Be Free For Me Blog

For many a donut may be a go-to breakfast. But for a lot of celiacs, including myself, Van’s waffles are the go-to breakfast staple of choice. Made of whole grains, flavored with fruit juice, full of flavor, and light & fluffy Van’s are a sure hit with kids and adults alike.

What I love the most about Van’s is the way they think beyond the basic waffle by offering tons of gluten-free varieties. Any waffle house would be jealous of their line-up.

Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, Buckwheat, the basic Totally Natural, Flax and the kid-sized (or for me, snack-sized) Minis please anyone on a gluten-free diet. Important to note is that all these waffles are dairy & egg free too.

My favorite? The Totally Natural waffle smeared with a healthy glob of fresh blueberry preserves. To me this breakfast is my delicious, healthy and of course, gluten-free substitute to a not-so- missed jelly donut.

Understanding celiac disease is tough enough for adults, never mind for children.

Coming to grips that you can’t ever again eat the bread, pizza and beer that you’ve known, and loved, all your life takes a lot for an adult to accept and embrace. But thankfully, most adults realize that the gluten-free lifestyle is not the end of the world. In fact I, and many others, have discovered living the celiac lifestyle is actually a way to look at the sunny side of life.

But how can you explain eating gluten-free and celiac disease to a child whose whole world is centered around pizza parties at school, a best-friends birthday party, or favorite foods that include chicken nuggets and onion rings? How can a child look at the sunny side of being gluten-free?

Enter the book: “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” by Katie Chalmers.

This one-of-a-kind book is gracefully & eloquently written by a Mom who has celiac disease. Both the author, Katie Chalmers and her daughter, Morgan, were diagnosed with celiac disease a little over 2 years ago. Since that time they have learned to embrace, and make the best, out of living gluten-free.

The book encompasses what celiac disease and the gluten free diet entail in language that children can understand, all the while encouraging dialogue for additional questions. A must-have for any child with celiac disease, this book is also a must-read for any elementary school story hour that has child with celiac disease in the classroom.

I like that  “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” empathizes the positive, rather than the negative, attributes of a gluten-free diet. However, in no way does this book sugar-coat this disease. Instead “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” puts a positive spin on a serious subject that many children may find difficult to understand and accept.

All these reasons are why I am so very excited that “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” by Katie Chalmers is this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

Five (yes 5!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will receive a copy of the book.

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know how you look at the sunny side of being gluten-free. (Me? Reading labels because of my celiac diagnosis has made me more conscious & aware of the ingredients in the foods I eat, which has resulted in me and my family eating a lot healthier across the board!)

All entries must be received by Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 at 12 midnight EST.

Good luck, Keep the sunny side up… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to learn more? Follow Katie on Facebook and find out more, as well as purchase, her book on her website.

A slow smile crept across my face this morning when I read that today was National Play-Doh Day.

And what a perfect Play-Doh Day it is on this dismal & misty Saturday here in New England.

Play-doh brings back such fond memories. We were never the type of family that had all the contraptions they sold that twisted and formed Play-Doh into some animal creature, jewelry, or food product.

Nope – good old fashioned creativity was required in our house.

My two sisters & I would keep busy for hours, while we kneeled on the chairs at the kitchen table, mixing and blending colors to make psychedelic Play-Doh twists and rolls, using Mom’s rolling pin, potato masher and spatulas to whip-up the best creations ever molded out of this marvelous, molding clay.

But unfortunately, kids that have celiac disease and food allergies are unable to use the traditional store-bought Play-Doh brand since it contains gluten – it’s primary ingredient is wheat flour.

That is why I am glad that there are companies out there that make gluten and allergen free play dough. These companies include Aroma Dough (Gluten-free), Soy-Yer Dough (Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Nut Free – plus they have an option for Soy Free if you check that off as a preference during check-out) and Colorations (Gluten, Nut, Egg, Dairy, Casein Free) or get real creative and make some gluten-free Play-Doh yourself by using this gluten-free play dough recipe found on the Celiac Sprue Association website.

So celebrate National Play-Doh Day gluten & allergen free! Pull up a kitchen chair, dig out the rolling pins and potato mashers, use your imagination and get the creativity flowing this afternoon!

When I first saw these crackers my first thought was, “What the heck is a tellicherry?”

Well, my friends, according to spicehouse.com tellicherries, which come from the Malabar Coast of India, are whole extra-large black peppercorns that are left on the vine longer so they develop a deep, rich flavor. They are also considered the finest pepper in the world.

These tellicherrries (I just love that word!) are most definitely what gives the R.W. Garcia 5 Seed Crackers, there flavorful punch.

Made of organic corn, and certified not to contain any GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) or trans-fats these spicy little crunchy gluten-free crackers will surprise your taste-buds and tackle your senses. Whoever said gluten-free eating was bland, has not tried these crackers yet.

