Coffee!  Of course, it's gluten free.  However, sometimes people ask, so I wanted to throw it out there! :)

I love me some coffee!  I've enjoyed coffee for many years, but it's become quite a treasure since becoming a parent (can I get an AMEN?!?!!)!

What's in Grass Fed Coffee

Recently I had the opportunity to try Grass Fed Coffee.  I'm a huge fan of grass fed beef, so I was intrigued to see what this product had to offer.  Here's the key ingredients:

• organic, fair trade cold brew coffee
• German grass fed butter
• distilled MCT coconut oil
• organic chicory

I've made butter coffee before and I love grabbing a Starbucks double shot when I'm out driving for awhile, so I wondered if this would be a mix of the two.  Whenever I tried butter in coffee I always also added cream because it just wasn't quite what I was looking for.  The creaminess was lacking.  I've heard I should have blended it with coconut oil and then it would have been better.  Maybe next time.  In the meantime, I had Grass Fed Coffee to try.

Man you guys, this coffee did not disappoint.  It was so smooth and light without tasting weak.  I am NOT a fan of bitter coffee, nor am I a fan of weak coffee and this was neither.  Goodness, I never realized I was a coffee snob, til writing this post! Ha!  Anywho, this stuff was awesome!  Seriously so tasty.  It was like a double shot but better.  More smooth, less sweet.  It's sweetened with xylitol so there's just a slight hint of sweetness, which I like.  I would say if you like the fru-fru super sweet frapps, this may not be your thing.  However, the taste is so smooth you might be surprised.

Grass Fed Coffee

The can says to shake it well, and I thought I did until I opened it and began to drink!  I should have shook it vigorously, and then shook it again!  After my first drink I noticed there was butter on the sides of the can.  Shoot!  And I wasn't home yet...so I waited until I drove home to finish the drink.  Once home I used a straw to scrape down the sides of the can and finish the rest.  Tasty tasty!  Like one of those drinks where you have to remind yourself it has caffeine so you don't just guzzle it all day like water.

Overall I'd say this product is going to be a HUGE hit!  I sure can't wait to get some more.  I felt a little selfish drinking it while my husband was at work, so I better buy some for him to try too! :)

How you can help/join the craze...

Right now they're at the tail end of their kickstarter campaign, so if you'd like to help support them and preorder some Grass Fed Coffee, you can click this link and join the party!  The kickstarter ends on Monday, so hurry over!!

*Also, one final note...I LOVE the transparency they have on their website.  Just take a peruse of their FAQ page and you'll be impressed to see how they address every single ingredient listed in their product.  I, myself, was a little disappointed to see carrageenan in the ingredients list as I've heard mixed things about it, but they address that.  I'd have to do more research, but they said the form of carrageenan they use is a safer alternative and the only way to keep the butter, oil and coffee all nice and mixed together.

Good luck Grass Fed Coffee!  We wish you all the success!

Pancakes!  The BEST pancakes!


We love pancakes in this house, but I'm totally over the gluten free flour blend (and baking recipe) additives like guar gum and xanthan gum.  That's why I've been on a perfect pancake recipe quest for the past few months.  It's been a great way to break in the new kitchen at our new house (we moved in August)! :)  Plus, our little lady LOVES to help and pancakes are a great recipe to make with a toddler.  In fact, she may now whisk eggs better than me! Teehee!


So, with my sidekick by my side, I figured out a pretty perfect recipe.  These cook up great every time and they have an amazing flavor.  Did you notice the "banana bread" title of this post?  Seriously, these babies have a distinct banana bread flavor.  To quote my (non-gluten free) grandmother-in-law, "Did you come up with this recipe?  You need to write a cookbook!"  Aww, thanks GG!  Maybe one day.  For now, I'm enjoying a less hectic pace of life.

I'm also looking to decrease the amount of sugar intake for my family (the holidays did just end!), which is why I was so happy that the addition of bananas to this recipe was almost enough sweetener for my gal and hubby.  I may try them sometime without any sweetener, but I also want the family to eat them so I'm keeping a little bit in there for now!

One last note, for this recipe I used basic rice flour as we're also trying to avoid all other grains.  For a more Paleo-friendly recipe I've included a link at the bottom of the page to an excellent coconut flour recipe.  In my quest to create great gluten free pancakes I was also dabbling in trying to create a Paleo recipe for mornings when I wanted the pancake to be a more complete meal (most Paleo recipes require 4-6 eggs).

