I Am Glad Gluten Free Foods Are NOT Fortified

Feb 27, 2019

Why I am glad that most gluten free foods are NOT fortified.

Seems like a crazy statement, I know. I used to think it would be great if they would fortify the gluten free foods and cereals like so many gluten foods are fortified. However, as I have recently been doing research into the MTHFR gene defect/mutation and the problems and issues with it, I have changed my mind about fortified foods!

Also, some companies are fortifying their gf foods, so make sure you are reading labels.

I am not a doctor. I am sharing what I have learned in the quest to help myself and my family have better health. Please do your own research and talk to your doctor.

What is fortification?

We see fortified on a lot of processed foods, especially cereals. However, there is also fortification to milk and juice. So, what exactly does it mean when a food is fortified?

It means that a nutrient is added to a food when the ingredients in that food never included that nutrient to begin with. For example, milk and juice don’t naturally have vitamin D, but vitamin D is added to most milk and juice products. This addition did help a serious health issue, in children, that seems to be rare, now, rickets.

Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones; which leads to skeletal deformities and breaks, from a lack of vitamin D. The soft and weakened bones can be caused by other medical issues, but lack of vitamin D has been a major cause.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience to be able to find similar items to what I am using. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

How is fortification different from enriched?

Fortification is done to a food when that nutrient was never a part of it naturally. Enriched foods are foods that have lost some of its nutrients from being processed and so those nutrients are added back in. Keep in mind that the nutrients added back in are almost always in their synthetic form.

Salt has added iodine. It has naturally occurring iodine and has more added for daily recommended iodine levels.

Our bodies tend to absorb and use ingredients that are natural, better than their synthetic counter-parts. Other than this, what could be wrong with fortified and enriched foods? It seems like a wonderful benefit to us and we don’t have to take as many vitamin pills. Right?!

Well, to understand the problem we first need to look at the MTHFR gene defect/mutation.

What is MTHFR?

Everyone agrees that the acronym MTHFR looks like it stands for a really bad phrase! Some people do refer to it by that crude phrase because of the havoc it can cause within a persons body.

“MTHFR mutation—changes to a gene linked to an increasing number of medical conditions, including thyroid disease—has become a controversial topic among scientists. While the National Institutes of Health lists five conditions directly linked to the genetic mutation, a growing body of evidence has linked it, either directly or indirectly, to a host of disorders affecting the heart, eyes, brain, thyroid gland, and other organ systems. The MTHFR mutation is also believed to predispose a person to certain cancers, birth defects, and autoimmune diseases.”

There are 2 MTHFR genes: C677T and A1298C. You can have one copy of one of the genes, one copy of both genes or 2 copies of one or both of these genes. With a gene test you can sort out with your doctor what you have and what is best to do about it.

What does it mean if you have this mutation?

It means that your body can’t properly use folic acid and convert it to the usable form of folate. Deliciously Organic said it best:

“For example, many people have the MTHFR mutation today. When someone with the MTHFR mutation consumes folic acid (the synthetic form of folate) the body can’t process it. The synthetic folic acid builds up in the system and the excess ends up stored as a toxin in organs and fat tissue.”

These stored up toxins can wreak havoc on a persons body! Your baby is still at risk for neural tube defects when your body is unable to properly use the folic acid that you are putting into it.

Here are some other possible problems (not a complete list):

Recurrent miscarriage
Tongue tie
Neurological problems
Anxiety
Growth problems
Thyroid problems
Anemia
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Childhood respiratory problems

Folic Acid verses Folate

Folic acid is widely recommended for pregnant women, especially before pregnancy and early on in their pregnancies. Folic acid was added to foods in the U.S. by FDA mandate in 1996. The purpose was to cut down on neural tube defects in babies. The incidences of these neural defects did drop and the program is considered a success.

However, folic acid is not for everyone! Folic acid is the synthetic version of the naturally occurring vitamin B, folate, that you find in vegetables, fruit, fruit juice, nuts, beans and beef liver. If you can’t convert the folic acid you are at risk for problems associated with low vitamin B levels as well as issues from the unusable folic acid.

So, in short, folic acid is synthetic vitamin B and folate is the natural form of vitamin B.

Why can fortification bad?

There are a lot of benefits to fortified and enriched foods. However, if nutrients that are being added and even mandated by the government, that your body cannot properly use and can cause harmful effects, it is a problem!

It is easy for adults to get too much of your daily vitamins and minerals, if you are eating a lot of processed foods and taking your vitamins. Yet, there can still be gaps in your nutrition and missing other essential vitamins and minerals. Adults are often low on magnesium, dietary fiber, calcium and vitamins A, D, E, and C.

Vitamins are also, often fortified with folic acid. Also, keep in mind that you can’t absorb calcium if you don’t have enough vitamin D.

What to do if you have MTHFR genes?

The following is a very short list, you can find more at this website, and please always discuss these issues and dietary changes and vitamins with your doctor!

Avoid folic acid- stick with the natural folate
Eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans
Talk to your doctor about methylated folate and how much you should be taking
Eat less processed foods
Check your multi-vitamin for folic acid and find one that doesn’t contain it (I have no recommendations at this time, I need to do this.)

2319

In Monster’s Inc., the first time a 2319 is put into action is when the monster, George returns from a great scream and has a child’s sock on his back. The sock is immediately destroyed and poor George is completely humiliated by being thoroughly shaved. George has really bad luck as 2319 seems to follow him throughout the show.

Purple socks in memory of Uncle Mike. His Birthday is February 3.

So, new socks were a must for our party!

The 2319 Party

We donned our purple socks as we watched Monster’s Inc. and Monster’s University. Our kids are pretty grown up, now and so it has been a while since any of us have seen these shows. It was so much fun and lots of memories!

My daughter made a fabulous gluten free monster cake. Purple and blue of course!

Fun, relaxing and low key is the way we like to party. So much less stress and still a lot of fun!

The Cake

My daughter made the cake using Gluten-Free Heaven’s Yellow/Vanilla Cake Mix and a buttercream frosting. She put food coloring spots throughout two of the layers and mini chocolate chips in the third layer. I think she could have done more chocolate chips! It was delicious!

It looks like a monster with it’s mouth wide open! LOL

And don’t forget the ice cream! My kids LOVE Playdough ice cream! Personally not my favorite since the yellow has a banana taste, but my kids love it!

More 2319 Party Ideas

Have someone draw (or get a monsters poster) a monster’s back on a poster board. Draw the outline for a sock on the monster’s back. Cut out little socks to “pin” on the monster’s back.
Make a blanket fort to watch movies in
Monsters photo booth with props
Make sock puppets that look like monsters

Remembering Mike on 2319

We decided our 23-19 would be February 3, 2019. It was perfect! My brother-in-law passed away a year ago, right before his 51st birthday. He was a character! He would have loved a party like this. Well, February 3, 2019 would have been his 52nd birthday and what a great way to remember him!

