Be Free For Me Blog

This week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe is sponsored by one of my all-time favorite products… Chobani Greek Yogurt.

In fact, during last week’s visit to the supermarket I learned real quickly that I too wasn’t the only one who craved  this 2” tall cup of greek-love. Waiting  for the Dairy Manager to come out with a fresh supply of Chobani, I noticed three other women were waiting too.  Before the Greek God (aka: Dairy Manager) could get the several cases of Chobani Greek yogurt off of  the chariot, ahmmm… I mean the dolly, the other gals and I pounced  before he could even think about placing each little cup of joy on that dairy case shelf.

And that’s when it hit me… I guess I’m not the only Greek-Geek around.

Besides being made with all-natural ingredients and real fruit, this yogurt also has no artificial flavors, colors, & preservatives. This gluten-free yogurt is also great for served up with any meal… breakfast, lunch or dinner.

With twice the protein of most other yogurts, I love Chobani Greek vanilla yogurt in the morning blended with my fresh fruit or gluten-free granola. I also like their plain yogurt tossed with chopped grilled chicken (try this instead of using mayonnaise), used as sauces on chicken or burgers (check out the recipes for Turkey Burgers with Chobani Horseradish Sauce – adapt to make gluten-free) or to make Cole Slaw during hot summer weekend.

All these delicious reasons and recipes are why I am thrilled that this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is sponsored by Chobani Greek Yogurt.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us the Chobani Greek Yogurt flavor that is your favorite. (Me? I really don’t think of myself as a “vanilla type of gal”, but I have to say Vanilla all the way when it comes to my Chobani.)

A total of TWO BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack containing one FULL CASE customized with the Chobani Yogurt flavors of the winner’s choice. (Sorry… Dairy Manager not included).  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, enter to win and  join me in being a greek geek… and as always…
Be Free!

P.S. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure you download your coupons for Chobani Greek Yogurt… and join Chobani on Facebook and Twitter!

Do you have questions about celiac disease or the gluten-free diet that you need quick and easy to understand answers? Do you wish that for once a doctor and dietitian were partners in helping you solve problems and issues concerning the gluten-free lifestyle?

Well fret no more my gluten-free friends! Dr. Daniel Leffler, MD, MS and Melinda Dennis, MS, RD and LDN have teamed up and co-authored a new book published by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free is packed with usable and must-know information about living and thriving on a gluten-free diet.

In their book, Dr. Leffler and Ms. Dennis, both from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, have teamed up with over 50 international experts on celiac disease that share stories of patients who have questions or problems related to celiac and gluten-related disorders.

Even though I read this book while laying on the Rhode Island beach side, the wealth of knowledge and useful information included in this book made me feel as if I were attending an international celiac conference, where each contributor on the agenda speaks about engaging and important information about celiac disease in easy-to-understand terminology.

Dr. Leffler is also currently conducting a research study involving having first-degree relatives of celiac disease test themselves for celiac disease using a new “finger-stick” blood test kit. Research results of this testing will hopefully be beneficial in two ways: First, family members who tested positive for celiac disease will be assisted in arranging appropriate medical follow-up to lead to an earlier diagnosis & care of the disease; and second, this research will allow the medical community to more readily reach & treat more potential people with celiac disease, and also allow these medical researchers the ability to conduct more efficient studies of the disease. The test kits being used in Dr. Leffler’s test are distributed by GlutenPro and is called Biocard/CeliacSure. It is similar to the standard celiac blood test TTG used in doctor’s offices, but is super consumer-friendly. It involves using just a fingerstick blood test and is able to be read directly by patients in less than 10-minutes right in their own homes.

Good information from fantastic contributors all compiled into one fabulous book are the reasons why I am so happy to have GlutenPro sponsor this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a little pointer, piece of advice or inspirational tidbit you would pass along to someone just diagnosed with celiac disease to help them troubleshoot and thrive with their new lifestyle (or if you are just diagnosed, something you would love to learn about). My tidbit? If celiac disease runs in your family… Get tested! Symptoms or no symptoms!

A total of SIX (Yes… 6!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a copy of Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting & Thriving Gluten Free. (Check out the rave reviews on Amazon.com this book has received!) Three (3) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, June 14th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and three (3) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 15th and Tuesday, June 22, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, Keep thrivin’… and as always…

Be Free!

Don’t you just love it when you find really, really, really, good gluten-free foods?

If you’re like me, when you discover such a “find” you want to tell the world, shout it from your blogspot, dream about it and secretly scheme about your next encounter.

