More from Katie:

I am the author/illustrator of the children’s book, Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?
My twin daughters and I are gluten-free for life because of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. I am excited to have this vehicle to share my thoughts and ideas to help make your child’s gluten-free journey happy and healthy. Up until now there have been way too many things floating around in my mind with no real place to share them.

As this blog grows and evolves, you will find plenty of helpful topics here, all intended to help your gluten-free child thrive — not just survive. I will be posting all things related to bringing up a g-free kid and will try to divulge everything my family has learned in the
past five years, along with easy recipes, book & food reviews (complete with kids’ opinions, too, of course), giveaways and other surprise features along the way.
I’ll also be sharing craft and play ideas, too, as I believe gluten-free kids just need to feel and act normal instead of being overly-focused on their diet and condition.

What you won’t find on this site (at least from me) is: whining, complaining, feeling sorry for ourselves, wishing things were different, swearing, blaming and bad attitudes.  Please join me by helping — with your comments — to keep the tone of this blog as positive as we should all be for our g-free kids. Thanks, and enjoy!

Sincerely,
Katie Chalmers

As a parent of a child with Celiac Disease, I know how hard it is to make him/her feel like they are “normal”.  Jon was diagnosed at the age of 10, so we didn’t have to really deal with the elementary school parties like I know many do.  I can only imagine how hard that must be.  School, birthday parties, eating out with friends – those are all challenges that must be addressed when you have a child that must follow the gluten-free diet. 

Along with the new website is a Facebook page for G-Free Kids.  Make sure to check them both out & bookmark to check back for new information. 

You are reading New Gluten-Free Website for Kids. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

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There are six varieties of the new granola clusters:

Oats & honey clusters with toasted coconut – Oats & Honey Clusters with Toasted Coconut combine full flakes of toasted coconut, a touch of honey and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet, and buckwheat for a naturally sweet snack. These hand-crafted clusters are a good source of fiber and provide 17g of whole grains per serving.

Maple walnut clusters with chia & quinoa – Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia & Quinoa are a heart healthy blend of walnuts, chia and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat with a sweet touch of maple. These palate-pleasing clusters contain 300mg of omega-3 fatty acids and provide 17g of whole grains per serving.

Vanilla blueberry clusters with flax seeds – Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds are a nutritionally rich blend of blueberries, flax seeds and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat with a hint of vanilla. These naturally sweet clusters are high in fiber and contain 750mg of omega-3 fatty acids and 16g of whole grains per serving.

Cinnamon oat clusters with flax seeds – Cinnamon Oat Clusters with Flax Seeds combine antioxidant rich cinnamon, flax seeds and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat for a delicious snack. These hand-crafted clusters are high in fiber and contain 720mg of omega-3 fatty acids and 16g of whole grains per serving.

Dark chocolate & cranberry clusters – Dark Chocolate & Cranberry Clusters combine antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, tangy cranberries and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat for a decadent healthy snack. These delicious clusters are a good source of fiber and a tasty way to get 16g of whole grains.

Peanut butter whole grain clusters – Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters are a protein packed blend of peanuts and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat. These delicious clusters provide 5g of protein per serving and are a tasty way to get 16g of whole grains.

Wow…I don’t know which one I want or need to try first!  They all look really good to me!  I am thinking the dark chocolate cranberry version sounds like a wonderful dessert, maybe over a scoop of ice cream!  I love that KIND has taken some wonderful flavor combinations & turned them into such a healthy snack option.

The new clusters can be purchased from the KIND website for $32.00/6 pack, which works out to $5.33/each.  Another option is to become a KIND Advantage member.  Members receive 30% off, free shipping, free product samples & the option to choose the frequency of delivery (1, 2 or 3 months).  KIND products can also be found in many stores across the US.  The following stores carry KIND bars, but may not have the granola clusters yet: Starbucks | Drugstore.com | Soap.com | Kroger | Trader Joe’s | Safeway | Whole Foods | The Vitamin Shoppe.

KIND snacks is also on Twitter and Facebook, so make sure to follow them to keep up on the latest product information.

