Makeup and Shampoos
Lipsticks
Some medications, they use it as a filler

Naturally gluten free foods that can be cross contaminated in a fryer

French fries, most places use the same oil for breaded foods
Tortilla chips
Anything fried

So that is the story of hidden gluten.  It is microscopic and elastic.  Its hard to see and in a lot of products you may not have realized. Knowing  is power.  It will help you avoid gluten and its hidden sources.  In the end making anyone with Celiac feel their best.

Places To Check For Gluten

I will list a few places where gluten hides.

Soy sauce
licorice
BBQ sauce
Salad dressing
Imitation crab
Some gums and candies
Cornflakes and rice krispies
Broth
Chocolate
Oats, unless certified gluten free
Miso soup
Some drink mixes and sports drinks

There are many foods that you think are gluten free but aren't, these are just a few.
You need to learn to read labels and do your homework before eating.

Lets Figure Out Where Gluten Hides. First What is Gluten And What Are Some Names.

To start Gluten is the elastic protein in wheat, rye and barley.  It is what makes bread doughy.  Gluten is the glue that holds the food together. Gluten is Gliadin and Glutenin, which is what damages the small intestine in people with Celiac disease.  This is also what upsets peoples stomach with gluten sensitivity. 
Gluten also hides as spelt, durum, semolina, couscous, orzo, faro, kamut, triticale, and einkorn.
Spelt and kamut are grains, wheat in the natural form and contain gluten.  Always check the label some foods say wheat free but still contain gluten.
Barley is a bit hard, it hides in things you don't realize, like beer, cornflakes, or malt vinegar. 
Wheat is where you find 90% of your gluten. Rye and couscous are pretty easy to avoid.  Triticale I have never seen. It is a cross between wheat and rye.  When you think gluten, you think pasta, bread, pizza.  These are the obvious sources of gluten.
Over the next few days I will go over some hidden places where gluten hides.

One Last Easy Gluten Free Desert for Thanksgiving

One last easy Gluten Free desert for Thanksgiving.  To everyone enjoy your day with your family and friends.

Apple Crisp

4 medium tart cooking apples, sliced
1/2 cup gluten free flour
1/2 cup gluten free oats
1/3 cup soft butter
3/4 Tsp. cinnamon
3/4 Tsp. nutmeg
Ice cream to top it off

Preheat oven to 375 . Grease bottom of 8 inch pan with gluten free spray
Spread apples in pan. In a separate bowl mix remaining ingredients except ice cream
Sprinkle over apples

Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown
Serve warm with ice cream on top

Some last minute Gluten Free Thanksgiving Day Deserts

When you think of Thanksgiving you think of the yummy deserts that follow the meal,  Pumpkin pie, apple pie and many other delicious deserts.  There are many Gluten Free options for all to enjoy. Here is an easy one.

Easy Pumpkin Pie

1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 cup Bisquick gluten free mix
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 Tablespoon butter
1 1/2 Tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 Tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
Whipped topping if desired

Preheat oven 350
Spray 9 inch pie plate with cooking spray- Gluten Free spray
Stir all ingredients together except whipped topping
Pour into pie plate and bake 35 to 40 minutes
Cool 30 minutes and refrigerate 3 hours
Serve cold add whipped topping and enjoy

A few more Gluten free Thanksgiving Day treats

Gravy

Makes 4 servings

Use 1 package of McCormick gluten free Gravy mix
This is the one I use and it taste pretty good
1 Cup Water
Just mix and enjoy

 

Quinoa and Black Beans

1Tsp vegetable oil
1 onion chopped
3 cloves of chopped garlic
3/4 cup quinoa
11/2 cups vegetable broth
1Tsp cumin
1/4 Tsp cayenne pepper, pepper,salt
1 cup frozen corn
2 cans of black beans rinsed
1/2 cup cilantro

Heat oil and onion and garlic till brown
Mix quinoa and broth in, season with cumin, pepper, cayenne, and salt
Bring to boil
Cover and simmer about 20 minutes
Stir in frozen corn, black beans and cilantro

A few quick gluten free Thanksgiving day treats!!!

