Gluten and Toddlers

At age one, my Nephew had surpassed my almost- two year old in weight, and looking at his skinny little body, people started to raise eyebrows: Did I feed him?



When asked at his 18- months appointment, our Pediatrician didn't seem concerned: "He's in the 75th percentile in height and head size, the 3rd percentile in weight- Some kids are just skinny."



When he hadn't gained weight at his two year appointment, and still no gains three months later, we decided to have further testing performed. Blood tests such as tGT (tissue transglutaminase), which tests for IgA antibody, when elevated suggest a diagnosis of Celiac Disease. Sometimes, these blood tests can come back normal despite having the illness, especially if you have already placed your child on a gluten free or semi-gluten free diet. Try to have the testing done before switching your tots diet- this will help reduce the possibility of receiving a false negative. The gold Standard in diagnosis, of course, is small bowel biopsy that looks for flattening and thickening of the gut lining. This is an invasive procedure, something I do not necessarily want to put my under-weight two-year old through. I asked our Pediatrician if having such invasive testing is necessary. The quick answer is no. If you suspect your child may have gluten intolerance, blood testing is warranted, but if he or she responds positively to a gluten free diet, it's not necessary to have an invasive procedure performed. It is only if the diet seems not to help that your pediatrician may order follow up testing including but not limited to biopsy.
For now, blood testing will be enough, and we will keep him on a gluten free diet.
This however, is often easier said than done- Gluten, like too much Yo Gaba Gaba, is everywhere.

Gluten Free Dining Out

Happy Holidays Gluten Free Greensboro! 'Tis the season- that it, the season for hectic schedules, holiday parties and dining out. The holidays can wreak havoc on any diet, but for allergen- sensitive individuals this time of year can be a nightmare. There is no 'cheating' in celiac disease, so I find the best way to safely navigate the holidays- especially if this is your first holiday living a Gluten-free lifestyle- it to be prepared.

Greensboro does have a variety of restaurants with Gluten-free menu options. OSI Restaurant partners- the parent Company to Outback Steakhouse and Carrabbas Italian Grill have made an excellent commitment to providing a large variety of delicious and gluten-free options, including deserts. Ask your hostess for a Gluten-free menu- there is no dusty black "allergy" binder to sift through as in some restaurants, an experience I have often found frustrating, and frankly, a little degrading. Most friends and family members are more than happy to select a restaurant from a list that is willing to accommodate your needs.

Miss Chinese food? PF Changs at the Shoppes on Friendly has a good variety of options and presents food in a discrete, yet very safe manner. Want Pasta? Olive Garden now provides a GF menu that includes penne pasta as an option. Many local Restaurateurs are more than happy to accommodate GF needs, even if it isn't advertised prominently on their menu. I recommend calling ahead- usually between 2 and 4pm is the best time to reach a knowledgeable individual, oftentimes the owner is even available, and can help to arrange a safe and delicious dining experience. If a restaurant isn't willing to accommodate my needs- I do not give them my patronage, but this has rarely been my experience with the Greensboro Restaurant scene.

In addition to dining out- there are many options for sweet treats, breads, and the like in Greensboro. Lindy's Bakery, if you have yet to try it, is an absolute must. The sweets are as delicious as Lindy is knowledgeable, and she is always trying new recipes! Cheesecakes by Alex, one of my favorites on Elm street, makes a delicious GF cheesecake, using almond as a substitute for the traditional graham cracker crust. He does need a few days notice to prepare your special treat, but I have never been disappointed in the quality or presentation of his art. If you are going to a family gathering or work function and aren't sure there will be GF options available, the best bet is to discuss the menu with your host and, if nothing else, offer to bring an item or two. Most individuals in the general public have no idea what Gluten is, more less how to avoid it, and they do not resent your input. Nothing is more embarrassing that hosting an event and having nothing to offer one of your guests!

Happy eating!

GF Cheeseburger Soup

Thanks to A Year of Slow Cooking I ventured out to try a new recipe.  I got so brave that I actually changed it up a bit and made it my own.  Seriously, how can anything with a hunk of Velveeta not by tasty?!  And it proved my theory.  Delic! 

            Cheeseburger Soup

            1.5 lbs of ground beef

            15 oz of Velveeta 

                 (I went for the Mexicana – cube it)

            1 red bell pepper

            2 cups of frozen broccoli

            2 cups of chicken broth (gf of course!)

            1 cup of water

            1 cup of milk

            1 huge russet potato (1” cubes)

Brown the ground beef.  

Chop the bell pepper and potato.  Add the water and veggies to the pot.  Add the broth and water.  Add ground beef.  I cooked it on high for 5 hours.  30 minutes before you’re ready to eat, add the cubed Velveeta and milk.  Slowly stir it in. 

Like most things, this soup was even tastier the next day.  Enjoy!

Sweat Treats in Gboro!

Funny story to share, okay it’s funny to me.  I was at a harvest festival snooping around when I come to a baked goods vendor.  Oh honeys these treats looked so good.  Fluffy.  Fresh.  Chocolatey.  And I visually enjoyed them.  Being the gluten free gal that I am, baked goods come from my kitchen or kitchens of close (and trusted) loved ones.  Seriously. 

