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June/July 2009
Features
Restaurants With Special-Diet Menus
A renaissance is taking place in the restaurant industry and people on special diets can taste the benefits. From independently owned restaurants to national chains and fast food franchises, the food service industry is recognizing food allergies and sensitivities as a market that can no longer be ignored. The shift in awareness is due to the growing number of people on special diets¡ª12 million Americans have food allergies, 3 million have celiac disease, and millions more have dietary concerns due to conditions like lactose intolerance and diabetes. The increased need for allergy-friendly dining options has generated industry interest in the special-diet diner. It¡¯s a win-win situation that¡¯s sure to increase business for restaurants and provide a wider trough of choices for food-sensitive diners.
Things to Remember While Dining Out
More restaurants are serving up special-diet menus. Here are a few things to remember or some nutritional facts you might not have known about regarding everyday food ingredients.
Some Allergy Friendly Tips on Eating Out
Contact the manager during non-peak hours and explain your food allergy or sensitivity. When you make the reservation, have staff note your allergy next to your name. When you arrive, ask to speak to the manager or chef to confirm your special needs.
Stay Clear of Risky Entree Orders
Subscribers OnlyCross contamination may affect these menu options if you are not careful.
Chow Down at These Allergy Friendly Restaurants!
These restaurants currently offer gluten-free menus and may also accommodate other special dietary needs. Call ahead or visit restaurant websites for additional information.
Drinking Tea for It's Health Benefits
According to Chinese legend, the story of tea began on a blustery day in 2737 B.C. when Emperor Shen Nung was unwinding under a wild tea tree. A gust of wind sent a few leaves drifting down into his cup of warm water. He took a sip and the rest is history. Fast forward a few millennium. Traveling in northern Thailand, I take a side trip to a tea-growing community where I sample several cups of loose-leaf tea plucked from the Camillia sinensis evergreens growing on verdant hillsides nearby. This tea is by far the most flavorful I have ever tasted, each sip more ambrosial than the last. I return home a changed man—a vociferous tea snob and a dedicated daily drinker of fine tea. I am not alone in my conversion. From Earl Grey to Japanese sencha, there’s a movement brewing in the United States. Tea is hot—and getting hotter, spurred on by the growing availability of delightful varieties and by research confirming wide-ranging health benefits.
Your Cup of Tea
Specialty tea cafes and stores are ideal places to find real tea, as are many health food stores. In addition, the following websites offer a wide array of high-quality teas and brewing accessories.
Conscious Tea Choice
When possible, purchase tea that is certified fair trade. According to TransFair USA, this means that tea growers in Asia, Africa and Latin America are guaranteed fair wages and a stake in decisions about their rights as workers. It also means farmers have direct market access, reducing middlemen and allowing a better chance for fair pricing.
Tell Me More About Dining Out Allergy-Friendly
For additional information about allergy-friendly dining out, visit these websites.
Easy Gluten-Free - Dairy-Free Pie Recipes
One of my favorite activities is visiting the farmer’s market and admiring the beautiful displays of just-picked produce. As a chef, I stroll past all the gorgeous fresh fruit and vegetables with my mind open to the different culinary possibilities. I usually don’t go in with a plan; I want to let the sights, smells and textures of the season’s abundance inspire me. As I reach for a container of plump blueberries or fragrant strawberries, my baking creativity and my appetite always lead me to the same conclusion: it’s time to make a pie. Fresh, colorful and health supportive, pies are a mouthwatering way of showcasing the deep-hued beauty and ripe goodness of fruit. When creating a pie, I work with the freshest fruits and berries available, preserving as much of the fruit as possible. Pureed, sliced or whole, using all edible parts extracts the most flavor and nutrients (vitamins, fiber, antioxidants). With each mouthful, I want to taste the richness of that juicy peach or those sweet cherries.
Rolling Gluten-Free - Dairy-Free Pie Crust
Subscribers OnlyA delicious pie starts with a delicious crust. Follow these tips for a tender, tasty pie crust. Don’t over-mix ingredients. The less the dough is worked, the more tender the crust.