Sour Cream Mashed Pototoes with Paprika

Ingredients
Yields 12

5 pounds of pototoes, peeled, cut into small pieces
Salt
1 clove of garlic, chopped
2 cups of sour cream
2 cups of cottage cheese
small bunch of scallions sliced
pepper and paprika

Boil pototoes until tender
Drain and add garlic, cottage cheese, 1 1/2 cup sour cream, and all but 1/4 cup of scallions
Season with salt and pepper and mash until smooth
Put in dish, put the remaining sour cream on top and sprinkle the remaining scallions
and paprika on top.

This is easy to make, its gluten free for all to enjoy!!!

Day 3 of 3 Days of Thanksgiving Day tips for Celiac

So we talked about the bread, turkey and the stuffing.  For the last tips before the big day, I will talk about the gravy, sides and dinner.
If making your own gravy, try using gluten free flour to thicken the gravy.  It tastes fine and does the trick for all.

As for sides, its hard eating out, not really knowing if the food is gluten free, or if there was any cross contamination.  It is out of out of your control, so bring a few side dishes, that all will enjoy and you know is gluten free. 

Don't expect everyone to understand and cook gluten free.  So be prepared for every situation, and know there may be times your eating green beans and potatoes.  It can be frustrating, so always even on a holiday have a plan B.

Try and be served first to make sure there is no cross contamination. Lastly, sit and enjoy your meal with your family and friends.  Happy and Healthy Gluten free Thanksgiving to all.

Please feel free to comment with any other Thanksgiving Day tips.

2 of 3 Days of Thanksgiving Day Tips for Celiac

Another day closer to  the holiday season and the craziness, with a lot of parties and food.  Now lets talk stuffing, an important part of Turkey Day!!!
I know its not stove top or homemade stuffing which, lets be honest is so easy and tastes great.
So attempt to make your own gluten free stuffing for Thanksgiving.  There are a lot of options and there are even gluten free stuffing mixes available. 

Another reminder is not to eat turkey with gluteny stuffing in it.  I am not sure many stuff their turkey anymore.  Just a reminder that it does contaminate the turkey.

1 of 3 Days of Thanksgiving Day Tips for Celiac

The holiday season is among us, and next week is a short week.  The kids have 3 

days of school, not much time to get everything ready.  Whether you are cooking

or going to someone else`s house, I hope you can use this information to help manage
a gluten free Thanksgiving.

Skip the bread.  Try making corn bread its easy and taste yummy.  Bobs red mill
has a great mix.  Corn bread doesn't have to have gluten to taste good.  If its easier to
use a recipe off a box of corn meal, substitute gluten free flour and xanthan gum (1 tsp.
per cup of flour).

More information to come!!!

Lastest Gluten Free News Day 2

Until recently, there was no information on how closely childhood Celiac mirrored adult
Celiac disease.  Researchers show that kids with Celiac react to the same toxic protein in gluten
that adults do.  The T- cell response to gluten are similar, regardless to age or length of disease.
The T-cells are triggered by the immune system to fight the gluten proteins, damaging the small
intestine and causing malabsorption.

The findings that were published suggest new treatments for a " Celiac-vaccine" and other tests
for adults, will also benefit children with the disease.buff.ly/1L9w8Fg

Can't wait to take my son

Lastest Gluten Free News Day 1 of 2

This current news is from the international Celiac Disease Symposium 2015 in Prague.  There was research on a urine test for gluten.  The test measures fragments called gluten immunogenic peptides(GIPs), which are detectable up to 4 hours after ingestion after eating as little as a crumb of gluten.
The research found a link between gluten in the urine and damage in the gut. Celiac people with no GIPs had no mucosal damage, while those with GIPs had inflammation.  Hopefully this test will be available and can be done at home.  This would lead to better dietary compliance.  This would also help those who still have Celiac symptoms even after following a gluten free diet.  These people might be ingesting gluten without knowing  it or may be lactose intolerant or have IBS.  
The goal for  Celiac people is to try to live gluten free, feel and be healthy doing it. :)
buff.ly/1L9w8Fg

Random Facts about Celiac

The cause of the disease is unknown.
You must be born with the gene, to get Celiac.
There are three million Americans that suffer from Celiac.
There is no cure for Celiac, only treatment is diet.
September 13th is Celiac Awareness Day.
May is Celiac awareness Month.
Over 90% of Celiac people are misdiagnosed.
Once you have Celiac, its for life.
Even something  small with gluten can cause intestinal damage.

