I'm with Stupid

I have to tell you how just plain dumb I feel right now. Remember how I told you I thought I had been really good about not eating gluten? Well it seems I wasn’t doing nearly as well as I thought. As I start to double check at restaurants I go to, it seems that my favorite “gluten free” dishes aren’t gluten free at all. My favorite dish at Mexican restaurants is fajitas most of the time just veggie. Turns out that 4 out of 5 places put a marinade on the fajitas that has you guessed GLUTEN! The corn chips are also not gluten free because they are usually fried in the same oil as everything else. I go to Cheesecake Factory at least once a month for work and order the same salad each time because I was once told it was gluten free. During a dining experience there yesterday, I asked the waiter to double check. He came back and said that none of their salad dressing were gluten free and neither were the black beans that go on that particular salad!!! I smiled and said, well someone here once told me it was all gluten free and he responded with “well if you didn’t have a reaction maybe it isn’t a big deal.” I then smiled and replied “well it is still a big deal because the allergy causes my immune system to attack itself.” Yes, I was Debbie Downer at my group lunch yesterday but I felt that was a very dumb comment for the waiter to make. Just because I don’t immediately break out in hives as soon as it touches my mouth doesn’t mean isn’t causing my body any damage. This salad and the fajitas I have been ordering could be keeping me from restoring my health and that makes me feel so stupid! The waiter made up for the comment by helping me build a safe, gluten free salad that ended up being pretty tasty. Now that I am “double checking” it is getting more difficult to eat out and it stresses my husband out. I don’t even want to know what else I have been eating that has gluten in it. I thought I had been gluten free for a year and a half (except for the accident at my mother in laws where she bought corn tortillas that still had wheat) but it turns out I have only truly been completely gluten free for two weeks. I have to start over and that is frustrating however I do have hope that this was what I was missing. Perhaps my ovaries haven’t completely clicked on because there was still gluten in my system??? A girl can dream can’t she??? Now all I can do is be very careful, exercise and get in the best shape possible and continue to eat superfoods to build my body back up. I didn’t get a chance to read “It’s my Ovaries Stupid” yesterday, I had a long day. I think I might have been a bit hormonal though, after a very unexpected verbal exchange with an extremely unpleasant woman at a gas station, I just started crying. I thought to myself as I drove off “what the hell am I crying for?” Right then I noticed I kind of had cramps and decided that it was something hormonal …although I am not sure what. Whatever it is….I’ll take it. It’s evidence that there are some hormones left inside me. Since I didn’t make it to the gym last night (due to my uncontrolled emotional breakdown), my father in law and husband put together the old family trampoline for me. I had the best time jumping on that thing, I felt like a kid again and even practiced some of my old cheerleading jumps. After about 20 minutes on that thing I was completely out of breathe and in need of a shower. I have to laugh because I am getting excited even thinking about going home and jumping again tonight. Along with emotional breakdown, yesterday also brought with it some stomach issues that I thought were kind of strange. I am going to blame the probiotics I recently starting taking again. I have read that you can have stomach issues when you first start them. It’s the good vs the bad (good bacteria vs the bad). Perhaps though, it is the hatched parasites that Ann told me about escaping since I didn’t take PABA yesterday??? Man, I feel sexy now. Hey babe, guess what, I have hatched parasites, what should we name them???


After our recent move, I joined the gym my husband and father in law go to. My father in law came home last night with a little goodie bag he had gotten at the gym. It was filled with literature, coupons and samples of new organic and some gluten free products. The only items I can’t eat were a nutrition bar with probiotics that had wheat in it and some sample cat food (guess I could eat it but just don’t have the urge). I love that people are starting to realize how important organic and clean eating is. I am going to research the products and possibly put a few on my next grocery list. Well we have plans to go to dinner tonight at a fish place. Hopefully there is something on the menu I can eat. I am going to go online and do so searching so my husband can relax.


I wanted to mention something I found while looking up an Udos product online (to see if it had gluten in it). Just because something is labeled “gluten free,” doesn’t mean it has absolutely no gluten in it. According to Udos response to the gluten free question, anything with below a certain amount of gluten in it, is considered gluten free. How freakin stupid is that. So you are telling me all of us celaics patients out there have to pay double for our food and treats and there is still gluten in it even though we are paying for gluten free?? Are you freakin kidding me? How is the FDA ok with this? It could still be making us sick!!!

