Celiac Warrior Gal

Wegman's supermarkets, regionally located in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland, have issued a recall on a gluten free product. Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola, with expiration date 4/2014 , are being recalled. The product had higher than acceptable gluten levels. If you cannot find the expiration date, look for lot code 3619 . Those of you who have purchased the item from other sources, make sure you check the expiration date, and lot code. Call the company if you have this specific item. source: http://www.wivb.com/news/local/wegmans-recalls-granola-due-to-gluten photo credit: http://www.vitacost.com/Images/Products/1000/Purely-Elizabeth/Purely-Elizabeth-Original-Ancient-Grain-Granola-Organic-855140002175.jpg

Halloween is a month away. If your child has been newly diagnosed with Celiac disease, you may be wondering what kind of candy is safe. Here is a brief list of candy that is safe for your Celiac child: Hershey's Kisses M&Ms (except those that contain pretzels). 3 Musketeers Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (with the exception of the seasonal shaped cups). Snickers York Peppermint Patties. Endangered Species Chocolate Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars Baby Ruth Junior Mints Pop Rocks Mounds Starburst Tootsie Rolls Smarties (US made candy only) Unfortunately, Candy Corn is not on the 'safe' list. While it does NOT contain gluten elements, it IS processed in a facility that also processes wheat. I'm just as sad as you are (candy corn was my favorite Halloween treat). Always remember to check your child's candy loot when they get home from trick or treating. Make sure you tell your child not to eat their candy until after you've inspected it. Sou

Hey everyone. I will not be blogging or doing food reviews from 9/26-9/30. I am getting another cortisone injection in my lower back tomorrow morning, and will be on painkillers for the majority of the weekend. I will be back on 9/30. If you have any questions about anything, you can email me. I will answer all questions first thing on Monday morning. I hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and gluten free weekend! :-) -Shauna Email: shausil82@gmail.com photo credit: http://s3.favim.com/orig/39/bed-cartoon-cute-drawing-iphone-Favim.com-322734.jpg

Last night, I had the pleasure of testing a new product: Tastefully Simple's GF Fudgy Brownie Mix. I had heard about Tastefully Simple, and always wanted to try their items, but, since they didn't have a GF option at the time, I lost hope on that dream. Recently, my boyfriend's mother gave us two mixes from Tastefully Simple: Fudgy Brownie Mix, and Beer Bread. Since I was craving brownies, we decided to prepare brownies. After baking for 40 minutes, at 350 degrees, the brownies were ready to come out. We let them cool for a few minutes, and then we indulged in the brownies. The brownies were very moist, and delicious. They taste EXACTLY like regular brownies! Some advice for those of you who are interested in trying this product: Let it sit and cool for 10 to 15 minutes. If you cut into it any sooner, the pieces will not stay intact.We cut into it within 5-7 minutes of taking it out of the oven, and the pieces didn't stay intact. Try this product at your own

This morning, I tried out Udi's GF Plain Bagels. With what I experienced with yesterday's pizza, I was not sure what to expect with Udi's Bagels. I was pleasantly surprised to see that their bagels were pre-sliced. After my bagel was done browning in the toaster, I was happy to see how nicely it browned (I've noticed that a lot of gluten free breads do not brown well in toasters). I put my favorite flavor of jelly on the bagel, and took my first bite. The first bite had that crunch from being toasted. Inside, it was soft and chewy. The bagel is quite filling and it had filled me up quite nicely. I really don't have anything negative to say about this product. I couldn't even tell that this product was gluten free. It has the softness and taste of a regular bagel. I highly recommend this product, especially for fellow Celiacs that are craving a bagel. Top the bagel with your favorite jelly, pair it with a bowl of fruit, and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea.

