Be Free For Me Blog

On a day like today, when the snow is falling and the air is crisp, a big hot steaming bowl of soup can really warm your soul.

This is when I reach for Kettle Cuisine Soups. All natural and full of healthy and fresh ingredients, Kettle Cuisine soups are made just the way you or I would make them at home… with no shortcuts, no artificial ingredients. All ten varieties are also gluten-free, and several are also dairy-free, low-fat and vegetarian too. It’s no wonder Kettle Cuisine’s motto is “Eat Soup. Feel Good”.

I reach for a Kettle Cuisine soup when I don’t have the time (or energy!) to make my own big stock-pot of soup for dinner, or when I need a quick lunch at the office.  Plus, the convenient (no can opener required!), single serving bowls let me pick and choose what variety of soup or chili fits my fancy. My favorites though are the Grilled Chicken & Corn Chowder, and the Angus Beef Steak Chili with Beans. Found in the frozen food section of your favorite store (or even bought on-line), stocking up is easy too.

I’m a fan of Kettle Cuisine because of the homemade taste of all their soups and chilis.  Kettle Cuisine does not have that tin-canny mass-produced taste that many soups out there have. Kettle Cuisine is just good old fashioned soup – made the way we would ourselves.

Because of all these reasons, I am so excited that Kettle Cuisine Soups is this weeks WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor. They are offering two (Yes, 2!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members a variety pack of Kettle Cuisine Soups!

How can you WIN?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and let us know how you warm your soul when the weather is blustery, windy, rainy (or snow-filled!). Me? I keep reminding myself that shoveling snow IS also a work-out … then treat myself to hot chocolate with tons of mini marshmallows.

Remember, all replies must be received by 12:00 midnight on Tuesday, January 27th, 2010.

Good Luck, Keep Warm… and as always,

Be Free!

This week’s Friday Favorite is one of the most versatile items in my pantry: Mission White Corn Tortillas.

These gluten, egg, dairy, soy and nut free tortillas can do it all.

These tortillas can wrap up any meal right before your eyes – especially when bread is sometimes scarce or nowhere to be found.

I love these tortillas as a Breakfast Burrito; as a Corn Quesadilla snack; in  main course Jalapeno Chicken Enchiladas or Baked Chimichangas recipes; and even as an ingredient in a dessert when making Chocolate Raspberry Burritos with Raspberry Glaze or N’more Graham Cracker S’mores.

Another reason why these allergen-free tortillas receive BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite honors is that they are just 110 calories for 2 tortillas, and only about .13¢ per tortillas (the retail price I paid was $1.50 for 12 tortillas); just two more reasons why these should be a staple in any allergen or gluten-free kitchen.

With Mission White Corn tortillas… meals are simply a wrap!

I’m super excited about Attune Probiotic Chocolate Bars being this week’s sponsor of BeFreeForMe WIN-It-Wednesday.  I’m excited because these bars not only taste good… but they are good for you too!

After getting diagnosed with celiac disease I have become extra diligent about my overall health. The day after my diagnosis I decided to embrace the gluten-free diet and use it as a starting point of living a healthier and happier life. This is why I love finding products that are a healthier alternative to foods I enjoy the most…  and chocolate is at the top of this list!

The secret behind the rich, chocolaty Attune bars is that they are packed with probiotics. And in case you’re wondering, probiotics protects our bodies from harmful bacteria, strengthens our intestinal walls and helps digest fiber in our diets, so that we are able to absorb the nutrients in the foods that we eat. So, basically, these are chocolate bars that are good for you… Yes, a dream comes true!

The gluten-free Attune bars come in four different flavors: Dark Chocolate (which is my favorite), Milk Chocolate Crisp, Mint Chocolate and Blueberry Vanilla. 

Attune bars are a perfect snack to get your digestive tract on the right track – especially for those folks, like celiacs, that are concerned about overall digestive health. Plus, Attune Foods is a proud sponsor of The Celiac Disease Foundation and is committed to educating consumers & raising awareness about celiac disease and how it affects overall digestive health. Attune Bars are not only good for celiacs, but they are doing good for us too.

Just in time for New Year’s resolutions to get healthy and fit (did I mention these bars are only 80 to 90 calories each?), Attune Foods is offering FIVE (yes, 5!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members a month’s supply of Attune gluten-free probiotic bars!

