Instagram – Click Photo to Read Article
IT`S NOT YOUR FAULT
Mother`s Day is this weekend (in the US), which feels differently for different people.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12% (1 in 8) of the US population experiences infertility. Worldwide it`s 17%, or 1 in 6.
Did you know that women experiencing infertility are 3.5 times more likely to have Celiac Disease?
Untreated Celiac Disease impacts male fertility as well, especially sperm motility.
If you`re experiencing infertility, and are not already diagnosed with Celiac Disease, please consider getting tested.
In addition, I wanted to add a bit of my own story. I also was impacted by infertility. I carried a sense of guilt and shame around for years, until a doctor discovered my wide spread endometriosis.
If you`re carrying the burden of being unable to have children, may I help lighten your load just a wee bit and let you know that you`re not alone. And it isn`t your fault. <3
Ladies, You`re Not Crazy
Your Celiac Disease symptoms are not "in your head."
They are real, and under researched.
It wasn`t until 1986, that NIH established a policy that encouraged researchers to include women in studies. That`s less than 40 years.
Question- how many years of symptoms did you live through before you received a Celiac Disease diagnosis?
MAD PROPS TO GREAT TEACHERS
It`s Teacher Appreciation Week, and I want us to all remember to thank our child`s teachers who have made sure our celiac kiddos have been included and cared for in their classroom.
If you were unaware, children with Celiac Disease are covered under the American`s with Disabilities Act. A Section 504 plan is a legally enforceable document that outlines a student`s condition, symptoms and explains what accommodations are needed for their success.
These slides are just an introduction.
Many of the gluten free non-profits have guides on how to set up one.
Read my blog post for further info.
Comment 504 for the link
https://miglutenfreegal.com/section-504-celiac-disease-edition/
P.S. Section 504 applies to the workplace too! Read my blog post for suggested work accommodations.
QUESTION OF THE DAY-
How has your child`s teacher gone above and beyond to support your student?
SO MANY CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
Are you familiar with the major gluten free food certification programs?
GF Certified is aligned with the Gluten Free Food Program, which is endorsed by the National Celiac Association. They have the strictest requirements at 5 ppm.
GFCO requires products to test under 10 ppm.
NSF (headquartered in Ann Arbor) and GF-Cert Program require products to test under 20 ppm, which is the federal standard.
Menu Trinfo also does gluten free certification, but I don`t know their PPM requirements.
This is also a reminder that the Celiac Disease Foundation DOES NOT test or certify gluten free food. That logo simply shows that the donafood manufacturer donates money to CDF.
And one last reminder- While wheat is one of the 9 required food allergens that must be declared on a food label, barley (malt) and rye ARE NOT.
Advocates in the US have been trying for years to get barley (and malt) added, as this is required labeling in MANY other countries. There was a proposed bill a few years ago, the Food Modernization Labeling Act, that proposed better labeling. But Congress did not pass it.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-safe-unsafe-and-by-whose/
WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER?
There is a bill being proposed in California called the ADDE bill. This bill would require restaurant menus to be labeled for food allergens. (Gluten isn`t an allergen, so only wheat would be labeled.) The bill is named after 9 year old Addie Lao
At the same time, FARE is partnering with Every Bite, a digital platform that restaurants could use to communicate ingredients with customers. (I`m not sure if it would require restaurants to have tablets/ digital devices or if consumers would need to download an app.)
The partnership will produce a quarterly report for restaurant operators that provides a window into the needs of the food allergy consumer group through the lens of the EveryBite platform.
"FARE’s belief is that by providing restaurant operators with insights into the size, needs, and dining habits of the food allergy consumer group, along with tools to measure and understand the potential opportunity, the restaurant industry will see the value in creating safer dining experiences for the food allergy community."
WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER?
Would you prefer to see allergens noted in print, or would you prefer a digital experience? Or do you find value in both options?
@addie.tells.all @foodallergy #MayTheFourth
WHY DOES THIS EVEN MATTER?
I get it, many times we use the word "cross contaminated" to refer to when our gluten free food accidentally comes into contact with wheat, rye, or barley.
Basically our food becomes "contaminated" with something that will make us sick.
BUT, those working in the food and hospitality industry know that these two words are similar, yet very different.