You are reading KIND Snacks Introduces Granola Clusters. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

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Back in December, Kinnikinnick launched the “Toss Your Toaster” preview where customers could enter to win sample packs of their new products.  In addition to being gluten-free, these products are also free of soy, nuts & dairy.  More info on the new bread & buns:

Good Nutrition and Gluten Free used to be mutually exclusive. We recognize our responsibility to not only create a product line that tasted great, but that is good for you. No more empty carbs & starches. Kinnikinnick Soft Bread & Buns have great nutritional values to go along with their outstanding taste and texture.

All of the new products (even the white ones!) :

• Have at least 5 g of Fiber per serving
• Have Zero Cholesterol
• Have Zero Trans Fat
• Have 1 g or less sugar per serving
• Are Fortified with 5 essential nutrients
• Are lower in sodium than our existing bread products and many other bread products on the market (even non-gluten free breads)
• Have no Artificial Colours, Flavours or Preservatives

To highlight each product’s nutritional benefits, we’ve provided an easy to read and understand Nutritional Summary on the front of each package.

Check out the size of the new Kinnikinnick bread compared to another brand:

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The new products will be officially launched in March, but are available now on the Kinnikinnick website and in some stores, in the freezer section.   It will take some time for them to show up in all stores, so try to be patient or place your order online.  Kinnikinnick’s shipping price is a flat $10.00, regardless of your order size.  The prices for the new products are as follows:

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In addition to being found in stores, Kinninkinnick’s new products are being made available to restaurants, sports facilities, theme parks, healthcare institutions, cruises and schools. Have you had a chance to try the new Kinnikinnick products?  If so, what do you think? 

You are reading Kinnikinnick Introduces Soft Buns & Bread. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

Join the NFCA in welcoming Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, PhD, Training Director at Bay Area Family Therapy & Training Associates.  More about the webinar:

Removing gluten from the diets of children with Asperger’s syndrome, a developmental disorder on the autism spectrum, or a behavioral problem such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become a common alternative treatment in managing these conditions. In response to the medical community’s historical skepticism with regard to managing psychological well-being through nutritional intervention, an increasing number of quality scientific research has been published recently to clarify the medical connection between these issues.

The “The Gluten-Free Link: ADHD, Autism & Celiac Disease” webinar will take place on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 9:00 PM EST.  This webinar is free of charge and only requires registration & an internet connection.  Crunchmaster is sponsoring the webinar so that it can be free for all who wish to attend.  Attendees can submit questions about the topic to Kristin Voorhees (kvoorhees@celiaccentral.org) prior to the webinar by February 21, 2012.

As always, archived webinars can be viewed here.  They don’t just have the most recent, but going back quite a while on a myriad of topics pertaining to Celiac Disease & the gluten-free diet.

Have you attended an NFCA webinar in the past?  If so, which one?

You are reading NFCA Webinar: “The Gluten-Free Link: ADHD, Autism & Celiac Disease”. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

I have been steering towards Greek yogurt when I eat yogurt mainly for the protein reason.  A lot of times I will use yogurt to refuel after my workouts in the morning.  I am not usually hungry right away, so eating something small, like 6 oz. of yogurt, is perfect for me.  I then have time to shower & get the kids up & moving before I sit down for breakfast.  Yoplait now has 6 flavors on the gluten-free Greek yogurt product list.

• Blueberry
• Honey vanilla
• Strawberry
• Plain
• Key lime
• Peach

Yoplait labels their gluten-free products “gluten-free” right on the side, so there is no confusion.  Yoplait is part of General Mills, which maintains a gluten-free product list at Glutenfreely.com.  Yogurt has many health benefits, including helping to build stronger bones with calcium (35% of the RDA in one serving), vitamin D to help with calcium absorption, probiotics to help keep your digestive system healthy and protein, as I mentioned above.

