Udi's Product Display at local Kroger

Just wanted to mention some new products I have seen at various Kroger stores in the Durham area. Look for the special display of Udi's gluten free products available in the deli/bakery section of the store. Most other GF products are located in the Nature's Market area of the store. I have seen this at both the Kroger on Hillsborough Road and the South West Durham location near Kohls. Products available include: bread, granola, muffins, cinnamon rolls, pizza crust, cookies and bagels. Kroger continues to offer many great gluten free options for their customers. See my previous posts on Kroger here.

Holiday Contest

Crunch master crackers and NFCA are sponsoring a holiday recipe contest:
Enter a gluten free recipe using crunch master crackers by Jan 1, 2011 and be eligible for one of five prizes:
1) One Grand Prize Winner will receive: $500 in cash
(4) First Place winners will receive: $50 in Crunchmaster products (4 – 21oz packs of Crunchmaster Baked Rice Crackers & 4 -20oz boxes of Crunchmaster Original Multi-Grain Crackers)
All participants (that's you!) will receive a coupon for a FREE 4.5oz bag of Crunchmaster crackers.
For contest details and further information click here. I personally love these crackers, they are a hearty alternative from rice crackers. The Crunch master crackers are available locally at Costco.

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Gluten Free Person on your List

Looking for some gift ideas for a gluten free friend or something to add to your own holiday wish list, well I have a few suggestions of things you might enjoy:

-Gift certificate to Rosie's Plate or Twin Cakes Bakery for gluten free goodies
-Toast It, Toaster bags to toast your gluten free bread in any toaster
-Gift subscription to a magazine that offers lots of gluten free ideas such as: Living Without, Delight, Gluten Free Living
-Elisa EZ Gluten testing kits for testing foods
-Gift certificate to a restaurant that offers a gluten free menu see restaurant reviews
-Personalized gluten free cereal from Custom Choice Cereal
-Registration Fee for "gluten free week" at Camp Kanata
-Attendance at a national support groups annual conference
-Soy-Yer gluten free "play-dough"
-Great book released in 2010: Real Life with Celiac Disease
-Gift certificate to a gluten free cooking class
-Gift certificate for gluten free specialty products at local grocers or on line shopping sites

These are just a few of my ideas, if you have a great resource or product that others would enjoy leave a comment on Gluten Free Durham. We all learn from each other. Happy Holidays!

Note: I do not receive any compensation from the above companies mentioned.

The Best Of Gluten Free Awards

I was recently contacted by Triumph Dining to get the word out to readers about The Best of Gluten Free Awards. This is a project where readers can vote for their favorite gluten free foods in various categories. Triumph Dining is offering a FREE 5-pack of American Dining Cards to the first 2000 voters. Details from the email I received state:

We’re launching the first-annual Best of Gluten-Free Awards to select the best gluten-free products on the market and to thank the companies that provide them. And we’d like you and your readers to pick the winners. Not only will you get to honor your favorite brands and products, but we’ll also give the first 2,000 voters a chance to sign up for our newsletter and get a FREE five-pack of American Dining Cards (worth $11!). The dining cards are completely free to anyone with a US shipping address, just for completing the survey (we’re even covering shipping).

If you are interested in casting your vote, click here.

Save the Date, Camp Kanata 2011

Just a heads up that "Gluten Free Week" at Camp Kanata has been set for August 7-13. You can access further information from the Camp Kanata and Gluten Intolerance Group Websites. Read previous posts about this week long residential camp experience near Wake Forest.

Navigating the Gluten Free Diet with Confidence- lecture at UNC Wellness Center

Please consider joining me for a learning opportunity on Monday, November 8,2010 6:30-8:00pm at the UNC Wellness Center, Meadowmont This is a free event to members and non-members of the wellness center but pre-registration is required call 919-966-5500.
As a dietitian I have given a variety of "diet instructions" to clients over the years. It has been my own diagnosis with Celiac Disease and then later helping my teenage daughter navigate this in her own life that has really given me the expertise to speak about the many facets of the gluten free diet. Using my professional education and life experience I have had the opportunity to train other health care providers, speak to community groups, and serve as the camp dietitan at gluten free week/Camp Kanata for 4 years. I am looking forward to returning to the UNC wellness center to share my passion for following a healthy gluten free lifestyle!

