Shopping
- When you go shopping, take your cell phone with you. You may have to call the toll-free number on a package to confirm whether or not it’s gluten free.
- Plan menus before you go shopping. That way you won’t forget key ingredients, and won’t waste time at the store trying to think of them.
Reading Labels
- Remember that wheat-free doesn’t mean gluten free. Gluten is in wheat, rye, and barley (malt). A product can be wheat-free but still contain malt or other forms of gluten. (Gluten Free is, by definition, wheat-free.)
- Spelt is wheat. Some companies refer to it as a “wheat alternative,” but it is not wheat-free or gluten free.
- Kamut is wheat, also, and must be avoided on the gluten free diet.
- You’ll be reading lots of labels when you shop. Don’t forget your glasses if you need them for reading.
- Look for a Certified Gluten Free logo. All Gluten Free Café products carry this important stamp from the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO).
- Sprouted grains are not safe on the gluten free diet.
- Grasses such as wheat grass or barley grass are gluten free.
- Don’t feel that a product must say “gluten free” on the label to be considered safe for you to eat. While it’s oh-so-convenient and helpful that some companies now put a gluten free logo on their products, there are many foods that are gluten free but don’t say so.
- http://www.glutenfreechoices.com - HCG’s site created specifically to provide consumers with information about the exceptional gluten free products from the Hain Celestial family of brands, plus inspiring recipes and advice to support your diet.
- http://www.gluten.net - Gluten Intolerance Group of North America is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those with gluten intolerance lead healthy lives. Site includes a guide to the “Gluten Free Diet” (foods allowed, foods to avoid, often overlooked foods), links to local support groups, health care professional referral listings, a recipe database, educational materials for download, e-mail newsletters, links to gluten free companies, and more.
- http://aglutenfreeguide.com - A well-organized, easy-to-navigate blog with recipe index, restaurant list (NYC-heavy), resource links, and plenty of links to other blogs. Has received some press from the NY Times, also TV.
- http://www.celiaccentral.org - Home of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding to advance and promote research, education, and screening. Helpful disease information section includes related diseases, a survival guide, and info re gluten in medication. Site also offers a Monthly e-newsletter with tips for gluten free living, “Ask-the-chef” for gluten free cooking advice, research, and more.
- http://celiac.nih.gov/FAQ.aspx - The National Institute of Health’s Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign provides current science-based information. Site offers an e-newsletter, links to celiac disease organizations and more.
- http://www.celiac.com - Provides resources and information to help those with gluten intolerance/related diseases lead normal, happy lives. Also home of the Gluten Free Forum, the Gluten Free Mall (would latter be an issue since the store carries competitive products?), and CeliacKids.com by Danna Korn, founder of R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids).
- http://www.celiactravel.com - Provides essential facts, tools and tips to help you eat gluten free anywhere in the world. Site includes recipes by category, links to gluten free and other travel websites, and celiac travel stories. (Celiac Disease Foundation links to this site).
- http://www.theceliacsite.com - Provides essential facts and tips regarding the Celiac disease, how to eat Gluten Free, recipes by food group and meal, resources on eating out, and a Gluten Free yellow pages that provides anything from blogs and research to travel and cooking classes.