Rudi’s Gluten-Free Breads had me at the first bite. After that bite I was dreaming about French toast, grilled cheese, BLT’s, even the basic peanut butter & jelly. All simple foods to most, but a true delicacy to me.

What I love the most about Rudi’s Bakery is that they make tons of delicious gluten-free breads (including original, multi-grain and cinnamon raisin), pizza crusts and… drumroll please… their new multigrain gluten free hamburger rolls and hotdog rolls!

Funny how your life changes. How something as simple as a slice of bread, or a single hotdog roll, can have you singing from the highest mountaintop.

This Memorial Day weekend is the official kick-off of summer, the official grill time. And this Memorial Day will be, well …quite memorable for celiacs everywhere because of these new Rudi’s buns!

No more eating a plain hamburger or hotdog “No roll, please” style. No more envying others when they bite into a big, fat juicy burger. And let’s face it, hotdogs are just plain old b-o-r-i-n-g and not any fun at all without a roll.

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, I am so thrilled that Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery will be sponsoring the next two week’s Win-it-Wednesday’s on BeFreeForMe.com!
A total of FOUR (Yes… 4!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a gift pack of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Breads & Rolls. Two winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 1st and Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you WIN?
EASY!

Reply to this blog and tell me your favorite way to dress up a hotdog or hamburger (or veggie burger, etc.) that is placed on a gluten-free roll. (Me? Canadian Bacon, BBQ Sauce & Cheddar on my hamburger, please!)

Good luck, roll out the good times this Memorial Day weekend…and as always,
Be Free!

P.S. Also, make sure you check out the recipe contest that Rudi’s is holding on their Facebook page and vote for your favorite! Also, if you have submitted a recipe in this contest, PLEASE let us know which one is yours so we can check it out!

It seems that everywhere you turn you hear about cupcakes. Cupcakes, cupcakes, everywhere! The Food Network featured a show called “The Cupcakes Wars”; cupcake boutique bakery shops are popping up everywhere, and one of my favorite wines graces the Cupcake name and image of these little lovely cakes.

And this recent cupcake craze is o.k. with me. I have always loved cupcakes. Cupcakes are happy little cakes. I’ll take a cupcake over a slice any day. Fun, compact, and made to eat with your fingers (have you tried to eat a slice of cake with just your hands?) the cupcake is all about individuality. No slicing, no fighting over who will get the frosting flowers,  no objecting that the pieces is “too big” or “too small”.

Cupcakes in the world make everything good.

I remember when I was a little girl my Mom would make a rainy afternoon fun by letting me and my sister’s decorate our own custom-made cupcakes.

Each cupcake a tiny, sweet personalized cake of perfection.

And now… thanks to Elana Amsterdam (fondly and famously known as @elanaspantry on twitter and Elana’s Pantry on Facebook) cupcakes are once again a personalized & perfect treat for those living the gluten-free life! It’s all good once again.

Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour is a cookbook packed with fun (Banana Split Cupcakes), sweet & fruity (Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Frosting), nostalgic (Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes… Hostess cupcakes anyone?), decadent (Flourless Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes with Vegan Chocolate Frosting) or savory (Scallion Goat Cheese Muffins) cupcake recipes. The recipes are all made with either coconut flour, almond flour, or no flour at all – so they are perfect for those following the gluten-free diet. Some are even dairy and vegan-free.

What I love the most about this cookbook is the variety of cupcakes offered, as well as the vivid and beautiful photographs. The recipes are also easy-to-read, typed in a pleasing-font, and are kid-friendly both with the making and the eating.

All of these delicious recipes and reasons are why I am so thrilled that Elana’s Pantry will be sponsoring the next two week’s Win-it-Wednesday’s on BeFreeForMe.com!

A total of FOUR (Yes… 4!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a copy of Gluten-Free Cupcakes. Two winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, May 17th , 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, May 18th and Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you WIN?
EASY!

Reply to this blog and tell me your favorite personal cupcake memory or your perfect cupcake variety!

Good luck, remember the cupcake and look for sweetness in the tiny things in life… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to buy this Gluten-Free Cupcake? Buy it now on Amazon.com! Check out this link: Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour

You’d think I was asking for the moon trying to find a delicious, chewy and melt in your mouth gluten-free cookie. That was until I tried the new Moondance gluten-free cookies!

Watch out cookie lovers… Moondance Gluten-Free Desserts has done it again!

