Gluten Free Travel Blog

Another once-in-a-lifetime Gluten Free Travel Opportunity

I recently learned of an amazing Gluten-Free Getaway being planned by Jovial Foods. If you aren't familiar with Jovial Foods, you'll be interested to know they make what I consider to be one of the best -- if not THE best -- gluten-free pasta.  I first had the opportunity to try this Organic Brown Rice pasta this past summer at Camp Celiac in Rhode Island where my son was a camper and I volunteered as a parent counselor. Jovial Pasta looks, tastes, and feels just like the "real thing." 

Now, Jovial Foods is hosting a spectacular 7-day/6-night Gluten Free Getaway from May 27-June 2, 2012, in Lucca, Italy -- the heart of Tuscany. It benefits the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, with 25% of the proceeds of bookings going to NFCA and its fantastic programs to build awareness about Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity.  

You'll stay in an 18th century Tuscan villa and participate in three hands-on cooking classes with noted author and blogger Shauna James Ahern (a.k.a. Gluten Free Girl) and her husband, chef Danny Ahern. How fun! Imagine...being able to relax in the beautiful Italian countryside and learn gluten-free cooking techniques and tips from this dynamic gluten-free duo! If Shauna's company is as warm and entertaining as her book, you'll have an incredibly enjoyable time! And you'll be using the best-tasting pasta from Jovial Foods in preparing these authentic Italian meals. 

The price of the getaway also includes a Welcome Dinner with local pasta artisans and daily breakfast -- in addition to use of the villa's pool and hiking trails. Of course, there's much to explore around Tuscany, and this is a great place to base yourself, knowing you will be in good hands for many of your gluten-free meals. 

For more details as well as room rates, visit Jovial Foods' special page on their website. If you attend the Getaway, be sure to tell us all about it when you return -- and submit a review or two to GlutenFreeTravelSite detailing any other local "GF-friendly" restaurants you discover in Tuscany!

 

Butterfly Bakery Offers Wonderful Gluten-Free and Sugar-Free Treats

I'd never heard of the Butterfly Bakery until recently, when they offered to send me some of their gluten-free goodies to try. 

Butterfly Bakery is a special bakery founded by Brenda Isaac in 1998 in Clifton, New Jersey. Her dream was to create sugar-free baked goods that her diabetic mother could enjoy. The company has since evolved to serve people on gluten-free diets as well. Brenda offers both a Sugar Free line of products and a Gluten Free line of products (and is working on a line that is BOTH gluten and sugar free!). 

The items we tried were the Gluten Free Wild Blueberry Mini Muffins, and the Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies. Both were quite delicious. The mini muffins tasted identical (in our opinion) to any "regular" blueberry mini muffins you might remember. And the oatmeal cookies were SO good...I can't quite put my finger on what I liked so much about them, but they had a really nice and unique texture and taste. A bit different from typical oatmeal raisin cookies, but perhaps even better. Brenda uses whole greain Teff flour in her gluten-free recipes, so you are not only getting a product that's great tasting and gluten-free, but healthy as well. Whole grain Teff flour is naturally sweet, light, and moist -- and full of potassium and fiber. It even has 14% more protein than wheat flour. 

I was reassured to find out that Butterfly Bakery designates a separate area of their faciltiy as "Gluten Free" to avoid the potential for cross contamination. 

If you happen to have any friends or family members that need "no sugar added" or "sugar free" products due to diabetes (or just a desire to reduce sugar in their diets), you may want to tell them about Butterfly Bakery. If their Sugar-Free and No-Added-Sugar lines are as good as their Gluten Free line, they're in for a treat. Unlike many other sugar-free baked goods that contain artificial sweeteners, Butterfly Bakery's Sugar-Free products contain milk-based lactitol as a sugar substitute. Apparently, it imparts a rich and creamy taste with no digestive side effects (it's even considered a "prebiotic" and has fewer calories per gram than sugar or other sugar substitutes). For their No Sugar Added line, they rely on fresh fruit nectars. Items in these lines include angel food cake, muffins, creme cakes, cookies, mini cupcakes, and "brownie nuggets."

Butterfly Bakery has certainly tapped a large market with the lauch of these lines...currently over 25.6 million people aged 20+ have diabetes in this country. If "doing good" while enjoying great products is your thing, you might want to try their adorable Sugar Free vanilla and chocolate Mini Cupcakes with pink icing. Butterfly Bakery donates the profits from this product to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for its efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. 

The Butterfly Bakery's products are currently available at specialty stores and select supermarkets like Dierburgs, Lunds, and Albertsons -- as well as on Amazon.com.You can also order directly from Butterfly Bakery. Items I'd like to try in the future include the Gluten Free Lemon Citrus Sliced Creme Cake, Espresso Sliced Creme Cake, and White Chocolate Coconut Cookies (yum!). 

