Gluten Free Girls (and Guys!)

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Replies

  • karins4
    karins4 Posts: 50 Member
    Hi - I just joined the site last week and glad to see a thread about Gluten Free. I was diagnosed with Celiac a few years ago. It was really hard in the beginning (especially with dreams of gluten filled food!). I'm the only one in the family with Celiac so holidays were really tough but I think we are finally figuring everything out. I even figured out this Christmas how to make our favorite holiday almond cookies Gluten Free! My family couldn't even taste the difference! :bigsmile:

    Here are a few of my favorite GF foods...Tinkyada rice pasta, Glutino Gluten Free Harvest Corn (Bread) - love this much better than my previous favorite Kinnikinnik tapioca white sandwich bread, EnviroKidz Animal Cookies - these taste so good, the last time I checked only the vanilla flavor is GF though, and Foods by George pizza - love their brownies too!

    If anyone lives in the Westchester County, NY area a teenager started an annual walk to raise money and awareness for Celiac a few years ago after he was diagnosed. It's really fun, with a 2-mile and 4-mile path around Rye, GF breakfast and lunch, vendors with tons of GF food (samples and stuff to buy) some lectures with Q&A to learn more. This year they even had GF cupcake decorating. I didn't get to go this year because of a ton of health issues though. I can give a heads up when there is info available for this years walk...it's usually held around Sept/Oct.

    Karin
  • iRun4wine
    iRun4wine Posts: 5,126

    If anyone lives in the Westchester County, NY area a teenager started an annual walk to raise money and awareness for Celiac a few years ago after he was diagnosed. It's really fun, with a 2-mile and 4-mile path around Rye, GF breakfast and lunch, vendors with tons of GF food (samples and stuff to buy) some lectures with Q&A to learn more. This year they even had GF cupcake decorating. I didn't get to go this year because of a ton of health issues though. I can give a heads up when there is info available for this years walk...it's usually held around Sept/Oct.

    Karin

    Hi Karin... welcome :flowerforyou:

    Where is Westchester county? I live in CT and have family in NY. Would love to find out if it's do-able for me to attend the walk!
  • karins4
    karins4 Posts: 50 Member

    Hi Karin... welcome :flowerforyou:

    Where is Westchester county? I live in CT and have family in NY. Would love to find out if it's do-able for me to attend the walk!

    Thanks!

    It's about 45 minutes north of NYC (and about 20 minutes from Stamford, CT I think). The walk takes place in Rye at the high school right down the street from Playland Amusement Park (not sure which part of CT/NY you and your family are from but if you live close by you've definately heard of Playland and been to I'm sure :smile: ). It's such a pretty walk, I take a ton of pictures!

    Here is the main website http://www.colinlesliewalkforceliacdisease.org/information.htm (oh well can't get it to actually link..need to figure that out)

    Would be great if you could attend!
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I found a new company that makes GF stuff. It's called inspiration mixes. I bought their pizza crust mix. I am going ot be making it tomorrow night, I will let you know how it turns out! the website is www.inspirationmixes.com
  • iRun4wine
    iRun4wine Posts: 5,126
    Hey friends-

    Just popping in to update you. I had my endoscopy on Monday and the doctor said that everything looked pretty normal, but that they would have to wait on the results of the lab work to know for sure. I also had the blood work and the genetic test done last Friday, so I should have those results back soon, too. As of right now, the doctor wants me on a low-gluten diet. So, I plan on going back to pretty much 100% gluten free at home, and trying my best at restaurants (sandwich with no bun, etc.) but this way I won't have to worry about every sauce, dressing, etc. So, so far, it's probably the best news that I realistically could have gotten. I will keep you all posted when I hear back about the lab work and the blood work. :flowerforyou:
  • vrealize
    vrealize Posts: 13
    This is a product I found today, which I have not tried, but I am excited about. I got it from a Japanese grocery store, but I thought I would let the gluten-free folks know about it.