The ever so sweet line-up of absolutely delicious gluten-free desserts continues over at Moondance with the addition of their three new gluten-free cookies: Mexican Wedding Cookie – a tender butter cookie loaded with ground pecans and coated with powdered sugar; Chocolate Crinkle – a rich, fudgy chocolate cookie coated with powdered sugar; and Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar – a chewy blond brownie bar loaded with mini chocolate chips (my favorite!).

And I promise… these new Moondance cookies will bring you to the moon and back again.

Made in a gluten-free facility by Shelley Ritchie, who was diagnosed with a wheat and gluten allergy several years ago, this gal knows how to bake! After not being able to find truly decadent gluten-free desserts and with her frustrations building, Shelley decided to perfect her own recipes into a magical gluten-free line of products.

Besides these new cookies, some of the other products offered in the Moondance line are Chewy Fudge or Walnut Brownies; or the Moondance Cheesecakes, some of the flavors include the Classic Cheesecake, Raspberry Ribbon Cheesecake or my favorite the Butter Toffee Cheesecake (made with handmade butter toffee crumbles – YUM!). All of the cheesecakes are made with a shortbread pecan crust. Watch out Cheesecake Factory!

These cheesecakes are the PERFECT dessert for your Easter Gathering!

Prepare yourself by unbuckling your belt and re-adjust it a few notches, and enter to win this week’s BeFreeForMe’s Win-It-Wednesday sponsored by the amazingly decadent Moondance Heavenly Desserts. Four (Yes 4!) Lucky BeFreeForMe members will win an assortment of the three types of new cookies. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from entries received before Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 – 12 midnight EST and another two (2) winners will be selected from entries received between Wednesday, April 20th and Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 – 12 midnight EST.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what is so heavenly in your life that it brings you to the moon… and back again! (Me? Finding new gluten/allergen free products that are yummy and star gazing with the guy I love on clear crisp evenings). And it you’d like let us know which Moondance cookie sounds the most divine to you!

Good Luck, take note of the magical things in your life… and as always,
Be Free!

This week’s WIN-It-Wednesday is sponsored by Food Should Taste Good… a company that is dedicated to making wholesome and healthy snacks.

If you’re not yet familiar with the products that Food Should Taste Good offers you must check out their website and give their chips a try. I love that Food Should Taste Good offers an abundance of yummy gluten-free chip varieties including Olive (perfect with tapenades), Chocolate (smothered in apple sauce or cinnamon cream cheese), Lime (guacamole anyone?), The Works (the ultimate dipper… hummus? sour cream? the kitchen sink?) and, one of my favorites… Sweet Potato (eaten plain or crumbled on top of a fresh garden salad).

And obviously, I am not the only one that has a chip-addiction to these chips. As of today over 147,500 people are raving fans of Food Should Taste Good on facebook. And if you aren’t a fan of Food Should Taste Good now is the time to join!

In celebration of Munch Madness and in support of their “El-Eat Eight Contest” the generous team over at Food Should Taste Good are challenging their fans with a contest yielding a fabulous prize rewarded to all of their facebook fans!

They are offering the chance to get a coupon good for $2.50 OFF of 2 BAGS, as a way of thanking all of their fans that have been cheering them on and happily munching their chips.

All fans will get this coupon if Food Should Taste Good can surpass a total of 800 votes for the winning chip and reach a total of 155,500 fans (at last count they only need 7,500 more fans!) on their facebook page. Make sure you become a fan by April 4th… the day of their champion’chip game… and spread the word to all your friends to chomp into Munch Madness to help reach this goal!

Food Should Taste Good is also offering 4 LUCKY BeFreeForMe members a chance at winning a gift pack of chips for the next two week’s WIN-It-Wednesdays!

How can you WIN?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what your winning Food Should Taste Good flavor is (Me? I have two favorites…Olive and Sweet Potato). Two (2) winners will be randomly chosen from entries received before Tuesday, April 5 at 12:00 midnight EST; and two (2) more winners will be randomly chosen from entries received between Wednesday, April 6 and Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 12:00 midnight EST. All winners must be a member of BeFreeForMe.com.

Good Luck, take the time to make the free throws that life passes your way, and as always…

Be Free!

When visiting the Whole Foods Market in Newtonville, Massachusetts, I got to chatting with Kimberly Ransom, the Healthy Eating Specialist at this store. (For those of you that have never heard of Healthy Eating Specialists they are folks that work in each of the larger Whole Food Markets helping both customers and team members with their goals of reaching the next level of health in terms of their diet.)

