Be Free For Me Blog

I love a good crunch with my gluten-free sandwich for lunch. But sometimes plain ole’ potato chips can be so ho-hum. That’s why I was so very happy to discover Glories Maple Chipotle Sweet Potato Chips made by Good Health Natural Foods.

Not only do these chips have a great crunch to them, they also have a sweetened zip of maple chipotle spiciness.

Glories Maple Chipotle Sweet Potato Chips are all natural chips that are made kettle-style. They are are gluten-free, as well as GMO free, and have 0 grams of trans fat.

Good Health Natural Foods also make a bunch of other gluten-free products including Chilean Lime Avocado Oil Potato Chips, Rosemary Olive Oil Potato Chips, and for all you chocolate lovers out there’s a Popcorn Pop Chocolate. All of these yummy & good for you reasons are why Good Health Natural Foods is awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe is awarded to a must-have pantry staple – Eden Organic Quinoa.

Quinoa is a keeper. It’s as versatile and as easy to make as rice, yet it’s a whole grain that is packed with fiber. Once you give quinoa a try, you’ll keep coming back for more. Check out the quinoa recipes that Eden Foods has on their website… so tasty! Here are just a few:

Quinoa Blueberry Walnut & Garbanzo Salad
Quinoa Fruit Salad with Herb Dressing
Roasted Quinoa Stuffed Onions

Eden Foods also offers over 220+ food items that are Gluten Free – including rice, condiments, teas and beans (their beans are packed in BPA cans… I love that!). Also, Eden’s products are never adulterated with chemicals, preservatives, irradiation, colorings, refined sugars, or genetically engineered ingredients…. all things that are important to many.

Congratulations to Eden Foods for being named this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

Want to buy Eden Organic Quinoa? Check them out on Amazon.com!

If you’re looking for an all-natural gluten-free cereal that your whole family will fall in love with, you’re going to really like this week’s Win-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

Kimberley’s Own All Natural Granola has pure (gluten-free!) goodness in every bite! So many gluten-free granola’s are mostly made up of gluten-free grains, sprinkled here and there with a couple of nuts, pieces of dried fruit or seeds. How Borrring!

But Kimberly’s Own All Natural Granola is different. Each bag is packed with OVER 40% of the good stuff. You know… things like dried apricots, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, Goji berries, almonds and even raw cacao nibs.  This is a true artisanal line of gourmet cereal that are great by the handful, as cereal, a topping for yogurt and ice cream, and also in recipes.

Made in Canada under the strictest of guidelines, Kimberley’s Own Granola guarantees the use of PURE oats (Pure oats means that they are sourced from a manufacturer that only produces oats thus avoiding cross contamination from gluten – wheat, spelt, kamut, rye, barley or triticale.)

Kimberley’s Own come in three (3) varieties: Just Seeds, which contains over a 40% blend of a variety of seeds – including chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds; Original Blend, which contains over 40% nuts, seeds and fruit – including dried apricots & cranberries, Goji berries, almonds, and sunflower seeds; and my favorite, Nibs & Nuts, which contains over 40% raw cacao nibs and walnut (who said a girl can’t enjoy a little chocolate in the morning for breakfast?)

More bonuses? Kimberley’s Own Granolas are also free of corn and dairy, and are vegan. They also don’t contain any oil or water (yes… no oil!) or refined sugars. They’re nutrient dense, high in fiber & protein, cholesterol free and do not have any added sodium. All this… yet they so delicious. =) Pure goodness.

All these reasons are why I am so very excited that Kimberly’s Own All Natural Granolas are this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of four (4) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of the three (3) varieties of Kimberly’s Own All Natural Granolas, plus a bonus pack of recipe cards. Two winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 27 and Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog post and tell us what variety of Kimberley’s Own All Natural Granolas you think you’d like the best (Me? I’m still sticking with the Nibs & Nuts… the cacao nibs and walnuts remind me of the chocolaty taste of a hot fudge sundae sprinkled with walnuts!)