Without further ado, here are the amazingly simple and always delicious...

Gluten Free Banana Bread Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup white rice flour
• 2 ripe bananas 
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 Tblsp organic sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• splash of vanilla

Directions

1. In large mixing bowl, mash both bananas (I found using a large serving fork is great).
2. Add eggs, flour, milk, sugar, baking powder and vanilla to the bowl.
3. Mix all ingredients.
4. Heat griddle over medium to medium low heat.  
5. Grease with butter and cook pancakes until edges start to dry out (about 2 min) before flipping.  
6. Serve with more butter (we love Kerrygold!) and bacon and eggs if you're extra hungry! :)

Variations

I've also done the following with great results.

• Sub sugar with maple syrup (only 1 1/2 Tblsp).
• Add 1 tsp cinnamon.
• Add 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans.

For a Paleo-friendly recipe, use this one by Nourishing Days!  After making it this morning I'm done (for now) trying to create my own.  I did have to watch these more (read: cook at lower temp and therefore cook longer), but the flavor and smell were amazing!

Get your pancake cooking on and ENJOY!

Happy Gluten Free Dining!

They come in several flavors and the first ones I tried were green chile and cheese. I really wish I had gotten the bean and cheese ones, but I guess it's okay trying things out of the norm.

Paleo, the new "fad" diet, like gluten free right?

Wrong!

Many of us started eating gluten free or Paleo because of how it made us feel. We were sick. We had undiagnosed illnesses/ailments and doctor after doctor said we were fine.  Some of us were diagnosed with Celiac. Others took the test and while it came back negative, eating gluten free has turned their world around.


I started my Paleo journey in March of 2013 after my daughter was born. I was sick my entire pregnancy and could barely get through my 3 1/2 hr working day (after being so sick from gluten and still sick as I recovered, we figured I'd be a sick pregnant woman so I went to part time teaching). Just to help you understand...I was throwing up the day I gave birth!

Anyways, I was in bad shape so my mom came and stayed with us to help make meals, grocery shop and care for the baby. She had started eating Paleo and was convinced that cutting out all grains would lead me to the road of recovery.  She was right! Cutting out gluten didn't cut it for me (hehe)! I needed a strict, clean diet to allow my body to fully heal and within a few months, even though I wasn't sleeping, I felt better than I had in years.



I was sold! I wanted to share with everyone.  I was the same way once I went gluten free because I was finally feeling better.  Only, this time around I felt well! Completely well! No stomach aches, no diarrhea, no dizziness, no headaches, nothing of what I was experiencing before. I was healthy! Woah!

It was such a cool feeling to pay attention to my body and say, "I feel well!"

So now, I eat mainly meats, veggies (no russet potatoes) and some fruit. I eat as much healthy fat as I want and I pay no attention to calories (now I know not everyone can do this, but most people I know who eat Paleo don't have to pay attention to calories). I also eat white rice and raw cheese and drink raw milk.

It's good stuff people.  My whole family eats this way and we feel WELL!


Have you tried Paleo?


Rachel aka Gfreegal

Overall I was rather impressed with the taste of the batter around the hotdog. It was nice eating a corndog knowing that I wasn't going to feel like a truck backed over me.

Your kiddos will absolutely love them, and the nice thing about them is that they are very filling. The 3 that I consumed filled me up for the rest of the day.

Before I met Rachel, I never cared about what I ate or put on my body. Everything I grabbed or gravitated towards was whatever smelled the best or looked cool. I never cared about what was in it.
Rachel has completely changed the way I think about the products I use because of the lasting affect it can have on my body.

Rachel asked me to use this body wash stuff from Avalon Organics. Now granted, the second I saw "cucumber" on it, my first thought was NO THANK YOU! No dude wants to reek of cucumber. We want to smell like a forest or like we just came out from a battle, where we were saving a princess from impending doom.
Now that aside, most guys won't admit to using products, but I guess I have to since I'm reviewing this product.

Now honestly there's not much of a scent to this body gel, which for me, is a good and bad thing. I'm weird when it comes to smells. I enjoy something that stays with you throughout the day, but not too overpowering.

Now if you enjoy having everyone stare at you thinking you've doused yourself in cologne, then this isn't the product for you. The scent is light and comfortable. You aren't walking around announcing to the world you just took a shower. You are carefully telling everyone that you are clean and proud of it.

Confession time, I use a loofah sponge. Ugghh... I feel so exposed. Anywho, the gel lathers up decently and you don't have to use a lot which is nice.