Have YOU seen Butterfly Bakery's products in your local stores? If so, I'd love to know what you've tried...and how you've liked them. Hit the Comments button below and let us know what you think!

Take a Moment to Complete NFCA's Survey of Gluten in Medications

Last November, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) announced that it would conduct a first-of-its-kind research study on gluten in medications, funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NFCA, partnering with St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, is conducting this research in two parts. The first part of the study is happening now: a survey of the Celiac and gluten sensitive populations.

NFCA urges all people who are following a gluten-free diet to participate. Participants will be asked about their experiences taking medicine. They will also be asked to share information if they think they might have had a gluten-related reaction to an over-the-counter or prescription medicine. Results from the survey will guide the second phase of the study: our team will test some of the medicines identified in the survey to see if they contain gluten.

This critically needed preliminary research aims to validate or nullify the anecdotal adverse experiences associated with gluten in medications that have been reported by people with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. It is a first step to determine if more investigation is needed, which may lead to additional research, labeling, and safe use guideline initiatives. More information about the Safe Use Initiative can be found at www.fda.gov/safeuseinitiative

The NFCA is looking to generate as MANY responses as possible to strengthen their research. They need YOUR help in this effort. We ask that you circulate this message and invite all those who are gluten-free to complete the survey on their website. The survey takes between 4-15 minutes to complete. It closes on February 28, 2012.

Thanks so much for your support of this crucial research study.

 

Gluten Free Travel-US Organizes Gluten Free Trips and Customized Itineraries for Individuals

It's so nice to see companies finally catering to gluten-free travelers, and nowhere is it more important than in the planning stages of a trip. While sites like GlutenFreeTravelSite are a great starting point for gathering ideas about where to stay, shop, and dine when traveling, sometimes you want to go a step further and have someone handle the research and planning for you, including contacting your hotels and restaurants in advance of your trip to ensure the chef understands your needs. And sometimes you just want someone to plan the whole trip, including pointing you towards the best accommodations when traveling domestically or abroad.

That's exactly what GlutenFreeTravelSite's new Site Advertiser, Gluten Free Travel-US does. They'll take care of all your travel needs and ensure your gluten-free expectations are met -- and even surpassed. Since owner Ellen Morse is gluten and dairy free, she is acutely aware of the challenges faced by the traveler with food allergies. She has been creating customized worldwide itineraries for travelers for 14 years. Now, with the services of Estelle Chandler, gluten free consultant and chef, she is able to extend her expertise to the gluten free traveler.

Gluten Free Travel-Us plans "gluten-free friendly" cruises and trips to destinations around the world. They also are happy to plan individual, customized itineraries that allow gluten-free travelers to choose their travel dates, itineraries, and companions. Whether it’s a family trip, destination wedding, or honeymoon, Gluten Free Travel-Us will attend to every detail, including ensuring all your meals are gluten-free. Check out Gluten Free Travel-US for all the latest in 2012 itineraries. Be sure to join the mailing list to hear about the latest itineraries. They'll take good care of all GlutenFreeTravelSite clients!

 

How YOU Can Help Send Kids to a Gluten-Free Summer Camp

In this season of giving, I wanted to share some news about something very near and dear to my heart....

The Celiac Disease Foundation, Gluten-Free Saver, and Van's Natural Foods have teamed up to raise money for a scholarship fund to benefit kids that would like to attend a gluten-free summer camp in the beautiful San Bernadino mountains of Southern California from July 30-August 3, 2012. The camp is open to all 7-15 year old gluten-intolerant and gluten-sensitive children -- as well as those diagnosed with Celiac Disease. 

All is takes is just $2...YES, $2, to make a donation that Van's Natural Foods will match, dollar for dollar. So your $2 gift is really like donating $4, and a $10 donation is like giving $20. The goal is to raise $2,000 to use towards partial and full scholarships to give kids that might otherwise not be able to afford camp the opportunity to participate in this wonderful childhood experience. The fundraiser runs now through December 25. Please take a moment to make a quick tax-deductible donation. (I just did it, and it's very user-frienly...and takes just a few minutes.)

I say this issue is very near and dear to my heart, because my own son with Celiac had the privilege of attending a similar camp for kids with Celiac Disease this past summer. I also attended -- as a parent counselor. I saw first-hand how kids who had never been able to attend summer camp before, due to their dietary restrictions, were able to enjoy this rite of passage of childhood without worrying about whether the food served in the dining hall was safe. For the first time in most of their lives, they were able to be just like everyone else -- and eat just like everyone else. 