Navigating the Gluten Free Diet with Confidence
Debbie Jongkind, RD,LDN
Monday, Nov 8, 2010
6:30-8:00pm
UNC Wellness Center,Meadowmont
100 Sprunt St, Chapel Hill, NC 27517-7811
(919) 966-5500

Jason's Deli, Restaurant Review

I am happy to report that Jason's Deli is now making sandwiches available on Udi's gluten free bread! Both the Durham location and the Brier Creek location have this available in their stores. After some further questioning about this new option I learned that when someone orders a gluten free sandwich the employee must change their gloves and also place the "take out paper liner" on the counter to make the sandwich. I felt like both locations were very informed of the problems with potential cross contamination. If the sandwich is to be warmed in the oven it is put on a separate pan that is for gluten free products. If you order a Panini style sandwich it will go through the panini maker which is NOT GLUTEN FREE. The Jason's Deli website provides a link that reviews nutrition and allergen information. The Brier Creek, Jason's Deli offered me a gluten free menu when I place my order and also informed me that the manager would make my gluten free sandwich. It was delicious: turkey,sprouts, onion, homemade guacamole on Udi's bread. The menu also highlighted the items on the salad bar that were gluten free and the stuffed potatoes that could be ordered gluten free. Oh and good news the ice cream is gluten free(minus the cone of course)! What a treat to be able to go out to eat and order a sandwich. THANK YOU JASON's DELI!
Please note when eating out there is always the risk of cross contamination.

Locations;
Durham
5408 New Hope Commons Dr.
Durham, NC 27707
Phone: 919-493-3350

Raleigh/Brier Creek Area
8421 Brier Creek Pkwy.
Raleigh, NC 27617
Phone: 919-572-9996

Carolina Hurricanes: 2010-2011 Gluten Free Update

I have previously written about Gluten Free options at the RBC Center during Carolina Hurricanes games over the last couple seasons.  See below for the 2010-2011 season update.

Halloween Resources

With Halloween nearly a week away I wanted to point you towards a few resources that may help you find some nice treats:

1. Rosie's Plate in Raleigh will be hosting a Benefit Tasting for Celiac Research on Friday, October 29 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The website states that 25% of donations plus 10% of all store sales will go to the University of Illinois Celiac Research Center. For further information see Rosie's website.

2. As you think about candy for Halloween there are a few sites that have published updated lists of gluten free candy: The Celiac Family has a nice list published on their site, as does The National Foundation For Celiac Awareness(NFCA).
The NFCA credits Sure Foods Living with the Candy List.

Note the candy lists should only be used as a guide. Product ingredients should be double checked to verify the gluten free status before eating.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities

I want to mention three Upcoming learning opportunities to help you increase your knowledge regarding the gluten free diet, Celiac Disease, and gluten sensitivity.

1. NFCA Webinar:It's Not Just in Your Head the Psychological Impacts of Celiac Disease, Sunday October 17, 8 pm Eastern time. The NFCA website describes this webinar by saying:

Join NFCA as Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, PhD, Training Director at Bay Area Family Therapy & Training Associates, goes beyond the physical and explains how celiac disease can affect us mentally.

If you read this post after the class, the website generally archives these Free webinars. To register or read more information, click here.

2. Gluten Free 101,Saturday Oct 23, 2010, 1:00-3:30 This class is presented by Zach Beker,(Gluten Free Raleigh) and will be held at Rosie's Plate in Raleigh. A description from the Rosie's Plate website reads:

If you've just been diagnosed with Celiac or wheat allergies this class is for you. Learn firsthand from someone who's been there. Taught by Zach Becker from the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog, you'll learn how to segue your kitchen to a gluten free lifestyle with tons of information from transitioning your kitchen to Celiac-friendly restaurants in the Triangle area. Note there is a $45.00 fee for this course(a portion donated to Camp Kanata)

To register contact Rosie's Plate.

3. Navigating the Gluten Free Diet with Confidence, UNC Wellness Center, Monday, November 8th 6:30-8:00. I (Debbie) will be returning to the UNC Wellness Center in Meadowmont to speak from my experience as a registered dietitian and someone who lives a gluten free life due to my own Celiac Disease. The UNC Wellness description of the class states:

The gluten-free world can be challenging when food shopping and eating out. This presentation will help you to learn about the reasons for choosing a gluten-free diet, learn about how foods are labeled as gluten-free, and how to choose the appropriate foods within the gluten-free diet.

