Day 4 Of 4 School Lunch Ideas

Here is the last day of school lunch and snack ideas.  Regardless to what you pack, try to include your child, and remind them of their allergy.  Let them be their own advocate, and make their own choices.  They need to learn what and what not to eat.  Try to include foods that are healthy, and that they like.
Here's the last of the ideas.

 29.  For younger kids, ants on a log- Celery with nut butter and raisins.
 30.  Sliced cucumbers and carrots, with dressing on the side.
 31.  Yogurt with fruit and gluten free granola.
 32.  Pudding and jello cups make a great treat.
 33.  Gluten free bagel with cream cheese.
There are many lunch ideas, these were just some.  It is one meal of the day, so make it fun and healthy.

Day 3 Of 4 School Lunch Ideas

School has started for some, here are some tips for lunch ideas and snacks.

21.  Fruit roll ups or fruit gushers.
22.  Flavored rice cakes with cheese or turkey.
23.  Make a trail mix with M and M's, nuts, gluten free pretzels, seeds and dried fruit.
24.  Any gluten free bars, protein, nut or fruit.
25.  Make banana or gluten free zucchini bread.
26.  Udi's gluten free muffins.
27.  Oatmeal, add fruit or raisins.
28.  Cereal with milk, always makes a great fast lunch.

Day 2 Of 4 School Lunch Ideas

With school here, more school lunch ideas.

11.  Ian's chicken nuggets with honey mustard.
12.  Make lunch fun, with taco day. Use corn tortillas and sides.
13.  Bean salad, Quinoa salad or pasta salad with vegetables.
14.  Gluten free soups in a thermos to keep them warm.
15.  Salad, or spinach salad with fruit.
16.  Any leftover, or gluten free pizza.
17.  Nacho lunchable with fruit
18.  Tuna, chicken, or egg salad with gluten free crackers.
19.  Fresh fruit with yogurt and gluten free granola.
20.  Fried rice with vegetables.

Day 1 Of 4 Gluten Free Lunch Box Ideas

Here are some great lunch box ideas, some may require a thermos or cool pack.

1.  Use Canyon Bakehouse or Udis bread for sandwiches.  These hold up well with any filling.
2.  If peanut butter is an issue, use almond or sunbutter with jelly.  Most kids will not notice a difference.
3.  Make sandwiches in a shape, or cut in 3's for finger sandwiches.
4.  Make a waffle sandwich, using van's or any gluten free sandwich. 
5.  Use gluten free deli meats.
6.  Use tortilla roll ups instead of bread, with cheese and salsa.
7.  Hard boiled eggs is a great choice.
8.  Any gluten free veggie burger with a gluten free bun.
9.  Ian's makes corn dogs, or fish sticks.
10.  Make gluten free chicken nuggets, add a dipping sauce on the side.

Tips For Gluten Free School Lunch

Some tips for gluten free lunches.

1.  Buy a fun lunch box for younger kids.
2.  Get a cooler or thermos to keep things hot or cold
3.  Take your kids to supermarket to have them pick out lunch ideas.
4.  If food allergies are an issue, make sure to tell your child not to share lunch.
5.  Pick a treat a day, add something to the lunch to make your child smile.

Brown Bag Your Lunch For School

With school starting for some, and soon for others, try brown bagging your lunch.  This can not only save you money, it gives you peace of mind with food allergies.  It is healthier and helps ensure you know what your eating.  There are tons of gluten free lunch options to pack for yourself and your kids.  You can opt to make a basic sandwich using gluten free bread or tortillas.  You can also mix it up with rice and vegetable stir fry.  Same goes with kids, swap gluten free bread with wraps, and add some healthy sides like nuts, carrot sticks, fruit or yogurt.

Going Back To School With Food Allergies

It is that time of year again and most parents have school night bedtimes, bus schedules, supplies and teachers on their mind.
However some parents just worry about their kids food allergies.  There are ways to help you and your child to worry less. 
You need to help them learn how to handle situations in the classroom and lunch room.  Just a few tips of what you can do
to help them.

If they are in preschool or elementary they are still too young to fully understand, however get them involved as one day
they will be moving on to middle and high school.  They need to help themselves and be their own advocate.  You need to
teach them to be self sufficient when they are on their own.

Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance is real, but what else should you look for?  These days, diet fads change as often as your snap chat pictures disappear.  One minute we cut calories, the next minute carbs, and the next minute we are vegans.  However, the biggest change we have seen that has made an impact is gluten.  Its exposure affects those with IBS, Crohns, and Celiac.  While gluten is the culprit on digestive health to some, is it the only thing we should be looking at?

Day 3 Of 3 Foods You Didn't Know Contain Gluten

My last day of foods that may contain gluten.  I am sure you were surprised by some of them.  Just always be aware that gluten hides in places least expected.  The food label is your friend, read, read and always question.

13.  Packaged gravies and soup mixes-  Unless labeled gluten free, many of these contain wheat for thickening.
14.  Pickles- They only contain gluten if they are brined in base of malt vinegar.  Always check the ingredients.
15.  Processed lunch meats- Many deli meats claim to be gluten free, however those same companies come out with gluten free products.  This caused controversy as why they would need a gluten free line.