And at 140 calories per serving, I can eat them for a crunchy side with a salad or by the handful for a snack.

Give them a try, and give your taste buds a peppery and flavorful treat!

I love being cheesy. I love my life to be as cheesy as I can get it. The more cheesy my life is – all the better for me.

And although I secretly liked The New Kids on the Block and The Brady Bunch, I don’t mean cheesy in a sappy 1980’s boy band or a sugary-sweet sitcom type-of-way. But what I do mean is cheesy as in a gooey and warm Baked Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese, or cheese generously sprinkled on my nachos type-of-way.

And my favorite way to get the most cheesiness in my life… Cabot Creamery.

Cabot Cheddar Cheese is all natural, crafted and aged by the farm-family owners of 90-year-old Cabot Creamery Cooperative without any additives or preservatives. It’s lactose free, gluten free, calcium-rich and delicious, the winner of national and international competitions as “the world’s best cheddar.”

In my book, Cabot is the “Big Cheese” of the world!

Cabot Cheddar Cheese comes in the traditional Sharp, Mild and Extra Sharp varieties (as well as their signature Private Stock Cheddar) and so many yummy flavors like Habanero, Chipotle, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil, Horseradish, Chili-Lime and Tuscan. The flavored cheeses are just screaming to be used in your favorite recipes, and are a great springboard to create your own signature dishes, or use in the tried-and-true recipes featured on Cabot’s website. (Make sure you check out the gluten-free recipes on the Cabot website including the Chicken & Sweet Potato Pie or the Cauliflower Macaroni & Cheese (Fun Note: They even have recipes for your pets on the website… Hey, pooches, including Sadie the Incredible Boxer, love cheese too!)

I never met a Cabot Cheese I didn’t love, but my favorite Cabot Cheese is the 50% Reduced Fat Jalapeno Cheddar. It has all the full-fat flavor, but made with 1.5% milk. I also love that Cabot is a cooperative and owned by 1200 dairy farmers and their families in New England and New York – purchasing Cabot is a great way to support local farms! To find out more about how to support local farms check out this informative website KeepLocalFarms.org. It is such a great cause, so be sure to check it out.

I am excited to announce that Cabot is this week’s sponsor of BeFreeForMe’s WIN-It-Wednesday. Being naturally gluten-free and lactose-free make it the perfect cheese for many of BeFreeForMe members – plus the flavors and varieties are fantastic for snacking or cooking.

Cabot Cheese is offering THREE (Yes… 3!) Lucky BeFreeForMe members a 2-pound Gift Box packed with an assortment of Cabot Cheddar Cheeses shipped direct to your home.What a great gift!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and let us know the flavor of Cabot Cheese that sounds the tastiest to you. Also, feel free to share your favorite cheesiest thing, whether it related to food (Me? Gluten-Free Baked Macaroni & Cheese) or non-food (Me? My beloved classic Partridge Family Fan Club booklet… yes, I still have it!)

All entries must be received by Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 12:00 Midnight EST.
Good Luck, Cheesiness Rules… and as always,
Be Free!

Question: I am on a gluten-free diet and need help with meal planning. Do you have any suggestions on making meal time a bit more exciting by adding more variety? P.S. – Healthy & nutritious ideas are a plus too!

Successful gluten-free meal planning requires a positive attitude, a little creativity and learning how to make substitutions for some ingredients and food items in favorite recipes and menu items. Fortunately, many foods that are naturally gluten-free are also good for you, including plain meats, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, legumes (dried beans, lentils and peas), nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and grain alternatives such as amaranth, buckwheat, corn, flax, millet, quinoa, rice, sorghum and teff. In addition, there are numerous gluten-free specialty products (e.g., pasta, breads and baked goods, cereals, sauces, soups) that can be substituted for traditional gluten-containing items.

In the beginning, plan simple meals and snacks with plain foods so you don’t become overwhelmed with the new gluten-free lifestyle. But, once you have mastered the basics gradually incorporate new items and try more complex dishes with multiple ingredients. Have fun! To save time and energy, prepare gluten-free recipe and menu items that everyone can eat rather than having to “cook twice.” Other family members can supplement their meal plan with gluten-containing bread or dessert items if desired.

The trick is to keep an optimistic attitude, be creative, and embrace trying new (and exciting!) foods!

Here are some specific ideas on how to add variety and incorporate more nutritious options into the gluten-free diet:

Reprinted and adapted with permission from: Rate Your Plate, Living Without magazine, Fall 2003, pg. 26. Chart prepared by Shelley Case, RD

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

This week’s Friday Favorite goes to a product that is SO tasty, yet SO free of the things that many of us can’t eat!