Free for members and non-members
Please pre-register at the front desk or call 966-5500.

Increasing your knowledge, gathering tips from others, and keeping up on the latest scientific recommendations helps make following the gluten free diet much easier.

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, Restaurant Review

If you are looking for a fun spot in Durham you may want to visit the Tobacco Road Sports Cafe, located right at the Durham Bulls Pall Park. I will admit, I was a bit over stimulated when I walked into 40 big screen TVs the other night, but had a wonderful experience sitting outside on the patio which overlooked the Bulls ball diamond. There were lots of people rooting on their favorite college football team that night. You will also find abundant seating options: outside, inside, bar seating, private dining areas and recliners! I learned that there are two locations: the Durham location at: 280 Mangum St and one in Raleigh at 222 Glenwood Avenue. These locations are owned by brothers: Brian, Alex and Rommie Amra. Prior to meeting our friends for dinner, I investigated the menu on line and found the Tobacco Road Blog which detailed their gluten free offerings as follows:

The following items are gluten free or can be made gluten free by making the modification that are noted.


Entrees & Appetizers


BBQ Chicken – No tobacco onions
Fish/Lamb Gorditas – No tortilla
Steak Frites – Substitute a gluten free side for fries
Shrimp & Grits – No gravy
Mixed Green Salad – No croutons
Apple Walnut Salad
Cobb Salad
Arugula Salad
Ancho Chicken Salad – No tortilla strips
Hummus & Pimento Cheese with Veggies
Tarheel Wrap – No pita
Ribs
Burgers – No bun

Sides

Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Coleslaw
Collard Greens
Cheddar Grits

Our server was very knowledgeable and even offered to bring me extra vegetables for my hummus since I would not be using the pita bread. I was impressed when I asked about ingredients in the soup of the day and was told that the chef that made the soup was gone for the day and so they were erring on the side of caution and could not guarantee it was gluten free. If you are a sports fan or just looking for a fun place to eat that offers some gluten free options I would recommend you visit the Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Durham!

Gluten Free Ponderings from Vacation

I have just returned from travels to the west coast: can you see the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog? One of the reasons we chose California for vacation was the readily available options for gluten free dining; and we were not disappointed. Prior to my trip I did some research via the web to see what was available. I also called the airline to see if any meals would be served on my flight. No meals in flight so I packed a few gluten free options. Note: It is difficult to find gluten free foods in the airport. I did buy a fruit, vegetable and cheese tray on our layover and also noted one gift shop that offered a gluten free snack bar.

I discovered a free app for my android phone that served me quite well: Find me Gluten Free It helped locate restaurants and retail locations based on my geographic location. A description of the product from the website states:

Find Me Gluten Free is a way to easily find restaurants that accommodate to a gluten free diet. We only show restaurants that either have a gluten free menu or are known to accommodate guests who request gluten free meals

When I checked my Durham zip code 30+ entries popped up within a 20 mile radius.

Because there were easy to find Whole Food Markets and Trader Joes, I did not need to pack a suitcase full of gluten free foods. I enjoyed eating at lots of great places and would recommend: Pica-Pica, Scoma in San Fransisco, PF Changs, In-n-Out Burger(order your burger "protein style"),and Kara's cupcakes! Some local Italian restaurants substituted risotto for regular pasta and served it with their naturally GF pasta sauce. In general I found my servers at most restaurants very knowledgeable and accommodating to my gluten free requests.

Now back from vacation, so my posts will return to living gluten free here in Durham, stay tuned... If you have any great tips about navigating the gluten free diet in Durham send them my way. I will be happy to highlight those for the GF Durham reader.

NFCA Sponosored Webinar:The Gluten-Free Effect on Athletes: Improving Performance Through Diet

I wanted to point you to another Free learning event sponsored by NFCA: National Foundation For Celiac Awareness;

Are you getting ready for your fall seasonal sport? Preparing for a race? Incorporating the right gluten-free foods into your diet can make all of the difference in your performance! Announcing NFCA's Webinar: "The Gluten-Free Effect on Athletes: Improving Performance Through Diet" on Tuesday, September 21 at 8:30PM EST.