So there I am, eyeing the goodies and the nice bakery lady asks, “would you like to try some chocolate chip pumpkin muffin?”

I reply, “no thanks I’m gluten free.”

She gets a huge grin on her face and says, “this is ALL gluten free!”

And I jumped up and down!

Lindy's Choco Pecan Pie

And that is when I met Lindy, the owner of Lindy’s Goodies.  Instant pals! I made my first purchase right on the spot.  I bought the most scrumptious Chunky Oat Bar, it was huge and worth every penny.  Now for those who are gluten free it can be very hard to find delicious pre-baked treats.  This is not where this happy story ends. 

Lindy's Pumpkin Muffs w/Choc Chips

                                                       

This real life fairy tale 

continues, because Lindy’s Goodies is in GREENSBORO!  Ms.  Lindy is well educated in matters of Celiac and gluten intolerance.  She’s also well known for her gf cook books and cooking classes.

Oh yeah, did I mention that Lindy’s Goodies also has gf waffle cones for the Home Land Creamery ice cream they sell?  Waffle cones people!

Lindy and her hubby are working hard to make a go with their bakery on Spring Garden Street in Greensboro.  Please take the time to support this local shop that bakes to our special dietary needs!

Lindy's Goodies
GF Bakery and More!
2823 Spring Garden St.
Greensboro, NC 27403
Phone: 336-790-0267

Check out Lindy’s blog http://lindysgoodiesbakery.com/blog/

Nice to meet you!

Hey gluten free friends!    I'm a new contributor to Gluten Free Greensboro and I'm just so tickled to be typing this entry.  Let me share a bit about myself.  I entered the gf world in 2004, I'm so thankful to the doc who decided to take that random test and opened my eyes to Celiac.  Friends, I was in a world of migraine torture and GI pain.  I'm not going to lie to you.  I love being gluten free.  It changed my life for the better.  How great a problem that's cured by simply changing diet?!  I seldom suffer from migraines and my tummy is so much happier.  Can I get an whoot-whoot?!

Now for those that have been gf for longer than a year you know the grocery market's a changin'!   We can now welcome many  main stream brands with gf  products to our pantries - Chex, Bisquick, Betty Crocker mixes and many more.  And we're lucky to have a few very gf friendly markets EarthFare and Deep Roots that one can walk in and have a wide selection of products.

I hope to share some Gboro gf gems with you in the near future.  

But until then check out my blog for a simply and  yummy anti-noodle lasagna recipe  http://lovemygr8life.blogspot.com/2010/08/simpleantinoodlelasagna.html

Cheers,

Amanda

Greensboro, NC Bloggers Needed

Live in Greensboro, NC?

Live the Gluten Free Lifestyle?

Interested in helping others in your city?

If you have any questions or interest writing about Greensboro please email me.

Zen Cat Bakery

There's a new baker in town (well, she's been around since the beginning of this year, but relatively new) and she's baking up something sweet and yummy for those of us that are gluten free! Some of the magical creations coming out of her kitchen are cookies, cupcakes, brownies, truffles (yes-I said truffles!), breads, and more, and EVERYTHING is gluten free. Zen Cat Bakery takes it a step further and bakes everything vegan too.

My absolute favorite treat of what few I've had the extreme pleasure of trying so far, is the "Oh Snap! Triple Ginger Cookie". It was the BEST ginger cookie I've ever had. Angie, owner of Zen Cat Bakery, explained that she not only uses crystallized ginger, but fresh ginger as well to bake these lovely treats. These cookies will melt in your mouth and ginger lovers will NOT be disappointed! I was also thrilled to try Zen Cat’s "Fig Cookie", which was phenomenal! (See those yummy looking treats in the picture above? Fig Cookies!) Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I've really craved fig cookies and Zen Cat Bakery's "Fig Cookie" is better than any fig cookie I’ve had in my life! Finally, I tried the "Pumpkin Bread", which was so moist and had such a perfect flavor. It's truly hard to believe that these treats are all gluten free AND vegan! You know how most GF baked goods taste like cardboard or turn into a rock within a day? Well, not Zen Cat Bakery's treats. She has some kind of moist magic working with all of the love she puts into her baked goods! Her tag line is perfect: Gluten Free + Vegan + All Love and when you try one of these treats, you’ll wonder how you’ve made it this long without having treated yourself!

Hopefully your mouth is watering by now and you’re wondering, ‘where can I get my hands on one of those Zen Cat Bakery treats?’ Zen Cat Bakery treats can be found in coffee shops, cafes, and markets around Greensboro (and further if you’re in Winston Salem, Archdale, or Mebane). Zen Cat Bakery’s website has a “where to find” section listing the names and addresses of where to find their yummy treats. Even better, if you become a fan of Zen Cat Bakery on Facebook, they post where, and what treats are being delivered each day delivery occurs. If you can’t find Zen Cat Bakery treats at your favorite locations now, just mention it to the business, visit Zen Cat Bakery’s website, and send Angie an email. She’ll definitely explore the opportunity! More demand created for gluten free and vegan deliciousness will create new opportunities, and hopefully, more options for safe eats!