Udi's has been a go-to brand since my Celiac disease diagnosis in 2011. Recently, I had tried out Udi's Gluten Free Pepperoni Pizza. I preheated the oven to 400 degrees, and baked the pizza for 12 minutes. After letting it cool for a few minutes, I cut the pizza in half and tasted it. Off the bat, I tasted the basil that had been sprinkled across the pizza. The pepperoni had a very nice kick to it. The sauce had a nice blend of spices in it. However, I could not taste the mozzarella. It was lacking in flavor. The thin pizza crust was crisp, which I really like in a pizza. However, the one thing that I did not like was the excessive amounts of flour underneath the pizza. I almost couldn't even taste the pizza crust because of the flour. While there were a few things about the pizza that turned me off, I still found it to be a good meal. I like the serving size (1/2 pizza is a serving). It definitely fills you up quite nicely. Considering the serving size, the calorie

Those of you whom have shopped at Walgreens, Walmart, and Target, have probably seen the GoPicnic meals lining the shelves. Did you know that they are Gluten Free? Not to mention, they are also a protein-packed and filling lunch for those of us who are constantly on the go. I have been a fan of GoPicnic for over a year now. When I first stumbled upon this product, there wasn't much of a variety of meals. My go-to meal was GoPicnic's Hummus and Crackers. This meal contains Crunchmaster's Multi-seed crackers, Wild Garden hummus dip, Sweet Perry Orchard's Baja Blend Fruit and Nut Mix, and Sweet Perry Orchard's Power Play Tasty Seed blend. If you think you may be missing dessert, think again. This meal comes with a Heavenly piece of sea salt chocolate. Jam packed with fiber, protein and healthy fats, you can trust that you are being provided with a healthy lunch. No refrigeration is needed, so you can pack it away in your office drawer full of goodies. If you

Movies and popcorn go together like peanut butter and jelly. When you have Celiac disease, you may find that you may not be able to enjoy your favorite popcorn. However, many companies are now starting to accommodate us. For instance, Angie's popcorn has begun to line the shelves of many supermarkets nationwide. I happen to have recently tested this product. The product that I've had the pleasure of testing is the Boom Chicka Pop, lightly sweet popcorn. This product has a nice combination of sweet and salty. The sweetness is not overpowering at all. Both the sweetness and saltiness are quite modest. The one thing that I absolutely love about the product are the nutritional facts. There are only 37 calories in one cup of popcorn. One serving of this amazing popcorn is 3 1/4 cups. The product is low carb, and it has 3 grams of dietary fiber. Another thing that you will love about this product, is that it's certified gluten free! You can fully trust this product, whic

During the week, I had purchased Pillsbury GF Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. I had been excited about this product, ever since Pillsbury released it. Sadly, I hadn't been able to find the product in my area, until this past week. It was the last one on the shelves of my local Shop Rite.  The cookie dough comes in a 14.3 ounce container. Since I was feeling a bit under the weather, and dealing with chronic back pain (I have Degenerative Disc Disease in the L4 and L5 region of my lower back and early onset arthritis), my boyfriend baked the cookies for me. He preheated the oven to 350 degrees. He put the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet and put it into the oven. He baked them according to the package directions, and took them out of the oven. They were a bit under cooked. We both decided that the cookies should have been baked for a few minutes longer. Aside from that, the cookies were AMAZING! I enjoyed them with a glass of milk, dipped them, and ate them. My boyfriend doesn&#

Yesterday afternoon, I taste-tested Evol's Chicken Quesadillas. The package came with 2 Quesadillas, and two small packets of Guacamole. One Quesadilla=1 serving. It took one and a half minutes to warm up one Quesadilla. As far as the Guacamole is concerned, since those packets cannot be microwaved, I submerged it in a glass of warm water for 20 minutes. It was fully thawed out by the time I sat down for lunch. The Quesadilla had a lot of flavor. It married well with the Guacamole. The Guacamole was very flavorful. With the pinto beans, rice, cheddar cheese, and salsa, it was a very hearty lunch. The Quesadillas had a modest kick to it, due to the chili sauce in the Quesadilla. All in all, it is a very good and filling lunch to have. My only complaint, is that I wish the package was one whole meal. I highly recommend this product if you are craving something with a kick to it. It definitely gives Taco Bell a run for its money. Happy eating, fellow Celiacs! :-) photo cre

This week, social media websites have started the campaign: #ItCanWait. This hashtag was started in attempt to have people pledge to never text and drive. I am one who is firmly AGAINST texting and driving. I am firmly AGAINST talking on the cell phone and driving. Doing these things lowers your reaction time. You could end up killing yourself, or someone else on the road. No text or phone call is worth your life, or someone else's life. Take the pledge to NEVER text and drive. Don't even get into a car driven by a person who texts and drives.