For more information and to register for this webinar click here.

Free Community Education at Teer House

The following topics may be of interest to readers of the Gluten Free Durham Blog. Both are part of Duke's community education outreach and held at the Teer House, located at 4019 N. Roxboro Road Durham, NC 27704. The classes are free but registration is required.

Monday, September 13, 2010, 7:00-8:30: Digestive Health: Innovation Strategies for Digestive Problems, Speaker: Evangeline Lausier, MD

Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 7:00-8:30: Re-boning up on Osteoporosis, Speaker: Thomas J. Weber, MD

Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 6:30-8:00: Celiac Disease, New Diet Options. Speaker: Lesley Stanford, MS, RD, CSP

For more information or to register click here

Heading to the Mountains?? Visit Posana Cafe

If your vacation plans are taking you to the Mountains this fall then I need to give a shout out to the restaurant POSANA CAFE in downtown Asheville,NC. There have been some great reviews written about this place, so I was thrilled when I was actually in Asheville to visit some other GF family members and we were able to have dinner here! The location is perfect, just down from Mast General Store and offers inside and outside seating. (No reservation taken for the outside tables). Everything on the menu is gluten free with the exception of some regular beers from the bar. The marketing ploy of the owners is not to identify itself as solely gluten free. But as all things do in the gluten free community the good word has spread. So why does the menu ask you to identify yourself if you are ordering gluten free? Our server explained that the owners like to come and talk with you if they are available. That is nice customer service. You can view the menu choices here. We tried a delicious appetizer:

Pistachio, Walnut, and Pecan encrusted goat cheese trio with mixed greens, balsamico and sliced baguette (The bread was sliced thin and grilled, we asked for seconds!)

I enjoyed a shrimp risotto dish that was excellent. Others devoured a GF vegetarian burger, Grilled chicken breast sandwich and fries and gluten free pasta for the kids! Note Posana has recently been given the stamp of approval by the Gluten Free Restaurant Program.

According to their site:

The GFRAP resources have been written under the auspices of a Registered Dietitian, who has been working with both chain and independent restaurants for over fourteen years, helping restaurants with food preparation, kitchen procedures, menu development, training and marketing to meet the needs of gluten intolerant diners.

So plan a trip this fall to the mountains to see the leaves, but make sure you stop at Posana for a real treat!

Resource for Going to College Gluten Free

Are you sending a gluten free child to college for the first time? Perhaps you are a student trying to navigate the food filled atmosphere of dining hall food, pizza and bagels? This can be an overwhelming feeling but with some pre planning, gluten free food orders and education this transition can go smoothly. My GF daughter will be heading back to school today for her second year and we both have more confidence about this move than we did last year at this time! I have learned of an upcoming web seminar sponsored by NFCA(National Foundation for Celiac Awareness) that may help equip those with needed information on navigating the gluten free diet in college:

Wondering how the gluten-free diet will affect your college experience?Register for NFCA's "Back to School" Webinar
Heading Off to College with Celiac Disease
Sunday, August 29 at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PT
Join NFCA as Rebecca Panzer, MA, RD, LD, offers professional guidance for college-bound celiacs!

Points covered will include:

Explore the challenges young adults with celiac disease may experience living on and off college campuses.
Answer common questions of college-bound celiacs and gluten-free teens.
Suggest ways to best navigate college administration, dining services and social challenges.
Celiac advocate Deb Mailand, a senior at Tufts University, will also join us to share her firsthand experience and explain how gluten-free can be a success away from home and on campus! Register Now
For more information, visit NFCA's Webinar page.

New Products from General Mills: Asian Chicken Helper Review

It is almost time to send my gluten free daughter back to college. As she was thinking of easy things to cook for herself she came across the new Betty Crocker line of "helper meals" at Kroger. Based on the traditional hamburger helper theme of "one pound, one pan, one tasty meal", this sounded pretty quick and easy for a college student in her first apartment. We tried the Asian Chicken Helper, which called for a pound of chicken and 2 eggs in addition to the mix. The meal was easy to make and tasted pretty good. Although the package says it serves 5, we each ate about a 1/3 of the meal which provided about 466 kcals per serving. You can access lots of great information on products and recipes at the General Mills website Live Gluten Freely.

FYI: Gluten Free Tidbits to Share....