So summing it up, Celiac is a life long disease, requiring a special diet and basically stinks!!!!!!

Gluten Free Candy Bread

A way to use up your Halloween candy.

Take any chopped up Hershey's, Reese's, or chocolate you like, chop it up and use it to make yummy bread.  

2 C. All purpose Gluten Free flour

2/3 C. Sugar

2 tsp. Baking powder, 1/2 tsp. Salt

11/2 C. Chopped candy, 3/4 C. Milk

1/3 C. Melted butter, 1 large egg

11/2 tsp. Vanilla extract 

Preheat oven to 350, Grease bottom large loaf pan

Mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder 

Mix candy with 2 tbls. flour

Mix milk, egg, and vanilla 

Pour liquid in dry, mix and then add candy

Bake for 60-70 minutes
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan
Finish cooling on a rack
This bread freezes well

Gluten Free and Probiotics

With a Celiac diagnosis and a change in diet, many people still have stomach pain.  Many reach for Probiotics thinking this will help them.  My son even on a gluten free diet had pain and I gave him a Probiotic at night to help, so I thought.  They claim to be gluten free and natural , little did I know they contain gluten. The study done at Columbia University in New York showed just that,
celiacdiseasecenter.columbia.edu.  The question is why do they claim to be gluten free and how do you trust labels. 

Day 5 of 5 Tips for Celiac People

People with the Celiac diagnosis must try and eat a varied diet, which will provide a wider varity of vitamins and minerals.  This will lead to better nutrition.  There are 3 nutrients most malabsorbed by people with Celiac, they are iron, calcium and folic acid.  Whatever age or sex, this is important to remember to avoid deficiencies and bone loss.

Day 4 of 5 Tips for Celiac People

You must accept that there are very few absolutes and many disagreements on what is and what is not gluten free.  We know people with Celiac can not eat wheat, barley, rye, unclean oats and spelt.
Oats can be eaten when properly cleaned and then they are considered  gluten free.

The other consideration is a gluten free product made on equipment shared with the above products.  If it is shared my thought is why take the chance on cross contamination.  I feel different if it is made in a facility that also processes the above products.  There is less likely cross contamination.

Day 3 of 5 Tips for Celiac People

The tip for the day.  After a Celiac diagnosis it will help for you to join a support group.  There are many groups that offer support and information about Celiac and the new gluten free diet. 

Day 2 of 5 Tips for CeliacPeople

I am sitting here thinking what is another tip for people with Celiac.  One thing that comes to my mind is to get use to going to at least 3 different food stores for the items you like.  This happens with me for my son every week.  There is a bread he likes from Trader Joes, oatmeal from Fairway, and snacks from Shoprite.  So what I am saying is you will need more time to shop and money.  Then of course you go in and spend more then you thought you would.

So as far as the tip, you need to partner with a Registered Dietitian.  You need to be educated to ensure you are eating healthy and eating gluten free.  As I said in my introduction, I had no idea all the hidden gluten in every day foods.  This will help you understand and ensure a new healthy lifestyle.

Day 1 of 5 Tips for Celiac People

Five days of tips for people with Celiac disease

Day 1
Having Celiac is a challenge, to begin you need to focus on what you can eat and not what you cant eat.  If you focus on non processed foods you can eat almost anything, like fruits, vegetables, beans, meat, rice, corn and many more. 
Non processed foods are healthier and good for you.  You need to accept the fact that there will be more planning and cooking involved in your meals. In the end you will learn how to eat healthy and hopefully enjoy the process.

Introduction

Starting a blog on Celiac seemed like a great idea moments ago, but now that I am posting my first entry, I am not really sure how to start, or what to say.

I will start with an introduction, I am Danielle Solomon, a mom and a Registered Dietitian. 

Why did I decide to start this blog, my son Jake was diagnosed with Celiac  at 14 years old.  As a Registered Dietitian I was shocked at how much I didn't know about the disease and the complicated diet to follow.  My goal is to increase awareness and share information to enable people with the Celiac diagnosis to live a healthy life.