While the focus of the camp my son and I attended wasn't on Celiac Disease, per se (there were no "seminars" or organized discussions about being GF...rather, it was just about giving kids the same fun, outdoor experience and range of activities of any other summer camp), I witnessed many conversations among campers of all ages who were so happy to be around other kids "just like them" who could relate to the challenges they face in school, at parties, dining out, and in other everyday social situations involving food. These kids are often the only ones in their schools diagnosed with Celiac, which according to them, can feel really isolating. 

But here at the camp, all their camper friends "got it." They were not alone. The kids really connected, and in this age of Facebook, email, and texting, many of these kids keep in touch and go on to develop lifelong friendships which remain a constant source of support. I witnessed other long-time parent counselors get choked up talking about what a positive, life-changing experience the camp had on their child. 

And that's why I'm asking for your support today. If hundreds of people give just $2 each -- and Van's Natural Foods matches these donations dollar for dollar -- the Celiac Disease Foundation will raise enough money to send some well-deserving kids to a fun and potentially life-changing camp this summer. If you can afford to give more, there's no limit on the donation size. Thank you so much for your generosity, and Happy Holidays and best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

**100% of all donations goes directly to the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) for the scholarship fund. CDF is a 501(c)(3) organization, and your contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

Fresh To Order adds a new Fall Seasonal Entree Salad to their Gluten-Free Menu

Regional restaurant chain Fresh To Order, with locations in Georgia and Tennessee, has added a new salad to their Gluten Free Menu. You won't find this "Fall Seasonal Salad" mentioned on their website, but it's gluten-free and consists of arugula, goat cheese, candied walnuts, roasted butternut squash, house-made spiced pear chips, and citrus viniagrette. 

To view Fresh To Order's full Gluten Free Menu -- and access "Buy One, Get One Free" coupons for entrees and salads -- visit their page on GlutenFreeTravelSite. 

Glutino and Gluten Free Pantry: Our Top-Picks for the Nostalgic Tastes You Remember From Before You Were Gluten-Free...

Just about everyone following a gluten-free diet has heard of Glutino and Gluten Free Pantry, two of the bigger manufacturers specializing in gluten-free products. Glutino has been around for decades, and in 2004 they acquired Gluten Free Pantry's line of award-winning baking mixes, founded by renowned Celiac chef Beth Hillson. All their products are tested to contain less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten. 

We've been buying Glutino and Gluten Free Pantry products since Day One when our son was diagnosed with Celiac, before he was even two years old. Glutino has also been kind enough to send me new products to sample periodically. And some new products we discover all on our own. We have our favorites, like one new discovery I wanted to share with you...which reminds me of a popular gluten-filled product you may be missing since going gluten-free.

It's Glutino's Table Crakers, and they're the closest thing in taste to those Saltines you likely remember (and maybe still crave!). I noticed them for the first time last week while shopping at Whole Foods, so I picked up a box, hoping they'd be a new cracker option for my son, who hasn't seemed particularly excited about most gluten-free crackers we try. Well, I'm not sure he appreciated the taste as much as I did, because he certainly wouldn't remember eating a Saltine before he was two (if he even did have them -- I can't recall!). But WOW...they were crisp, tasty, and reminded me so much of that much-loved plain Saltine cracker that's very much off limits for anyone following a gluten-free diet! They are also larger than Saltines, and I was particularly impressed that the batch I bought was NOT broken, they way I've found many gluten-free crackers we buy (even other types from Glutino). 

Another favorite that allows GF folks to have the pleasure of an all-American treat is Glutino's new "Genius" sandwich bread. I particularly like using the white sandwich bread to make classic grilled-cheese sandwiches. The bread is light, airy, and makes the perfect grilled-cheese. Just spread a little butter or olive oil on each slice of bread, and get as basic or as fancy as you like with the cheese and other fillings. For "regular" sandwiches I prefer to use the Genius multigrain sandwich bread, just because it's healthier. For all sorts of great recipes using their Genius bread and other products, be sure to visit the recipe page of Glutino's website. 

Glutino's yogurt-covered and chocolate-covered pretzels are another big hit in our household. Until Glutino introduced them, I don't think there was a gluten-free version on the market. It's nice to be able to enjoy this uniquely sweet and salty snack again, and Glutino does a great job replicating the "real thing!" No big surprise, since their gluten-free pretzels are fantastic...and, in my opinion, nearly indistinguishable from gluten-filled varieties.  

If you or your kids are yearning for those "Apple Jacks" you had to give up when going gluten-free, Glutino makes a great substitute: their Apple Cinnamon Rings cereal. While this has been on the market for a while, it's a relatively new discovery in our household and a hit with our older son who isn't even Celiac. My own personal favorite among Glutino's cereals is their Berry Sensible Beginnings cereal, which is like lightly sweetened corn flakes (these are actually corn/rice flakes) and filled with real freeze-dried strawberries, which soften up nicely when you add milk. It's just the right amount of sweetness...not overly so. 

