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Did you know that May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month?

Since my diagnosis just over two years ago, I am amazed at how much more awareness and information is available today for those that either have the disease, or know someone who does. And chances are, you do know someone that has it, because 1 in 133 have Celiac Disease. Surprisingly, since there are hundreds of possible symptoms (or even no obvious symptoms at all) it may be a difficult disease to diagnose. That was definitely what happened to me ( click here for my story).

I received the following press release via email, and felt it may be of interest to many of my readers. Upon reading the abbreviated list of symptoms, I had eight of the symptoms before changing to a gluten free diet.

One aspect that surprised me when I changed to a gluten free diet was that all of my symptoms did not disappear like I expected them to. I assumed that once I went gluten free, I would feel “normal” again. Nope, wrong. I still have some of the symptoms, they are just less severe. I hope with time they will continue to decrease. Now on to the Press Release . . .

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For Immediate Release

Mary’s Gone Crackers and the Celiac Disease Foundation Highlight Symptoms of the Condition in Recognition of Celiac Awareness Month

Gourmet Gluten-Free Snack Company and Non-Profit Support Organization Promote Education, Diagnosis and Lifestyle Changes

Gridley, Calif. (May 7, 2008) – In recognition of National Celiac Disease Awareness Month in May, Mary’s Gone Crackers, makers of gourmet gluten-free foods, and the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), have released a checklist of symptoms of the disease, which affects one in 133 adults and children. More than three million Americans are estimated to have Celiac Disease, yet 97 percent of people go undiagnosed. Those with Celiac Disease are unable to tolerate gluten, the common name for the natural proteins found in wheat, barley and rye.

Some common symptoms of Celiac Disease include:

• Recurring bloating, gas, or abdominal pain
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation or both
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Pale, foul-smelling stool
• Unexplained anemia
• Bone or joint pain
• Migraine headaches
• Behavior changes/depression/irritability
• Vitamin K Deficiency
• Fatigue, weakness or lack of energy
• Delayed growth or onset of puberty
• Failure to thrive (in infants)
• Missed menstrual periods
• Infertility – Male/Female
• Spontaneous miscarriages
• Canker sores inside the mouth
• Tooth discoloration or loss of enamel

Anyone who can identify with one of more of the symptoms listed may have Celiac Disease and should consult a doctor for more thorough testing, which typically starts with a blood test. In addition, anyone who has been diagnosed or has a family member who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, Sjögren’s syndrome, Peripheral neuropathy, thyroid disease, Dermatitis Herpetiformis, or osteoporosis may also be at risk.

The number of Celiacs is in fact greater than those with Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease combined. “We are proud to partner with Mary’s Gone Crackers to help raise awareness of Celiac Disease, said Elaine Monarch, founder/executive director, Celiac Disease Foundation. “We hope this checklist will encourage people to consult their healthcare professionals for proper diagnosis.”

Celiac Disease is one of the most common genetic conditions in the world that often goes undiagnosed because it is a multi-symptom, multi-system disorder. Symptoms vary and are not always gastrointestinal.

“Celiac Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to shed some light on this widespread condition, and we are pleased to help educate people that there may be a name for the symptoms they thought they had to live with,” said Mary Waldner, co-founder of Mary’s Gone Crackers. “I spent years trying to find the source of my digestive pain and fatigue and my son’s migraines. I want others to know that they can achieve real health when they avoid gluten containing foods.”

Waldner was inspired to create Mary’s Gone Crackers after she was finally diagnosed with Celiac Disease and had scoured store shelves for tasty foods that she and her son could enjoy. Mary’s Gone Crackers is a line of delicious, gluten-free gourmet snacks that unite great taste with satisfying nutrition. Loaded with a variety of exotic whole grains and nutritious ingredients, Mary’s Gone Crackers are organic, Kosher and gluten-free and contain no added oils, trans-fats, sugar or dairy. Current products include the original snack crackers in five delectable flavors as well as the new Sticks & Twigs, delicious stick-snacks that will be available this summer. Mary’s Gone Crackers can be found nationally in grocery food stores and natural food stores, including Whole Foods and Wild Oats.

