Sunday

Empower A Newly Diagnosed Celiac

Below is in my personal opinion, what every newly diagnosed Celiac needs deserves to have at their fingertips.  



The Canadian Celiac Association's Pocket Dictionary. At
$9.95 for non-members it's a bargain. Per the CSA - "This pocket-sized dictionary was developed to help people with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity to select acceptable foods and understand food ingredients so that they may avoid foods containing gluten. It provides a brief description of each item along with an assessment of its acceptability for the gluten-free diet."




A Grocery store tour

How priceless would this be?! A tour around your favourite grocery store with someone who specializes in not only Celiac Disease, but nutrition. This would be a great help in showing newbies where to find safe staples AND what fruits and veggies they should be stocking up on now that they will be lacking some serious nutrients in GF food. I know I'm dreaming here but,it would be a great way to get Celiac's shopping at certain retailers. Just putting it out there...



An informative book on Celiac Disease such as "Real Life with Celiac Disease" by Melinda Dennis and Daniel Leffler. This is  a great book for those who are unfamiliar with Celiac or want to educate themselves further.



A Gluten Free care package

Check out a free basket that the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center offers the newly diagnosed. This is a great way to set people up for success as it contains many essential items that will help alleviate the overwhelming feeling of uncertainty that most of us feel upon diagnosis.






Gluten Free cookbooks

You can find these almost anywhere that sells books now. Pretty awesome! One of my favorites happens to be the DK Gluten-Free Cookbook. Check out my tips for finding a cookbook full of recipes that will work for you here.




A Support group


While there are many of them out there, it is worth investigating to find one that is suitable. Support groups can range from in person gatherings to "pages" on Facebook. Take this with a grain of salt as they only offer the support that members are willing to put into it and can often be a pool of misinformation at times. Rest assured that there are indeed legitimate and helpful groups out there. I suggest starting with either the NFCA or CSA to find a local group or page that is helpful.

Wednesday

Product Review: Barilla Gluten Free Pasta



Some exciting news in the world of pasta - Barilla is introducing a line of Gluten Free pasta! It's made with non GMO corn and rice in a dedicated Gluten Free facility. With four varieties to choose from (spaghetti, penne, rotini and elbows) the meal possibilities are endless. I was happy to learn that this pasta was created with Celiac's in mind and not just for the diet hungry fadsters. The wonderful folks at Barilla kindly sent me some pasta to sample.

When I first opened the box of spaghetti, I noticed the colour right away. It is just like "regular" spaghetti, not gritty or gray like some of the other brands that I have tried. The instructions on the box are very simple and to the point. Ten - eleven minutes in boiling water while stirring occasionally. 

My family and I really enjoyed the spaghetti. It has the texture that I remember (pre Celiac diagnosis) growing up with and it tastes great. The only items that I added to the pasta were tomato sauce and frozen peas. Sometimes simple really does pay off. It was a great meal that paired nicely with an Udis bun doubling as garlic bread.

Not sure what to make? Check out Barilla's  recipe page for some inspiration.
As for the price point of 2.79- $3.29, no complaint's there.

Barilla Gluten Free pasta is in the process of hitting stores. Expect to see it widely available by the end of 2013.

If you have had the chance to try Barilla Gluten Free pasta, let me know what you think.

Disclosure

This policy is valid from 23 February 2013

This is a personal blog written and edited by me. All opinions are that of my own. I am not a healthcare professional or an expert. All information presented in this blog is purely that of my own experience and or opinion. Please consult a medical professional before making any changes to your diet.

I write this blog as a hobby that I am passionate about. From time to time, I may receive monetary compensation for a sponsored post. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home.

This blog accepts complimentary products for review. The opinions I have of a product will never be swayed by a company sending me an item(s) for free. I take into consideration the opinion of family members who are gluten-free due to Celiac Disease and I also value the opinions of non-gluten free family members. Taste is a matter of personal opinion so please use your own discretion and don't take my opinion as a gold standard.

Any ingredient or gluten-free claims should be verified with the restaurant/manufacturer as things can and do change.

For questions about this blog, please contact: sandra@glutenfreedoll.com

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