During this visit Kimberly got chatting about Whole Foods Market’s new Health Starts Here program that promotes healthy eating and cooking. The foundation of this program is to encouraging eating whole, unprocessed foods; eating a colorful variety of plants; eating healthy fats; and eating nutrient dense foods. All simple basics for those of us on a gluten-free or allergen-free diet.

Kimberly also mentioned to me the Eat Right America 28-day Challenge! which is one of Whole Foods Markets partners that’s supporting their Health Starts Here program. And although the Eat Right America 28-day Challenge! is not specifically designed for those on a gluten-free or allergen-free diet, and may require tweaking to fit your dietary restrictions, it offers common sense approaches to eating and cooking, most of which are naturally free of gluten and other allergens.

She also let me in on a great deal that is being offered only until 03/31/11… Whole Foods Market shoppers can receive an Eat Right America’s free online Nutrition Prescription membership, consisting of a personal nutritional & eating assessment plan which offers guidance for healthy eating. But to get the free Nutrition Prescription, you need to enter Key Code: CERANANTV on the registration page.

The free personalized Nutrition Prescription includes an online:
•    Personal eating analysis and health risk evaluation
•    Daily eating plan
•    28-day step-by-step daily e-mail support that offers pointers and tips
•    60 days of FREE access to the Eat Right America website, which is packed with delicious recipes, instructional videos and much more.

And if you need more creative recipe ideas to jump-start your new healthy eating plan, your local Whole Foods Market also offers Health Starts Here recipes at their stores, or online. (Note the recipes are tagged if they are gluten or allergen free).

So… besides everyone being a winner by receiving a FREE Nutrition Prescription (Remember to enter code # CERANANTV) complements of Whole Foods Market, another LUCKY BeFreeForMe member will be randomly selected to win a $25 Whole Food Market gift card!

How can you win?
Easy!

To win the $25 gift card reply to this blog and tell us your prescription for good nutrition. Me? A daily dose of veggies, veggies, veggies… and when I think I’ve had enough… more veggies!

All entries must be received by Tuesday, March 29th, 2011 by 11:59PM EST.

Good Luck; Eat, Drink and Cook Merrily & Healthily … and as always,

Be Free!

Back by popular demand are Yumpeez! Made from certified-organic yellow split peas and cleverly disguised as crunchy flavorful snacks.

And as a BONUS, we have added two packages of Pulse Flours… a Chickpea Flour and Whole Yellow Bean Flour (35-ounces each package), so you are able to bake-up some of the recipes featured in this week’s Ask Shelley Case column on BeFreeForMe, as well as in the new booklet about Pulses which was put out by Pulse Canada.

If you have never tried Yumpeez before, you MUST give them a try! These crunchy gluten-free, nut-free, lactose-free and soy-free snacks have an astonishing yummy flavor, nutritional label and health benefits. High in fiber, protein and iron, they are also a fantastic source of calcium.  Better yet they are trans-fat free, low in fat, and certified vegan.

I also can count on Yumpeez to “hold me over until dinner time” since they are low on the glycemic index, which means they are a complex carbohydrate that also provides energy that sustains. Yumpeez are a new and exciting snack… so if your snack-times are turning into nap-times due to the same old boring gluten and allergen-free snacks that you eat day-in and day-out you need to try Yumpeez.

My favorite flavor is the Dill, but the Barbeque flavor is a winner too. New to the Yumpeez line-up is the new Naked variety (the only ingredient: organic peas) that comes in a new larger shaker container. At only 120 calories per pack, I feel good about reaching for Yumpeez for snacking, especially when Spring is approaching and a low-cal and healthy snack is welcomed. I also like to toss a handful over my lunchtime salad, to give myself a crunchy salad topping, with an added protein energy boost.

Now I know why Yumpeez tagline is “Yumpeez Takes You Into Overtime!”.

All these healthy and flavorful reasons is why I am so glad that Yumpeez (and the bonus flours!) are this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com. Yumpeez will provide six (Yes….6!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members a combo-pack of all three of the Yumpeez flavors, plus the bonus Chickpea and Whole Yellow Pea Flours!

How can you WIN?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you take yourself into overtime during the hectic work week (Me? I have a cup of green tea and a healthy snack in the afternoons). Three (3) winners will be randomly chosen from entries received before Tuesday, March 15 at 12:00 midnight EST; and three (3) more winners will be randomly chosen from entries received between Wednesday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 12:00 midnight EST. All winners must be a member of BeFreeForMe.com.

