Be Free For Me Blog

YES…. Spring is finally here in New England and Easter is just around the corner, so now is the time to start thinking about CANDY! Easter is one of the times  that I allow myself to make up basketfuls of treats, and even sneak a few for myself.

But those of us that are gluten free, as well as dairy free, need to watch what candy we eat.

Why?

So many types of candy contain gluten – including most types of caramels. And many of those caramels not only include gluten, but tons of other “junk” like corn syrup, additives and preservatives too.

So if you’re looking for a gluten-free and dairy-free caramel that tastes delicious, check out, Cocomels, a “melt-in-your-mouth-you-can’t have-just-one” caramel that I recently discovered at a trade show.

Cocomels are made by JJ’s Sweets, a Boulder, Colorado based company that is dedicated to new ideas in the world of treats.  They create their coconut milk caramels using sustainable practices and artisan quality ingredients. Cocomels are batch-cooked in copper kettles with dairy-free ingredients to create delicious, smooth and creamy caramels, which are also vegan, non-GMO and USDA certified organic. How good can you get?!

I love the smooth, creamy coconut milk that makes Cocomels like no other caramel. And take your pick, because they come in four flavors: The traditional Original; my favorite, the Sea Salt; the coffee-lovers dream come true, Java: and also the aromatic Vanilla.

After one bite you can see that inspiration, creativity and love go into each blissfully delicious treat!

All of these melt-in-your-mouth reasons are why I am so excited that Cocomels is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

Four (Yes…4!) lucky winners will each win a prize pack containing a 3.75 ounce boxes of the Sea Salt Caramels and a 3.75 ounce boxes of the Vanilla Caramels.

Two (2) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and two (2) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, April 16 and Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you know springtime is here. (Me? The street sweepers come out to get ready for the Boston Marathon runners! The first sure sign around Boston!)

Good luck, always keep a spring in your step, a sweetness in your soul … and as always,

Be Free!

Want to hear more about Cocomels contest, coupons, giveaways and more? Follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

Want to try a new spin on chips? Try Eatrageous baked chip! This all-natural, extra crunchy gluten-free snack is like no other.

How do I love these chips? Let me count the ways.

I love the shape of Eatrageous chips… which is a penne pasta like shape. It’s tube shaped, fun, quirky and packed with a big crunch which is perfect for snacking and dipping.

I also love that that these chips are baked, all-natural, non-GMO, vegan, and of course, gluten-free.

And the flavors! I really do have a hard time choosing my favorite since they are all so original and full of flavor: Wasabi Ranch, Crunchy Mac & Cheese, Sweet & Smokey BBQ , and the all-time favorite Original Sea Salt.

And the best part? These chips are only 100 CALORIES PER SERVING!

All these reasons are why I am so thrilled that this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Eatrageous chips. Crunch away…. And Congratulations!

Sometimes you try a new product and you just know it was made with love. A product that is made for a reason.  A product that has heart, soul, and compassion as ingredients.

And when I first tried My Dad’s Cookies I felt that love.

These gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free cookies are made by a Dad (Elan) for kids with food allergies.  Starting his company in New York City in 2010, Elan’s goal was to simply create cookies that look and taste like the “real ones” that people with celiac (young & old) miss eating; and the product must be made of great ingredients, that are dairy-free, nut-free and kosher.

Well, Elan… you nailed it. Yes… You. Nailed. It.

I have tried a lot of cookies in my gluten-free days, and these cookies are at the tippity-top of my favorites list. Why? Theingredients are top-notch and the varieties are a dream come true those concerned with gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free products.

Some of my favorite cookies are the Black & White (Shhhhh… I know, I know… these cookies are are a NY thing and I’m from Boston, but I love them anyways!) Coconut Chocolate (Yup.. coconut anything is a good thing, but add in chocolate and it’s even better), Vanilla Graham (I love the chocolate drizzled on top!) , and my absolute favorite… the Raspberry Linzer (melt in your mouth raspberry love) YUM! YUM! YUM!

Thank you, Elan for making cookies full of love… without the gluten, dairy and nuts. And for this you are awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congrats!

One of the best ways to start my morning is with a big bowl of Teechia Sustained Energy cereal mixed-up with some creamy yogurt alongside a piping hot Teeccino herbal dandelion coffee. Both certified gluten-free, caffeine-free and delicious.

Teechia Sustained Energy Cereal is made up of a delicious blend of six organic super seeds, plus certified gluten-free rolled oats. Then they are slightly sweetened by using fruits. It’s a bowl of heaven!