Evol is best known for their amazing burritos, but, they have started offering frozen meals. Last night, I tried their Fire-grilled Steak bowl. This bowl consisted of steak, cilantro lime rice, beans, and cheddar cheese. There are two ways to prepare it: In the microwave, and in the oven. It takes 4 minutes to warm in the microwave. It takes 50 minutes in the oven. I was starving, so I warmed it in the microwave. As it was warming up, the smell of cilantro and lime filled the kitchen. When it was done, I sat down to eat. The meal was flavorful and tasty. With the combination of black beans and steak, I had a generous amount of protein. To be honest with you, it was the best frozen dinner I ever had. Normally, frozen dinners can be quite bland, especially GF frozen dinners. Evol does a really good job with keeping the frozen meals flavorful. Fellow Celiacs, and those whom are gluten intolerant, I highly recommend Evol's Fire-grilled Steak bowl for a quick dinner. If you

Recently, in Canada, there was a recall for Bob's Red Mill Sweet White Sorghum Flour. The recall was due to "undeclared gluten" in the product. The product was found to have 32ppm of gluten , which is a dangerously high number for those of us with Celiac disease, and those with gluten sensitivity. This news has angered the Celiac community. Bob's Red Mill has been a trusted provider of gluten free flour for many years. Now, the Celiac community is passing up Bob's Red Mill, for more Celiac-friendly companies. I don't blame them either. I have also heard that this isn't the first time that Bob's Red Mill has been in the hot seat. I, for one, am going to steer clear of this company. When you have Celiac disease, there is no such thing as being "too careful." I recommend that fellow Celiacs also steer clear of Bob's Red Mill. I suggest going with King Arthur flour, which IS Certified gluten free. Jules gluten free flour is also Cer

Last year, US Senate Resolution 550 was passed, making September 13 National Celiac Awareness day. The resolution was sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat from Nebraska. The bill was introduced on September 11, 2012, and agreed to on the same day. The bill recognizes that citizens of the United States, must be made aware of Celiac Disease, which affects 1 in 133 people in America. The bill asks that people in the United States observe National Celiac Disease Awareness Day (source: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/sres550/text ). Today, we recognize Dr. Samuel Gee (1839-1911), an English doctor and pediatrician. He was the first person to have given the first modern day description of Celiac Disease. He gave the description in 1887, at the Hospital for Sick Children. He recognized that the disease isn't just a childhood ailment, that it affects people of all ages. His findings can be found in the St. Bartholomew's Hospital Reports, which were published i

 Cold and flu season is just around the corner. With that in mind, it is important for you to read the labels of any medication you may be purchasing. Be on the look out for wheat starches and wheat gluten. When in doubt, purchase cold and flu medication that says gluten free on it. Here are some gluten free brands to remedy your cold/flu/allergies: Vick's Nature Fusion Allegra (allergies) Benedryl (allergies) Claritin (allergies) Dayquil Nasonex Nyquil Make sure you stock up on these items, drink plenty of fluids, and get plenty of rest. Don't forget the tissues! For more information, visit:  http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/list.htm

Fall is just around the corner, which means winter is coming soon. During the cooler months, people tend to want to eat hot cereals. Many people start eating oatmeal for breakfast. However, when you have Celiac disease and cannot have oats, oatmeal is off limits. So, what CAN you eat on those cold mornings? Along with a hot cup of coffee, I usually eat hot quinoa flakes. Quinoa flakes takes only 90 seconds to cook in the microwave, and the heartiness of the cereal keeps you full for hours. I add a touch of organic brown sugar and a serving of craisins to the cereal, just to give it some flavor. It's pretty darn good! The brand that I recommend is Ancient Harvest. Most supermarkets carry this quinoa cereal. You can find it in the natural foods section, with all the gluten free foods. Yes, this cereal is gluten free. I also recommend gluten free rice and shine cereal, if you're not a fan of quinoa. This hot cereal is also gluten free, but, does take a little longer to cook. T