I just found out from their website that you can use it in the bath too. HAHA I guess that makes sense, since it says that on the bottle. But I'm a man, and men don't take baths. Unless there are candles and soft music, but other than that. Just showers!

When I first stepped out of the shower I felt weird. It was weird smelling cucumber on me. Like I said, it wasn't overpowering, but as a dude, it was just weird.

But, like most shower gels, it gets the job done.

I've been using the product for over 2 months now because I'm too lazy to try anything else. Would I get this stuff again? Probably not. Just because I'm not a cucumber fan. I would like to try their other scents to see if there's something I would enjoy using.

- Croz

Am I the only one that fell in love with a new product line during Celiac Awareness Month back in May?!? I had the privilege of trying out both Avalon Organics hair and body washes and Jason skincare and hand soaps. While I was not a fan of Avalon Organics haircare (my insanely thick hair that my stylist comments on EVERY time I come in could have something to do with that), I fell in love with Jason's skincare. (Read my husband's review Avalon Organics here)


 Jason launched their new line of certified gluten free personal care products a few months ago and they are rockin'! I was initially going to write this post two weeks in to using the products, but I wanted to give a more accurate review. Then life with a teething, growing one year old got in the way and now it's August.

 BUT, I'm so glad I waited. And here's why. It's been almost four months and I am still using and loving these products! They're lasting forever!!

My two favorites are the face wash and face lotion.

My skin has never been more consistently clear as it's been since using these. Even through summertime heat and (tmi, gentlemen, sorry) my periods my skin had been clearer, which is saying something HUGE! I wash my face at night and then rise it off in the am before using the lotion. I've loved both! No greasy face throughout the day and clearer skin overall! Woohoo!!! I'm sold!

Now as far as the face scrub, I'm just not a big user of those, so I tried it out here and there but it's a bit abrasive for my sensitive skin. However, judging by their other products, I would imagine if you're a face scrub kind of person, you'd like this one.

So, there you have it, Jason skincare for the win! My skin has been clear, smooth, clean, and not irritated by any nasty, unknown ingredients.

And we've enjoyed the hand soap too. No foo-foo smell, which is a win for the hubby, and we don't mind using it on the little one since it's not full of nasty unknown stuff.

 This gluten free line also has a shampoo and conditioner. Has anyone tried it? I'm curious if it could stand up to my uber thick hair?!

~ Rachel

Oil pulling.



Swishing oil to improve your health?

What?!?!

So here's the deal.  I have a cavity.  Well, let me be clear, I have two cavities (one that needs a ceric) and a dying nerve in a front tooth where I'm going to need a root canal!

What is this? Congratulations on surviving the first year of motherhood, you've jacked up your teeth and need some serious work!! Great. Thanks.

The truth is, I did jack up my teeth. For years I went us diagnosed with Celiac Disease so that by the time I found out what was wrong with me my body had already been lacking nutrients. Then, I spent years trying to heal my body so that I would stop being malnourished and be able to properly absorb nutrients. Add to that 9 months of pregnancy, sick, where I was often eating in the middle of the night and not always brushing my teeth. Then I was breast feeding and those first few months I was STARVING all hours of the day and night, thus again eating and not brushing my teeth. So, I guess you could say, while not all directly my fault, I had this bill of health from the dentist coming.

So, back to oil pulling.  I'm kinda crunchy (breast feeding, cloth diapering, eat predominantly organic, drink raw milk, etc.) so I belong to a Facebook group of crunchy moms and one of them mentioned oil pulling to reverse cavities. Say what?!? I had a dentist appointment scheduled for the following week, so I began researching and figured why not give it a shot.

The premise is:
Swish coconut oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes in the morning (when taking a shower/getting dressed has been easiest for me).
Spit it out in the trash (so you don't clog your pipes).
Rinse your mouth out with water.
Brush your teeth (working on a homemade toothpaste now).
Continue on with your day.

I'm also trying to consume raw butter on a more regular basis and take my cod liver oil more faithfully as per the recommendation of The Paleo Mama. ***One note, I'm taking Carlson's cod liver oil because Blue Ice is just too dang expensive for this SAHM. :) Hoping I still gain some of the benefits.

According to what I've read, swishing this oil and maintaining optimal nutrition should help to remineralize my teeth.

So, I canceled my dentist appointment and figured I'd try this for a few months and see what happens.