To learn more about Celiac Disease, visit www.celiac.org. For more information about Mary’s Gone Crackers, visit www.marysgonecrackers.com.

About the Celiac Disease Foundation

Since 1990, Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) has been dedicated to promoting awareness to increase the rate of diagnosis. CDF is constantly expanding the supportive community for patients, families and healthcare professionals. CDF is actively involved in advocating for patient concerns and networking with other national and international organizations to improve the quality of life for Celiacs and their families. For more information, please visit www.celiac.org.

About Mary’s Gone Crackers

Founded in 1999, by Mary Waldner and Dale Rodrigues, Mary’s Gone Crackers manufactures a line of delicious gourmet crackers offering a savory taste sensation and satisfying crunch in five delectable flavors. Loaded with whole grains and nutritious ingredients, Mary’s Gone Crackers are organic, Kosher and gluten-free and contain no added oils, trans-fats, sugar or dairy. Mary’s Gone Crackers are available in natural and grocery stores nationwide. Mary’s Gone Crackers is a proud sponsor of the Celiac Disease Foundation. For more information, please visit www.marysgonecrackers.com.

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Later this month I will also feature reviews of Mary’s Gone Crackers products.

For more information, check out these sites:

Celiac Disease Foundation - http://www.celiac.org/cd-main.php

What is Celiac Disease? - http://familydoctor.org/236.xml

National Digestive Diseases Information - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm

News & Information in the Celiac Community - http://www.clanthompson.com/

General Celiac Information from MedicineNet.com- http://www.medicinenet.com/celiac_disease/article.htm

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness ( news updates): http://www.celiaccentral.org/

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I would love to hear from you- how did you know to test for Celiac Disease? What were your symptoms? Has a gluten free diet helped?

Congratulations to

Sam

with the comment: My favorite cracker is Natural Nectar Sundried Tomato & Oregano Cracklebread. They sell it on glutenfreemall.com and at Whole Foods. They are so good, tastes kind of like pizza, and they are low in calories so you can have a lot!!

 You have won six snack size bags of Mary’s Gone Crackers ! Please email me with your mailing address to claim your prize at glutenfreefoodreviews{at}gmail [dot] com.

 Don’t forget to check back on June 1st for the next free give-away!

This month will be a catch up month for me. The past few months I have acquired quite the backlog of product reviews- thanks to travel, website issues and illness interruptions. So, this month I will play catch up and post reviews on a variety of products- bread, muffins, crackers, protein and probiotic bars, soups . . . you name it!

To kick off the month of May, I am giving away six snack size bags of Mary’s Gone Crackers ( 3 onion flavor, 3 black pepper flavor) to one lucky winner. I love these crackers with a variety of cheeses for a filling snack. Yum! I hope you like them too.

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Here’s how to enter:

1. Reply to this post via this website, and share your favorite gluten free cracker -if you have one

(Email submission are OK, but I prefer you enter via the site so I don’t miss an entry)

2. If you have not done so, subscribe to glutenfreefoodreviews.com via email.

The give-away winner will be announced via email and on this site. Also, you will receive future product reviews. To subscribe, simply enter your email address at the top right side of my homepage. That’s it!

The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 8th!

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Now for the rules:

1. You must complete #1 and #2 to enter

2. Entries must be made by Wednesday, May 7th 11:59 p.m.

3. I can only ship to US addresses , thanks to the picky and somewhat irritable disposition of my local postmasters. They give me a really hard time shipping products to other countries- even Canada.

4. One entry, per person please

Good luck!

