Recent Q&A from my inbox:
Q:
My daughter is hoping to become gluten free and I’m not medical and somewhat daunted by the whole thing. Any ideas for what to pack for lunches for her?
A:
I'm not a medical professional either, just someone who's been doing this for several years. Is she having medical problems that are prompting the desire to be GF? If you're looking at testing for celiac disease, she needs to still be actively consuming gluten to get accurate results. It's not as likely to show up after going gluten free.
With that said, the number one thing I recommend when getting started is to go to www.ceceliasmarketplace.com and buy the Gluten Free Grocery Shopping Guide. This book saved my sanity when I was getting started! It lists "normal" foods that have been confirmed by them to be gluten free. You can also sign up to get email updates/alerts when they find that info in the book has become outdated or you can sign up for the GF product of the day emails- it's just a nice reminder of all the things you CAN have instead of everything you CAN'T. It's not cheap, but it will save you time, money, and headaches in buying specialty products.
There are tons of great GF specialty products out there.... and some that aren't so good. I linked the brands I like best on www.glutenfreefortwayne.blogspot.com. For the sake of feeling "normal" I recommend Udi's bread. Most Scott's and Kroger stores sell it. At West State, it's in its own freestanding stand (brown wood, I believe) as you go from the baked goods into the organic/natural section by the produce. You can also find it at The Health Food Shoppe on N. Anthony and the Co-op. Meijer sells it in their freezer section, but it sells quick and you can't always count on them having it when you need it.
So as far as packing a reasonable lunch- you can make a sandwich with Udi's- peanut butter and jelly, tuna.... today I had turkey. Lunch meat can be hit-and-miss. I use Meijer brand- cheap and safe. Kraft is a great brand overall- they will clearly label any wheat, barley, rye, or oats in the ingredients list, no confusing long words that mean nothing to us. Whole foods- fruits, vegetables, etc. are safe and easy. String cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, Chex (not wheat), Fruity Pebbles (they just started making FP treats, kind of like Rice Krispies treats- love them!), Fruit Roll-Ups, Gushers, most Lays chips (their website has a great list of GF products.......
I hope this helps to get you started!!! I know it's a lot to take in. It'll take time. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Q:
Newly diagnosed! Are cebollas Mexican grill cups safe?
How about takaoka?
How about takaoka?
A:
It's been a long time since I've been to Cebolla's, but I know I've managed to eat there and not get sick before. I don't remember what I had. I've never been to Takaoka, but I have heard good things from others before about them being able to accommodate our needs. Just make sure to ask lots of questions and even talk to a manager to help make sure you can get something safe at these places.
If you want Mexican with less hassle- though it's not at all the same kind of Mexican food as Cebolla's- Carlos O'Kelly's has a gluten free menu. I've never gotten sick there. Also Chipotle is a good place to go- everything there is GF except the flour tortillas. I just always ask them to put on a fresh pair of gloves. They're used to it. Lots of celiacs eat there because we do have so few options.