I'd have to say I haven't tried a Gluten-Free Pantry baking mix I haven't liked (although there are still plenty I need to sample). But our all-time favorite is definitely the Chocolate Truffle Brownie Mix. Oh my goodness...they are to DIE for! First off, no one can tell they are gluten-free. They are so rich and moist and delicious that we have family members that gleefully make them every time they hear we will be coming to visit! It is a good excuse for them to make what has now become their favorite brownie mix!  These brownies are filled with little chunks of chocolate and don't need any icing...they're perfect plain or sprinkled with a dusting of powdered sugar. Once you try the Chocolate Truffly Brownie Mix, I'd be surprised if you ever bought another type of GF brownie mix again!

So there you have it...gluten-free folks can certainly enjoy plenty of All-American favorites, thanks to Glutino and Gluten Free Pantry. Lest you think I'm completely biased, I will share that there are a few Glutino products we aren't crazy about. In my family's opinion, their Glazed and Chocolate Glazed donuts don't measure up to Kinnikinnick's donuts in terms of taste or consistency. (Our favorite is Kinnikinnick's cinnamon sugar variety.)  Glutino's bagels, too, are not spectacular...a bit heavy and dense. However, they have several varieties, including cinnamon raisin, which has a good flavor. We're torn between whether we prefer Glutino's or Udi's. Neither is the "perfect" bagel...perhaps that is near impossible to achieve. While Glutino's is too heavy, Udi's in some ways is too airy...more like bread, not a bagel consistency. I guess it's a matter of personal preference. 

I'd love to hear about YOUR favorite Glutino and Gluten Free Pantry products -- or any recipes you've tried that incorporate their products -- so please leave a comment below! 

Gluten Free Restaurants: Chain with 10 Locations in 6 States Offers Gluten-Free Menus

It's always exciting to have new options for gluten-free dining, whether it's in your own town -- or someplace where you may travel on business or for pleasure. It's even better when the restaurant can be relied on for a safe dining experience. 

Enter Village Tavern....a small restaurant chain with 10 locations in the following 6 states across the country:Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Colorado, and Arizona. 

This restaurant, which worked with the Gluten Intolerance Group, developed TWO Gluten-Free Menus: one for Dinner and one for Brunch. They offer a fresh spin on traditional foods as well as the classics, and much of their food is prepared using wood-fired ovens and grills. Items on the gluten-free menu include aged steaks, chops, specialty salads, and fresh fish and seafood (like the Pan-Seared Scallops with Herb Butter and Sweet Corn Succotash pictured above). Read more about them and link directly to their Gluten Free Menus and list of Locations here.  

 

Gluten-Free Travel: Not-To-Be-Missed Gluten-Free Friendly Lodge in Vermont's Ski Country

Don't miss our Featured Review for November on GlutenFreeTravelSite. We showcase one reviewer's fantastic experience at Stowe Meadows Lodge, a beautiful B&B near Stowe, Vermont, where the owner is very eager to please her gluten-free guests. Whether you're a skier or enjoy the mountains any time of year, this is definitely a place to consider visiting...it's on our family's "list" of places to check out!

Free 21-Page Report on Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance

I recently co-wrote, in conjunction with medical doctor Leigh Erin Connealy, a comprehensive 21-page report about Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance. Because of the prevalence of these conditions (1% of the population for Celiac and at least 7% for Gluten Intolerance) and the increasing number of patients she's seen diagnosed in her practice -- Dr. Connealy wanted to cover this subject more in depth for readers of her free weekly e-letter, the Newport Natural Health Letter. 

Whether you or a loved one suspects gluten may be negatively affecting your health...or if you've been recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease...or even if you've been following a gluten-free diet for years, this report will give you the straight talk on gluten and arm you with the resources you need to successfully follow a gluten-free diet.

Topics include Getting Tested, Distinguishing Between Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance, Grocery Shopping and Eating at Home, Eating Out and Traveling, and Avoiding Gluten in Communion, Prescriptions, and Vitamins. There's also a "Best Of" list with some of my own favorite gluten-free brands that are so tasty you won't miss your old gluten-filled staples.

The Celiac Disease report is FREE when you sign up for Dr. Connealy’s FREE weekly e-letter, which delivers practical health advice on a range of topics, with natural-based solutions to use in your daily life. Just follow the instructions in this link to quickly and easily sign up for the free e-letter — and then download the free report. There's no "catch"...both are free, and you'll soon be on the road to taking control of your health.

It's easy: Once you provide your email address to receive Dr. Connealy's FREE weekly e-letter, you'll then be taken right to a page to download our FREE report: CELIAC DISEASE: The Most Under-Diagnosed Disease In America That You -- Or A Loved One -- May Have....

I look forward to hearing your feedback on the report. Feel free to forward the link -- or this Blog post -- to anyone that might benefit from the FREE report.