Right now I am in Utah with my family, searching for a new home in this part of the country. The one thing I have struggled with is what to eat. It is difficult to be out and about looking at houses and when I get hungry it became this big ordeal of where I “can” eat, and where everyone else wants to eat. I feel like I monopolize the dining options for everyone else. I hate it! Traveling and eating when gluten free isn’t that easy, especially when you want something more than a baked potato or a snack bar when you’re out and about. I must admit, my Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide has really come in handy when dinner time rolls around!

However, on the flight to get here the Kind bars really saved me. Most of them are really, really tasty and they don’t squish and melt in my carry on bag. Nice. I enjoyed the Almond & Apricot in yogurt so much that I bought one of each of the following flavors and this is what I found:

Sesame & Peanut flavor: This crunchy and sweet bar is made of mostly sesame seeds with peanuts hiding in the middle and bottom of the bar. The entire bar is partially dipped in chocolate with chocolate striped drizzled on top. The flavor was nice and just sweet enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. But beware, it is really crunchy and can be hard to bite into. Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Almond & Apricot: This is the flavor that won the 2005 snack award from Health magazine, so of course I had to try it. It is basically the same as the Almond & Apricot in Yogurt flavor, minus the yogurt. This bar is somewhat soft and chewy with a tangy apricot and sweet coconut flavor. It’s really tasty, and travels well. Rating: 5 stars

Fruit & Nut In Yogurt: This is a soft and chewy bar full of raisins, almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts with apricots. The bottom of the bar is dipped in a yogurt, and has drizzled stripes of yogurt on the top. Honestly, I don’t even like raisins, but much to my surprise, I really liked this bar! It is tangy and sweet, all rolled into one. This gluten free snack bar travels well and does not melt. Rating: 5 stars

Nut Delight: This gluten free snack bar consists of peanuts, almonds, brazil nuts and walnuts sweetened with honey. Unfortunately, this bar is so hard and crunchy that when I bit into it, it crumbled all over my clothes and seat on the airplane. Not good. I also found the flavor to be somewhat bland and boring compared to the other Kind flavors. I don’t think I will buy this one again. Rating: 2 stars

Almond & Coconut: This bar is also soft and chewy and travels incredibly well. I liked the sweet and crunchy flavor and texture of the bar. The flavor is mild, and the nuts and coconut compliment each other. Overall, it is a great bar, but I think I prefer the bars with the tangy apricot. Rating: 4 stars

Want to stock up on these yummy bars? Check out the selection at Amazon.com:

Can you believe it? Someone HACKED into my site- yes, this site! As a result, I completely lost my page one Google ranking for “gluten free food” and have to build my site credibility all over again. The worst part is that this will make it hard for some users to find me and share what they think of the gluten free food out there. Boo!

Thankfully I have a tech savvy husband with even more tech friendly friends, who are graciously helping me fix my site (bye bye wordpress!). However, I am still having trouble posting my original pictures of the gluten free food and products. So, to make a long story short, my reviews for the next week or so won’t have my personal photos included. But have no fear! As soon as the bugs are fixed I will add them. It’s too bad, because I have some great shots of some great products. Oh well, soon enough I hope!

OK, on to my review:

So, I spied these travel friendly Kind bars at my local grocery store and just had to try them. I am headed across the country next week and hoped these would make a great packable snack for my long trek. My family and I are moving out west this summer and we are going house hunting. I am a little nervous, especially since I am so used to the east coast now that this move could prove to be quite the adventure.

Locally these 1.6 ounce Kind snack bars sell for$2.25 each, but I got them on sale 2/$3. My first flavor I tried was the almonds & apricots in yogurt. It looked great and tasted even better! These gluten free snack bars are just the right size to pack into purse or store in a glove compartment.

Kind was awarded the “Best Snack 2005″ award by Health magazine. I also found it interesting that 5% of proceeds go to OneVoice Movement to help foster peace in the Middle East. Nice.