Laws That Make Eating Out Safer for Those With Food Allergies
Subscribers OnlyRestaurants in Massachusetts have become a bit safer for food-allergic guests, thanks to a state law that went into effect in April. All restaurants in the state are now required to display information about food allergies in their kitchens and staff must be trained on the subject. In addition, menus must remind guests to inform wait staff of any food-allergy issues. Restaurants can be designated “Food Allergy Friendly” if they voluntarily create a binder listing all ingredients in every menu item.
Is It Gluten Free?
Subscribers OnlyHere are some questions to ask if youfre on a gluten-free diet and ordering from a menu.
Departments
Life Story
Schools for Food Allergic Children
Subscribers OnlyJackie Dodd and her husband, U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), are advocates for the food allergic. In February, Chris Dodd introduced the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act, a bill to establish consistent guidelines for managing food allergies in the nation's schools throughout the nation. The Dodd’s interest in this topic is both political and personal. Their daughter Grace has multiple, severe food allergies. The 7-year-old, who has been through anaphylaxis four times, is allergic to six of the top eight food allergens, plus tropical fruit, chickpea, avocado, watermelon and others. Living Without editor Alicia Woodward talks with Jackie Dodd about raising a food-allergic child and the importance of providing schools with allergy guidelines.
Asthma and Food Allergies
When Donna O’Mara watches her 16-year-old daughter, Keri, compete in high school track meets, she gets nervous. She wants her daughter to do well but that’s not what creates the anxiety. Keri has asthma and O’Mara is concerned that the strenuous activity might prompt breathing problems. When Keri finishes her events without incident, as she normally does these days, O’Mara’s anxiety melts into gratitude. “Ten years ago, Keri’s asthma was so bad that we weren’t even sure she would live to be 16, let alone be a competitive runner,” says O’Mara of Nassau, New York. Born six weeks prematurely, Keri weighed only 4 pounds, 13 ounces and had health problems from the start. Although her breathing was fine as an infant, Keri did not tolerate formula. “She cried a lot from gas pains,” her mother says. Keri continued having stomachaches into her toddler years. When she was three and attending nursery school, she would get sick regularly.
Asthma and Food Allergies - Tell Me More
Need information about asthma, contact these organizations.
Common Asthma Triggers
Here are some common everyday triggers of Asthma attacks brought to us from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Catching Your Breath During an Asthma Attack
Asthma occurs when airways are narrowed, inflamed and/or filled with mucus.
So Good
Gluten-Free Wrap Sandwiches
When I prepare a portable meal and head out, I want more than just good flavor and solid nutrition. I want to keep it simple with quick fixings and no clean-up. Wraps and sandwiches fit the bill. Today there are more options for gluten-free breads and wraps than ever before—homemade and ready-made. Wrap, stack and pack them in a cooler or picnic basket for convenience that tastes great and satisfies even the hungriest outdoor enthusiast. Round out your meal with a super-fresh salad or two and then give it a sweet ending with our best chocolate chip cookies.
Gluten-Free Barbeque Sauce
Subscribers OnlyThere are plenty of choices when it comes to gluten-free barbeque sauce.
Wrap It Up!
Subscribers OnlyGluten-free wraps are available at your local supermarket.
Allergy Friendly Deli Products
Subscribers OnlyThese companies offer deli products made without certain allergens. Some products may also be free of MSG, sodium nitrate, nitrites or other additives.
Summer Grilling Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free
Dust off the grill and celebrate summer with fresh recipes for the barbeque. It’s time for outdoor cooking, eating and entertaining. These dishes can be prepared in advance with minimal fuss. That means there’s more time to enjoy your guests and less time spent in the kitchen. For a special appetizer, wow friends and family with a platter of Korean beef and lettuce cups—morsels of rice and spice wrapped in small lettuce leaves. Or pass around a bowl of smoky eggplant dip with crusty gluten-free breads or flatbreads. Whip up pork satay or an elegant dish of chicken breasts with green grapes for an entree. If you’re catering to vegetarians, dazzle them with charred bell peppers stuffed with grilled eggplant and cherry tomatoes.
Some Gluten-Free - Dairy-Free Grilling Seasoning
Canned coconut milk separates in the can into two distinct components—a watery liquid and a rich cream. Use the liquid in soups or baking or to cook rice. Use the ceam in curries, sauces or desserts. You can shake the can before opening to get a smooth milk. Purchase coconut cream from stores that specialize in South East Asian, Indian and Pacific Island foods or from spirit suppliers (it’s used in drinks like pina colada). Don't substitute cream of coconut, which has been sweetened and thickened.