We got everyone purple socks for the occasion. My husband’s even have lemons on them. Significant because many people mistake our last name for lemon.

Mike’s favorite color was purple!

Death in a family sometimes brings out the worst in people

Purple was his favorite color! He was so proud of all of his purple, he was even wearing purple socks with his sandals.

Then, the two main monsters in the movie are named Mike and James. Just like my husband and his brother.

Happy Birthday, Mike!

January 2019 Gluten Free Goals-Restaurant Review

Jan 30, 2019

So, I wrote a post about Gluten Free Goals for 2019 and one of those goals was to try a new place to eat out. My husband loved the idea and so we have tried a few new places throughout January. We had a great time looking for and trying new places.

We used the app Findmeglutenfree, to help us choose as well as recommendations from our local gluten free Facebook pages.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Oteo

Oteo is located at 139 S State Street, Lindon, Utah. It is in a strip mall and hard to see. We have passed it almost daily and never realized it was there. The reviews on Findmeglutenfree sounded great and so we were off to check it out!

Oteo’s is a Mexican restaurant and I don’t think I have ever had such authentic Mexican food ever! It was absolutely delicious!

We started out with an appetizer, I think it was the Queso. It was so delicious. For this alone, I would go back!!!

January 2019 Gluten Free Goals Restaurant Reviews

The Queso had jalepenos and thinly sliced turnips (I think they were turnips) You eat it with their special chips, which are triangle cut, corn tortillas they have cooked.

I got two tacos. This was disappointing, especially for the price. They are small and it wasn’t too bad of a portion for a light lunch, but would not be filling for dinner. However, they were absolutely delicious!

Pros

Delicious!

Friendly, helpful staff

Gluten free knowledgeable

More than 90% of their menu is gluten free

Cons

Pricey

Small portions

R&R Barbecue

An R&R Barbecue recently opened up at 1977 West Pleasant Grove Blvd, Pleasant Grove, Utah. It can be a little difficult to get to, depending on which direction you are coming from. If you are heading toward the freeway, then you need to keep going and do a U-turn after the freeway on and off ramps and get back to the entrance that way. If you are coming from the freeway it is really easy. Coming from the East, you have to turn a long time before you get to the restaurant. So, access is a little difficult, but that doesn’t deter the crowds! It was crazy busy and we went before the dinner rush!

They were knowledgeable. Make sure you double check things to avoid, substitutions, and they clearly mark your order gluten free. There are many options here that are safe. They seem to do a good job in keeping the cross-contamination at a minimum.

Missed getting pictures here! I had the smoked chicken and it was wonderful! So, incredibly moist and delicious! My husband’s favorite was the pulled pork and my daughter had the brisket. My daughter wasn’t as happy with the brisket as she would have been with the chicken. The barbecue sauces are gluten free and we tried them all.

We also tried their garlic mashed potatoes (without the gravy), potato salad and coleslaw.

Pros

Great food!

Portion size is very good!

Friendly staff that understands gluten free and answers questions well.

Cons

Busy!

Tucanos Brazilian Grill

Tucanos is not a new place for us, but it is one of our favorites. Our daughter chose it for her birthday dinner. It is a more expensive restaurant and so we made it a late lunch to take advantage of the lunch price. It is in the heart of Orem, Utah, right by the University Place Mall: 545 E University Pkwy.

Reservations are helpful depending on day, time and how big your party is. Sometimes the wait is hours long! We usually go here a couple of times a year. This year, it happened to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it was busier than we had expected. With just the 3 of us, we didn’t have too long of a wait, unlike bigger parties.

If you have never been to a Brazilian grill, it is quite the experience! There is a LOT of meat, and it is brought to your table on skewers. They cut pieces off at your table and you can eat as much as you would like. They also serve vegetables and you don’t want to miss the grilled pineapple!

Each table has a Tucanos cue. When the green is up, you are wanting servers to come by with meat, vegetables and pineapple. When the red is up you are wanting to be left alone and may be ready to be done.

I love Tucanos’ salad bar! They clearly mark what is gluten free on the shelf above where all the food sits. They are about 90% gluten free.

A must try is the Brazilian Lemonade! It is more lime rather than lemon. You can get it in several flavors, but the original is my favorite! Another one of my favorites is the Picalho, Brazilian for garlic Parmesan beef.

Pros

Fabulous gluten free options that taste wonderful

Knowledgeable staff (If they don’t know they always double check!)

Fun atmosphere

Lots of food!

Cons

Pricey

Busy

How about you? Have you tried somewhere new or have a place you love to go? Share it in the comments! We would love to hear about it!

Why Cooking Gluten Free At Home Is Better

Jan 9, 2019

Let’s face it, it is nice to eat out! It is fantastic to not have to think about: what to make, shop for the ingredients, cut, chop and put the recipe together, standing and cooking, or do any of the clean up afterwards! Eating out is awesome as far as all of this goes! I love that there are no dishes to do, when we eat out!

My goal, before being diagnosed with celiac disease and going gluten free, 15 years ago, was to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible. I didn’t like to cook! 15 years ago there weren’t a lot of options when it came to eating out and it was much, much less safe to do so. Awareness about celiac and gluten intolerance has helped in providing better gluten free products and options all around!

With that being said, there are a lot of benefits to cooking gluten free at home!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Benefits to Cooking at Home

Finances
Safety from cross contamination
Less cross contact
Improve cooking skills
Healthier lifestyle
Family time

Finances- a Benefit to Cooking Gluten Free at Home

It is expensive to eat out! Gluten free dishes often cost more when eating out. The reason for this is because gluten free products cost more for everyone! It isn’t a straight across substitution to have a gluten free pizza crust versus a regular pizza crust. It costs a lot more for them to offer these substitutions.

Not to mention, that if the staff is well trained, your food needs more attention to detail in order to cut down on chances of cross contact.

Safety From Cross Contamination

When in your own kitchen, you have a system. If you don’t, you should. I have an all gluten free house, because everyone in our family has gluten intolerance to one degree or another. I know that there is no gluten in my kitchen and this is important in our family.

If you have a family where only you or a couple of family members are gluten free, gluten free foods should be clearly marked: jam, peanut butter, anything that can be double dipped with a knife or other utensil. This is a common way to spread cross contamination from gluten products to gluten free products. I recommend having a black sharpie in the kitchen and clearly marking “GF” on your strictly gluten free products. Then, educate the family on why they can’t use that peanut butter to make their gluten sandwich.

Less Cross Contact

You don’t have to worry about whether or not the people handling your food, understand how to properly handle your food! Gloves must be changed! Fresh ingredients that haven’t had a chance for gluten to be introduced should be used. Do NOT make my food on the same counter you just had gluten. You can’t brush off gluten crumbs and then touch gluten free foods.

My daughter got sick doing S’mores with college roommates because they were using the same bag of marshmallows. The other girls touched their graham crackers and then reached in the marshmallow bag. That is all it takes!