This cereal comes in two flavors: Cranberry Apple and, my favorite, Blueberry Date. The  nutrient-dense super seeds (chia, flax, quinoa, ramón, amaranth, and pumpkin) in both of the varieties paired with gluten-free oats, fruits and nuts, create a high performance cereal that keeps me energized and satisfied all morning long. The cereal is also packed with 28 grams of whole grains, 6 grams of fiber and 6-7 grams of protein and is Non-GMO Project verified and certified gluten-free. It’s cereal that you can feel good about eating!

And the Teeccino Dandelion Herbal Coffee… oh, how I love you! This herbal coffee alternative is a steaming cup of goodness for the morning, or night. I love that it satisfies my cravings for a good tasting cup of coffee, with no caffeine. With Teeccino you can have the best of both worlds – a good cup of coffee with  herbal ingredients. Pure bliss.

Teeccino’s herbal gluten-free coffee alternatives are dandelion- based and “brings the health benefits of roasted dandelion rootincluding its inulin content, antioxidants, and stimulating effects on liver function to your cup” according to the Teeccino website. The Dandelion Herbal Coffee comes in two flavors: Dandelion Dark Roast and, my favorite, Dandelion Caramel Nut. Both are certified gluten-free.

The health-benefits of the herbs, combined with the rich coffee flavor make this a perfect coffee alternative. It is also the only certified gluten-free, barley-free & caffeine-free certified organic coffee alternative on the market.

All of these wonderfully delicious reasons are why I am so excited that Teeccino’s is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

Ten (Yes…10!) lucky winners will each win a VIP Sampler prize pack of the Teeccino items. Five (5) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and five (5) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, April 2 and Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell which gluten-free Teeccino Super Seed Cereal and/or Herbal Coffee sounds the best to you.

Good luck, always start your mornings off full of energy and goodness… and as always,
Be Free!

Want to hear more about Teeccino’s contest, coupons, giveaways and more? Follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Super-Saver Shipping!

Teeccino Dandelion Caramel Nut

Teeccino Dandelion Dark Roast

Teechia Blueberry Date Sustained Energy Cereal

Teechia Cranberry Apple Sustained Energy Cereal

I love peanut butter. But I don’t like all the fat and calories that come along with this super spread.

That is why I was so very, very excited to find PB2.

PB2 come in two flavors: the traditional peanut butter and, my favorite, peanut butter blended with premium chocolate (can you say yum?!) Both are gluten-free.

The product is made by slow roasting superior quality peanuts and then pressing them to remove 85% of the fat and oil… which produces a fine “peanut powder”. Next they add in a bit of sugar and salt (No preservatives or artificial sweeteners).

And… magically… when you blend PB2 with water (mix 2 tablespoons of PB2 with 1 tablespoon of water) it makes a super delicious, tasty and creamy peanut butter that is only 45 calories per serving with only 1 gram of fat!  This product is perfect for those on Weight Watchers or those concerned with calories.

And if the chocolate variety is your fancy, added into the peanuts are ground cocoa beans … which produces a chocolaty peanut butter deliciousness!!

I love to whip-up a batch to dip sliced apples and pears into… or put a tablespoon or two of the powder into my smoothies, or atop my ice cream. The possibilities are limitless!

85% less calories and fat… superior taste… and endless possibilities are all the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to PB2. Congratulations!

Want to buy now? Check out this link of Amazon.com! PB2 Premium Bundle: Powdered Peanut Butter + Powdered Chocolate Peanut Butter

This week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to a healthy little snack with big flavor and tons of good!

Fabz Snacks are an all-natural crunchy snack made of Fava Beans. The beans are sliced super thin, and baked to perfection with canola oil and sea salt.

I love that Fabz Snacks are low in calories (only 130 calories for 2 ounces) and are gluten-free, nut-free, Non-GMO, and have no trans fats. They are also packed with iron, fiber and protein.

My new favorite snack  is a great way to get good nutrition while crunching and snacking away!

All of these Fabz-ulous reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Fabs Fava Bean Snacks. Congratulations!

Want to find out more? Follow Fabz on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday is all about keeping tummies happy!

Whether it’s cramps, bloating, upset stomachs, nausea, motion sickness or morning sickness, we all sometimes have tummies that take a toll.

That is why I was so excited to receive samples of tummydrops delivered to my doorstep. Developed by three award-winning Gastroenterologists, these soothing drops create a convenient, all-natural, gluten-free way to take advantage of the natural soothing powers of ginger and peppermint… two of Mother Nature’s best healers.

I love that Tummy Drops are a natural alternative that can assist in digestive issues. The Tummy Drop website hits the nail on the head when it says, “Think of tummydrops as a cough drop, but to soothe upset tummies.”