Dating can be quite exciting. You are getting to know someone, and hoping to make that special connection. However, when you have Celiac disease, dating can be a tad challenging. It's common sense that if someone cannot handle that you have Celiac disease, that you shouldn't date them. However, when someone rejects you because of the fact that you need to be gluten free, it can be heart-crushing. Does this mean that you should only date fellow Celiacs? Not necessarily. A good person will understand that you need to be gluten free. They will go above and beyond, in order to make sure that your needs are met. Dating someone that isn't Celiac, can be have its own challenges, but, it does work out. I've been with my boyfriend for over a year and a half. My gluten free lifestyle hasn't been an issue in our relationship. My boyfriend goes above and beyond in order to make sure that I'm comfortable. He reads labels, and makes sure that my food isn't cross-contam

Recently, I decided to try a gluten free shampoo and conditioner. I should have started using gluten free shampoo and conditioners over 2 years ago, when I was diagnosed Celiac, but, none of my doctors told me about the non-food aspect of being gluten free. I drove down to my local gluten free specialty shop, and I found shampoo and conditioner by Desert Essence. I looked on the back of the bottle, and it said gluten free on it. It's very hard to find soaps that actually say gluten free on it. I was relieved when I found it. I picked out the Red Raspberry scented one, and went home. After testing the product for a week, I am quite pleased. When I was using my regular shampoo and conditioner, it always made my scalp itch. With the Desert Essence shampoo and conditioner, my scalp has stopped itching. My hair is much smoother, and shiny. The products are a bit pricey, but, Desert Essence is worth it. I'm making Desert Essence my go-to product from now on. If you want to

As most of you know, earlier in the summer, I began a series called "Celiac Spotlight," where I introduced a number of celebrities that suffer from Celiac disease. I recently learned about one more celebrity that has Celiac disease. Author Meg Cabot, has Celiac disease. She has not talked about it in detail, except in her blog. She mentions it in a 2008 blog post. In the post, she reenacts a conversation that she had with a friend of hers. She was telling her friend that she was diagnosed with Celiac disease. She mentioned to her friend how she cannot have gluten or wheat ever again.  Her friend laughed, because she is a "wheat-a-holic." Cabot even mentioned that she loves her carbs. When she talked to her friend, she said that she was going to begin her wheat free and gluten free diet tomorrow. Cabot's friend helped her throw out all her wheat and gluten food, and she began her gluten free lifestyle. I have been a fan of Cabot's books for years. She wr

Many of you know my story. For those of you who don't know my story, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease 2 years ago. It has been one of the biggest lifestyle changes that I've endured (my back issue is the biggest lifestyle change, as it limits me physically). I'm pretty much known as the blogger that likes to gripe about all things negative, in terms of Celiac disease, and gluten free food. Having Celiac disease is tough, yes. However, there is one thing about this lifestyle change that I have loved: learning about what's in my food. Before my diagnosis, I was eating food blindly. I didn't spend the time to learn what was in my food. I didn't want to know. I was ruled by my taste buds. Now that I have Celiac disease, I am more aware of what's in my food. I read up on ingredients that are in my food. I make sure that they are genuinely gluten free, and wholesome. I also am ruled by one other rule: "If I cannot pronounce it, I cannot eat it."

Last week, I went to Outback Steakhouse for dinner. I know, from previous visits there, that they are more than accommodating when it comes to those of us with Celiac disease. I go in, and requested a gluten free menu. They give me one, and I was seated. When my waitress came over, she was very pleasant. She went above and beyond to make sure I knew that they take dietary restrictions, and Celiac disease, very seriously. She was more than willing to answer any questions I had. The front of the house manager was even on hand, greeting everyone, and even stopped by my table. The GF menu has numerous choices. It advises you on what to stay away from, in terms of sauces and sides. My only problem with the gluten free menu is that they don't offer the prices of the meals. You have to look at the regular menu for the prices. Despite the fact that the gluten free menu did not have the prices, my visit at Outback Steakhouse was very pleasant. It's been several days since I have

Hello fellow Celiacs! Sorry for being MIA, I been dealing with some health issues. I have been dealing with moderate to severe back pain since February. I have degenerative disc disease in the Lumber 4, Lumber 5 region of my lower back. A few days ago, I received my first cortisone shot. Since the shot, I been very sore. I have been on painkillers, which has prevented me from writing anything halfway decent.  I will be working on a few posts, in the coming days. I want to write a review of my experience at Outback Steakhouse. I also have a few other topics in mind, that are worth mentioning. I will be getting back into blogging all things Celiac, starting sometime this week.  I wish everyone a fantastic long weekend.  - Shauna