SO Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt is just what the name says… yogurt made out of Coconut Milk. Besides being delicious and certified gluten-free it is also dairy, lactose, soy, cholesterol & Trans fat free. Plus, as an added bonus it is vegan and contains pre- and probiotics – perfect for digestive health.

I tried So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt in the vanilla flavor and just loved it. It was creamy, dreamy, and just a perfect substitute for regular yogurt in the morning. But don’t let me mislead… this yogurt could also easily become one of my go-to mid-afternoon snacks or decadent desserts. It also comes in Blueberry and Passionate Mango flavors too.  I can’t wait to try those next.

The SO Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt is this week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite for being so wonderfully tasty, creamy and dee-licious without all the allergens! Cheers!

It’s that time of year again when routines are back in place, alarms are going off every morning, and breakfasts are a must to start each day off on the right foot.

But sometimes finding tasty breakfast ideas that are gluten, dairy and casein free can be a struggle. But with Bakery on Main Granola you can not only find several varieties of granola (and granola bars!) that are not only good tasting, but good for you too.

Made with whole grain gluten-free oats, Bakery On Main’s  granola is free of cholesterol, trans fat, refined sugars, gluten, dairy & casein. It is a crunchy, sweet and flavor-packed granola that is great for breakfast, a mix-in with yogurt, or even eating by the handful.

Bakery On Main also makes granola bars that are great for mid-morning or afternoon snacks. Convenient and crunchy these bars are perfect for lunch boxes, backpacks or brief cases.

My favorite Bakery on Main product is the Fiber Power Granola. I love that this granola has 9 grams of fiber and is still low in fat. It is perfect stirred up in my favorite fat-free Greek yogurt or eaten by the handful for a breakfast or snack on the run. It comes in two flavors Triple Berry and Cinnamon Raisin.

In the past, Bakery on Main invited BeFreeForMe members to sign-up for their monthly savings newsletter to get the most updated coupons & specials, as well as a FREE downloadable $1.50 OFF Coupon. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure you sign up to get this coupon soon… availability may be limited!

And lucky us… Bakery on Main has once again graciously offered to sponsor this weeks WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

Three (yes 3!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will receive a Bakery on Main Gift Set. This gift set consists of a tote bag made from 100% recycled materials, filled with 1.5 ounce gluten free granola snack packs in the Apple Raisin Walnut, Nutty Cranberry Maple and Extreme Fruit & Nut flavors; 2 ounce Fiber Power gluten free granola snack packs in both the Triple Berry and Cinnamon Raisin flavors; and 1.2 ounce gluten free granola bars in the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Maple Nut and Extreme Trail Mix. What a prize this is! Perfect for back to school because it includes bars and snack packs which can be a great on-the-go breakfast, easy to pack in a lunchbox, or great for an after school snack.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you start your day off on a positive note. (Me? I take Sadie the Boxer for a long walk in the mornings… a perfect way to get some exercise in, clear my head for the day, and spend time with my perfect pooch!)

All entries must be received by Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 12:00 Midnight EST.

Good Luck, Keep positive… and as always,

Be Free!

Today when I was grocery shopping I was accused of being “too happy”.

This accusation, my friends, came from a young gal who was just recently diagnosed with celiac disease and a dairy intolerance. I randomly met this girl in the gluten-free section of the supermarket.

As I approached the section, a girl was just standing and staring at the shelves of gluten-free products. After I selected a few packages of pretzels and crackers and started to walk away, the girl turned towards me, and barked, “Don’t you just hate eating gluten-free?”

I stopped dead in my tracks, turned, and stared.  I had to actually rewind in my mind what she had just asked me.

Don’t you just hate eating gluten-free.

And without much hesitation, I looked at this despondent girl and said, “No, I don’t hate eating gluten-free, and the trick is to stay positive and enthusiastic.”

Quizzically she looked at me blankly, then asked how anyone could ever be happy about eating gluten-free, never mind positive and enthusiastic. I then started jotting down names of great resource books; gluten and dairy-free products that are must-haves; and tidbits of information that any newly diagnosed would ever need.

Halfway through my frantic scribbling of resources and tips on the back of my shopping list, she stopped me, looked me square in the eye, and asked me to help her with the real question she had asked: How can you be happy eating gluten free.

Caught off guard, I asked her to give me time to think about the question, and that I would answer it on this blog within a day. With some guidance and tips about finding happiness from the book, “The How of Happiness” by Sonia Lyubomirsky, here is how I have become a happy, positive and enthusiastic celiac – who, matter of fact, does loves to eat gluten-free.

Don’t Stew: After I got diagnosed with celiac disease I gave myself one day, and one day only, to grieve the loss of the foods I could never eat again. That day was full of crying and venting. It sounds crazy but it actually helped me to mourn the loss of bread, crumpets, pizza and beer, as I once knew it. After that day, I moved on and start living my life without it. No tears allowed!