How can you WIN?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what you are doing to keep healthy in this New Year (Me? I have made a commitment to do more strength-training exercises this year… and yes… my arms and legs are feeling it!) 

You must reply to this blog by Tuesday, January 19, 2010 by 12 midnight (EST) for a chance to win.

Good Luck, Stay Healthy… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. For a limited time, Attune Foods is offering $2.00 OFF a box of the gluten-free probiotic bars too! You Can Download the Coupon Here!

Question: I love to use spices, herbs and various seasoning blends to spice up my food… but I heard they may contain gluten! Help!

Answer: A wide variety of spices and herbs are used in foods for flavoring purposes. American and Canadian food regulations differ in how they define the terms spices, herbs and seasonings. Here are some facts about the gluten-free status of these ingredients.

Spices, herbs and seeds do not contain gluten

Although anti-caking agents may sometimes be added to spices, it is often silicon dioxide, calcium silicate or sodium aluminum silica and NOT wheat flour or wheat starch. Some imitation black peppers contain other ingredients such as buckwheat hulls and ground rice in addition to black pepper. I have not found any companies using wheat as a filler in imitation pepper.

Seasonings may contain gluten

In general terms “seasonings” are a blend of flavoring agents (spices and/or herbs) which are often combined with a carrier agent such as salt, sugar, lactose, whey powder, starches or flours. The carrier agent in seasoning mixtures in gravy mixes, sauces and snack foods often contain wheat flour or wheat starch.

If a seasoning mixture/blend is sold separately as a bottled or packaged seasoning(e.g., Cajun Seasoning, Taco Seasoning Mix, etc.) the components of all the ingredients must be declared on the label. When a seasoning mixture is used in other foods it may only say “seasoning” on the label and not indicate its components. However in the USA, the FDA’s “Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act” requires that all components of ingredients when used in other foods must be declared if they contain any of the top eight allergens (including wheat). So if wheat flour or wheat starch was used in a seasoning blend it would have to be listed as “seasoning (wheat flour or wheat starch)” or “seasoning” and at the end of the ingredient list “Contains Wheat”. Also, whenever the term “seasoning” is used in the ingredient statement of a meat or poultry product, its components must be identified as a sublist.

It should be noted that, in Canada, seasoning, spice or herb mixtures, when used as ingredients in other foods are exempt from a declaration of their components. Although it is not currently required by regulation, Health Canada strongly urges manufacturers to declare components of ingredients such as seasonings if they contain allergens or gluten sources. Fortunately many companies are voluntarily labeling the components of seasonings when used in other foods. Also, Health Canada has proposed new labeling regulations entitled “Schedule No 1220- Enhanced Labelling for Food Allergen and Gluten Sources and Added Sulphites” that would make it mandatory to declare allergen and gluten sources.

The Bottom Line

If gluten sources such as wheat flour or wheat starch are used in a seasoning mixture/blend, it must be declared on the label of products sold in the USA. Although it is not yet mandatory in Canada, most companies do declare the source of the seasoning blend if it contains an allergen or gluten source. However, if a food product in Canada lists “seasonings” on a food label it is recommended to contact the company to ask if wheat is used as the carrier agent.

The above information was adapted from Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, Revised and Expanded Edition by Shelley Case, RD. Case Nutrition Consulting Inc.
www.glutenfreediet.ca

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has advised Air Canada to come up with an adequate section of seats where passengers with severe nut allergies would be seated. This ruling, which must be addressed in 30 days, was determine by the CTA since passenger’s nut allergies should be considered a disability and must be accommodated by the airline.

Although Air Canada stopped serving peanuts years ago, the airline still serves cashews and other snacks that contain nuts.

My thoughts? For an airline to designate a nut-free zone on their airplanes will take very little to no extra effort or money. In fact maybe there will be more people that will decide to fly on airlines that offer these nut-free zones.

But is a nut-free section on a plane enough? Or should the whole plane become a nut-free zone?

Then comes the question of how would an airline prevent passengers from bringing their own nutty-snacks on a plane?

I think that this ruling is a step in the right direction. It addresses the severity of food allergies, and the life and death consequences of a simple snack. But, I say let’s get rid of the nutty-snacks altogether, on all airplanes and maybe someday we will all be able to fly the (nut-allergy) friendly skies!

What are your thoughts? Reply to this blog and let us know!