APPEARANCE: The bar itself is made up of huge chunky whole almonds, smooth apricot flavor, shredded coconut and coconut chips, and puffed rice dipped in a “yogurt compound” made up of sugar, palm kernel oil, skim milk powder and yogurt powder. The bottom of the bar has been dipped in the “yogurt” and with diagonal drizzled lines of the yogurt in the top. It actually looks very pretty and super yummy

FLAVOR & TEXTURE: I was surprised- this Kind bar really packs a punch! Immediately you experience a “sweet tart” from the apricot an yogurt flavors that is balanced out by the almonds. The apricot flavor is quite strong, but blends well with the other ingredients. The center of the bar is fairly soft and chunky and with a crunchy undertone and the smooth yogurt ties it all together.

Be aware though, that this Kind snack bar should be consumed only in moderation. I was shocked to discover that this gluten free snack bar packs in 13 grams of fat and a whopping 6 g. of saturated fat. However, I guess I should not be that surprised since the main ingredients are almonds and coconut! At least it does have 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

CONCLUSION: Really, this has become one of my favorite snacks- the flavors are wonderful and leaves me satisfied. This is one of those gluten free products I wouldn’t mind buying a case worth for on the go snacks and traveling.

Pros: excellent flavor and texture, perfect for traveling, satisfying

Cons: can be pricey, high fat/saturated fat content

Rating: 5 stars

Want to try these gluten free Kind bars?

Click on the Link below:

Ingredients: Almonds, yogurt compound (sugar, palm kernel oil, skim milk powder, soy lecithin), apricots (apricot paste, glycerol, pectin apple fiber, citric acid), homey, shredded coconut, coconut chips, glucose, puffed rice, chicory fiber, soy lecithin

Yes! This was one of this month’s give-aways. So . . is this dining guide any good?

Well, the Triumph Dining website boasts the following highlights of their gluten free dining guide:

• 1,600+ individually-owned restaurants specifically recommended by other Celiacs for their willingness and ability to accommodate the gluten free diet.
• 900+ individually-owned restaurants offering printed gluten free menus, gluten free pastas or gluten free pizza.
• 2,600+ chain restaurant locations that have extensive gluten free options.
• 80+ Lists of gluten free items provided by regional and national chain restaurants, from fast food joints to high-end steakhouses.
• Over a dozen strategies for successful, safe gluten free restaurant dining.

• 500 pages; 3rd Edition

Sounds great, right?

I found this guide to be very informative and easy to understand. I appreciated the introduction, because I could completely relate to the author’s thoughts about dining. I too, often avoid eating out because I don’t want to get sick. I also agreed that I felt like I was missing out on some great social opportunities and that I also hold back my husband from trying new venues; all because of my fear of eating out and remaining gluten free. I could relate with the author.

In this book I found:

*Section I addresses the issue of how to convey gluten free dining needs effectively as well as tips and tricks for ordering and obtaining a gluten free meal. Useful information, especially for those just starting out on their gluten free journey.

*Section II lists restaurant locations that either have a gluten free menu or cater to a gluten free consumer. They are listed first by state, and only some are broken down by city. Some states break down restaurants by larger cities, but in most cases the restaurant and gluten free bakeries are simply listed with the various locations listed secondary.

PRO: If you know the name of a restaurant you’d like to visit, it is easy to find the location.

CON: If you are visiting a smaller city, and don’t know the name of the restaurant you are looking for, it is time consuming to read through the entire state section to find a dining option.

*Section III features specific gluten free menus and menu items complete with the date that the gluten free menu info was confirmed, website links, phone numbers and pricing guide. This is my favorite part of the whole book! I could easily look up a restaurant location in section II, then look in section III to read the gluten free menus. Nice

Also, the Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide is published annually in February.

I see this guide as a great source for travel. It is small enough to easily fit into a backpack or suitcase, or keep in your car. Essentially, it makes it easier to find gluten free friendly eateries across the US. However, it is not intended to provide information or education about celiac disease. I am headed off to the west coast next week, and this book is definitely going with me!