I have now worked through all of the flavors except the peach and I really like them all, but I think the key lime is my favorite.   I can see making a dessert with it by crumbling up gluten-free graham crackers over the top.   I like to use the plain variety for baking or on my baked potato, like sour cream.  If you are trying to cut back on your sugar intake, buying the plain Greek yogurt and adding in your own, fresh fruit, is a great way to do so.  I also like to eat yogurt mixed with a bowl full of cereal or as a topper for my gluten-free waffles.

Yoplait Greek yogurt can be purchased in mainstream grocery stores across the US.  For a $.30 off coupon, click here and find a link on the right side of the page.  **It is important to note that not all of Yoplait’s Greek yogurts are on the gluten-free list or labeled gluten-free.  There are some newer versions (that come in 4-packs or with granola) that either haven’t been added to the list, or aren’t safe for us to eat.  Please exercise caution if you are buying something that isn’t on the list. 

Have you tried Yoplait Greek yogurt? How do you like to eat your yogurt?

You are reading Review: Yoplait Greek Yogurt. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

Maninis multi-purpose flour mix is free of rice and beans, certified gluten-free by the GFCO and made in a dedicated facility that is also free of dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish & shellfish.  The ingredients are as follows:

Flour blend (organic millet, tapioca, teff, organic sorghum, organic amaranth), corn starch, organic cane sugar, GF xanthan gum, organic Atlantic sea salt, and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). All ingredients are gluten free and no bioengineering has been used
to produce this product.

When I was reading the package to find out more about the mix, I came across a recipe for blueberry muffins on the package.  Jon loves blueberry muffins, so I immediately knew what I would make.  As I was gathering the ingredients for the recipe, I realized that I was out of vanilla extract.  I checked my spice cabinet and found lemon extract, so I subbed lemon extract in its place.  Lemon & blueberry go together like peanut butter & jelly, so I wasn’t worried about the change.

Lemon Blueberry Crumb Muffins

**inspired by the blueberry muffin recipe on the Maninis gluten-free multi-purpose flour mix

• 4 cups (556 grams) gluten-free flour (Maninis contains xanthan gum, so there is no need to add any)
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 2 sticks butter (room temperature)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp. lemon extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups blueberries (frozen, defrosted or fresh)

Topping

• 2 Tbsp. gluten-free flour
• 5 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp. butter

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Blend dry ingredients together (not the topping) and set aside.

3.  Blend 2 sticks of butter and sugar together until combined 3-5 minutes on medium in mixer.  Add lemon extract & eggs, one at a time.

4.  Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients, little by little, then turn off mixer and add milk and remaining dry ingredients.  Mix on low until wet.  Gently fold in blueberries.

5.  Grease muffin tin.  Combine topping ingredients with a pastry blender or fork until it resembles small crumbles.

6.  Fill muffin tins and sprinkle with topping.

7.  Bake on the middle rack in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until done.

8.  Enjoy!

Jon has declared these the best muffins he has ever had!  They are still just as moist 2 days later as they were the first day.  The texture is amazing – so close, if not identical to that of a gluten-filled muffin.  These are so decadent, I feel like they came from a bakery as opposed to my kitchen.

A little more about Maninis:

MANINIS® GLUTEN FREE is a manufacturer of wholesome and natural, Certified Gluten-Free mixes and pasta for both the commercial and home baker. Our rice-free formulations are made with native, minimally processed ancient grains. MANINIS® mixes overcome the common challenges of many gluten-free products, mainly taste, texture and nutrition.

MANINIS® GLUTEN FREE mixes and fresh pastas are manufactured in a dedicated facility free of gluten, wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, and shellfish. Every batch is tested for gluten to less than 10 ppm and is certified gluten free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO).

MANINIS Gluten Free Fresh Pasta is available only in the Pacific Northwest at Whole Foods, Thriftway and a variety of other markets.  For a complete list of stores, please click on Store Locator.

If you don’t live close to a store that sells Maninis, their products can be purchased online.  I can’t wait to use some of the other mixes from Maninis!

I have not tried to make this recipe with another flour mix, but don’t see why you couldn’t swap flours, as long as there is xanthan gum in the mix or you add some.  The guideline for adding xanthan gum is usually 1 tsp. per 1 cup of gluten-free flour.