Improve Cooking Skills

Cooking gluten free at home is a great opportunity to improve your cooking skills. There are so many ways you can do this, but the biggest thing is trying and doing.

Take a gluten free cooking class
Read blogs to understand the differences between how you cooked before and cooking gluten free
Watch Youtube cooking demonstrations
Watch the food channel for ideas
Learn how to make substitutions
Take a chance and try a new recipe
Join gluten free Facebook pages
Have a meal prep day/evening or weekend
Get the family involved in the process of preparing dinner

Healthier Lifestyle

Have you ever noticed how much better everything tastes when it is homemade. When I was first diagnosed and had to cook gluten free, I found cooking from scratch to be cumbersome and frustrating. Over time (at least a year), it got easier. I planned into dinner the time it would take to make my own creamed soup and figured out what I could do while that was cooking.

We use fresh ingredients and eat more fruits and vegetables. My daughter had a friend who loved to eat at our house, because they never had vegetables at her house. We also use a lot less processed foods. We haven’t exchanged all our old processed gluten ingredients for processed gluten free ingredients. This is also more economical to make as much as we can ourselves.

We have tried more things and experimented more. I can make gourmet pizzas, Lasagna (which used to terrify me), Korean food, and so much more. It is fun to have a varied menu!

Family Time

We have tried to make dinner more of a family time. It was more challenging when we were eating out frequently. Grabbing a meal in the car and running from place to place. Sure you are together, but it isn’t always as meaningful as when you are sitting face to face and talking.

I have loved our family dinner times. My older two girls usually sit at the one end by me and the younger two sit at the other end of the table by my husband. My older girls and I have a joke that our end of the table is the fun end. There is usually more laughing, teasing and so forth at our end of the table.

Memories and relationships can be strengthened around the table in your home atmosphere, in a different way than what happens in public. Everyone is more open, for better or worse. Sometimes the worst times open up the way for better times and more communication.

2019 Gluten Free Goals For the New Year

Jan 4, 2019

The start of a new year has always been a great time for setting goals. It is a time to renew our resolve to the things we would like to accomplish. Here are a few goal ideas to help you with your gluten free experience.

Eat at Home

It is expensive to eat out. Often more expensive if you are gluten free. Gluten free ingredients often cost more than other ingredients, especially if they are buying only a few buns or bread to keep in stock. Often, the more you buy, the more you save, especially in retail. If places don’t get a lot of gluten free customers, they don’t buy as much and don’t receive the same kick backs as places that buy in higher quantities. Therefore, it is more expensive for them to stock gluten free specialty items.

Eating out increases your risk of getting accidental cross contact or straight up accidental gluten. The more you eat out, the greater your risk. You have no control of your food, how it is handled, or what ingredients are actually being used. Eating out is ALWAYS a risk! Most places try hard to keep you safe and minimize cross contact, but even the best places sometimes have errors.

I’m not down on eating out. I love to eat out, but there are definitely draw backs and risks. Eating at home has some great benefits besides finances: family time, less worry, and expanding your cooking ability!

Learn to make something new

My stance on cooking at home is that if I have to go to all that work, it better taste good! I love Pinterest! I love all of the ideas. I don’t count out the gluten recipes. If something looks good, I see how I can modify it. Does it just need a gf pasta or gf bread? What are my options for making it gluten free?

I used to be so intimidated about making something new or things that seemed hard to make. I was very intimidated by lasagna! I first learned how to make lasagna after going to a gluten free cooking class and the lady demonstrated how easy it was. It wasn’t bad, but I found an easier way to do it in a church cookbook. I made it gluten free and modified it to my liking, making it my own!

Try something new, make some adjustments, ask on gluten free pages for advice and soon you will be able to make anything gluten free. Let yourself experiment and enjoy the process.

Things I have made that used to intimidate me:

lasagna
cream puffs
eclairs
donuts
Korean food
gourmet pizza
cooking more at home

Try a new place

Like I said, I am not opposed to eating out. I love to eat out and would rather eat out than have the mess at home.

I get tired of going to the same couple of places. We used to hear about a new place opening up and plan a day to go try it out! I miss that! The adventure of trying a new place, new food, etc. It is still doable. You just need to know what questions to ask and have an adventurous spirit.

Here are some tips to make it a more pleasant experience:

Call ahead and ask about gluten free options and practices
Do you have a gluten free menu?
Do you have a dedicated gluten free kitchen area?
Are you able to use fresh ingredients that haven’t been handled all day?
Do you have a dedicated fryer? Are there any breaded items that are fried in that fryer? (Breaded fries or onion rings) Sometimes their dedicated fryer only excludes fish and meat.
Is the grill cleaned before cooking gluten free foods? Do they use a grill mat or can they use tinfoil to cook your food on?
Are there any measures taken to cut down on cross contact?
Is the staff willing to change gloves?
What are the substitutes you need to make?
Do they have any suggestions of what will make it easier for your to communicate your needs when you are interacting with their staff?

Try a gluten free product you haven’t had before

We can get stuck in our ways. We find products we like and stick to. Shake things up a little bit and try a product you haven’t tried before. Find out if the Trader Joe’s gluten free products are any good, try a different pancake mix, see if that gluten free cake mix tastes a little more like what you used to have, etc.

You may be surprised by what you find. There are a lot of great products out there and they are worth finding.

Attend a gluten free expo

These are great events to go to! There are a lot of booths and samples. This is a great way to find new products without breaking the bank. You get to sample and then decide if you like it enough to buy it!

Often there are information booths to learn more and activities for kids.

Participate in a gluten free event

The Gluten Intolerance Group often has events throughout the country on education and support. These are great for learning more about the health issues involving celiac, gluten intolerance, and other diseases and health problems that facilitate the need to be gluten free.

We have a local gluten free group that is putting together a Disneyland gluten free experience! They are planning on making it an annual event.

There are also gluten free summer camps and family trips.

Join a support group

(*I am a support group leader, but get nothing for endorsing going to a support group or the GIG website. I just believe in what they do and I know how it can benefit others to join and be involved.)

Joining a support group helps those who are newly diagnosed and connects people together who are living the same lifestyle. Support groups need the experience of those who have been gluten free, to help one another. Surprisingly, those who have been gluten free for a long time often find other benefits from coming to the support group:

Information you didn’t know you need to know
Places where gluten hides
Health information
Special speakers
Special events
Interacting with people going through similar difficulties and challenges
Help in how to handle situations with medical professionals, family, friends, work, etc.
There is just something different about talking face to face

This is a great year to get healthy, try new things, and enjoy being gluten free!

The Benefits and Downside of Flaxseed- gluten free issues

Nov 14, 2018

Flaxseed, what is it and why do so many people put it in gluten free foods? What are it’s benefits and is there a downside?

I must say, this post has been an educational experience for me and has changed my point of view.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is also known as linseed. Doesn’t mean anything to you? Me neither, though I have heard the word before.

The plant is flax, but in another article it was referred to as the linseed plant. Frequently, it goes by both names. The seeds are called linseed or flaxseed. It is an ancient grain that people have been growing as early as 3000 B.C.