Just a like a cough drop that you pop in your mouth to soothe a scratchy throat, tummydrops are perfect to keep in your purse or bag for when you, or your kids, have a upset tummy. Just pop one in your mouth and let the soothing begin.

Tummy Drops comes in two flavors: Ginger and Peppermint. The ginger drops are perfect for those that experiences stomach upset, motion sickness, nausea or morning sickness. Made with the purest and best tasting ginger, they are great for travel and when on the go. The peppermint drops are great for cramps, bloating, urgency, stomach upset and nausea. I love the natural peppermint oil that is in each and every drop. These drops are perfect for those unexpected stomach upsets.

Another reason to love tummydrops? They proudly donate 5% of new sales equally between the Celiac Disease Foundation and also the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

All of these tummy taming reasons are why I am so excited that tummydrops is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com

Two (2) lucky winners will each win a prize pack of  tummydrop items. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, March 19 and Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell which tummydrop flavor sounds the best to you.

Good luck, be kind to your tummy… and as always,
Be Free!

Want to hear more about tummydrops contest, coupons, giveaways and more? Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com! tummydrop ginger and tummydrop peppermint

With the Lenten season beginning next week (I know… Can you believe Easter will be here before we know it?) this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Bumble Bee SuperFresh Fresh Frozen seafood items.

These all-natural and gluten-free seafood items can be found in your grocer’s premium frozen seafood section or in the frozen food aisle. The fillets and shrimp comes all cleaned and cut, and it is fresh-frozen within hours.

They are delicious too! Here are the varieties: Salmon with Basil Pesto, Salmon with Garlicky Black Pepper & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tilapia with Garlic & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tilapia with Lemon Pepper & Herbs, Lemon Shrimp with Garlic & Herbs and Spicy Shrimp Romesco.

I love that this fresh frozen seafood is so convenient, and has some super tasty varieties.  Plus, it can go from freezer to table in 20 minutes or less! Check out their menu ideas too!

Congratulations to Bumble Bee SuperFresh for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

The air is chilly and snow is still (unfortunately!) in the forecast, but summer, I promise you, is right around the corner.

And with summertime comes the memories of childhood… beach outings, barbeques, fireworks and overnight summer camp. But for those with celiac disease or a gluten-intolerance, summer camp can be challenging… and scary.

For some kids an overnight summer camp can be an apprehensive situation in itself. Throw into that mix a strict gluten-free diet, and the thought of being away from home for a whole week can be terrifying.

But there is no reason that a gluten-free diet should get in the way of kid’s having a great time at summer camp… and that is why I was so excited when I found out that Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery was offering scholarships to 20 kids (10 from the US and 10 from Canada) for a one-week gluten-free overnight summer camp trip!

The “Happy Camper” scholarship program is taking place from February 18^th to March 18, 2014. It is easy to enter to win too. Just check out the application on Rudi’s Gluten-free Facebook page and have your kid(s) (or you) submit a 100-word essay on “what makes them special” (this should be pretty easy, right?) for a chance to win a one-week scholarship to attend a gluten-free overnight camp. Rudi’s will then select the winner’s that will have an unforgetable fun-filled and safe camp experience.

And as another bonus, Rudi’s Gluten-Free has generous offered to sponsor this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

Two (2) lucky winners will each win a prize pack of THREE (yes, 3!) FREE product coupons for Rudi’s Gluten-Free items. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us (in a sentence or two) why your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews, etc. are special. (Me? Their caring and upbeat attitudes always put me in a great mood!)

(Please note: If you leave a comment on this blog post you are only entering to win the Rudi’s prize pack. To enter the camp scholarship contest you must enter on Rudi’s Facebook page!)

Good luck, always be a Happy Camper… and as always,
Be Free!

Want to hear more about Rudi’s contest, coupons, giveaways and more? Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Brrr…. Baby, it’s cold outside! That is why I love to have a hot, steaming bowl of soup for lunch on the days were the wind is whipping, the temperature is dipping and my tummy is itching for a tasty and warm gluten-free treat.

I was thrilled to find Panera’s Tuscan Style Chicken Soup at my local BJ’s Wholesale Club this past week. Packaged in two (2) convenient 20-ounce containers per package, this soup was a bargain compared to the prices that you pay at a restaurant.

The soup is packed with chunks of chicken, white beans, spinach and onions… all simmered in a Tuscan-style tomato based broth. Delicious!

Hot and tasty soup all in the convenience of your own home or office is the reason why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Panera’s Tuscan Style Chicken Soup. Cheers!