    Tofu shirataki "pasta"
    http://www.house-foods.com/Tofu/tofu_shirataki.aspx

    I am not gluten-free (but did experiment with doing that, with all of my health issues going on), but I do appreciate that this looks like a low-GI pasta alternative that is low calorie, low-carb, even vegan. I know that some of the gluten-free pastas out there, some of which I have tried, are made out of corn, buckwheat (mmm soba noodles), rice.
  • yvonneh
    yvonneh Posts: 64
    kelynn,
    Glad to hear the endoscopy went well. Not having to worry about every little bit of gluten does really open up more options, since so many sauces have minute quantities of it.
  • souralice
    souralice Posts: 66
    Hi everyone!

    Just wanted to introduce myself since I'm new and gluten free. I had horrible Celiac symptoms for about 9 years before I was diagnosed. I had a biopsy that was negative (about a year into my symptoms), but then a positive blood test much later on. I've been gluten free for a year and a half now. I can't eat oats, but luckily can eat dairy because I love it! Those 9 years were AWFUL!!! I was in and out of the hospital and doctors office all the time. It was just constant agony and I missed so much work. They just kept loading me up on medicine to ease my symptoms and pain pills (which now I know I'm allergic too, so I'm sure that helped :grumble: ). Within 2 months of going gluten free, I was off all my medicine! I can't believe how much better I feel! Its like I was handed a new body! Of course, I'm still dealing with some of the damage from when my immune system was such a wreck. I had shingles, and it caused a lot of nerve damage, including my balance nerve inside my ear. So now I have terrible vertigo and some nerve pain. And after I went gluten free, I put on quite a bit of weight. I'm glad to be feeling better, but now its time to lose all this weight I put on trying to get healthy. Its great that there are other GF kids on here. Yay! Nice to meet you all :smile:
  • iRun4wine
    iRun4wine Posts: 5,126
    Hey all, and welcome souralice :flowerforyou:

    Just stopping in quick to see if anyone can recommend a gluten-free wrap or tortilla? I really, really miss them. Probably will head to Whole Foods this weekend to see what they have, but I like to get opinions first as some of the gluten free stuff is just plain terrible :ohwell: Anyone have any recommendations for me? Thanks :smile:
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    Hey all, and welcome souralice :flowerforyou:

    Just stopping in quick to see if anyone can recommend a gluten-free wrap or tortilla? I really, really miss them. Probably will head to Whole Foods this weekend to see what they have, but I like to get opinions first as some of the gluten free stuff is just plain terrible :ohwell: Anyone have any recommendations for me? Thanks :smile:

    I can! Food For Life Brown Rice Tortillas...I love them! You can check them out on their website I think, www.foodforlife.com
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    Souralice- welcome. Is that your cat? Is he/she really that big? OMGosh huge! I thought my boy was big! He's almost 16 lbs!
  • souralice
    souralice Posts: 66
    Haha...Noooooo...that is not my cat!! That was just my profile pic before I put one of myself up there :laugh: Poor cat looks miserable. My last cat (RIP Salem) was a big man though. 20lbs!!

    My grocery store just started carrying some good gluten free tortillas, but I can't remember the name of them now. I'll have to check next time I'm there. I usually just use the little corn tortillas. I always liked those anyway.
  • jalara
    jalara Posts: 2,599 Member
    Hey everyone!

    I'm a celiac, and found out March 2009. Since then it has been a horrid battle to figure things out....in Canada we don't have as many options as the US (and you can't order food to cross the border). the grocers are getting better though - and starting to stock better food.

    Since finding out I've taken to cooking at home every day, and our version of 'ordering in' is picking up a rotisserie chicken from our local grocery mart.

    Hello!

    Perhaps one of you could take a look at his thread I started and give me some ideas??