“Her hair was flaxen!”

Flaxen hair

Flaxseed Benefits

Here is why people like flaxseed, but keep in mind many researchers still don’t consider the benefits settled. They do agree that research suggests that there “appear” to be many benefits. Let’s list a few:

Reduce the risk of:

Cancer
Stroke
Heart Disease
Diabetes
Lung Disease
high blood pressure
high Cholesterol
inflammation
(reduce) hot flashes
(prevent) constipation

What makes flaxseed so beneficial?

Omega-3s- Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.
healthy fats
protein
fiber- both soluble and insoluble fiber
lignans
antioxidant properties
amino acids

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Which is better flaxseed or flaxseed oil?

With flaxseed you get the entire seed and benefits of the whole thing. The oil only gives you part of the pieces of the seed.

Don’t just eat the seeds

The body isn’t made to digest flaxseed in it’s whole form. Eating it straight will not give you the benefits, because it will go straight through you. So, to get the benefits of this wonder seed we need to grind it down. Because flaxseed has a lot of oil and the seeds are small, the best way to grind it is with a coffee grinder.

The oils will gum up a grinder and many find that using an electric coffee grinder is the way to go, when you are doing it yourself. In fact, any seed or other oily grain that you want to grind, does better in a coffee grinder.

Is there a downside to flaxseed?

There are a few concerns and downside to flaxseed, for some people. Keep in mind these problems usually go along with other conditions or from high consumption of flaxseed. Some people tolerate it very well and others may not do so well. Listen to your body.

High consumption of flaxseed can lead to a laxative effect. For this reason the National Institute of Health has suggested that those with the following conditions should not use flaxseed: diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. (I need to re-evaluate our use of flaxseed, considering my husband was diagnosed with crohn’s.)
If you are eating a lot of flaxseed it can cause obstructions in the esophagus, intestines or bowel.
Some people are allergic to flaxseed
Because of the estrogen found in the plant, it can have a negative effect on those with certain hormone related health conditions. This is because the hormone in the plant acts the same as human hormones. (Reminds me of the issues with estrogen in soy.)
May reduce blood clotting; making the blood thinner.
Can cause the mania in some people who are bipolar
May contain heavy metal amounts because of contaminated soil. The one of most concern with the flaxseed crop is cadium. The cadium the plant absorbs may actually increase the chances of breast cancer. Undoing all the benefits of the flaxseed. Organic foods are NOT tested for heavy metals.
Possible cross contamination with gluten. As with any grain, if the flaxseed is grown in a field that alternates with gluten grains the potential for cross contamination increases. Also, if the milling happens in a plant, but especially on the same equipment or same area as gluten grains the potential for cross contamination is greater.

Who shouldn’t supplement with flaxseed?

With so many great benefits it seems like everyone should supplement their diet with flaxseed! However, there are groups of people that should be more weary:

Pregnant women (more below)
According to research, breast feeding mothers may not want to consume flaxseed. Studies are contradictory and the risk may outweigh the benefits.

“Our own animal studies showed that flaxseed exposure during these stages may be protective against breast cancer in the offspring. But a study of another investigator showed the opposite effect,” Thompson says.

Hormone related health conditions: endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, and breast, ovarian or uterine cancer. Pregnant women also should not consume supplemental flax seed, as it could stimulate menstruation or cause other hormonal effects that might be harmful to the developing baby.
You shouldn’t eat flaxseed if you have the following: diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
People who have scleroderma.
Those who have an allergic reaction to flaxseed which can include: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or anaphylaxis.
Diabetics should be cautious about consuming flaxseed and how much. (This one is a little confusing since other information says it may lower the risk of diabetes. One would think that it would also help if you already have diabetes. I think the biggest problem for diabetics with this is the thinning blood.)
People with bleeding disorders should also be cautious. This is because it can thin the blood and reduce blood clotting.
Those who are bipolar– flaxseed may bring on mania.

Why I Use Flaxseed in My Flour Mixture

I wanted to add more protein and fiber to our flour mixture. Our whole family is gluten free and so, I make Bette Hagman’s combination for flour; it is less expensive for me to do so. Which is simply: 6 cups rice flour, 2 cups potato starch and 1 cup tapioca flour. Then, I add approximately 1/4 cup (maybe a little less) of ground flaxseed. I really like this mixture and it works well in most things.

For baked goods I use Bette Hagman’s Featherlight combination of 1:1:1. 1 Cup rice flour, 1 cup corn starch and 1 cup tapioca starch. (I do not add flaxseed to this! You want it to be light so your baked goods can be fluffy.)

***Remember that there IS a difference between potato starch and potato flour. Potato starch will last longer and they have different textures.

Tapioca starch and tapioca flour are the exact same thing! There is no end to the confusion in the gluten free diet.

Continued use of flaxseed?

I need to carefully decide if we should continue to use flaxseed in our mixture; I am leaning toward not doing so. My husband has been diagnosed with crohn’s and that is a big deal! The last thing I want is to cause him more problems with his digestive tract.

Another big concern for me is the hormone issues. My daughter has Hashimotos and hormones do affect this disease in a negative way. It is recommended to avoid soy (which is also hard to do on a gluten free diet) and the hormone issue is the same or similar with flaxseed.

In my opinion, I don’t understand why so many gluten free companies use these plants that are hormone disrupters. People with celiac already have a higher risk of developing certain conditions like auto-immune thyroid and these foods can have such a negative effect.

I am disheartened by what I have learned in writing this post. When I began, I was a proponent for flaxseed, but after what I have learned I am strongly leaning toward discontinuing using flaxseed.

10 Themed Gift Ideas For Any Occassion

Nov 6, 2018

I love putting together themed gifts! It is so much fun and personable! There are lots of ways you can give these themed gifts:

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

wrap each item separately
find a fun container to put all items in (baskets)
Giant gift bag

These gift themes include gluten free products, but you easily could swap out for your favorite brands. *Some of the products are priced for packages including more than one package of the product.

Foot Themed

The feet get so abused, it is nice to pamper them! Here are some products that will help to pamper her feet.

Pumice stone (I have this pumice stone and I love it!) This works wonders in helping rough, cracked feet and helping them to feel baby soft, again.
Foot lotion- Feet need love too! They get dry, so a nice foot lotion that moisturizes feels so good!
Socks- Spa socks are the best! Infused with Aloe Vera and continue to do great when you put lotion on your feet and then the socks.
Foot Bath- Have your own spa at home. Bubbles and massaging; add some Epsom salts and essential oils and you will feel so rejuvenated and relaxed.

Bubble Themed

Know someone with a bubbly personality? This is a fun idea to reflect the happiness they exude.

Colbet Callie- Bubbly CD- Fun Bubbly song to uplift
Champagne Flutes and Sparkling cider- or any favorite bubbly drink.
Bubble Bath- Everything in this theme is about bubbles. What girl doesn’t enjoy a relaxing, bubbly bath?
Bath bomb- Not very bubbly per se, but relaxing. Or for a teen, you may want to do some bubble gum.