My husband and I went to a gluten free food fair today. Here is a list and my comments on products that were there. I just want to say that the turn out was amazing and I was so excited to get to go around and taste things without worrying about my allergies. There another one schedule in a few weeks at a local vitamin cottage, I can't wait to go!!
 
Gluten Free Food Fair – August 29th Jefferson County Fairgrounds

• Bobs Red Mill GF Products – have separate milling & packaging department. Gave out coupons and packet of mighty tasty GF hot cereal. www.bobsredmill.com
o Have a pizza crust, brownie mix
o Pamphlet with huge list of GF products (70)
o Catalog lists books that are continually sought after and use by their customer base. I thought they all looked interesting but here are a few I will definitely be reading
 The Amazing Flax Cookbook – Jane Reinhardt-Martin
 Art of Cooking with Quinoa – Maria Baez Kijac
 The China Study – Most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted – T. Colin Campbell
 Cooking with Coconut flour – Bruce Fife
 The Joy of Veagan baking – Collen Patrick – Gourea
 125 Best Gluten Free Recipes – Donna Washburn & Heather Butt
 Babycakes – vegan, gluten free and sugar free recipes from New York’s most talked about bakery – Erin Mckenna (some recipes call for spelt flour which is not gluten free)
 Cooking Free – 200 flavorful recipes for people with food allergies and multiple food sensitivities – Carol Fenster

• Chipotle was there handing out chips and guacamole – their meats are not marinated in gluten and their chips are safe!

• Carinos Italian was there advertising their gluten free menu and handing out a sample of cooked potatoes

• General mills had a booth that had pamphlets explaining how to read labels. They have hundred of gluten free products and are listed at liveglutenfreely.com
o Some brands listed are Larabar, fruit by the foot, chex, Yoplait, progresso and betty crocker

• Cecelias Market Place guid had a booth – website will give you product of the day emails and product alerts – www.CeceliasMarketplace.com

• Bakery on Main – Granola products. Gave out packet of Cinnamon Raison Granola and a peanut butter chocolate granola bar. Have a 34,000 square foot manufacturing facility with in house gluten testing on every batch of products.

• Bard’s beer – founded by celiacs, made it their mission to give beer back to those who are intolerant to gluten. America’s first gluten free sorghum beer and the only beer brewed with 100% malted sorghum. To find the beer visit www.bardbeer.com or call 1-877-440-2337

• On the border was there handing out a copy of their gluten free menu and a coupon for queso. I especially love they list the alcoholic beverage that don’t have gluten :0)

• Local Denver bakery, Delicious, was there. Gluten free baking www.delicious-gluten-free.com

• Diamond Baking Co. – www.diamondbakingco.com – Boulder and Denver Metro – gluten free dessert catering

• Another booth of locals who are about to launch and had an amazing booth full of truly amazing yummy products was toosies. They will be selling products in all local natural food stores. Toosiesglutenfree.com
o Will be selling all purpose flout, bread mix, brownie mix, muffin mix and pancake/waffle mix

• Schar- company that makes gluten free products was handing out free samples or chocolate covered wafers and a food pyramid for celiac patients. To remind us what we need to be eating to stay healthy.

• Barlean’s Organic Oils had a booth advertising their Omega Swirl. Tasted and looks like a smoothie yet provides optimal levels of vital and essential Omega 3 EPA/DHA. I tried the strawberry/banana and is was really good. They are sold at vitamin cottage. Can be taken straight, mixed with yogurt and blended with smoothies or protein drinks.
o Voted best product of the year by Vitamin Retailer Magazine
o Gold metal winner of American Masters of Taste Awards

• Rudis had a booth and was giving out complete loafs of bread to everyone. I had already purchased the cinnamon swirl a few weeks ago and love it. You cant even tell its gluten free. Today I got a loaf of the multi-grain and will have to let you know what I think.
o There slogan is “gluten free doesn’t mean bread free”
o Have original sandwhich, multi-grain and cinnamon swirl bread
o www.rudisbakery.com

• The Organic Dish – pre-made gluten free and other special diet food
o www.theorganicdish.com/menu
o Can shop at their kitchen in boulder or order online for pick up, delivery or shipping nation wide.
o Food comes ready to cook with instructions

• Bready had a booth. An automatic gluten free baking system. Very large and bulky and is $299.99. You can check it out at www.mybready.com

• Simply Boulder culinary sauces – sold at whole foods and vitamin cottage. Very good dipping sauces. Gluten free,agave nectar, dairy free, vegetarian, 100% natural. www.simplyboulder.com

• Gluten Free Oats – www.glutenfreeoats.com – tested at Univ of Nebraska Food Allergy Research a

• Kinnikinnick Foods was giving out packets of information – have bread products, doughnuts, personal size pizza crust, waffles, smores, bread crumbs and oreos.
o www.kinnikinnick.com or goglutenfee.com
o Gluten free never tasted so good
o To provide Celiacs, people with Autism and other people with special requirements with uncontimated, risk free source of food products.