Day 2 Of 3 Days Foods You Did'nt Know Contain Gluten

Here are a few more foods that may contain gluten, you will be surprised.

6.  Fudgesicles-  Yes another favorite summertime treat.  Some contain gluten in the form of malt extract.
7.  Gazpacho-  This is a tomato based vegetable soup.  It usually is made with soaked bread that is pureed in the soup. You always need to ask before eating.
8.  Hot dogs- Who doesn't love a hot dog on the grill.  Yes we know the bun is off limits, however the hot dog can contain wheat as well, used as a binder.
9.  Ice cream-  This is the one that shocked me most.  I was surprised to see wheat listed on a small cup of vanilla and chocolate ice cream.  It is used as a thickener in certain brands.  I can't stress enough, read labels.

Day 1 Of 3 Foods You Did'nt Know Contained Gluten

Gluten free products have  sky rocketed over the years, estimated to increase to a 2.34 billion dollar in sales by 2019.  This is more than double since 2014.  What sets it apart, is gluten free is a health concern for many.  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by the intake of gluten.  Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.  It is a hereditary disease, however not all people have the same degree of gluten intolerance. 
Unfortunately, it is not as simple as avoiding wheat, rye and barley.  Gluten likes to hide in many places you may not even think to check.  I will go over these items over the next 3 days.  This is a guide to help many avoid gluten 100%.

Day 4 Of 4 Tips To Get You Started With Your New Gluten Free Lifestyle

Tip #4- Be careful when eating out.

Having Celiac disease and being on a gluten free diet does not mean you should avoid eating out.  You just need to be careful with the food you choose.  If there is a gluten free menu, order off that, and always let them know of your food allergy.  You can never go wrong with steamed vegetables, meat,chicken and a baked potato.  You must watched fried foods, as they are often fried with bread crumbs and gluten containing foods.  You should always ask if there is a separate fryer for fries too.
You must always think of cross contamination, and never be afraid to ask.  Gluten free meals can be delicious and healthy, and often taste just as good as the foods that contain gluten.
I hope these past few days of tips were helpful.  Its just a start to your new gluten free lifestyle.

Day 3 Of 4 Tips To Get You Started With Your New Gluten Free Lifestyle

Tip #3- Read all labels, make this a habit.

Now that you must eat gluten free, make it a habit to read labels. Gluten is hidden everywhere, and you need to avoid all gluten.  The more labels you read, the more you will get to know the good and bad ingredients.  The key words to look for are rye, wheat, barley, or any other ingredient that contain gluten.  Sometimes the ingredients look fine, at the bottom says may contain gluten.  These you need to avoid. 
My rule is, if  you are not sure, don't eat. 

Day 2 Of 4 Days Tips To Get Started On Your Gluten Free lifestyle

Tip #2-  Avoid eating any foods or condiments that contain gluten.

This is the tough step, as gluten is one of the staple food items and is the enemy to those with Celiac disease.  You need to avoid foods that contain gluten, wheat, barley and rye.  Many foods add these ingredients in for form, additives and thickeners.  They are found in things like chicken broth, salad dressings, soy sauce, licorice, and many others. 
Not all grains need to be avoided, you can safely eat foods made from corn, buckwheat, millet, teff, quinoa, and amaranth.  When buying these items, you must check for cross contamination, which happens during processing.

Day 1 Of 4 Tips To Get Started On Your New GLuten Free Lifestyle

When you are diagnosed with Celiac disease you are told you  have to completely avoid gluten.  However cutting out all gluten from your diet may seem very overwhelming at first.  Eating gluten free is the only treatment for the disease.  Over the next few days, I will give you tips to help get you started on the right path to your new diet and lifestyle.

Tip 1- Look for healthy food items first.
You must focus on what you could eat, and not what you cant.  There are many gluten free food items and healthy gluten free alternatives.  To start focus on ones naturally gluten free such as meat, vegetables, fruits, chicken, nuts, fish and beans.  Eating healthy will nourish your body, help maintain your physical fitness and maintain your  body tone. 

Celiac And Migranes

Research suggests that people with Celiac disease are more likely to suffer
from migraines.  A migraine is a severe headache that can be triggered. 
They cause extreme pain and sensitivity that can last for hours to days.

For many years there has been a link between the digestive tract and
the brain.   For the first time American researchers have linked
Celiac disease with migraines.

Many people who have Celiac disease and migraines report relief
after switching to a strict gluten free diet.  Some complained of
migraines only after eating gluten. 
More research needs to be done on this topic.  Most doctors will
not test for celiac if you just have migraines.  While there is a
connection more research needs to be done. 

Facts About Gluten Free

About 20% of Americans report cutting gluten from their diet.  Sales of
gluten free products have increased from 3.8 billion in 2011 to 10.5
billion in 2015.  Mixed in this are foods that have a gluten free label,
 however never contained gluten.  Most stores and supermarkets have
 gluten free sections, or labels for gluten free items.  When questioned
 why gluten free, most stated it seems healthier.