Sundae Themed

One of our favorite wedding gifts was a set of dishes for sundaes. We have bought more as our family has grown and love the specialness it brings to a common dessert at home.

Sundae dishes- Tall, short or a banana boat, these are always fun to receive!
Spoons- For tall sundae glasses long spoons are great to get to the bottom without losing the spoon.
Toppings- What are your favorite ice cream toppings? Chocolate, caramel, strawberry, pineapple, marshmallow. . .
Sprinkles- To make it look pretty, fun and festive.
Tie the theme together with a cute poem, saying or decoration.

Cookie Themed

Who doesn’t like making cookies?! Do you like to frost them or eat them warm right out of the oven?

Cookie mix- So many options: sugar cookie, chocolate chip, snickerdoodle. . .
Cookie Cutters- Sugar cookies made perfectly round or into fun shapes
Baking pan- Cookie sheets and cooling racks and they will be set to make a favorite treat!
“If you give a mouse a cookie”- This adorable children’s book ties up the theme nicely

Waffle/Pancake Themed

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals. I know I am not alone in thinking breakfast can happen anytime of day.

Mix- Favorite pancake/waffle mix
Spatula-aka pancake turner
Syrup- A great maple flavored syrup and a variety of flavored syrups. My favorite is raspberry. Jams are also great with breakfast foods!
Waffle iron/griddle- If you are gluten free remember that anything porous hold on to the gluten protein and can continue to cross contact. Never use a gluten in your gluten free waffle iron.

Soup Themed

With the cold winter months this will warm them from head to toe.

Soup mix- A favorite soup on a cold winter’s day will hit the spot.
Crackers- No better companion for your favorite soup.
Bowls- I love soup bowls! I love the handles on these and that they are stackable!
Soup spoons- So much better than your regular table spoon, is a soup spoon!

Edward Scissorhands Theme

Do you know someone who is really good at gardening than maybe this is the theme for them! We did a variation of this theme for a white elephant party we went to last year. It was a hit!

Movie- The Edward Scissorhands movie
Garden shears- Encourage your loved one to get out there and sculpt those bushes.
Hedge trimmer- I love my hedge trimmer! It certainly cuts down the time in trimming the bushes and hedges.
Garden Gloves- As nice as playing in the dirt is, new gloves are always nice to have! Keeping the dirt from our hands and out of our nails.

Winnie the Pooh Theme

When I saw the cute globe, I knew we had to have a Winnie the Pooh theme! I grew up with Winnie the Pooh and he has always been a favorite of mine!

Movie- There are a large variety of Winnie the Pooh movies to choose from! You can choose a movie to fit the age of the person you are giving the gift to. Or include a couple for a family gift. I enjoyed the new Christopher Robin movie: (paraphrasing) “I want a red travel balloon because it makes me happy.”
Honey- No bear should be without his honey!
Bear- No matter your age a Winnie the Pooh Bear is delightful!
Snow globe- I love this globe! Stuck in the globe like he often is trying to get to honey.
Include red balloons or tie a red helium filled balloon to the gift.

Hero

“You are my Hero!” So many superheros to choose from for this theme!

Movie- Choose their favorite superhero movie to include in this theme
Shirt- Find a great t-shirt with their favorite superhero depicted
Mug- Memorabilia with their favorite superhero. Mugs are great and come in fun designs
“Rescue” gift card- Be their hero by giving them a gift card to be used at a car wash, food place, or anywhere they would love

I hope you have as much fun putting together themed gifts as I do! Hopefully there is a theme that works for your hard to shop for loved one!

12 Days of Stocking Stuffers for Her

Nov 3, 2018

Stocking stuffers for her this Christmas

These ideas are a good starting point in how to fill your favorite girls stocking! Whether you do a 12 days of Christmas with stocking stuffers or use this post as a springboard to fill her stocking you are sure to please her.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

1. Essential Oil Jewelry

On the first day of stocking stuffers, “I love the scent of you”

Many women are loving essential oils. This jewelry is a fashionable way for her to wear her favorite scents.

2. Follow Her Dreams

On the second day of stocking stuffers, dreams are what life is made from!

Tell her how much you believe in her and her dreams with this pendant! Inscribed are the words: “Go in the direction of your dreams”.

3. Birthstone Necklace

On the third day of stocking stuffers, “The most precious jewels you’ll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children”.

I love that! With birthstone necklaces she can continue wearing her jewels around her neck even when they aren’t so little, anymore. They grow, but in our hearts they will always be.

4. Blue Tooth Hat

On the fourth day of stocking stuffers, “I love being in tune with you“.

The reviews say that the person wearing the hat feels like everything is in surround sound, but no one else hears the music. It is a blue tooth device and so there are no wires to get in the way of moving around.

5. Coin Purse

On the 5th day of stocking stuffers, 5 gold coins!

It would be so much fun to get the 5 of the $1 coins to put in this purse. So cute! Who doesn’t love another pretty place to put your cell phone, lipstick and more?!

6. Key Ring

On the 6th day of stocking stuffers, you have the key to my heart!

I have always loved Winnie the Pooh. This quote was said to Pooh by Christopher Robin. “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”

7. Eye Pillow

On the 7th day of stocking stuffers, these are the things that dreams are made of.

This pillow is filled with organic flax seed and smells wonderfully of lavender (per reviews on Amazon). Lavender is a relaxing scent that promotes rest. Whether she needs just a little help relaxing or suffers from migraines, this is a handy pillow to have around.

8. Leather Journal

On the 8th day of stocking stuffers, to remember the good.

Having a place to write and keep things is always nice. This journal is still small enough to fit in a purse.

9. Pumice stone

On the 9th day of stocking stuffers, I’ll walk with you forever.

My feet take a lot of abuse because I like going barefoot. They get tough, but then they start to crack and hurt and have all kinds of problems. A nice pumice stone is the perfect thing to ease this problem.

10. Body Butter

On the 10th day of stocking stuffers, Love the skin you are in.

Moisturizers are great to keep a woman’s skin soft and smooth. Though I haven’t used this brand before, I am impressed that it is scent free, paraben free and gluten free!

11. Ulta Beauty Gift Card

On the 11th day of stocking stuffers, you are beautiful.

This is my daughter’s favorite place to shop for make-up and other girly things! So much fun to know that you have a little spending spree coming up, to choose your favorite products!

12. Stockings

On the 12th day of stocking stuffers, you are the socks to my feet.

No stocking is complete without a nice new pair of warm winter socks.

Eating Gluten Free on Thanksgiving

Nov 1, 2018

When you have celiac, gluten intolerance, a wheat allergy or some other medical issue that causes you to need to eat gluten free, there are no holidays from gluten free eating. There is no “just a little bit” because, “Yes! A little bit will hurt!!!”.

So, how do we have a safe Thanksgiving and enjoy it with family and friends?!