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/78970-6-hour-work-out-marathon-on-saturday-help
  • iRun4wine
    iRun4wine Posts: 5,126
    Hey all, and welcome souralice :flowerforyou:

    Just stopping in quick to see if anyone can recommend a gluten-free wrap or tortilla? I really, really miss them. Probably will head to Whole Foods this weekend to see what they have, but I like to get opinions first as some of the gluten free stuff is just plain terrible :ohwell: Anyone have any recommendations for me? Thanks :smile:

    I can! Food For Life Brown Rice Tortillas...I love them! You can check them out on their website I think, www.foodforlife.com

    Nicole, what store do you get them from? I'd love to try them!
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    Hey all, and welcome souralice :flowerforyou:

    Just stopping in quick to see if anyone can recommend a gluten-free wrap or tortilla? I really, really miss them. Probably will head to Whole Foods this weekend to see what they have, but I like to get opinions first as some of the gluten free stuff is just plain terrible :ohwell: Anyone have any recommendations for me? Thanks :smile:

    I can! Food For Life Brown Rice Tortillas...I love them! You can check them out on their website I think, www.foodforlife.com

    Nicole, what store do you get them from? I'd love to try them!

    I get them from a local gorcery store, but I was on the website last nite, and they have a place where you can click on stroes that carry them!
  • runnerdad
    runnerdad Posts: 2,081 Member
    Hey everyone!

    I'm a celiac, and found out March 2009. Since then it has been a horrid battle to figure things out....in Canada we don't have as many options as the US (and you can't order food to cross the border). the grocers are getting better though - and starting to stock better food.

    Since finding out I've taken to cooking at home every day, and our version of 'ordering in' is picking up a rotisserie chicken from our local grocery mart.

    Hello!

    Perhaps one of you could take a look at his thread I started and give me some ideas??

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/78970-6-hour-work-out-marathon-on-saturday-help

    Got to watch some of those rotisserie chickens. The spice rubs aren't always gluten free.

    Actually, i have found restaurant staff in Canada way far ahead of those in the US when you need help ordering gluten free. the Canadian Celiac websites are also much more helpful than the US counterparts.

    But, yes i have to agree the selection of GF stuff in the grocery stores can be limited.
  • iRun4wine
    iRun4wine Posts: 5,126
    Nicole, this is what came up when I did a search on the Food For Life website for the tortillas you recommended:

    "Food For Life Baking Co. products are not sold in retail store locations within 100 miles near you at this time."

    :ohwell:
  • coronalime
    coronalime Posts: 583 Member
    Trader Joes use to sell Rice tortillas. They were 1/2 decent and I like they were a bigger size then those small rinky dink corn ones. I havent had them in awhile so not sure if they are still there or not. You have to heat them up to get them pliable to wrap!
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    Nicole, this is what came up when I did a search on the Food For Life website for the tortillas you recommended:

    "Food For Life Baking Co. products are not sold in retail store locations within 100 miles near you at this time."

    :ohwell:

    That's a bummer Kelynn! They are good...I will see if I can find out about another one.
  • iRun4wine
    iRun4wine Posts: 5,126
    Trader Joes use to sell Rice tortillas. They were 1/2 decent and I like they were a bigger size then those small rinky dink corn ones. I havent had them in awhile so not sure if they are still there or not. You have to heat them up to get them pliable to wrap!

    Yea, I was at Trader Joe's the other day... and just my luck- they were all out. I could settle on those if I had to, but I'd rather find some I absolutely love- having to heat them up to be able to use them as a wrap makes them sound kind of yucky!
  • ccaruso219
    ccaruso219 Posts: 92
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm new to this thread, but not new to dieting. I have not been officially diagnosed with celiac or gluten sensitivity. For the past year I just haven't felt right. I have been to the doctor about 10 times last year. Over the weekend I was reading an article in For Women First and I have been dealing with all the symptoms that they discussed. I'm 41, constantly tired, serious mood swings and all that jazz. So I decided that I am going to try to eliminate gluten from my diet and see where that takes me. I really don't see how it can hurt, it just may work for me. Any recommendations that you all could give me to get started would be great. Thanks
    Connie
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm new to this thread, but not new to dieting. I have not been officially diagnosed with celiac or gluten sensitivity. For the past year I just haven't felt right. I have been to the doctor about 10 times last year. Over the weekend I was reading an article in For Women First and I have been dealing with all the symptoms that they discussed. I'm 41, constantly tired, serious mood swings and all that jazz. So I decided that I am going to try to eliminate gluten from my diet and see where that takes me. I really don't see how it can hurt, it just may work for me. Any recommendations that you all could give me to get started would be great. Thanks
    Connie