Good Luck, slow down to enjoy the good things in life and, as always…
Be Free!

Want some gluten-free chips that will be gone in a New York minute? Then try New York Style Risotto Chips!

If you’re on a gluten-free diet, or just looking for a good healthy chip alternative, these delicious chips are worth checking out!

What I like the most about the New York Style Risotto Chips is that they’re great for dipping into gluten-free dips, or enjoyed all by themselves. Made of Arborio rice (the same rice that Risotto is made with) these chips are packed with 11 grams of whole grains – plus they taste delicious.

And all of us over here at BeFreeForMe aren’t the only ones chatting up this new chip: New York Style Risotto Chips are also featured in the January/February 2011 Food Network Magazine , on The Rachael Ray Show, and also on the Lifetime Network’s The Balancing Act as a “delicious gluten-free snack”. But see for yourself what all the buzz is about… Pick-up a bag of New York Style Risotto Chips and you’ll eat ’em like they’re going out of style!

New York Style Risotto Chips comes in three varieties: Parmesan & Roasted Garlic, Sea Salt, and my personal favorite Spicy Marinara.

And lucky for all of us, New York Style Risotto Chips are BeFreeForMe’s WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor for the next two weeks! Six lucky winners (3 winners each week) will win a jam-packed gift full of a variety of New York Style Risotto Chips. Enough for you – and enough to share!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog post and tell us what “style” (or flavor) of  the New York Style Risotto Chips sound the best to you  and/or your most memorable style or fashion! (Me? My most unforgettable style was my blue “wet-look” leather  vest when I was in kindergarten! Talk about styling… I loved that thing!)  .

Make sure you enter to win twice. Once before March 1, 2011 (12 midnight EST) and another between March 2 and March 8, 2011 (12 midnight EST).

Good Luck, Keep Stylin’ and as always…

Be Free!

Beanitos Chips are a snack lovers dream come true! Beanitos are chips that fill you up with real, healthy and nutritious ingredients, which make them a delicious and smart alternative to corn and potato chips.

Beanitos are also lab tested and certified gluten-free (less than 3ppm), as well as free of corn, potato and soy.

When I first tried Beanitos I couldn’t believe they were actually made from beans. Chips made from beans? But after one chip, I was sold. Crunchy and flavorful Beanitos come in four flavors… Black Bean, Chipotle BBQ Black Bean, Cheddar Cheese Pinto Bean and my favorite, Pinto Bean & Flaxseed.

This got me scratching my head and wondering – why beans? Why make chips out of beans? Well, according to the folks over at Beanitos, it’s no secret that beans are loaded with health benefits – high in fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates – but are sadly underused in the typical U.S. diet. So they decided to give us all our daily dose of healthy, nutritious beans in a fun, crunchy and tasty chip! Obviously, the folks over at Beanitos used their “beans” to come up with this great tasting chip.

Because these chips are made from beans they contain 5 grams of fiber per ounce – this is why they fill you up and leave you feeling more satisfied than the regular old boring potato, corn or wheat based chips. They are also low-glycemic, which is important since low-glycemic foods contributes to good health and can help curb obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease!

Now the question I am sure that some of you are wondering but are too shy to ask in a comment on this blog post … Ahemmm … here goes… “Will eating Beanitos give me gas, toots, stinkers, wind, passing of gas — or whatever you may call it?”  Well – the answer is NO! Beanitos will NOT give you gas. Beanitos developed a natural proprietary process that eliminates the common side effects some people associate with eating beans or bean-based products. So… round up your friends and share a bag!

For all these wonderful reasons – We are thrilled that Beanitos is this week’s sponsor of BeFreeForMe’s WIN-It-Wednesday. FOUR (Yes 4!) lucky BeFreeForMe members will receive an assortment of Beanitos Chips, PLUS a Bonus $15 Visa Gift Card!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog post and tell us how you use your “bean” to stay healthy and fit.  (Me? I schedule exercise into my week – and treat that time like I would a very important appointment or meeting – so I don’t break my promise to myself to work-out!)

There are also TWO chances to WIN these WIN-It-Wednesday prizes. One is between Wednesday, February 9 and Tuesday, February 15th  (12 Midnight EST) and the second is between Wednesday, February 16th and Tuesday, February 22th (12 Midnight EST). Two winners will randomly be selected each week. So make sure you respond two times to this post!

Good Luck, Use your bean… But follow your heart… and as always,
Be Free!