* Chelsea Clinton's wedding was a private event and I read that caterers had to sign privacy agreements. There have been several published news stories that discuss her vegan menu options and her choice of a GLUTEN FREE WEDDING CAKE! I do not claim to know anything about Chelsea's medical history, but some articles claimed she has a "Gluten Allergy." Regardless of the reasons, this high profile wedding and discussion of the gluten free wedding cake, helps to continue to increase the awareness of Celiac Disease and a gluten free diet!

* My GF daughter had the recent experience of dining at Mellow Mushroom in Durham and noted that after she ordered her GF pizzza, the server proceeded to ask her if she had a true allergy to gluten? and when she answered yes, the server then took everything off the table and sanitized the table. She said it was a new procedure to make sure everything is clean and safe. Way to go the extra mile Mellow Mushroom!

*I have written previous posts about Twin Cakes having a booth at the Durham Farmer's market on Saturday morning, but note they are also there on Wednesday mornings!

Twin Cakes, Durham Farmers Market

This is what you can expect from the twins Saturday, July 31st at the Durham Farmer's Market:
Saturday Morning Markets menu:
Cardamom Brownies
Plain brownies
Mint brownies
Blueberry brownies
Carrot cakes
Chocolate mint bundt cakes
Lemon pistachio scone
Sweet orange apricot scone
Chocolate chip orange scone
Banana almond muffins
Cinnamon raisin peach muffins
And more




Here are some raw items that you might see at the markets:
Cheez cracker
Rosemary cracker
Herb cracker
Pumpkin Kale Cracker
Collard green onion cracker (contains onions)
Pizza cracker
Sunflower seed cheez flatbread
Swiss chard black sesame seed flatbread (contains onions)
Purple kale chia flatbread (contains onions)
Kale hempseed flatbread (contains onions)
Kale sunflower seed flatbread (contains onions)
Lemon blueberry macaroon (sold individually)
Mint brownie squares
Mesquite banana bars

Free Learning Opportunity at The Rice Diet Program July 27, 2010

The Rice Diet Program in Durham is hosting an interesting panel discussion: "Food Allergies From Fact to Fiction: Exploring the Many Misconceptions" for the nutrition professionals and opening this learning opportunity up to the community. The events objectives include:

Review contributing factors for developing and acquiring food allergies, from
genetic propensity to dietary consumption and environmental exposure.

Summarize the incidence of food allergies and percentage of those
“outgrowing” them.

Define and describe the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD) versus gluten
sensitivity or intolerance.

Describe other diseases’ incidences and correlations with CD, such as autism
and the autistic spectrum, diabetes, Downs Syndrome, etc.

Discuss whether we are over or under diagnosing CD and other food allergies.

Describe the dietitian’s role, as part of a team and in individual patient counseling,
in addressing food allergies and CD.

Respected Panelists include: Brian Vickery, MD, Lesley Stanford,MS,RD,LDN, Colm O’Loughlin, MB, BCh, BAO and moderator: Daniel Wild, MD

While the seminar is free, space is limited so preregistration is required by contacting:
Anna LaBarre at:
anna@ricediet.com or
(919) 383-7276 ext 237

Event Details:
Place: The Rice Diet Program
1644 Cole Mill Road in Durham
Date: Tuesday, July 27
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm

News From Twin Cakes, Durham Farmers Market

The Following is an Update from the Twins:NEWS: Twin Cake Bakery and Pure2Raw are back! Thanks for everyone’s patience while we were out of town. We will be at the two Saturday Farmer’s Markets this coming weekend July 17.

Here is what we will have to sell this week at the Saturday- Durham Farmers Market (8am- noon) and the Carrboro Farmers Market (7am- noon).