**The product reviewed in this post was sent to me free of charge for review purposes.  The opinions stated here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything. 

You are reading Review: Maninis Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour Mix. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

Probiotic bacteria plays an important role in digestion & absorption of vitamins & nutrients.  Often when people hear “bacteria”, they think it is bad, but this is not true with probiotics.  Probiotics are friendly bacteria.  The trouble begins when the balance is off and the unfriendly bacteria take over.  Probiotics can be helpful to those with gastrointestinal conditions such as Celiac Disease, Crohn’s and IBS.  They can also be beneficial after a stomach illness or a round of antibiotics to help restore balance in the GI tract.

Vidazorb offered to send us samples of their chewable probiotics a couple of weeks back.  They have a line of 5 different probiotic products, including one for kids.

Daily – Lemon Flavor- A good formula to begin with for general good digestive health.

Plus -Vanilla Flavor – A favorite with many of our regular customers.

Belly Boost – Wild Berry Flavor -Moms love Belly Boost for their little ones, especially helpful for eczema, potty training and everyday tummy troubles.

+OPC -Pomegranate Flavor – Baby Boomers especially love the additional health benefits of +OPC.

Super C – Orange Pineapple Flavor -Travelers and athletes see real benefits using our Super C formulation.

More about Vidazorb:

Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. The word ‘probiotic’ means ‘for life,’ and healthcare providers understand that basic principle. Probiotics have been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea, urinary tract infections, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, eczema and allergies, among other ills. Many physicians are also recommending probiotics to restore the gut microflora after use of antibiotics.

But few supplements contain true probiotic strains as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), which requires identification, deposit in an international culture collection, safety assessment and documented efficacy. All strains used in Vidazorb® absolutely meet these WHO standards.

Each formulation requires no refrigeration and provides 50 milligrams (approximating 5 billion colony forming units) per strain, with most formulations offering 100 milligrams (approximating 10 billion CFUs) per dose.

We sampled the Plus version of Vidazorb.  The vanilla tablets are the size of a SweetTart candy, easy to chew and taste good.  My problem is remembering to take them.  My most recent solution has been to leave them on the table where I eat, so I cam reminded to have one after each meal.  Vidazorb recommends taking 1 tablet 3 times a day with meals.  Each tablet contains 50mg (5 billion CFU) L. Acidophilus (LA-5) and 50 mg (5 billion CFU) Bifidobacterium (BB-12), mannitol, crospovidone, sorbitol, lactitol, magnesium sterate, natural color, natural flavor, silicon dioxide, sucralose.  They are free of gluten, dairy, sugar & calories.

Vidazorb products can be purchased in several stores in the NYC area, on drugstore.com (the least expensive) and through their website.

Do you take probiotics daily?  If so, which kind?

You are reading Review: Vidazorb Chewable Probiotics. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

Snyder’s uses the GFCO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization) to verify the gluten-free status of their products.  The GFCO is the leading gluten-free certification program in the world!  Snyder’s does have a number of other “no gluten added products”, but they don’t contain the “certified gluten-free” logo.

I found the new Snyder’s mini pretzels while shopping at Whole Foods.  They were $2.99, which is less than the sticks ($3.69), so they must have been on sale.   These pretzels were a wonderful compliment to my turkey & cheese sandwich and salad.  They are a little thinner than the other gluten-free pretzel twists on the market, which also made them seem crispier.  They were the perfect size to dip in mustard & pop into my mouth!  Make sure to put these on your list for the big football game this weekend!  Every time I eat pretzels, I can’t help but think of the Seinfeld episode where all of the characters go through saying “These pretzels are making me thirsty!”

Snyder’s pretzels can be found in stores across the US and online.  If you can’t find the new mini pretzels in your store yet, consider asking the manager to order them in.  Since they are new, they may just be reaching stores.

Have you had a chance to try Snyder’s of Hanover new mini pretzels yet?  What did you think?