Good Luck, remember to believe in pure goodness, and as always…
Be Free!

It’s time again for another National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) webinar!

Coming tomorrow, Wednesday, 02/20/13, at 8:30 PM EST (5:30PM PST) the webinar, “Sex and the Celiac: A Focus on Reproductive Health” will focus how celiac disease and reproductive health are commonly associated.

Let’s face it… when people think of celiac disease, they often just think of gastrointestinal health issues (aka: what goes on in the bathroom). But what many don’t know is that celiac disease can also impact what goes on in the bedroom too! Celiac disease can go hand-in-hand with reproductive system issues – complications such as infertility, miscarriages, stillbirths and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Plus, celiac disease can even have an impact on sexual libido.

Stephanie M. Moleski, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals discusses this popular topic, along with questions direct from the attendees of the webinar.

This webinar is a must attend for anyone with celiac disease that is planning for a family now, or will be in the future.

Can’t attend? A recording of each webinar will be posted along with the webinar slides within 72 hours after the live event ends. Download recorded webinars and slides at:http://www.celiaccentral.org/webinars/archive/

As with all of the NFCA webinars it is FREE to attend! And registering is easy… Just click on the button below:

It you’re looking for a low-cal tasty gluten-free snack to munch on, look no further than Popcorn Indiana’s new Fit Popcorn.

I love munching on fiber-full popcorn, but often it is packed with artificial colors and flavors, fat, and sweeteners. Fit Popcorn has less than 37 calories per cup, is certified gluten-free, has no Trans Fat, and is made with all natural ingredients. Plus, it is made with non-GMO corn.

The flavors of Fit Popcorn are awesome too… Sea Salt, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Onion Dijon and Parmesan & Herb.

Congratulations Popcorn Indiana on having your Fit Popcorn being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

Question: Valentine’s Day is here and I want to make some healthier gluten-free baked goods. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: With Valentine’s Day just a couple of days away, many of us want to bake sweet gluten-free treats. Fortunately it’s possible to make gluten-free desserts more nutritious and just as tasty as their gluten-containing counterparts!

Check out the following baking tips and discover how your gluten-free bake goods can be made with less sugar, saturated fats and refined carbohydrates. Now that’s sweet!

Yogurt… It’s not just for breakfast: To reduce calories and fat, yogurt can be used as a substitute in baked goods for sour cream, butter and buttermilk. Yogurt, especially creamier low-fat Greek Yogurt, is a fantastic substitution for whipped cream. Try this Gluten-Free Yogurt Dip recipe for your sliced fruit!

Keep your baking well oiled: Looking to get rid of the oil in your baked goods? A great healthy substitute for cooking oil in baking is unsweetened applesauce. Use 3/4 to 1 cup of applesauce for every 1 cup of oil. Want inspiration? Try this Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake recipe.

Refine yourself: When baking gluten-free, choose whole grain or bean flours instead of refined white rice flour. Some gluten-free flours that are healthy alternatives for baking include: Brown rice, pea flour, white bean flour, amaranth or gluten-free oats. Try these Best Chocolate Brownies made with pea flour… Delicious!

Use your bean: Black beans make a smooth, rich base for baked goods! An extra bonus? The fiber the beans provide. Check out this recipe… so rich & chocolaty: Black Bean Brownies with Espresso Ganache.

Sweet substitutes: Consider sweetening baked goods with fruit, such as mashed bananas, apple sauce, pineapple, chopped dates, raisins or pears. The fruit adds a pleasant sweetness as well as added fiber and nutrients.  Want to try sweetening your baked goods with fruit? Then check out this Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe.

