Gluten-Free Tip: Book Reviews for GLEE!

Reviews are coming in for GLEE! An Easy Guide to Gluten-Free Independence:
(Release Date: March 21, 2009 from Clan Thompson LLC www.clanthompson.com)

“From its name to the information it offers, GLEE is overflowing with “gleeful” advice for young adults. Leaving the house can be a tough time for ANYONE – but toss on top of that the added stress of maintaining a strict gluten-free lifestyle, and it can be downright overwhelming. GLEE is an upbeat, optimistic guide that helps young adults live a gluten-free lifestyle in a manner that they will revel, not rebel. Knowledge is power, and this book arms young adults with everything they need to be strong and confident in the gluten-free lifestyle.”
-DANNA KORN-

(author of Living Gluten-Free for Dummies, Gluten-Free Cooking for Dummies, Kids with Celiac Disease, Wheat-Free, Worry-Free, and Founder of R.O.C.K. Raising Our Celiac Kids)

"An easy-to-read straight forward guide complete with personal anecdotes from the author. Just what your gluten-free child needs as they leave the nest. Consider two copies—one to send off with your child and the other to keep at home when he or she calls with questions."
-TRICIA THOMPSON, MS, RD-

(author of The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide and co-author of Complete Idiot’s Guide to Gluten-Free Eating)

Gluten-Free Tip: GLattack

It's practically impossible to completely avoid gluten attacks all the time. My daughter refers to them as the much dreaded glattacks. For some people it can last for hours; for others it can last a couple of days. Symptoms vary including extreme runs or constipation, bloating, cramps, generalized body ache, and the list goes on. No matter how well you stick to your gluten-free diet, more than likely you will accidentally ingest gluten from time to time. Of course, you should steer away from gluten at all costs, but it isn’t the end of the world if you inadvertently eat it. And as you get more accustomed to a GF diet, you will recognize suspicious red flags more easily.

It is difficult to find remedies for accidental gluten ingestion because no one condones eating gluten ever. However, here is what some people I know with CD suggest for an occasional glattack:

1)Drink tons of hot tea and apply heating pad
2)Take a very hot bath and drink boiled water
3)Grab the Imodium AD (caplets are GF and halt the runs/bloating)
4)And this from http://www.celiac.com/ (1/03/09)

“Ultimately, gluten sensitive individuals should recover from one accidental “gluten slip” here and there, and keeping some digestive enzymes handy to help cope with such an accident is not a bad idea. But do keep in mind that repeated offenses, even the most minute, will damage your body and prevent it from healing. Enzymes help treat the symptoms, but only complete avoidance of gluten can treat the disease.”

(http://www.celiac.com/articles/21721/1/How-Celiacs-can-Deal-with-Accidental-Gluten-Ingestion/Page1.html)

How do you handle a glattack?

Gluten-Free Tip: Try New GRAINS/FLOURS

Most people on a GF diet stick to rice and corn as their main source of grain and flour. But did you know there are many wonderful, tasty, highly nutritious grains/flours available? In fact, wheat-eaters should be diversifying their grains/flours as well. Many of the GF foods listed below have ancient origins amongst indigenous people throughout the world. Of course for the past 40 years food mega-corporations and lobbyists have influenced what we eat and what is available on a mass market level. But these alternative grains can be found at (or ordered through) most independent health food stores:

amaranth
arrowroot
besan
buckwheat (in pure form, not a wheat plant)
cassava
fava bean
flax
gram flour (not to be confused with graham)
lentil flour
millet
montina
nut flour
polenta
potato flour
psyllium
quinoa (plant shown in photo)
rice bran
sorghum
soya flour
tapioca flour
teff
wild rice
yam flour

Gluten-Free Tip: Add BEANS

Beans are a wonderful food – high in nutrition, antioxidants, and fiber, low in fat, and very filling. A member of the Legume family, beans are considered to be a “super food” and should be eaten on a regular basis. Pre-cooked (or bought canned) they can be added to so many meals. The most common beans are black, kidney, lima, and navy varieties.

My favorite are the tiny black turtle beans which I pre-cook and toss into almost any dish like stew, lasagne, meatloaf, rice, and even cold in salads. Most beans are pre-cooked the same way. Soak them in lots of water over night. Drain. Simmer 60 – 90 minutes in approx 3 parts water to 1 part beans (follow directions on bag). You can leave a bowl of cooked beans in the fridge for several days, ready to add to daily meals.

FYI: Lentils, peanuts, soy nuts, chickpeas, and peas –also members of the Legume family – contain similar nutritional benefits!

Gluten-Free Tip: Why bother?

It’s a pain to ask.

It’s easier to stick to what you know and never push the boundaries of your safe, small GF world.
But when you ask . . . wonderful things sometimes happen!

For example, FOWLES GOURMET MARKET (http://www.fowlesmarket.com/) on High Street in Newburyport, MA was recently sold to new owners. The old owners had sold gluten-free sausages and meat marinades which were well-known to GF consumers in the area.

When the new owners took over, they were surprised by the number of people requesting they continue to sell the GF meat products. In fact, the new owners were so impressed by so many people asking . . . that THEY asked GF customers for recommendations for other GF items they should carry. Before long, FOWLES began to stock popular GF pastas, breads, frozen meals, sauces, bars, sweets, and more. Now they keep a running gluten-free wish list! And at least a quarter of their store is currently dedicated to GF products.

So never hesitate to politely ask, even if it’s a bother.

Gluten-Free Tip: Join Facebook!

I joined Facebook to network with other writers and discovered a wonderful gluten-free world filled with GF people, blogs, groups, and creative companies throughout the world. If you want to connect with lots of GF types and learn about some of their innovative GF lives and careers then join Facebook (and be sure to friend me)! Here are some of the independent gluten-free businesses on FB I’ve recently discovered:

2good2bglutenfree
I’m Gluten Free Baby
Gluten Free Mama
The Totally Gluten Free Bakery
Cooqi Gluten-Free Delights
Gluten Free Goods
Gfmeals
Babycakes NYC

Gluten-Free Tip: NYC Shout Outs!

Just returned from NYC and had two amazing GF dining experiences…both worth a weekend trip to Manhattan!

Between 61st and 62nd at Lexington is LILLI AND LOO (http://www.lilliandloo.com/) who serve Asian cuisine including fantastic sushi. Best of all they have an extensive (yes, much more than the usual 5 choices) GF menu which includes mouthwatering GF pork dumplings! Very reasonably priced as well.

The other fabulous experience was Risotteria (http://www.risotteria.com/) in the West Village located at 270 Bleecker St. Of course, this is one of the most well-known GF restaurants in the country (appearing on most GF blogs), but I had never had the opportunity to visit until this past Sunday. Wow. Delicious, salty homemade breadsticks, excellent GF dressings for fresh salads, authentic Italian thin crisp pizzas with pureed olives or pesto, and they have GF Panini sandwiches! Purely Italian and wonderful ambiance. Desserts (including yummy cupcakes) too! And what a location to take a stroll after dinner and work off all those courses.