Shopping Gluten-Free
Subscribers OnlyLet’s face it. A special diet can be expensive—but there are ways to ease the strain. Enjoy delicious meals and stay within budget with some special-diet shopping tips. Limit purchases of processed foods. Cooking from scratch is less expensive and usually better for you. Consider shopping for basics (gluten-free grains, flours, etc.) at local ethnic stores. Asian markets often sell rice, rice flour and rice noodles in bulk. Mexican groceries offer corn tortillas and corn flour at reasonable prices.
House Call
Pediactric Allergists Take Questions From Readers
Subscribers OnlyCoconut is not related to tree nuts nor is it related to peanuts. Coconut trees are part of the palm plant family Arecaceae, considered monocots. Trees that produce tree nuts are dicots, only distantly related to monocots. Although there are reports in the medical literature of some cross-reactivity between certain tree-nut proteins (like hazelnut and walnut) and coconuts, an allergy to coconut in nut-allergic patients is actually rare. A recent study found that patients diagnosed with a tree nut or peanut allergy had no increased risk for developing an allergy to coconut.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
When it comes to optimum digestive wellness, the latest buzz is bugs. Probiotics, those friendly microscopic organisms that live in your gut, are enjoying growing popularity with health-conscious consumers. The recognition is well deserved. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that aid in digestion and also play an active role in maintaining a vibrant immune system. This is important news for people on special diets whose natural immunity may be impaired. Much of our immune system, about 70 percent, centers in the gut. This is where our body comes in contact with infectious agents, like pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, from the foods we ingest. It’s also where we process various food allergens. Probiotics help keep the pathogens in check. They promote a healthy intestinal tract, helping to fight illness and even lowering sensitivity to allergens
Do It Yourself Homeade Yogurt
Visit these websites for recipes for homemade yogurts. Some are dairy free.
Research Roundup and Medical News
Patients who are diagnosed with diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or mixed type IBS should be tested for celiac disease, says the American College of Gastroenterology. In the January 2009 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the ACG now recommends that doctors screen patients since diseases such as celiac can masquerade as IBS. The recommendation is based on emerging research that indicates celiac is more common among patients with IBS. Ruling out celiac would reassure both doctor and patient that the IBS diagnosis is correct, ensuring appropriate treatment. Patients whose doctors suggest they have IBS should alert their physicians to the ACG’s new screening guidelines.
Healthy Pet
Knowing What's in Your Dog's Food
Rupert was a border collie with a sweet disposition, the kind of dog who captures your heart. “He wanted nothing more than to be with me,” says owner Nancy Kerns. Kerns had purchased Rupert as a puppy from a sheep farm. From the start, the dog showed plenty of affection —and he did plenty of scratching, which Kerns ultimately traced to a flea sensitivity. “If he got so much as a single bite, he would scratch himself into a bloody mess,” she says. So she made certain his environment was free of the insects, resorting to occasional topical “spot” treatment (“I’m not a big fan of using pesticides but they work”). That slowed the scratching down but even with no trace of fleas, Rupert continued to suffer from episodes of intense itching. And then there were his ears.
Try it
Living Without Favorites: Get the Message
It’s a parent’s nightmare—your food-allergic child in a crowded area overseen by busy, distracted preschool or daycare workers. How can you keep your youngster safe? Help is on the way, thanks to Rebecca Nelson, mother of two severely food-allergic children. Nelson’s Alert Clothing Company offers colorful T-shirts and sweatshirts designed for kids too young to speak for themselves. This kid-friendly clothing (T-shirts are made with 100 percent cotton, sweatshirts are a cotton/polyester blend) is cheerfully silk-screened with butterflies, dinosaurs; cowboys, fairies and other whimsy.
Living Without Favorites: Let the Sun Shine
Outdoor play can mean scorched skin for your little one. Enter TruKid Sunny Days Face Stick, the ticket to fun in the sun without the burn. Packaged like a chunky lipstick, this SPF 30+ mineral sunscreen tucks easily into pocket or purse for convenient roll-on coverage whenever faces are exposed. TruKid products are the brainchild of Jennifer Adams Bunkers, mother of six and company CEO. Made with certified organic, natural ingredients, Sunny Days Face Stick provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection that’s non-toxic, gluten free and water resistant.