For example, cross contamination involves bacteria, which can often be "killed" when it is cooked at high temperature.
However, gluten can`t be "killed." And it is not easily "cooked off." In fact, you`d have to heat a surface to 500 degrees fahrenheit to destroy gluten particles.
And I think it`s how we confuse these two words that can lead restaurant staff to be confused on how to safely prepare gluten free food.
In addition, if a restaurant tells you they have "special oil" that prevents cross contact, they are highly mistaken. All gluten free fried food should be cooked in a dedicated fryer.
QUESTION - Do you have a separate prep space at home for gluten free food? Or do you maintain a kitchen that also includes products that contain gluten.
P.S.S. My job is to educate you. If you want to still use the phrase cross-contamination, you do you. But I won`t allow my page to become a place of nit picking and arguing. If you try to start something in the comments section, it will get deleted. And then it will be obvious that you didn`t read the whole post.
Gluten Free Fried Ice Cream
NO FRYING REQUIRED
That`s right, you can make this favorite dessert at home! You only need the following ingredients
- Cinnamon @chexcereal
- Additional cinnamon & sugar
- Ice cream
That`s it! If you want to make my homemade gluten and dairy free chocolate sauce, you`ll need 4 more things.
Read all about it on my blog.
Comment FRIED and I`ll DM you the link.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-mexican-unfried-ice-cream/
Aldi Gluten Free Cheesecake will be back in stores May 14th. PLEASE NOTE - only the cheesecake in this photo is gluten free
Want to learn more about the @aldiusa gluten free special buy items that you miss? Read my blog post to find out who makes them, and where you can find them the rest of the year.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/aldi-gluten-free-special-buy-alternatives/
People With Celiac Disease must avoid all sources of gluten. So what is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. In addition, while oats in and of themselves are gluten free, they are often processed alongside wheat, and often test higher than 20 ppm of gluten.
Malt is made from barley, and also must be avoided. Malt is found in beer, Kellogg`s corn Flakes, Kellogg`s rice krispies, and even Lindt Milk Chocolate.
And despite the fact that "buckwheat" contains the word "wheat," It`s actually part of the rhubarb family and is Gluten free..
What was one food you were surprised to find Gluten in?
##celiacdiseaseawarenessmonth @kyledinemusic
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. What are some things you wish you had been told when you were first diagnosed with Celiac Disease?
Do You Miss Choco Tacos?
I have a simple recipe that allows you to recreate this favorite ice cream treat, just in time for Cinco De Mayo.
Here are the ingredients you`ll need
- GF flour blend
- baking powder
- salt
- sugar
- butter
- eggs
- ice cream
- chocolate chips
- coconut oil or Shortening
P.S. Brewers ice cream is on sale at Kroger right now, BOGO FREE.
There`s also a digital coupon to save $1 on @hudsonville_ic
Comment TACO and I`ll DM you the link.
I used the @bydash Pizzelle maker for this recipe. I bought them at Kohl`s, but they don`t appear to be in stock right now. You can order them directly from Dash.
I`ll share other pizzelle maker options in my stories.
Gluten Free Breaded 🐔 Sandwiches
Have you heard the news? @meijerstores now sells gluten-free breaded chicken patties!
Not only are they gluten-free, but they`re also organic. And from a quick read of the label, they also appear to be soy, dairy, and egg free.
Not familiar with Meijer? It`s a Michigan based business with locations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
They taste great on a @canyonglutenfree Brioche bun!
I`ve written a "how to shop gluten free Meijer" guide. Send me a DM if you`d like the link.
I`m a total nerd for Michigan agriculture facts.
Did you know that Michigan is a top producer of blueberries in the U.S. with over 20 varieties grown? Michigan produced more than 87 million pounds of blueberries on nearly 17,000 acres in 2023.
It`s because of our farmers and agricultural workers that we`re able to have desserts like this gluten free (and grain free!) blueberry pie.
Baking tip- have you ever baked a pie in a paper bag? It allows the heat of the oven to bake the pie fully, without totally drying out the crust. I`ve used this trick for apple pies, blueberry pie, and a lot more.