• Glutenfreeda – gluten free burritos, granola and oatmeal.
o All products produced in our own 100% gluten free facility

• Gluten free passport had a booth. You can download an app on your phone will give you a list of restaurants and menus that you can eat from. www.GlutenFreePassport.com

• Jules Gluten Fee – www.JulesGlutenFree.com.
o Had some amazing desserts
o Author and creator of the flour was there
o The flour looks like it would be really great to use has tapioca starch, potato starch, corn starch, white rice flour, corn flour and Xanthum gum. I am thinking of ordering some, then I wouldn’t have to mix all of these together while cooking.
o The author signed by book that I bought
o Can go to her website for some great GF recipes.

• Minnie Beasley’s Handmade Almond Lace Gourmet Cookies – first let me say that the creator of this cookie is a little intense but they are very good. He said that if you google “best damn cookie ever” his will pop up. Very good and they will ship pretty much anywhere.

• Arbonne cosmetics – all products including make-up, moisturizer and shampoo are gluten free. I asked for a catalog but they were out. I am going to email the consultant I met today and have her mail me one.

• Themissingmenu.com – “where the missing allergy-free menu can be found”
o Search local and national restaurants and bakeries
o Search by allergy, cuisine and neighborhoods
o View allergy free highlighted items and menus
o Stay current with allergy conscious community by using our twitter and facebook feeds

• Happy Bellies – the only organic baby cereal with DHA plus probiotic protection.
o Have formula that is allergy friendly
o Fresh, frozen organic baby meals
o Organic puffs

• Beaujo’s pizza – have gluten and dairy free pizza. I got a preferred discount card for 15% off every purchase. I have never tried this pizza but will make a note to do it soon and let you know what I think.

• The Gluten Free Gal Baking Company
o Gluten free, Soy Free,Dairy Free, Nut Free, Yeast Free, Corn Free, Sesame Free and Refined Sugar Free
o www.theglutenfreegal.com

• Namaste foods – contain zero gluten, wheat, soy, potato, corn, tree nuts, peanuts, casein or dairy
o Dedicated allergen free facility
o 15 baking mixes, 3 pasta dishes and all natural
o Also listed on a card I picked up is Bread, cookies, pizza crust, vanilla cake, sugar free muffins, perfect flour blend, biscuits pie crust and more, Chocolate and Vanilla frosting, muffins, brownies, spice cake, waffles/pancakes and chocolate cake
o I have tried the spice cake and I believe this is my favorite GF spice cake mix. I recently made the brownies, I thought it was really good but I added some things to it (organic justin’s peanut butter, walnuts, flaxseed and a bit of soy milk.

• Funky Monkey – fruit snacks
o 100% natural, real fruit, delicious,
o Nothing added
o Gluten Free & veagan
o Raw food
o Kosher
o I received a free bag which I will try and get back to you. They also gave out funky monkey temporary tattoos. I am sad to say I can’t find mine but if I could, would proudly be wearing it right now

• Udis Gluten Free Foods
o Made in a 100% dedicated gluten free facility
o Also dairy free, soy free and nut free
o Shown in the brochure is bagels, granola, pizza crust, sandwich bread, cinnamon rolls and muffins
o I haven’t tried their stuff but I got a coupon which means I will try it soon.

• Celiac Spruce Association – www.csaceliacs.org
o Handed out a bunch of information
o Flyer on “the gluten free diet and celiacs disease” class being offered taught by a registered dietician with over 20 yrs experience working in the field. Diagnosed herself with celiacs and multiple food allergies.
o Class is $45.00 and includes a copy of a list I bought today. A small bound book listing all safe GF products. Designed to take to the store with you and help decifer which products are safe.
o http://www.denverceliacs.org/

 
Hope this helps! I received a bunch of literature which I will work look through this week and share.