    Welcome Connie! I was the same as you 7 or 8 years ago. I stopped eating the wheat/gluten cold turkey. What a HUGE difference! Be careful, it hides in ALOT of foods. It really is a process of elimination. I still occasionally have beer, because I absolutely love it, there is GF beer, but I haven't tried it yet. I still occasionally have oatmeal as well. Some poeple are even sensitive to oats. Do what works for you and makes you feel better. There are alot of GF foods on the market nowadays. Some are extremely tasty, while others...eh.:noway: I make my own bread, I think there are others on this thread that do too. I think Aunt Bliz does too.
  • coronalime
    coronalime Posts: 583 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm new to this thread, but not new to dieting. I have not been officially diagnosed with celiac or gluten sensitivity. For the past year I just haven't felt right. I have been to the doctor about 10 times last year. Over the weekend I was reading an article in For Women First and I have been dealing with all the symptoms that they discussed. I'm 41, constantly tired, serious mood swings and all that jazz. So I decided that I am going to try to eliminate gluten from my diet and see where that takes me. I really don't see how it can hurt, it just may work for me. Any recommendations that you all could give me to get started would be great. Thanks
    Connie

    Print a list of the "gluten" terms that lurk in ingrediants.
    Take a day and go through your pantry/fridge/freezer. 1 pile put the things you know are GF (they would say GF or are very limited ingredients). 1 pile things that are NOT GF and 3rd pile you are unsure of.
    For the unsure you can research online if its something you use alot.
    Walmart online has a great list of foods that you can buy there that are GF. Trader Joes has a list.
    I found that at 1st I found a small natural food store. They carried limited stuff but it was all labeled well, the staff helped and it was grouped together in 1 section. I learned what "brands" to look for. Now I can go through the Earth Fares, Whole Foods and local grocery stores easier looking for GF items. You can purchase though Amazon and other interent sites if you live rural. After you realize how much you cant eat :) You then venture out in the real world like resturants and friends houses. This is where you will get killed a few times (especially by friends :) )
    Try and find a local celiac group. They can teach you where to shop where to eat and other fun stuff.
    Its very overwhelming.. Even after all these years I still get messed up
  • coronalime
    coronalime Posts: 583 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm new to this thread, but not new to dieting. I have not been officially diagnosed with celiac or gluten sensitivity. For the past year I just haven't felt right. I have been to the doctor about 10 times last year. Over the weekend I was reading an article in For Women First and I have been dealing with all the symptoms that they discussed. I'm 41, constantly tired, serious mood swings and all that jazz. So I decided that I am going to try to eliminate gluten from my diet and see where that takes me. I really don't see how it can hurt, it just may work for me. Any recommendations that you all could give me to get started would be great. Thanks
    Connie