Rating: 5 stars

Taking a trip and want to bring this guide with you? Click below to purchase:

A fresh baked, portable, individually wrapped, gluten free sugar cookie. This would be perfect for those times when I am traveling and want something sweet, but homemade. This, I had to try.

Bread of Life creates these gluten free sugar cookies in a dedicated gluten free facility that is also free of rice, soy, rye, nuts and oats. These huge and hearty 4 ounce gluten free cookies sell for $2.49 and easily satisfies a savage sweet tooth.

I tried this cookie five days after Bread of Life sent it to me; not because I didn’t want to dive in right away, but I wanted to see if this gluten free sugar cookie would actually last more than a few days.

This  cookie definitely passed the shelf life test. I found the cookie chewy and dense with a wholesome, hearty taste thanks to the sorghum flour, evaporated cane juice, butter, and free range eggs- simple ingredients that create a simply yummy cookie. Because these ingredients are different than a “typical” sugar cookie,the flavor is also somewhat different than what I expected. It was a good different! The buttery flavor also added a nice balance to the other ingredients.

The texture of this cookie is not grainy, dry or gritty, like many gluten free cookies I have tried. It is somewhat soft, but with a satisfying density you can really sink your teeth into. Topping this cookie was a thick, sugary sweet topping that provided a crunch. However, I found it to be overwhelming so I brushed off the excess topping. No big deal.

My favorite way to eat this cookie is warmed in the microwave for 10-12 seconds. It literally melts in your mouth. Yum.

Pros: doesn’t taste gluten free , chewy and satisfying

Cons: thick sugary topping

Rating: 5 stars 

Want to try this cookie for yourself?

Click HERE to order from the Bread of Life website

Ingredients: sorghum flour, free range eggs, butter, date paste, organic evaporated cane juice, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, sea salt 

This review will kick off a series of reviews for Bread of Life fresh baked goods. Since many of their products are packaged individually and have a shelf life of 7 to 10 days or so, I thought they would be a great option for gluten free traveling. They may be purchased online for $2.79, or in select natural foods stores in the southwest.

Bread for Life Gluten Free Bakery was started by two homeschooling families in 2002 and is based out of Missouri. Their products do not contain any rice flour ( gasp! is that possible in a gluten free product?!?) and feature wholesome, rich, high quality ingredients. (Click HERE to read their amazing story of how the Bread of Life bakery came to be). Their dedicated bakery is free of wheat, gluten, rice , oats, rye, peanuts and tree nuts.

First of all, these hefty and filling gluten free chocolate chips muffins are incredibly soft and scrumptious. As I gingerly sliced the muffin in half, I expected it to crumble since it was so soft and moist. Nope, not the case- hardly a crumb! These muffins have a smooth texture and mild pleasant flavor that screams ” I’m homemade!” The body of the muffins are not grainy or gritty like some gluten free baked products, and do not taste gluten free at all. Seriously. They are that good.

It is obvious high quality ingredients are used. The fact that free range eggs and sorghum flour also make this gluten free product appealing. The muffin was mildly sweet, flavorful and was perfect paired with a big glass of ice cold milk. The best way I can describe the flavor of this gluten free chocolate chip muffin is simply delightful, sinfully rich and lip-smacking good.

Although the body of the muffin is soft, smooth and moist, the topping threw me for a loop. A thick, sweet coating on top helped me crunch my way through the muffin. I do like a bit of sweetness with my muffins, but I found the sugary topping to be overwhelming at times. So, I simply brushed off the excess and was satisfied with the result.

The chocolate chips in my muffin also seemed a bit sparse- but the chocolate that I did taste was flavorful and seemed balanced with the overall flavor of the muffin.

Thanks to Bread of Life for the muffins. This is a great gluten free product from a great start-up that I am happy to support. Look for more muffin, cookie, and bread reviews this month from Bread of Life. You’ll be in for a treat!