Already, I've noticed a change and it's only been a week! My front tooth that is going to need a root canal had darkened (that's what alerted me to have the dentist check it out) and initially the dentist didn't notice anything wrong, so it had been darker than the rest of my teeth for a few years. Well, after just ONE WEEK of oil pulling (swishing) the tooth is almost the same color as the rest of my teeth! Woot woot!!!

Now to see what it does for the cavities...I'll keep you posted.

For now...

Have you heard of this?

Is it something you or someone you know has tried?

Happy Celiac Awareness Month!

To kick off the month, I thought I'd start with a post about what I've been up to.

My life, my friends, has been full! I got pregnant and had a beautiful baby girl!!! In order to do both well, I found myself pulling back from the blog and then, ultimately, quitting it for awhile.  We've now found ourselves with a happy, spunky little one year old who's currently napping as I write this post! Life is sweet!



To digress a little and tell you about my health journey for the last two years, I was sick throughout my entire pregnancy.  Now, however, I wonder if it could have looked different.

You see, while going gluten free after being diagnosed with Celiac helped me to feel better, I still did not feel well. Can you relate? Our house was completely gluten free and we were very selective in where we went out to eat, yet I would still get sick and found myself feeling ok, but never "good." When I got pregnant I get even sicker, maintaining "morning sickness" throughout the whole pregnancy. By the time I had our baby I was really weak.

BUT, all things work out for good! Thanks to the help of my mom, I started eating predominantly Paleo soon after delivering our baby. Within a few months, I found myself extremely sleep deprived (babies are so worth the lost sleep!) yet with more energy than I had prepregnancy! Who knew, for me, going gluten free was not enough.

Now, I say predominantly Paleo because I have found I can eat raw dairy and rice without feeling ill!

Woohoo!!! It's been about a decade, but I can now say...I FEEL GOOD! Not ok, not alright, GOOD!!!  And that, my friends, is worth celebrating!

What about you?

Was going gluten free enough for you?

Have you found yourself cutting out other foods as you journey toward good health?

Just in time for Halloween this year...an updated candy list courtesy of our friends at GfreeFoodie.

In honor of Celiac Awareness Day I HAD to share with you this amazing recipe that was shared with me.

Source

As Celiac's, and others who have to avoid gluten, you understand the excitement when you find a good cookie or cake.  I mean, a GOOD one!  Right?  It's like finding the perfect shoe for your wedding (or prom if you're a little younger).  For guys, umm, it's like watching a good game?  Ha, sorry, I'm not so savvy in that department.

But, anyways, back to the cookie.  When you can't have "normal" cookies, you've had to go through some awkward, if not awful, cookies looking for something yummy.  And, due to that fact, your awesome friends (you know, those who understand) send you recipes when they find something gluten free that they think you might like.

So, this recipe today is for a gluten free AND vegan S'mores cookie!  Doesn't that just sound divine!  My lovely friend, Crystal, sent me the recipe and I can't WAIT to try to make them.  Yes, I have not yet tried these cookies.  But, I did look through the ingredients (and some delectable pictures) and I just couldn't wait to share with you.  Having been quite sick the last few months (more on that later, but we don't have time now...HELLO, I'm about to give you a cookie recipe!) I'm not sure when I'll finally have the energy to whip up a batch of these.

I figured, hey, my readers are good people.  Good people who have, sadly, had to endure some not so good gluten free cookies.  So, if I can get your hands on what I'm betting is a great recipe, why make you wait?  Seriously, I haven't been able to cook in like three months, so it could be a LONG while before I can give my opinion.

In the meantime, check these out.

Gluten Free and Vegan S'mores Cookies...complete with tons of gooey pics!

Hope you enjoy!  If you do make them, PLEASE share your thoughts...I can live vicariously through your baking. :)

Summer may be winding down as kids and teachers have gone back to school, but that doesn't mean the fun of summer has to be over.

Well, maybe a little.  I mean, we can't just continue to stay home because we want to. :) 

BUT, we can definitely still enjoy some of the great flavors as we sit by the pool or BBQ this weekend.  Maybe even a little treat for yourselves tonight?  I say, go for it! 

As I've shared before, I'm loving the joys of Pinterest.  It's completely addicting (at least for me).  Have you been sucked into the world of pinning yet?  If not, let me know and I'd be more than happy to send you an invite. :)  If not, that's ok too.  But, you may find some of these pins I'm about to share just too enticing!

In honor of summer, I wanted to share some refreshing treats with you today. 

X

First up we have, peach popsicles.
Gluten free AND refined sugar free!  Yum!