    Print a list of the "gluten" terms that lurk in ingrediants.
    Take a day and go through your pantry/fridge/freezer. 1 pile put the things you know are GF (they would say GF or are very limited ingredients). 1 pile things that are NOT GF and 3rd pile you are unsure of.
    For the unsure you can research online if its something you use alot.
    Walmart online has a great list of foods that you can buy there that are GF. Trader Joes has a list.
    I found that at 1st I found a small natural food store. They carried limited stuff but it was all labeled well, the staff helped and it was grouped together in 1 section. I learned what "brands" to look for. Now I can go through the Earth Fares, Whole Foods and local grocery stores easier looking for GF items. You can purchase though Amazon and other interent sites if you live rural. After you realize how much you cant eat :) You then venture out in the real world like resturants and friends houses. This is where you will get killed a few times (especially by friends :) )
    Try and find a local celiac group. They can teach you where to shop where to eat and other fun stuff.
    Its very overwhelming.. Even after all these years I still get messed up
  • karins4
    karins4 Posts: 50 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm new to this thread, but not new to dieting. I have not been officially diagnosed with celiac or gluten sensitivity. For the past year I just haven't felt right. I have been to the doctor about 10 times last year. Over the weekend I was reading an article in For Women First and I have been dealing with all the symptoms that they discussed. I'm 41, constantly tired, serious mood swings and all that jazz. So I decided that I am going to try to eliminate gluten from my diet and see where that takes me. I really don't see how it can hurt, it just may work for me. Any recommendations that you all could give me to get started would be great. Thanks
    Connie

    I found the Celiac Sprue Association site helpful to start with. It even gives you a list of a ton of ingredients you may wonder about and says if it's okay, questionable or stay away from. Here's the link to that page. http://www.csaceliacs.org/GlutenFree_Flour_Guide.php

    Karin
  • yvonneh
    yvonneh Posts: 64
    ... I still occasionally have beer, because I absolutely love it, there is GF beer, but I haven't tried it yet...

    I didn't know about gluten free beer, but a friend of mine bought some for me and I really liked it. It's called Red Bridge and has a picture of a red wooden covered bridge on the bottle.
  • arasmc
    arasmc Posts: 8 Member
    Gluten Free people, please help. I need to find a Gluten/Soy/Dairy free protien shake. Can anyone suggest a brand?
  • PrimalB
    PrimalB Posts: 12
    Connie:
    Today, SparkPeople posted a pretty good overview on gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. It lists some good resources listed. Check it out:
    http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=gluten_fear_should_you_go_glutenfree_for_good

    This guy also has compiled a fairly comprehensive list of gluten and non-gluten free foods:
    http://www.celiac.com/articles/181/1/Safe-Gluten-Free-Food-List-Safe-Ingredients/Page1.html

    Best of luck
  • nicolee516
    nicolee516 Posts: 1,862 Member
    ... I still occasionally have beer, because I absolutely love it, there is GF beer, but I haven't tried it yet...

    I didn't know about gluten free beer, but a friend of mine bought some for me and I really liked it. It's called Red Bridge and has a picture of a red wooden covered bridge on the bottle.

    i will have to try it! Thanks!:flowerforyou:
  • auntbliz
    auntbliz Posts: 173 Member
    I've made brown rice flour tortillas that role up pretty well. It's kind of time consuming, but the ingredient list is pretty simple. 1 cup rice flour, 1.5 tablespoon olive oil, 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp xanthan gum, hot water to doughy texture. I always have added the hot water last, a bit at a time to make sure I don't get it too wet. I cook them on a nonstick griddle (I don't spray it, they don't stick as long as you wait until the bottom is cooked to flip it) and keep the heat high enough that it doesn't take long to cook at all (medium on my stove). As long as you flatten them enough, you can see them change color as they cook. The toughest part about them is how sticky they are, I've had better results if I add twice the olive oil. What I do is ball them up, flatten a little on my hand, and then flatten them the rest of the way on the griddle immediately with a wax paper covered bacon press (round flat iron with a handle on top) but I've also flattened with a silicon spatula, just can't get them as thin that way. My family personally loves these, and they roll very well even when they've been sitting out a day, I can't remember how they do cold, I think well though, we eat them so quickly there's never been a need to refrigerate. Anyway, don't know if I ever posted that one, and if I did, I may have forgotten the xanthan gum, oops! You could play around with it to lower the cals, I think the xanthan gum is the most important ingredient as far as being able to roll it up so you want to make sure you have 1 tsp gum per 1 cup flour.
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