PROS: soft, moist, flavorful, do not taste gluten free! Individually packaged for freshness, high quality ingredients

CONS: crunchy sweet topping may be overwhelming,

Rating: 5 stars

Where Can I Buy Bread of Life Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Muffins?

Click HERE to visit the Bread of Life website for ordering information

(BONUS! If you order $39 or more before May 1st, your shipping is free!)

Ingredients: Sorghum flour, organic evaporated cane juice, potato starch, butter, non-gmo sunflower oil, chocolate chips(cocoa butter, sugar), free range eggs, tapioca flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, baking soda, sea salt

**please note nutirional analysis is not yet available

When our family drives to Virginia to visit family, we try to pick up our daughter’s favorite treat for the ride home- Ukrop’s pound cake. Their bakery- and everything else they make, is simply yummy. We love the smooth, slightly sweet flavor, and I especially like that the pound cake hardly crumbles. This is ideal for a long drive home in the car- the less crumbs the better.

Obviously I cannot have their pound cake anymore, so when I saw that ‘Cause You’re Special made a golden pound cake mix I had high hopes for a yummy, portable sweet treat for myself and my family. This 16.5 ounce gluten free pound cake mix sells for $6.99 at my local natural foods store.

Mixing the batter was a breeze with my Kitchen-Aid mixer. Just combine 3 large eggs and 3/4 cup butter or margarine. If you want this to be dairy and casein free, simply substitute the butter with the baking spread of your choice.

The batter is thick, smooth and very sticky. I used a spatula to smooth it into the pan, but ended up smoothing most of it with my fingers dipped in water because of the stickiness. After baking for 75 minutes and - ta da! The first gluten free pound cake to ever grace my countertops.

This gluten free pound cake has a thick and semi- soft crust. The top of the pound cake is slightly crisp and flaky with an ultra-sweet flavor. The texture is smooth with a few nooks and crannies, and does not crumble or fall apart and slices easily. When freezing slices of this gluten free cake, I would recommend eating it before it completely get to room temperature. I found that when allowed to completely thaw, the texture seemed mealy and mushy. Not good. For best results, I suggest consuming the pound cake fresh within 24 hours.

However, the flavor closely resembles the ‘Cause You’re Special! To me, the flavor is a very sweet rice flour flavor with butter blended in for richness. If you like this company’s other products, then you will probably like the pound cake as well.

Overall, this mix is OK, but not exactly the gluten free replacement for Ukrop’s that I was hoping for.

Pros: dense, smooth, texture comparable to traditional pound cake

CONS: lack of original flavor - tastes just like their biscuits and vanilla cake, so-so results from freezing, strong rice flavor, really sweet

Rating: 3 stars

Want to try this mix for yourself? Click below:

Ingredients:sugar, white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, salt

Check out my other ‘Cause You’re Special! reviews:

‘Cause You’re Special! Moist Yellow Cake Mix

‘Cause You’re Special Hearty Biscuit Mix

‘Cause You’re Special! Lemon Poppyseed Muffin Mix

‘Cause You’re Special! Famous Pizza Crust Mix

‘Cause You’re Special! Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

The gluten free product give-away winners for this April are:

1) Melissa Dean wins the Gluten Free Restaurant Guide

with her comment:
My favorite vacation spot is Lake Powell (Utah). With all the red rocks, wake boarding, and jet skiing you could ever dream of!!! Hope some of you get a chance to go there sometime, it is the best!!

AND

2) Mandy from DCGluties.com wins the two weeks supply of Attune probiotic wellness bars

with her comment:
The gluten free granola from Trader Joe’s is a great travel snack! I took the “tropical mix” with me to Jamaica a couple weeks ago!

Melissa and Mandy, please email me at glutenfreefoodreviews {at} gmail {dot} com with your mailing address. Good luck next month to all of you who did not win- the odds are great that next time it may be you! The next give-away will be announced May 1st.

Until then, tune in for some fun reviews for gluten free food, snacks, and travel tips. I look forward to reading your opinions, too!