Comment PIE and I`ll DM you link to this recipe
https://miglutenfreegal.com/blueberry-pie-gluten-free-grain-free
#NationalBlueberryPieDay @chebe_bread @migrownmigreat @puremichigan @blueberries
Buy One Get TWO FREE
Right now Tyson Chicken Thighs are Buy One Get Two Free at Kroger. (Drumsticks, too)
Which makes it the perfect time to make my ONE POT Arroz Con Pollo recipe.
While I mentioned making this recipe for Cinco De Mayo, this dish actually comes from Spain, not Mexico. But if you`re looking for Hispanic cuisine to make that day, this dish will surely please the whole family.
Comment POLLO and I"ll DM you the recipe link.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-arroz-con-pollo/
Happy Pretzel Day!
"Pre-celiac, soft pretzels were my absolute favorite food. I’ve spent about 14 years trying to find a decent GF version. So many recipes are really complicated, time consuming, or include a bunch of ingredients I’d never have on hand.
I’ve tried a lot of recipes with limited success. Your recipe is by far the easiest I’ve found and the most successful! My non-GF friends seem to love them as much as I do."
Comment PRETZEL and I`ll DM you the link.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-soft-pretzel-bites/
@bobsredmill #GlutenFreePretzel
NEW POST- GF in Detroit
This past March I had the pleasure of finally eating at Union Assembly in Downtown Detroit. I`ve eaten at other Union Joints - Clarkston Union, Honcho and Vinsetta Garage- but hadn`t made it to their newer Detroit location until recently.
Union Assembly offers gluten free sandwiches, soup and even mac & cheese! If you`re going to Fox Theater, Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena, or Ford Field, Union Assembly is right nearby for gluten free food and drinks.
Fun Fact- The space where the restaurant is used to be a parking garage! AND they have a DJ booth where tunes are spun each week.
Get answers to all your FAQ in my blog post
Comment DETROIT and I`ll DM you the link
https://miglutenfreegal.com/union-assembly-gluten-free-options/
@unionassembly @unionjoints @visitdetroit
The Detroit Tigers play the Orioles this weekend.
If you`re planning to attend and need to eat gluten free, you`re going to want to read my blog post before you go.
I share what gluten free food options there are, where to find them, and answer questions about bringing your own food into Comerica Park.
TL; DR- Hot Dogs with a gluten free bun are available at BIG LEAGUE GRILL locations in sections 108, 130, 213, & 325
Plus, restaurant suggestions near Comerica Park with gluten free options.
Comment TIGERS and I`ll DM you the link
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-food-at-comerica-park/
You can also find the link in my stories, and in my bio.
@tigers @orioles @mlb @delawarenorth_sportservice @visitdetroit
Did you know that Michigan is home to three minor league baseball teams?
While many might be familiar with the Lansing Lugnuts or the West Michigan Whitecaps, the Great Lakes Loons play in Midland at Dow Diamond. They are an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tickets are reasonably priced - $10 dollars for lawn seats and $15 box seats.
Plus they have good gluten free concessions. Everything at their Cactus Carlos stand is gluten free. (Nachos and tacos.) Plus they offer gluten free hot dogs, cheeseburgers and more.
Read my blog post about the Gluten Free Options at Dow Diamond to learn about how staff take care when serving customers who need to eat gluten free.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-options-at-dow-diamond/
@greatlakesloons @gogreatlakesbay @cityofmidlandmi #GlutenFree
Everything Here is Gluten Free AND Vegan
Have you been to Rise Authentic Baking Co. in Grand Rapids, MI?
@riseauthenticbaking
I`m a huge fan of their gluten free apple fritters.
They also offer sandwiches and other savor menu items
Did you know that they will soon be opening a second location called Fika?
Once Fika is open later this spring, Rise Authentic will move to only offering baked goods. @fikagrandrapids
Not familiar with them? Read my blog post where I interview the owner. You`ll find their address and contact info at the BOTTOM of the interview.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/rise-grand-rapids-a-gluten-free-bakery/
Do You Have Leftovers from Easter Dinner?
If you have lots of Ham leftover from your meal yesterday, you may want to try some of the recipes in this article.
It includes everything from soup to sandwiches, but also pizza, pot pie and more.
Comment HAM and I`ll DM you the link.
https://miglutenfreegal.com/gluten-free-leftover-ham-recipes/