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June/July 2010
Features
Parent Alert: Sesame Seed Allergy
One of my childhood jobs was to sit at the kitchen table and carefully scan the bottoms of the bagels for errant sesame seeds. My father was severely allergic to sesame and I was always on the lookout for him. Ingesting even one tiny seed would make him violently ill, sending him to the hospital with gagging spasms.
Bottoms Up!: Gluten-Free Beer
Subscribers OnlyBrewers of gluten-free beer are often celiacs themselves, like Gonzalez, which adds a credibility factor with their customers. Others, like Russ Klisch, just want to help quench the thirst of the millions who can’t drink regular beer. Klisch is president and founder of Lakefront Brewery, a microbrewery in Milwaukee. About five years ago, he received a phone call from a fellow in Houston with celiac disease, asking if Lakefront could brew up a gluten-free beer.
Cooking with Quinoa
A marvelous thing about going gluten free is that it encourages exploration into the delicious, nutritious world of alternative grains and seeds. And in that world, quinoa (pronounced KEEN wah) is a shining star.
Quinoa: A Great Grain
Subscribers OnlyTips on how to use Quinoa. Quinoa is extremely versatile. It can be served hot or cold as a side or main course for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even dessert.
Let's Eat Out: Tips for Safe Gluten-Free Restaurant Dining
My adult son e-mailed me recently, asking for dining-out tips that he could share with his colleague who had just been diagnosed with celiac disease. “Most places have gluten-free selections,” I wrote him back. “Tell her it’s no big deal.”
Departments
Life Story
A Good GIG: Gluten Intolerance Group
Subscribers OnlyCynthia Kupper, executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG), did not set out to become a leading force in the gluten-free community. A single mom who worked full-time as a clinical dietitian at a hospital in Tacoma, Washington, Kupper began volunteering at the nonprofit organization 15 years ago when it was a tiny group composed primarily of volunteers.
Giving Up Gluten
Nevergall’s teenage daughter, Jessica, was diagnosed with celiac disease after having suffered for years from painful stomach cramps, fainting episodes and mysterious anemia. Once Jessica started on the gluten-free diet, she made a rapid recovery.
So Good
Fire Up the Grill: Gluten-Free Grilling
Grilling is the perfect way to meet the special dietary needs of people who are food allergic or sensitive. Fresh meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and potatoes are all naturally free of gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs and soy. And it’s easy to make flavorful sauces and marinades that are gluten free and allergy friendly, ensuring scrumptious meals that are safe for almost everyone.
Cook Out
Follow these suggestions for great gluten-free grilling.
Grilling and Barbecuing Similar?
Grilling and barbecuing are similar, but not synonymous, ways of cooking.
Gluten-Free Cheesecake Baking Tips
Follow these suggestions for gluten-free cheesecake success.
Gluten-Free Cheesecake Flavors
Gluten-Free Cheesecake is a very versatile dessert. Customize one basic recipe with your favorite flavor combinations. Here are some suggestions.
Creamy, Dreamy Gluten-Free Cheesecake
Cheesecake is off limits to many of us on special diets. But here’s the good news. We’ve created delicious cheesecake recipes that are gluten free and some can be made dairy free and egg free, as well.
House Call
Calcium
Subscribers OnlyCalcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body with 99 percent found in the bones and teeth. Most Americans don’t get sufficient amounts of this vital mineral to maintain healthy bone mass, which increases their vulnerability to developing osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life. Those of us with dairy allergy or milk intolerance or with malabsorption issues related to celiac disease are at particular risk and should pay close attention to our calcium intake.
Pediatric Allergies Q & A - Sun Screen, Meat Allergy, & More!
My son has eczema and sensitive skin. I’m worried that sunscreen may cause him to break out. Are there certain ingredients I should avoid?
Research Roundup: Vitamin D, Obesity, & More!
Vitamin D has been getting a lot of press recently for its role in keeping us healthy and potentially protecting us from a number of chronic conditions, including asthma. Researchers from the National Jewish Medical Center in Denver recently carried out two studies of vitamin D’s role in human health.
Try it
Living Without's Favorites: Great Granola
Here’s a terrific treat that does triple duty. Fiber Power Granola by Bakery on Main makes a quick breakfast and a satisfying mid-day snack. It’s also a convenient choice to throw in your bag for on-the-go “emergency food.”
Living Without's Favorites: Buono Appetito!
Italian food as good as grandma’s? When it comes to prepared meals that are the genuine item, Caesar’s Pasta has it made. This 40-year-old company produces a selection of gluten-free frozen pasta dishes that truly taste like home-made.
Living Without's Favorites: Pure and Simple
Ever notice that many gluten-free baking mixes contain white rice flour, tapioca starch, sugar—and tons of empty calories? Elizabeth Kaplan did. When Kaplan, who has celiac disease, couldn’t find nutritious choices for her food-allergic children, she created them.
Living Without's Favorites: Kitchen Tool
Yes, it is a pricey. But the Vita-Mix is worth it. This machine will replace your blender, grinder and food processor and become your new best friend in the kitchen. Did we say handy? Did we say quick? With the Vita-Mix, you can easily mill rice and other whole grains into fresh flour.
Read it
Living Without's Favorite Books: Ask the Doctor
Celiac Disease, A Hidden Epidemic (William Morrow) is a must-read for those with celiac disease and anyone with suspect symptoms (gastrointestinal complaints, anemia, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, etc.).
Living Without's Favorite Books: Free for All
If we could dream up a cookbook, it might look like this: 150-plus recipes that are free of the Big 8 allergens, low in sugar, kid favorites, simple to make with a limited number of ingredients and that focus on healthy foods. That’s a lot to ask from one book but Allergy Proof Recipes for Kids (Fair Winds Press) has all this—and more.
Living Without's Favorite Books: Easy Does It
Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free (Demos Health) by Marlisa Brown, RD, walks you through the basics of being gluten free with a focus on easy living. Brown gives practical tips on identifying what you can and can’t eat and the products to use.
Living Without's Favorite Books: Re-Wiring Hope
Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, Asperger’s, dyslexia all stem from brain imbalance, a condition where the brain’s hemispheres aren’t synchronized or electrically balanced, says Robert Melillo, author of Disconnected Kids (Perigee/Penguin Books).
Make it
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free DIY Crackers
Subscribers OnlyHomemade gluten-free, dairy-free crackers taste better and are more nutritious than store-bought varieties and they can be made for a fraction of the cost.
Food for Thought
Unexpected Grace: A Gluten-Free Story
A few short months ago, I was in the living-without groove. My cabinets were full, my kitchen equipped. Family and friends craved my Tinkyada Bolognese and rosemary Chebe sticks. That restaurant in Napa where the waiter, a celiac, had just read The Gluten-Free Bible was the icing on the cake. Life was good.