Saturday Morning Markets menu:
Cardamom Brownies
Double chocolate brownies
Carrot cakes
Lemon blueberry scone
Orange Fig scone
Lemon apricot scone
Ginger peach muffin
Cocoa banana nutmeg muffin
And more




Here are some raw items that you might see at the markets:
Cheez cracker
Rosemary cracker
Herb cracker
Pumpkin Kale Cracker
Collard green onion cracker (contains onions)
*new item pizza cracker
Onion free spinach chia flatbread
Sunflower chia kale flatbread
Swiss chard hemp seed flatbread (contains onions)
Collard onion sesame flatbread (contains onions)
Purple kale chia flatbread (contains onions)
Kale hempseed flatbread (contains onions)
Peppermint brownie bites
Mint Chip Kremes
Pistachio orange coconut bars
Banana chocolate chip kreme bars

July Classes at Rosie's Plate

Rosie's Plate in Raleigh has some interesting classes planned for the month of July. If you need some new gluten free menu ideas check your calendar and consider enrolling in one of the following classes:

Gluten Free Meals For A Week

**Thursday, July 15**

Rosie's Studio: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM


Cooking Just Got Easier!

Gather in our studio for the inside scoop on preparing a week's worth of gluten free meals in one day! You'll learn how to plan, shop, cook and store meals that everyone can enjoy. You'll walk away with tons of information including delicious gluten free recipes.

Cost: $50



Cooking Demo: Easy Meals For Gluten Free Diets

**Saturday, July 17**

Rosie's Kitchen: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM


Turn Up The Heat In Your Kitchen!


Come watch and learn as Seth and Emily teach the ins and outs of cooking gluten free. Lots of sampling and recipes to take home. Come turn your dietary challenges into culinary adventures.


Featured Recipes: Parmesan Crusted Pork Tenderloin w/ Pan Tomato Sauce & Balsamic Glazed Veggies, Honey Lime Chicken w/ Quinoa, Portebello Pizzas, Watermelon Cucumber Salad, and Blondies

Cost: $50



Gluten Free Baking

**Saturday, July 31**

Rosie's Kitchen: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM


Come Discover The Baker In You!

Join Emily in the kitchen for a fun-filled gluten free baking exploration. You'll learn how to substitute flours and feel like a pro at baking gluten free. Everyone gets a front row seat. Only six seats in a class. Lots of tastings!!

Featured Recipes: Buttermilk Biscuits, Sugar Cookies, Applesauce Spice Bread

Cost: $35


Call Rosie's at 919-833-0505 for more information and to enroll for a class

Until Next year: Camp Kanata 2010 Concludes

"Until Next Time Be Well and Do Good" those are the parting words that the campers hear and read on their way out of Camp Kanata. This Saturday concluded a week of great fun and great gluten free food at Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The weather even cooled and provided the perfect camp atmosphere for the over night YMCA camp. Volunteers served campers from North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland some delicious gluten free foods. I'd like to thank the numerous volunteers and donations that made this week possible for kids to experience a fun filled week at camp without any worry over what they would eat during meal and snack time. 30 campers who followed a gluten free diet played, slept, and ate along another 160+ campers this past week. The only thing that was different was where they picked up their food at meal time in the dining hall. The camps cycle menu was duplicated item by item so that those kids following a gluten free menu could eat and enjoy the fun that only Camp Kanata Dining Hall can provide. GIG secured many corporate food donations and our local support for this camp is wonderful. A special thanks to Zach for the fund raising efforts to support camp scholarships and expenses, and to the following local companies that donated products for the camp menu: Rosie's Plate, Mellow Mushroom, Bella Monica, Custom Choice Cereal, Happy Tummy Baking Co, Whole Foods Gluten Free Bake House, Harmony Farms, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Target. In addition to smiling faces and full bellies we heard: "these are the best hot dogs and buns and thank you so much for all the food you cooked for us, thank you for the bag of goodies-love you for it!"
Gluten free Week in 2011 will probably be mid July. Stay tuned to the GIG Gluten Intolerance Group's website and Camp Kanata's website for further details.

Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata Begins!

What an exciting week ahead for 30 some campers as they begin their adventure at Camp Kanata during the "Olympic Week Theme", June 27- July 1st, 2010. The gluten free kitchen has been cleaned, donations procured, menus and volunteer schedules confirmed. This will be my fourth year volunteering as a camp dietitian and working with camp director extraordinaire: Alanna Conder. This year Cynthia Kuppper also a dietitian and the executive director of the Gluten Intolerance Group will be sweating along with a great group of volunteers to serve our GF campers. There have been numerous local donations to help make this camp possible which I will recap at the close of camp, so as not to forget anyone that may fill a need this week. If you are reading this blog in the comfort of an air conditioned building please send some cool thoughts our way!