X

Next, a fun blueberry, basil lemon water.
This may sound a little different, but check out the the ingredient list.  Simple and delicious!

X

Another icy treat.  This time, blackberry frozen yogurt. 
Added bonus for this one is that it only has three ingredients.

X

Lastly, I just couldn't resist adding this one for all you margarita lovers.  Watermelon Margarita.
I'm sure this will be a BBQ favorite for many of you!

***NOTE:  As always, double check any ingredients you are using to insure they are gluten free.

Enjoy!  As always, we'd love to hear of you've tried any of these or if you have a different, favorite refreshing treat for the summer.

Summer is winding down and the school year is just around the corner!

The sleeping in for students (and us teachers) is coming to a close. :( It's a bittersweet time as I get excited to meet new students, yet sad to no longer be on my own schedule. While this summer has been different than others (more on that later) I still very much enjoy not having to pack breakfast, lunch and a few snacks.

Which brings me to today's post...

If your child is anything like me, they get really hungry throughout the day. That can prove especially difficult if they have food allergies. From slushies to gummy worms and Gatorade, while the snack selection at your child's school may have these gluten free options, it may not be what you want your child to eat. I can tell you, it's definitely not what your child's teacher wants them to be eating. A classroom full of 40 freshmen hyped up on sugar after lunch is definitely an interesting environment (not speaking from experience or anything). :)

However, healthy snacks are an essential way to keep your child's energy and attention up during the day.




So, here's a quick list of snacks that will hopefully help get you started and keep their tummies satisfied:

-Trail Mix (like the amazing one pictured above, from Trader Joes).
-Fresh fruit and veggies (I find it super helpful to bag these up ahead of time so they can just grab and go in the morning).
-Snack bars (NoGii kids or paleo bars and Larabars have some great, kid-friendly, flavors...I particularly love the pure ingredients of the Larabars).
-String cheese and pretzels (we love Glutino pretzels).
-Yogurt
-Applesauce

It's amazing, but although coming up with kid and school friendly snacks for your child with allergies can initially be a daunting task, once you start you may find that (like the short list above) there are quite a few options that will be similar to other kids.

It's never a quick, or easy, task coming up with foods to feed your child, but hopefully this list will help get the wheels in your head turning.

So, what did I miss? I know I didn't get ALL the good stuff!

One quick side note before I go. I heard a great idea awhile back from a mother whose son has Celiac. To help him feel more "normal" and included, she would talk with his teacher so she could keep track of when there were parties in his class. This way, when the occasion came up, she would make sure he had a cupcake or brownies in his lunch so that he never felt like he was being left out! He didn't have to just smell their dessert (am I the only one that does that?!?!), he could eat his own!

How cool is that?


Rachel aka Gfreegal

Going gluten free doesn't have to mean going without your favorite grilled cheese sandwich or French toast breakfast. You CAN have bread and it CAN taste good!

Gluten free just means a little tweak in your staple bread entrees.




However, depending on which bread you choose, you could find yourself thinking you'll never have a tasty sandwich again. Trust me, we've tried some pretty nasty gluten free breads over the past few years. But, we've also found some yummy options and have compiled a list for you of the top three brands (and no, none of these companies are endorsing this post; we just want you to eat what tastes good).

Top gluten free bread companies:

1. Canyon Bakehouse

Canyon Bakehouse has some of the most moist and squishy gluten free bread out there. We particularly like their cinnamon raisin and 7-grain breads. Perfect for a sandwich!

2. Rudi's Gluten Free

Rudi's is also quite moist for a gluten free bread. Their multigrain and cinnamon raisin breads are great for making toast in the morning. We also really like their plain tortillas

3. Udi's Gluten Free

Udi's bread holds a special place in my heart, just because it was the first gluten free bread I tried that tasted good and when toasted I didn't feel like it was going to break my jaw as I attempted to bite it. I also appreciated that it wasn't crazy crumbly like other breads (none of these three breads mentioned are!). Again, we like their whole grain, as well as their hamburger and hot dog buns. We also REALLY like their blueberry muffins. They're a great thing to pack (with Justin's peanut butter packets) for out of town trips!

Another great thing about Udi's is that Trader Joes is now carrying it!!! I think it's about $1 cheaper there than the health food store I usually buy it at! Score!