P.S. If you want to send an email to Air Canada contact their Customer Care department.

Starting off the New Year eating healthy and keeping to resolutions can be tough. Sometimes it’s challenging to know exactly what to reach for that will keep your hunger at bay and your stomach from rumbling away.

This is when I reach for a bottle of V-8 100% Vegetable Juice. A 12-ounce bottle has only 70 calories, no fat, 3 grams of dietary fiber, plus 3 servings of dietary fiber. I often will buy the Low Sodium version too, which has 70% less sodium than regular V-8.

The Regular and Low Sodium V-8 Juices are marked “Gluten Free”. Regarding other allergens, their website says to check the label for allergens since they periodically may change.

I like to have to have a V-8 in the morning, after my breakfast, as a mid-morning snack.

Next time you reach for a snack that doesn’t really hit the spot… remember you “coulda had a V-8!”

Parties are a reason to celebrate; catch up with old friends, meet new ones; and chat about hot topics and things of common interest. Parties are also a chance to munch on and try new gluten and allergen free foods. Parties are a reason to have fun.

All of these reasons are why I can hardly wait for the Twitter Party sponsored by Glutino Foods coming up this Monday, January 11th from 8-9 PM (EST).

Glutino Foods is hosting this Twitter party, and will have as a special guest, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of “The View”, fellow celiac, and author of “The G-Free Diet”. As well as me and BeFreeForMe.com, other sponsors include the folks over at Ian’s Natural Foods, that make all natural, organic (plus allergen-free and gluten-free!) meals for kids; and Chad Hines, from GlutenFreeFaces, the gluten-free and celiac social network. (Sound interesting? To join the party RSVP here!)

One of my all-time favorite gluten-free brands, Glutino has delicious products and they make it all… cookies, breads, bagels, pancake mixes, muffin mixes, frozen pizzas and convenient pasta dishes. It’s great that I can find Glutino products in most traditional grocery stores too – which makes life so much easier! And, as most of you know, one of my favorite snacks are the gluten-free pretzels that I dip in tangy honey mustard!

And just in time for this Twitter party, Glutino is sponsoring this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com. They are offering two (yes 2!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members a Party Pack full of munchies and products to make any party a reason to celebrate.

How Can You Win?

EASY!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you celebrate the little things in life. Also share with us your Twitter login, if you have one, and tell us if you plan on joining Glutino’s Twitter Party.  (Me? I SING Happy Birthday to all of my friends on their BIG Day, my Twitter username is @kreale, and yes, I will be at the Twitter party next Monday night!)

Good Luck, Happy Tweeting, and as always…

Be Free!

On Monday, January 11, 2010 from 8:00 – 9:00 PM (EST) Glutino Foods (a brand we all know and love!) will be hosting a Gluten-Free Twitter Party… and you’re invited!

I am excited to be a part of this Glutino Twitter Party alongside Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of “The View”, fellow celiac, and author of “The G-Free Diet”; the folks over at Ian’s Natural Foods, that make all natural, organic (plus allergen-free and gluten-free!) meals for kids; and Chad Hines, from GlutenFreeFaces, the gluten-free and celiac social network. During the party we will “chat” about living the gluten-free lifestyle, ways to make living gluten-free more manageable, tips & tricks, and also have some phenomenal gluten-free give-aways and prizes.

In order to RSVP to the party check out the invitation from Glutino. The hashtag for the party is #GF. (Note: A few days before the party, I will post another blog regarding specifics & tips on joining this Gluten-free twitter party).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Twitter, or just haven’t gotten around to checking it out, NOW is the time!

In a nut-shell, Twitter is a free social networking or micro-blogging service that allows you to “tweet” or chat, back and forth, with other like-minded people (or “peeps” as they are know as on Twitter!). These tweets can conveniently be up to 140-characters – so they are short, but are packed with tons of information, links, ideas and thoughts. Those that subscribe to, or “follow”, you receive your tweets. In return, tweets from anyone you “follow” are delivered to your twitter account. You are able to send and receive tweets from the Twitter website, SMS messaging, or from other website applications (like tweetdeck.com or Twhirl.com).

Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, the on-line shoe superstore, says that although twitter seems a bit awkward at first, it will eventually be as common place as text messaging in your life. In fact, he goes on to say that if you and your friends all use Twitter for a 2 week period, it will “change your life”, and you will “wonder how you ever lived without it”. By the way, Tony has over 1,639,877 followers!