Thanksgiving Host

The easiest way, is if you are the Thanksgiving host, but that isn’t always possible. Not to mention that “easy” only refers to the being able to have some control over what gluten is at dinner. Thanksgiving is a big event that can be stressful. Keep this in mind when approaching the host. They are putting on a big party and you don’t want to stress them out with demands.

However, it doesn’t hurt to ask them, if they would mind looking for a gluten free turkey and not stuffing it. If this is something they are unwilling to do, there are other things you can do.

There are many brands of gluten free turkey. Yes, turkey is naturally gluten free, but some companies inject their birds with broth that contains gluten. So, stay away from self basting turkeys.

Volunteer

Ask if you can bring something:

salad
pie
rolls
stuffing
side dish

This way you know there will be something you can eat. If possible, you may want to bring something for the meal and something for dessert. Dessert is always nice to have the option of, especially at a large gathering like this. (Often I will dish to the side what I need before I put it with everyone elses to cut down on possible cross contact.)

Thanksgiving Plan B

In the event that your host is unwilling to work with you or leaves you feeling like you don’t dare eat anything when you go, here is plan B. Alert your host that you will be bringing your own food, because you want to enjoy being with everyone, but really don’t want to get sick. Be sure to not make them feel guilty about you doing this. Emotions are already high during the holidays and you don’t need this to be a source of contention.

Decide if there are parts of the meal you are safe to eat and just bring the parts you need. Your health is important and you need to do what is best for you.

Option 1

Decide if you feel safe eating parts of the meal: salad, deviled eggs, vegetables, plain mashed potatoes etc. Bring your own gluten free: rolls, stuffing, gravy, turkey (if they aren’t working with you), pie, etc.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Option 2

Bring your own turkey and stuffing if you want. I’m not talking about walking in with the whole bird! Here are some options:

Cook your own turkey at home, cut it and bring what you plan on eating. At least you will have leftovers.
Get turkey from a deli (check on it’s gluten free status) and bring that with you.
Cook a little Cornish hen for your Thanksgiving meat. It is small and looks so cute when cooked.
Offer to bring the Thanksgiving turkey for everyone and take that load off of your host.

Option 3

Bring all your own food and don’t worry about what everyone else is having. No cross contact or worrying what Aunt Martha put in her bean casserole.

There are some restaurants that serve gluten free Thanksgiving dinners. If you have a place like this near you, you may be able to place your order ahead of time and pick it up on the way to your party. You’ll have to do some work before Thanksgiving to have this in place and double check on their menu. Even if they say it is gluten free, it is still a good idea to ask questions and be sure that they truly know what is gluten free and that gluten free is more than just ingredients, it also involves the kitchen processes.

Thankful

Remember to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

Thankful:

To have a diagnosis and/or know what you need to do to be healthy
There are options for how to enjoy this holiday and still be with family and friends
Your health is in your hands- through diet, you can choose how healthy you are going to be
Hopefully you have family and friends willing to work with you that you can be thankful for
Thanksgiving is only once a year
Time with family and friends

Wishing you a happy, safe, gluten free Thanksgiving!

9 Gluten Free Questions to Ask When Dining Out

Oct 27, 2018

When you are gluten free, dining out has its challenges. Even good places sometimes make mistakes or have an employee that does a less than stellar job! However, there are things you can do to raise the chances of having a good experience. Ask questions and don’t rely on someone else’s opinion.

Questions to Ask

1. Do you have a gluten free menu or gluten free options available

This is a great starting point! The best is when they have a certified gluten free menu! California Pizza Kitchen has gone through the process to certify their gluten free menu. Because they are certified, you know that you can safely eat those things and they have the least amount of risk for cross contact. (Just one example)

However, most places don’t have certified menus, so asking questions and helping them to understand what you need, helps to make it a better experience. You can even print out a restaurant card, cut it and laminate it to keep in your wallet.

Some of the places we like are:

In and Out Burger (protein style)
Chick-Fil-A (option for a gf bun, though they will do it lettuce wrapped/grilled chicken)
Red Robin (option for a gf bun)
Outback (Chocolate Thunder From Down Under is already a gf brownie)
PF Changs (gf dishes are served on dishes with a black ring around the edge)

2. Ask to talk to the chef or manager

We have gone places where we know they offer gluten free, but the server or seater gives us a blank stare and doesn’t know what we are talking out. Especially, if you are uncomfortable with your server, make sure you talk to the manager and /or chef. Ask them what they would recommend for gluten free options.

Whether your order is taken by a server, manager or chef, make sure they mark your order clearly that it is gluten free! Double check with them about injected flavorings in meat, bouillon, croutons, sauces, etc. These are the usual places that problems come in.

We went to one place, on a recent trip (in Anaheim, California, not the parks), and our food was almost done when the server told us they wouldn’t be able to put cheese on any of it. They used wheat/flour to keep the cheese from clumping. I have heard about this, but it was the first time I encountered it and it was really disappointing!

3. Do you have a separate place to prepare gluten free foods?

Some kitchens have a separate place to prepare gluten free foods. Often this includes getting fresh ingredients that haven’t been opened or at least untouched in making gluten dishes. These areas are typically wiped down and kept free of gluten.

It doesn’t hurt to ask if they can use fresh ingredients from the back.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

4. Is the grill cleaned before cooking gf foods? (Ask for a grill mat or for your food to be cooked on tinfoil)

If they grill buns or other gluten things on their grills, ask them to clean it before cooking your food. The gluten does NOT burn off, no matter how hot the grill cooks!

We have a sandwich place near us that takes wonderful measures and uses a grill mat for all of their gluten free customers! They do an amazing job! We have never gotten sick there!

5. What measures are taken to cut down on cross contact?

There are lots of reasons why you may still choose to eat somewhere that doesn’t offer most of the above. So, what measures do you take to cut down on cross contact is an important question. You may want to just have a drink if you are with a group or find another place to eat.

I wouldn’t eat at a place that says we really don’t do anything. . .

6. Please change gloves

Even if you go somewhere frequently, it is good to remind them of things that should be done. Especially with fast food. They tend to be kids, working in those places and may have a tendency to get lax on things. Also, high turn over and sometimes the training for gluten free is on the job; figuring it out with the customers.

Ask the person taking your order to make sure the cook crew knows it is gluten free and ask them to change their gloves.

7. Does your salad contain croutons? Ask to have salad mixed in a clean bowl

I always double check about croutons. No! You can’t just pick them off!

Some restaurants mix their salads in a big bowl that may have croutons and/or pita bread. Bits of those gluten products can still be in the bowl, so ask them to mix it in a fresh bowl.

8. Do you have a dedicated fryer?

Contrary to what seems to be a popular myth, frying foods does NOT kill nor neutralize the gluten! If breaded gluteny foods are cooked in the oil, it is not safe! If they combine and reuse the oil in that fryer, it is not safe. (Combine from all fryers into one container.) If they are dripping from the gluten fryer across the dedicated fryer, it is not safe. (I know a chain of restaurants with a dedicated fryer that does this! What is the point in having a dedicated fryer when you purposefully contaminate it? Why won’t they switch the fryers so the gluten doesn’t drip into the dedicated fryer? Ugh!!!)