Twin Cakes update Durham Farmers Market

Here is an update from Twins related to their products and availablilty at the Durham Farmers Market over the next several weeks:



Your Allergy friendly bakery - we focus on gluten/wheat free, dairy free, egg free, peanut free, and more.


NEWS: Twin Cake Bakery will be at the two markets this weekend but after that plan to take a few weekends off. We will not be at the Carrboro or Durham markets on July 3rd and possibly July 10th. We might be back in time for the July 10th market but unsure at the moment. Please plan ahead for your orders this weekend. Thanks the twins J

Here is what we will have to sell this week at the Durham Farmers Market and the Carrboro Farmers Market.

Durham Wednesday Market:
Mint Brownies
Fudgy Brownies
Cinnamon Raisin Scone
Raw double layered cherry coconut bar with chocolate drizzle



Saturday Morning Markets menu:
Mint Brownies
Cardamom Brownies
Carrot cakes
Lemon blueberry scone
Cinnamon raisin scone
Lemon cherry scone
Orange Fig scone
Banana chocolate chip curry muffin
Cinnamon roll muffin (contains yeast)
Lemon raspberry bundt cake
And more




Here are some raw items that you might see at the markets:
Cheez cracker
Rosemary cracker
Herb cracker
Collard green onion cracker (contains onions)
*new item Spriulina swiss chard sunflower seed flatbread
Swiss chard black sesame chia flatbread (contains onions)
Boy choy sesame flatbread (contains onions)
Kale hempseed flatbread (contains onions)
Spirulina pumpkin seed flatbread
Chocolate chip cookie dough kreme cake bar
* new item Cherry double layered coconut with chocolate drizzle
Cardamom almond biscotti


www.twincakesbakery.com

Happy Tummy Pizza Crust

Many people who follow a gluten free diet long for pizza crust that tastes like what they remember. Well if you have to limit other ingredients besides gluten it gets even more difficult to find a suitable product. I was recently contacted by Maria Hopper, owner of Happy Tummy Baking Company. This is a local baking company devoted to developing tasty products for people with multiple food sensitivities. Their first product is a 12 inch pizza crust that contain no gluten, yeast or any of the 8 major allergens. The pizza crust comes ready to top and bake as you like. The crust is now available at our local Durham Whole Foods in the freezer section. Zach, over at Gluten Free Raleigh, wrote a nice review of the product here. The Pizza crust is available at Whole Foods and Harmony Farms in Raleigh.

Rita's Italian Ice, Restaurant Review

Looking for a cool summer treat? You will be happy to know that there are several Gluten Free offerings at Rita's Italian Ice. On a recent hot night my GF daughter and I ventured out for the little shop in southwest Durham. We chose Gelatis which are mixtures of their homemade Italian ice and soft serve frozen custard. I highly recommend the chocolate/berry flavor (yum!) The workers were helpful answering my questions about ingredients and showing me the custard carton mix so I could review the ingredients myself. I also received a prompt reply from corporate Rita's stating:

Rita’s has nutritional information available for our Guests on our website, www.ritasice.com. Please click the "Cool Treats" link on the top navigation pane and select "Nutritional Info" from the drop down menu, where you will find a link to an "Allergen Information" document.

Allergen information provided on our allergen chart is for the 8 major food groups that account for most food allergens as per the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004. Gluten is not considered to be among them, which is why it is not listed. allergen chart

Though we understand this is not inherent with all foods, for our purposes, anything we list with wheat content also includes gluten. Likewise, anything listed as not having any wheat content does not contain any gluten.

Therefore please refer to the “Wheat” category on our allergen chart to address your gluten concerns.

I have learned there are 500 Rita's in 18 states. I am glad to have one in Durham that clearly discloses their allergen information and offers great customer service!

Location:
Rita's
1125 W Nc Highway 54
Durham, NC 27707-5715
(919) 489-0888

Saigon Grill, Vietnamese Restaurant Review

I had my first experience at Vietnamese dining and was surprised to learn that there were many naturally gluten free items to choose from. A friend invited me to join her for lunch at one of her favorite spots "one of the best kept secrets in Durham"; is how she actually described the Saigon Grill.
Traditional Vietnamese cooking is greatly admired for freshness of the ingredients and for the healthy eating style. This was evident with the abundant fresh herbs that accompanied my lunch.
The most common meats used in Vietnamese cuisine are pork, chicken, fish, and various kinds of seafood. Vietnamese also have a strong vegetarian tradition
and offer lots of rice and rice noodles.
Our server was very knowledgeable and understood my gluten free requests. One that she said they get often. While not everything on the menu is gluten free it is easy to find something tasty and gluten free from the nearly 100 items offered on their menu.