If you aren’t sure where to start join once you join Twitter, log on and start following me!

If you want to find out more about Twitter, how to join and tips on getting involved, check out the website and blog links listed at the end of this blog post. Get tweeting today!

On January 11th, crack open a bag of Glutino gluten-free pretzels, log-on to your Twitter account and join us for the first ever Glutino’s Gluten-free Twitter party! See you then!

Good Twitter Resources:

Zappos.com’s CEO, Tony Hsieh, “Beginner’s Quick Start Guide and Tutorial to Using Twitter”

PurpleCar.com: Great blog on “How to Start Using Twitter”

About.com: Information on Twitter

This weeks WIN-It-Wednesday is sweet for those concerned with multiple allergies, specifically dairy, egg, nuts and tree nuts.

The Sweet Alexis brand of cookies, breads, cakes and muffins is inspired and managed by an enthusiastic Mom that has two children with numerous allergies. Set out on a mission to provide sweets that were safe for her children, these Mom-inspired products are all produced in a dedicated commercial kitchen, on dedicated equipment, where no eggs, dairy or nuts are allowed. The Sweet Alexis products are also free of preservatives and fillers. 

Some of the egg, dairy and nut-free products that Sweet Alexis makes are: Chocolate Chip Cookies, Blueberry Muffins, super-moist Banana Bread, and decadent Chocolate Cake… to name just a few.

I had the chance to chat with Michele, the Mom that founded Sweet Alexis, in great lengths on the telephone. We chatted from everything from our entrepreneurial endeavors, labeling on food products, obstacle those with allergies need to overcome while on vacation and at restaurants, to the kindness and support those in the food allergy / celiac communities offer to each other. What struck me most however, was her positive attitude and optimistic approach for her mission to help others with food allergies.

This woman is truly inspiring.

After our phone call I checked out the Sweet Alexis website and read about how Sweet Alexis came to be. The story that Michele tells is so similar to the stories I hear daily from so many BeFreeForMe members.  Stories that touch your heart and let you know that you are not alone.

One sentence that Michele writes on her website exemplifies her positive energy and spirit:

“Day by day, I am turning something devastating into a positive and that in itself feels really sweet.”

With that encouraging and inspiring thought in mind, two (yes 2!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe Members, will win a Gift Pack of the Sweet Alexis products, full of a variety of egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free cookies, muffins, breads and cake (A $50 value!) Remember the Sweet Alexis products ALL contain gluten… so these products are NOT for you, if you or your child are on a gluten-free diet!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you, like Michele, make your days sweeter, even while living with food allergies or intolerances (Me? I remember and remain grateful for the foods that I can eat, rather than focus and grieve over the foods that I can not).

All entries must be received by Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 by 12:00 midnight (We’re extending the deadline this week by a few days due the Holiday Week.)

Good Luck, remember that life is indeed very, very sweet, and as always…

Be Free!

Having a child with food allergies can be scary. Letting them go off to school, camp, or after-school activities can be a challenge, since a reaction to an allergic food can be deadly.

Now some parents are enlisting “Man’s Best Friend”, the trustworthy four-legged dog, to buddy up with their children and keep them safe from the deadly dangers of food allergies.

More commonly known as assisting people with vision, hearing, diabetic reactions, or mobility assistance – having dogs assist in keeping kids safe from potentially deadly food allergies is relatively new, but makes perfect sense.

One of the organizations that provide, train and certify these service dogs is Angel Service Dogs. Based out of Monument, Colorado, this non-profit group places Allergy Alert Dogs with individuals and families that are limited in daily activities due to life-threatening, anaphylactic food allergies. 

The Allergy Alert Dogs are trained to detect certain allergens, just like the dogs at the airports and borders that are trained to detect the scent of drugs and explosives. If a potentially dangerous scent is detected, the dogs will alert their owner to avoid contact or ingestion.

Check out more information about the Angel Service Dog organization, how they screen and train their dogs, as well as ways you can help – either by being a “puppy raiser” or by donating to a family raising money for a much needed service dog. Its worth checking out and learning more about how placing services dogs with needy families help prevent unintended exposure to life threatening food allergies!

*  NOTE: Photos are from the Angel Service Dogs website. These are pictures of Riley, the founder’s daughter that has food allergies, with her service dog, Rock-O.