A dedicated fryer should have no breaded items or fry anything other than French fries.

9. Are vegetables cooked in clean water or in pasta water?

A popular practice in many restaurants is to use the water that pasta was cooked in, for cooking vegetables. So, those very gluten free vegetables suddenly aren’t as safe as they would seem.

Happy Safe Dining!

I hope these tips help you in having a happy and safe dining experience. What other questions do you ask when eating out?

Sources for this post:

Eating Out Gluten Free

https://gluten.org/resources/lifestyle/restaurant-dining-seven-tips-for-staying-gluten-free/

Gram Flour Verses Graham Flour- Is there a difference?

Oct 20, 2018

There are many types of flours. Basically, if something can be ground down, it can be a flour. Flour can be made from practically anything! For those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, it is important to know which different varieties of flour are made from gluten. You can’t avoid what you don’t know to avoid.

Know the Variations

There are many gluten grain/wheat-derived strains of grains with names other than wheat, rye or barley. Here is a list of some of these gluten grains (not complete). With so many names for wheat or other gluten grains in order to stay healthy it is important to learn about them.

Kamut
Bulgur
Triticale
Spelt
Bran
Couscous
Farina
Orzo
Wheaten Corn flour
Frumento
Duram or Durum
Einkorn
Seitan
Matzoh/Matzah/Matzo

Graham VS Gram

So, What about Graham and Gram flour? They are pronounced the same, but unlike some of the variations in the list above, they are not even close to being the same or similar in their properties. This is unlike duram and durum or Matzoh, Matzah or Matzo which are all the same types of flour, just variations in spelling.

However, in the case of Matzoh, Matzah and Matzo, they can be wheat, rye, barley and/or oats. The oat variety can be safe if the only flour is oat and is made with purity protocol oats.

So, the short of it is, graham is derived from wheat grains and gram is not.

What is Graham?

Graham is literally a whole wheat flour! The inventor of Graham flour was Sylvester Graham who thought that refining flour was unhealthy. More is ground into graham flour than the more traditional flours we use.This results in a coarser, darker flour.

Winter wheat endosperm is ground down and added to the wheat grains that are also ground down. The endosperm creates starch and nutrients in tissue of the seeds. This combination of bran and germ is what makes graham flour different than wheat flour. It is brown in color with a nutty flavor.

Graham Crackers are made from this flour and are also a creation from Sylvester Graham.

What is Gram?

Gram on the other hand is a gluten free flour! It is made from chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. They are a part of the legume family.

This flour is mostly used in cooking Indian foods. It grows just like peas in pods. They are pale yellow in color. Some variations in the name are: besan, chana, cici, chickpea or hummus.

Gram flour is high in protein, fiber and carbohydrates. It also has a nutty flavor to it.

***If it is milled in a mill that does wheat flour the chances of contamination with gluten is high. Look for gram flour that meets FDA rules for being gluten free. Certified gluten free is the best!

Using Gram Flour

There are a lot of breads especially flat breads that can be made from gram/chickpea flour. Check out the links below for a few recipes and ideas.

Authentic Italian Flat Bread

9 of the Very Best Gluten-Free Chickpea Flour Recipes

Do Your Own Gluten Free Homework!

Oct 18, 2018

We are all so willing to take the word of others at face value, whether it be from a doctor, chiropractor, dietician, blogger, someone in gluten free food service, social media or an app. Often, we take the word of other people, instead of doing our own homework.

We Trust:

Medical professionals know everything about everything and so we don’t question them.
The blogger has done their homework/research.
People making gluten free foods understand the laws and what gluten free means and they are following proper procedures.
Gluten free community events like expos are always 100% safe.
People on social media like Facebook know what they are talking about and have asked all the right questions.
Apps that help you find products, restaurants and other gluten free things.

Seriously?!

Let’s start with doctors and other medical professionals:

There is no way for any doctor, even those who are specialists to know everything about everything and expect them to always give you accurate information. That sentence contains a lot of absolutes!

If you have been gluten free for many years, you know the struggles patients have had with doctors! (Perhaps you have run into some who still are using old information) For many years, medical schools have been teaching the wrong information about celiac disease!

Examples of misinformation that has been taught:

It is a childhood illness
All children with celiac will look malnourished with extended bellies
You outgrow celiac
It only affects the GI tract
Everyone with celiac is very thin

Unfortunately, many doctors continued education comes from the pharmaceutical companies as drug representatives talk to them about drugs that can help their patients. These representatives talk about different illnesses and explain how the drugs can help patients and sell the doctor on using those medications for their patients.

Celiac and gluten intolerance doesn’t have a drug, yet. Personally, I am glad for this, because many times the side-effects are worse than the original problem. (My humble opinion) However, because of there not being a drug, celiac has not been talked about and many doctors still don’t think gluten intolerance is a real condition! So, between being taught old information and not hearing any more about celiac/gluten intolerance doctors often lag behind.

My plug for support groups:

I have been a support group leader for over 10 years. Recently, I was disheartened when I was working at an expo and someone told me they would never go to a depressing support group. Is this why people shy away from support groups?! My experience both before and in being a support group leader has been very positive, helpful and educational.

A support group does the following:

connects you with others going through the same thing
most of the time, people living with the disease have a better understanding and better information than your doctor does
something special happens talking to people in person- discoveries are made about things you thought you knew and didn’t know you needed to know
information on topics
speakers knowledgeable about issues, treatment, nutrition and more
samples of gluten free foods and products
a place where people understand how hard it can be at times and leave you feeling rejuvenated and able to conquer being gluten free and living with a chronic auto-immune disease

Here is how you can find a support group or start one yourself.

I still recommend doing your own homework, because even a seasoned support group leader sometimes doesn’t have accurate information. They are doing their best and trying to stay up to date, but there is so much, it is hard. We need to help one another!

Trusting Gluten Free Bloggers

Let’s face it! There is a lot of information out there, true and untrue. Wading through it can be difficult and confusing. This is probably why we want to trust others with the “facts” they have found.

Check the sources of information from those you read. Where are they getting their information? Is it coming from other bloggers as a word of mouth information, is it an opinion or are there legitimate sources?

I’m not saying that it is bad for bloggers to cite one another’s posts or that it isn’t true if it is cited from one place over another. What I am saying is that you need to use your best judgment from everything you read. Be careful about taking anyone’s word as absolute truth.

I believe most bloggers are trying to give accurate, well thought out, good information that will help others. We are all human and make mistakes or misunderstand things. So, keep that in mind.

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links for your convenience. I earn a small commission for the referral, but your price remains the same.