Fruit frenzy: Fruit makes a healthy dessert when sliced and topped with a dollop of vanilla low-fat yogurt, or drizzled with honey. Get innovative and serve grapes, pineapple chunks, strawberries and melon balls on skewers, and serve with a sweetened low-fat yogurt dip. Think beyond the basic fruits of apples, bananas and pears, and experiment with tropical, more exotic, fruits such as mangos, kiwis, and papayas. Your taste buds will thank you! Check out these recipes… Creamy Apple Cinnamon Fruit Dip and Exotic Broiled Fruit Plate.

Think dark chocolate: If using chocolate in your baking recipes opt to use dark chocolate, opposed to milk or white chocolate. Dark chocolate contains more cacao which is full of antioxidants and may play a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Like Dark Chocolate? Check out these recipes: Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes with Vegan Chocolate Frosting and this Flourless Chocolate Cake.

Just a little will do it! Consider desserts as a special treat. Appreciate your gluten-free dessert creation by eating slowly and enjoying every single bite.

Ask Shelley Case is a feature of BeFreeForMe.com. It is published the second Tuesday of each month. Shelley Case is a Registered Dietitian, Consulting Dietitian, Speaker and Author of Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide. Visit Shelley and get more gluten-free tips & info at: www.glutenfreediet.ca

I love simple when it comes to cooking. Simple ingredients. Simple prep. Simple clean-up.

That is why one-dish skillet dishes are always my go-to simple meal. Frontera Seasoning Sauces make meal time quick, easy, ready in minutes and delicious.

These gluten-free Seasoning Sauces by Frontera are lifesavers. Throw in some ground beef, chicken, pork, tofu or veggies… and a delicious meal is ready in minutes. Such a no-brainer after a long-day!

My favorite is the New Mexico Taco Skillet Sauce, but other varieties include Texas Original, Key Lime Cilantro, Garlicky Carnitas… and more.

So simple. Yet so tasty. These are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to gluten-free Frontera Seasoning Sauces.

Frontera… A simple congratulations to you!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe is sponsored by a super convenient and super tasty meal solution while on the go… GoPicnic.

Just like the name implies these gluten-free meals are like a picnic on the go!

Most gluten-free folks know that when life gets a tad bit crazy, planning tasty and nutritional meals-on-the-go becomes no picnic. That is why I was so excited when I found GoPicnic, quick and easy meals on-the-go, as a healthy and nutritious snack or meal options.

I love these products. They don’t need any refrigeration, and there’s lots of varieties and options in every “meal kit”. My favorite for lunch is the gluten-free Tuna & Crackers. I love the lemon pepper tuna spread atop the Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers; for a side there’s the all-natural applesauce, followed up by a yummy fruit & nut mix and a dark chocolate square! Perfect for an airplane, road trip, or even for a between -meeting or after-school snack.

Other varieties include: Salmon & Crackers (gluten-free), Hummus & Crackers (gluten-free, vegan, kosher), Turkey Pepperoni & Cheese (gluten-free), Turkey Stick & Crunch (gluten-free), and the Sunbutter & Crackers (free of the 7 common allergens, gluten, and vegan).

Also… don’t think that the convenience of these meals-on-the-go will have you sacrificing taste.  These meals are packed with gourmet delectables that are made for adults (although kids love them too!). Each meal kit is packed with single servings of an assortment of foods that even epicurean foodies will enjoy. Yup, these meals offer gluten-free, vegan or food allergic folks a scrumptious quick and easy lunch or snack.

I always have a few Go Picnic meals kits on hand in my desk drawer, glove compartment, and laptop bag. Because you never know when you’ll need a quick & easy meal in a jiff.

A total of four (4) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of two (2) GoPicnic meals. Two winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog post and tell us when you would need the GoPicnic meals the most (Me? I keep one stashed in my office drawer, for when I need a pick-me-up snack or fast lunch!)

Good Luck, remember that life is a picnic, and as always…
Be Free!

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**  BONUS **

DOUBLE your chances of winning by either Liking GoPicnic on Facebook or Following GoPicnic on Twitter.

Make sure you note in your comment on this blog post that you liked or followed them!

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