Which leads us to the next tip…

Count Your Blessings: Being gluten free has helped to appreciate the little things in life. Things like simple sliced strawberries for dessert, fresh vegetables from my garden, a gluten-free cupcake made by your best friend so you can share in a birthday celebration. Every day find the little things that you appreciate, and maybe took for granted before your diagnosis.

Look on the Bright Side: There are plenty of people in this world that have worse problems than not being able to eat bread, beer from a keg, or ice cream. Get over it.

Build Relationships: Do what I did and join a celiac or food allergy support group. Share, share and share! Remember, you’re not in this alone!

Manage Stress Serenely: When times get tough, and yes indeed they will, don’t get angry, pout or feel sorry for yourself. When I start to feel the stress, I go for a walk, page through a cookbook packed with yummy gluten-free recipes, or call my sister who also has celiac disease. For me – fitness, food and family always make things better.

Respect Your Body: I know its cliché, but your body really is your temple. Take good care of it physically and emotionally. Also, sneaking a bit of gluten here and there and cheating on this diet is a HUGE no-no. Don’t do it. Ever.

Pursue a Life-Long Goal that You’ve Been Neglecting: Have you always wanted to get involved in volunteer work? Help out with projects at your local support group. Have you secretly wanted to write and publish your thoughts? Start a blog about your new allergen-free journey. Interested in cooking? Sign up for an allergen or gluten-free cooking class.

Whatever it is you desire, use your recent diagnosis as a spring board to reach your goals. I’ve done this… and it makes my life that much more meaningful, and my celiac diagnosis a reason to make myself, and the world I live a happier & better place – even without gluten.

The La Cantina, a family owned Italian restaurant located in Framingham, Massachusetts, was one of my favorite restaurants to visit before going gluten-free several years ago.

The folks over at La Cantina believe in “true Italian cooking” which shines through in all of their menu items. Dishes that include fresh vegetables and meats; antipastos topped with homemade salad dressing; and their signature pasta dishes that feature the best ingredients tossed with hearty and hefty portions of pasta.

Unfortunately after my celiac diagnosis, I nicknamed “La Cantina” to “La Can’t Eat It”.

But last Saturday, as I was doing a drive by (would this be considered stalking my favorite restaurants of the past?) I saw a huge “Gluten-Free Menu Available” on their front sign.

A celiac dream come true.

I happily ran walked in, grabbed a seat, and asked the waitress for the gluten-free menu. She immediately advised me that they had just switched brands of gluten-free pasta and the new one “really, really, really tastes like the regular pasta – but isn’t”.

If there was a bubble that popped over my head that mimicked what I was thinking it would have read, “Yeah right… I’m just happy to be sitting here. Quit teasing me, Miss Real Pasta.”

But when the dish arrived, the penne “looked” like real penne. It wasn’t sticky, it wasn’t pale, it wasn’t one big glob of pasta. But remembering the comment Miss Real Pasta made I decided to give it a try it. So I took just one tiny bite – and instantly I knew that this was not gluten-free pasta.

Thoughts of a piece of penne pasta making me sick for days ran rampant through my noodle.

So I called Miss Real Pasta over and asked her to double-check with the chef to make sure that I was served the gluten-free pasta. She did – and informed me it was indeed gluten-free. (Note: I even asked her if she checked with the chef that actually put the pasta in the water to cook, since I was still skeptical.)

Feeling a little bit leery about being able to really enjoy the meal (I’m sure many of you know the way I was feeling here), I called Miss Real Pasta back over yet again and asked her if she could tell me the brand of pasta “since it tasted so good, I want to see if I could find it for myself at the supermarket.”

As I was asking her this another bubble could have been floating over my head with the words, “I am positive that you people have confused organic or all-natural pasta with gluten-free pasta. This is a trick question and will confirm my suspicion of you serving me glutenized pasta”.

But… lo-and-behold I was wrong. I discovered that this “miracle-that-tastes-like-the-real-thing” pasta was Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta. A new gluten-free pasta that has been toted as “matching the color, texture and flavor of traditional pasta – an industry first.” After doing some research, and finding an article about this new pasta, I found out that Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta comes in spaghetti, penne and fusilli shapes and owes its real pasta taste to a unique yellow corn/white rice blend.

This pasta is unbelievable. SO good! When I was eating it I had NO inkling that this pasta was gluten-free.

Oh… and I almost forgot… besides finding Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta (which is also dairy-free too) at La Cantina Restaurant in Framingham, Massachusetts, you can also find it at Wal-Marts.

Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta is this week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite for making gluten-free pasta that, spoken like Miss Real Pasta, “really, really, really tastes like the regular pasta – but isn’t”. Honestly and truthfully…. no need to triple check.