Now, granted, you can buy mixes and make your own gluten free bread, but honestly, we don't have time for that. When we're making something with bread (which we don't do every day) it's usually something quick like a sandwich or toast. Having these breads handy makes those quick meals that much tastier! Trust us, we've tried the funky stuff...it's gross! ;-)

One SUPER important note...we keep ALL our gluten free bread in the freezer so that it keeps longer and better. We just take off a slice or two and defrost in for 30 sec in the microwave or toast it in the toaster oven (just make sure you don't burn it!).

Happy bread eating!

Did we miss an amazing gluten free bread on this list? If so, please tell us and we'll see if we can check it out.

Rachel aka Gfreegal

Did you know that if you have Celiac disease you can deduct your extra expenses in your taxes?



Source

It's true.

Because the treatment for Celiac disease is to follow a gluten free diet, the IRS allows you to deduct those extra food expenses. It's a bit of a tricky process and requires consistency and follow through on your part.

To make this easier for you, here's an easy to follow list from our friends at CeliAct.

Gluten Free Tax Deductions

Good luck and hopefully this helps ease the expenses for you!

Rachel aka Gfreegal

I came across this wonderful trip today and I just HAD to share it with you!

Jen, over at Zenfully Delicious is hosting an amazing, all gluten free, tour of Tuscany, Italy!

Can you believe it?

This trip sounds incredible!




The tour is October 18-25, 2012 and it will take you through Florence, Chianti, Siena, and San Gimignano as you enjoy the sights, and most importantly, the tastes of Italy!

That's right, this trip is so stinkin' awesome that there's already plans for the meals, along with a cooking class (swoon) for the entire trip!

I promise I'm not trying to sell this to you (I can't even go!). I just think this is one of the most amazing trip offers I've ever seen!

If you can go, you should. And then show me all the pics when you get back so I can live vicariously through you! ;)

Here's all the details for this awesome trip.
Gluten Free Tuscany Tour 2012

Wouldn't it just be amazing to go?!?!


Rachel aka Gfreegal

Embarking on a gluten free journey can be a daunting adventure.
If you're like I was, you had SO many questions and didn't know where to start. That's what this post is for (thanks to the suggestion of a friend). :)

If you think you (or a family member) may have Celiac Disease, or even just gluten sensitivity, GET TESTED! This can save you a lot of time and frustration.

If the test comes back positive, breath. You, or your loved one, will be ok.




Find out what you can eat.
Eliminate what you can't eat.

Foods you CAN eat:
I'm just going to start here with a basic list (I don't want to get TOO crazy on you).

All fruits
All vegetables
Meats (unseasoned-seasoning is often where gluten can hide)
Dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese)
Certain grains (gluten free oats, millet, teff, sorghum, quinoa, buckwheat)

Foods to be careful about:
Seasonings-Often anything "mixed," such as garlic salt, can contain gluten to prevent caking. I learned this one the hard way, after many months of unknowingly "poisoning" myself. Once I learned about the contamination, I promptly went out and bought garlic powder and salt. Now I just mix the two.
Dressings & Sauces-Again, you never know what could be added to these, so you always want to read the label, call the company, or talk to the restaurant manager to double check that something is safe.
Anything packaged-I know this is hard, really hard, but it's super important. There are so many products that may seem safe, but in reality that may contain gluten. Check that ice cream container, that frozen meal, and your lunch meat. Those are the top three packaged items that come to my mind that may be dangerous. I always check and double check labels just to be safe.

Foods to AVOID:
Wheat
Barley
Rye
Regular Oats (often processed in the same facility as wheat)
Bread
Cookies
Cakes
Cupcakes
Crackers
Any wheat/flour containing products

***If you're just starting out on a gluten free diet, again remember to breathe. This is a journey, and while it can often be frustrating, it will get easier.

Hopefully this list helped! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave a comment.

Two last tools to help you:

1. A few grocery stores with gluten free lists-Albertsons, Fresh and Easy, and Trader Joes. Did I miss any?

2. Som great places to eat out at-BJs Brewhouse, PF Chang's, Outback Steakhouse, In-N-Out, Panera Bread. Again, what did I miss?
*Just make sure you ask to speak to a manager, so that they will insure your food order is safe for you to eat. I know it's hard and awkward, but it's important to speak up about your health. Also, at In-N-Out if you tell them you have an allergy to the bread, they'll mare your burger as an allergy burger and keep it safe for you! Our store cooks it on a separate grill! :)

***As always, make sure you check and double check everything. These are some tips that I've found to be helpful, but always make sure you check for yourself as things are constantly changing,