Trusting Gluten Free Events

Yes, there is an expectation to trust that when going to a gluten free event, like an expo, that everything at that expo is going to be safe. Having put on events like an expo and participating as a vendor I know how strict the rules are. However, even with the strict rules, sometimes one vendor will slip through that shouldn’t be at the event.

If that rogue vendor continues to show up at events I would question organizers and their motives for doing such events. It’s a one shot deal, for the vendor, unless serious steps are taken to rectify the problems.

My Recent Expo Experience with a Rogue Vendor

I was running an information/education booth at our local expo, last weekend. At the end, as I was cleaning up, another vendor approached me (to tell you the truth), he was fairly rude from the get-go! He wanted to know what I was selling and when I said I was selling nothing, he pressed me and had a hard time letting it go, because I had to be selling something! (My booth is non-profit- information and education!)

Next, he tried to get me to agree that there are different strains of wheat and that some of them are more safe than others. Nope! Any wheat in any form should NOT be ingested by those with celiac or gluten intolerance! He did not like my answers and became more aggressive. It became clear in talking to him that he has no understanding of celiac or gluten intolerance. (Since the expo, I have checked out his web-site and he believes that yeast (quick rising) has caused gluten intolerance. That is a new one I haven’t heard before!)

Another alarming thing he said, is that gluten free isn’t cut and dry, but rather a LOT of gray area. Yikes! The gluten free regulations (FDA) are pretty cut and dry without gray areas! (More about the labeling laws) I warned him that other bakers have been prosecuted for selling products that are marked gluten free, but are not. He said he makes no gluten free claim, which isn’t true because it is all over his web-site. Perhaps he was talking about his other breads? I don’t know since he talked in circles.

What this quick homework session reveled

It became clear that he is a danger to the gluten free community. He only has one truly gluten free product and that is sourdough. However, his kitchen processes make that debatable. (I wouldn’t even sample it, let alone eat it!) I had someone tell me, he told her, at the expo, any gluten or gluten contamination bakes out during his process. (Here we go again! Someone who has a magic oven!)

Talk to the vendors, talk to companies, check out their websites and ask questions. You never know what someone’s agenda really is and asking questions helps to ferret out those that are just on the band wagon.

What I don’t understand is why someone would be willing to make people horribly sick and cause damage to them just to make a buck!

Actually, I think I do know why, they don’t believe it is real. The disease, the intolerance, the symptoms, and the effects of eating gluten.

Trusting Social Media sites and pages

Are we really so quick to take the word of people on a page? We know nothing about them.

Do they have celiac or gluten intolerance or are they gf for other reasons, which may not have anything to do with gluten free health issues?
Did they not get sick because they are doing it for other health reasons?
Inversely, was this just one bad experience? (It does happen, even to good places.)
What questions did they ask, do they know the right questions to ask?
Who did they talk to? I have had experiences where they have changed our server to someone who knows gluten free, instead of the new staff member.
Is this person overly or under concerned about answers. I might feel differently asking the same questions.

Trusting Apps

There are a lot of different apps and devices that can help with finding gluten free foods and products. They are so helpful. However, are we relying on them too much?!

Nima Sensor

This is a great tool, but it does have its draw backs. The Nima Sensor can give false negatives and false positives. It also may not be helpful in detecting cross contact. Though it can give a little more of a sense of security when eating out. However, that doesn’t mean you should stop asking questions. Always ask questions and make sure your server and/or chef understands that you are gluten free and what that means.

Gluten free apps

These apps can be helpful in finding products and restaurants. Reviews are by those who use the apps and comment. If you solely take the word from comments on these apps you will likely be led astray.

I love and frequently use Find Me Gluten Free! We have found great places using this app, especially when we are on vacation! However, we had a horrible experience following the advice to go to HuHot. (And it’s update here. No more has been done about them, it is disappointing.)

Everyone said HuHot was a great place to go and safely gluten free. However, as we asked questions I was confused by their menu:

“ALL LISTED SAUCES ARE GLUTEN FREE AND MSG FREE.

Wheat has been processed to meet FDA standards for Gluten Free foods.”

What process? I quickly discovered they use hydrolyzed soy sauce, which is NOT considered safe! In asking other questions we became more and more leery about eating there and left. This led me to doing more homework about HuHot, the FDA laws and contacting the Gluten Free Watchdog.

Do Your Own Homework!

Your health is in your hands!

Ask your own questions, do some research, get to know the ins and outs of gluten free and the conditions related to why people are gluten free.
Join a support group
Know how to safely eat out and what questions to ask. Here is a great article on how to dine out safely.
Learn about shared kitchen safety. (The article is about roommates, but the same principles apply to other kitchens.) It takes a puff of flour 3 hours to settle, but gluten can linger in the air for as long as 24 hours.
Don’t rely solely on others opinions for your information.
Use your own intuition and knowledge to make the best choices for you and your health.

gluten free

Why I am glad that most gluten free foods are NOT fortified.

I am not a doctor. I am sharing what I have learned in the quest to help myself and my family have better health. Please do your own research and talk to your doctor.

What is fortification?

How is fortification different from enriched?

What is MTHFR?

What does it mean if you have this mutation?

Folic Acid verses Folate

Why can fortification bad?

What to do if you have MTHFR genes?

More links to check out:

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2319

The 2319 Party

The Cake

More 2319 Party Ideas

Remembering Mike on 2319

Happy Birthday, Mike!

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Oteo

Pros

Cons

R&R Barbecue

Pros

Cons

Tucanos Brazilian Grill

Pros

Cons

How about you? Have you tried somewhere new or have a place you love to go? Share it in the comments! We would love to hear about it!

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Benefits to Cooking at Home

Finances- a Benefit to Cooking Gluten Free at Home

Safety From Cross Contamination

Less Cross Contact

Improve Cooking Skills

Healthier Lifestyle

Family Time

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Eat at Home

Learn to make something new

Things I have made that used to intimidate me:

Try a new place

Try a gluten free product you haven’t had before

Attend a gluten free expo

Participate in a gluten free event

Join a support group

This is a great year to get healthy, try new things, and enjoy being gluten free!

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Flaxseed

Flaxseed Benefits

Reduce the risk of:

What makes flaxseed so beneficial?

Which is better flaxseed or flaxseed oil?

Don’t just eat the seeds

Is there a downside to flaxseed?

Who shouldn’t supplement with flaxseed?

Why I Use Flaxseed in My Flour Mixture

Continued use of flaxseed?

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Foot Themed

Bubble Themed

Sundae Themed

Cookie Themed

Waffle/Pancake Themed

Soup Themed

Edward Scissorhands Theme

Winnie the Pooh Theme

Hero

I hope you have as much fun putting together themed gifts as I do! Hopefully there is a theme that works for your hard to shop for loved one!

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Stocking stuffers for her this Christmas

1. Essential Oil Jewelry

2. Follow Her Dreams

3. Birthstone Necklace

4. Blue Tooth Hat

5. Coin Purse

6. Key Ring

7. Eye Pillow

8. Leather Journal

9. Pumice stone