Living Without Favorites: Now You See It
Now you don’t. Vanicream Lite Lotion goes on smooth and vanishes without a trace. All that’s left is hydrated, nourished skin. Silky light, this hypoallergenic lotion contains no dye, no fragrance, no lanolin, no parabens, no formaldehyde—and definitely no greasy after-feel. It gently protects while it restores and maintains normal moisture levels. Ideal for soothing sunburn and irritated, cracked skin, Vanicream is also effective for dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Living Without Favorites: Close to Heaven - Gluten-Free Brownies
Taking the last one is enough to break up a friendship when it comes to Simply Divine Brownies’ new gluten-free offering. This chocolaty brownie is rich, moist, dense, not-too-sweet, and super-duper delicious. Even gluten-eating folks gobbled up samples and then asked us for more—but it was difficult to share. These brownies are that good.
Read it
Living Without Books: Gluten-Free 101
Here’s a valuable reference for the gluten intolerant: Gluten-Free Diet, A Comprehensive Resource Guide (Case Nutrition Consulting, Inc.). Written by registered dietitian and celiac expert Shelley Case, this is the seventh revision of this popular book. Chock-full of practical advice, well organized and simply presented, Gluten-Free Diet contains comprehensive information that will benefit medical professionals and the newly diagnosed alike.
Living Without Books: Stop Bugging Me!
Tiny yet potentially deadly, the mosquito carries disease to millions of people every year. And then there are fleas, flies, ticks, lice, ants, termites, even mice and rats. What unsavory critters are hanging around your house and garden and how can you oust these pests, naturally? Look to Bug Busters (Square One Publishers) by Bernice Lifton for safe and effective ways to control common vermin. The book’s central message is this: Know your enemy.
Living Without Books: Viva Italian
“To eat well, to drink well, is to live well,” is an Italian adage that Mary Capone embraced effortlessly as part of her heritage—until she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Initially, she envisioned a lifetime of bland, boring food. It wasn’t long, however, before a family lineage of chefs and restauranteurs motivated her back to the kitchen. Working relentlessly, she transformed her favorite recipes—pasta, pizza, bread, pastry — into delicious gluten-free alternatives. The result is The Gluten-Free Italian Cookbook, Classic Cuisine from the Italian Countryside (The Wheat-Free Gourmet Press).
Living Without Books: Autism Awareness
What happens when a parent harbors a strong sense that “something is wrong” with her baby? Most pediatric experts wait two years or so, assessing a child’s developmental progress before diagnosing autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Now researchers Osnat and Philip Teitelbaum offer an early-warning system to possibly detect ASD symptoms in children who are younger. Well-written with clear prose and reader-friendly illustrations, Does Your Baby Have Autism? (Square One Publishers) explains the subtle differences between normal developmental patterns (rolling over, sitting, crawling, walking, balancing) and how babies on the autistic spectrum might progress.
Make it
Allergy Friendly Summertime Drinks
Subscribers OnlyStrawberry Fruit Frost SERVES 2Get a portion of your five-a-day serving of fruit and vegetables with this refreshing recipe. 1½ cups California strawberries, stemmed 2 small (or 1½ large) thoroughly ripe bananas, broken into 1-inch pieces 1 cup frozen or canned peach slices 1 cup apple juice 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup ice cubes …
Food for Thought
Living With Food Allergies
No matter how you say it, living without requires sacrifice, will power, spine. It takes a willingness to go against spontaneity and impulse, those gratifying moments that make life more satisfying, slightly decadent and, yes, delicious. Given the chance, few of us would willingly eschew. We would gladly give up the label reading, the constant vigilance, the extra expense of special diets and chemical-free living. We would kiss the just-say-no mentality good-bye. Who among us would deny the simple pleasure of milk in our coffee or the luxury of good fragrance on our skin? For me, the idea of biting into a silky cupcake, miniature marvel of butter, sugar and gluten, any time the spirit moves is a pleasure so palpable, I can almost taste it. But we’ve learned to adjust, be resourceful and rein in our impulses. And isn’t restraint the very thing we need more of in these troubled times?