You are reading Snyder’s Introduces a New “Twist” on Pretzels. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

Safe Gluten-Free Grains

Almond Meal

Amaranth

Arrowroot

Bean flours (such as garbanzo, fava, black bean, etc…)

Buckwheat (don’t let the name fool you). Also note, that items such as buckwheat noodles and pancakes may also add wheat, so always check before buying/eating.

Cassava

Coconut flour

Corn flour

Cornmeal

Cornstarch

Guar gum

Kasha (buckwheat)

Lentils

Millet

Millet flour

Mung bean starch/flour

(gluten-free) Oats*

Peanut flour

Potato flour

Potato starch

Rice (including Aborio, brown, red and black)

Rice flours

Quinoa

Sorghum flour

Soy

Sweet rice flour (do not confuse with white rice flour, they are completely different, sometimes call glutinous rice, which contains no gluten)

Tapioca Flour

Tapioca starch

Teff

Xanthan gum

Some other commonly used gluten-free ingredients in baking..

Baking soda

Baking powder

Brown sugar

Buttermilk powder

Corn syrup

Cream of tartar

Egg powder

Powdered cocoa

Powdered sugar

Sugar

*Oats are the tricky grain.  Traditional oats, such as those made by Quaker Oats are not gluten-free as they are likely cross-contaminated during harvesting and processing, with other grains.  However, gluten-free oats, such as those by Bob’s Red Mill, which are specifically labeled ‘gluten-free’ are safe and nutritious.  Some doctors have recommended that those who are new to a gluten-free diet ease themselves into eating oats after being gluten-free for six months and then trying a small amount at a time of the gluten-free oats.  There are some people that will react to the protein in oats, called avenin. If oats work for you, then oat flour is also a great, fiber-rich flour to use in baking.

And as always, eating whole foods is the best way to assure your foods are safe and gluten-free, these include meat, seafood, cheese, yogurt, eggs, fruits, vegetables, milk and nuts.

Non-Safe Grains and Flours on a Gluten-Free Diet  **stay away from the following**

Barley (including barley malt)

Bulgur (also called cracked wheat)

Couscous

Durum

Einkorn

Emmer (also known as farro)

Farina

Freekeh

Graham

Kamut

Malt extract

Matzo

Mir

(non gluten-free) Oats, including oat flour and oat bran

Panko

Rye

Semolina

Seitan

Spelt

Triticale

Wheat (including wheat flour, wheat germ and wheat starch)

Wheat berries

I think it is impossible to have an absolutely complete list, so please let me know notice if you notice anything missing, and I will add it to the list.

You are reading Safe Grains and Flours on a Gluten-free Diet. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.

There are many safe candy choices for Valentine’s Day, including Surf Sweets hearts, Gimbals jelly beans and candy listed on this list.

Homemade treats are a great option, but I know that many schools have rules about home baked goods, so that can be an additional challenge.   This is when it is time to get creative.  If you can’t bring in home baked treats, try making up little treat bags with candy you do know is gluten-free.  If you have to choose full-size or non-holiday packaged candy to ensure the candy is gluten-free, opt for little pink or red treat bags, pink or red bows, heart stickers, etc. to dress it up.  Here are some other fun gluten-free ideas for Valentine’s Day:

1. Rice Kripsies Treats – Use a heart shaped cookie cutter and sprinkle with red colored sugar, frost with pink frosting or use M & M’s in Valentine’s colors in the treats.
2. Cupcakes – Use a gluten-free chocolate cake mix and tint red with food coloring; Tint frosting to match & top with red sprinkles or red colored sugar.
3. Lucy’s Heart Shaped cookies  – These are being offered exclusively on Gluten Freely for a limited period of time.
4. Chex Cookie Pizza – Use Valentine’s day themed toppings.
5. Strawberries dipped in chocolate – This recipe looks fantastic!

As always, when in doubt, go without.  There are many more options out there than what I have listed here.  If you have a specific question about a product and its gluten-free status, please let us know and we will do our best to find out for you.

You are reading Valentine’s Day Gluten-Free. This post is the property of Celiac-Disease.com © 2012.