Saigon Grill
2929 N. Roxboro St.
Durham, NC 27704
919-220-5979

Tuesday-Sundays: 11AM-9PM
closed Mondays

Check out these other Gluten Free Blogs

The May 2010 issue of Today's Dietitan included a feature article: "Gluten-Free Blogs Are Hot". Author, Sharon Palmer, RD reviewed 13 gluten free blogs, some include mostly recipes, and cooking, while others offer reliable, science based information on Celiac Disease. Possible additional interesting summer reading for the followers of this Gluten Free Durham Blog!

Celiac Chicks: http://celiacchicks.typepad.com/
Celiac Teen: http://www.celiacteen.com/
The Crispy Cook: http://wheat-free-meat-free.blogspot.com
Delightfully Gluten Free: http://delightfullyglutenfree.com
Gluten-Free Diet: http://glutenfreediet.ca/blog
Gluten-Free Dietitian: http://glutenfreedietitian.com
Gluten-Free Girl: http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com
Gluten-Free Goddess: http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
Gluten Free Blog: http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com
Gluten Free Gobsmacked: http://glutenfree.wordpress.com
Gluten Free Steve: http://glutenfreesteve.wordpress.com
Hold the Gluten: http://holdthegluten.net
Straight into Bed Cake-Free and Dried: http://milkforthemorningcake.blogspot.com

North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month

Media Release

North Carolina Governor Declares May Celiac Disease Awareness Month

• Triangle residents can participate in a gluten-free food drive at various locations or make a monetary donation to help stock the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
• Bella Monica Italian Restaurant is hosting a six-course gluten-free dinner prepared by Vanessa Maltin, food and lifestyle editor for Delight Gluten-free Magazine
• A top food allergens poster is available for restaurants to download to educate their staff about these items, including gluten

Raleigh, N.C., USA, April 30, 2010 – The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog has announced Governor Beverly Perdue has declared May 2010 “Celiac Disease Awareness Month” in North Carolina. The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog and Pat Berger, leader of the North Raleigh Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) Support Group brought the petition to the Governor’s office regarding the awareness month.

Celiac Disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that affects one in 133 people in the United States. It interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food and can cause gastrointestinal and neurological issues, infertility, skin rashes and cancer. The only treatment for Celiac Disease is lifelong, strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.

“The Governor’s proclamation paves the way to further educate the community on Celiac Disease and helps to create a positive impact on the quality of life for people living with this condition,” said Zach Becker, creator of the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog. “It’s my goal to help raise awareness so those living with this disease can safely eat out at restaurants and have easier access to gluten-free food.”

In an effort to educate, raise awareness and give back to the community, there are a number of gluten-free events scheduled during the month of May.

• A gluten-free food drive will be held on Saturday, May 8 to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Special discounts at the drop off locations may be available in exchange for your donation. Bins are set up in each of these locations to accept the packaged gluten-free non-perishable food items:
o Rosie’s Plate – N. Person St., Raleigh
o Bella Monica Italian Restaurant – Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh
o ZPizza – Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh and Cornerstone Dr., Cary
o Mellow Mushroom – W. Peace St., Raleigh
o Whole Foods Market, Raleigh – Wade Ave., Raleigh
o Earth Fare – Moncreiffe Rd., Raleigh
o Harmony Farms/Café Harmony – Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh

• A virtual food drive will be held all month to benefit the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina with gluten-free food. The link to donate can be located on the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog.

• On Sunday, May 16, beginning at 5 p.m., Bella Monica Italian Restaurant will host a six-course gluten-free dinner prepared by Vanessa Maltin, food and lifestyle editor for Delight Gluten-free Magazine and Corbett Monica, head chef at Bella Monica Italian Restaurant. They will be preparing dishes from Maltin’s gluten-free cookbook entitled The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook: Spicing Up Life with Italian, Asian and Mexican Recipes. Copies of the cookbook will also be included. Tickets are required for this dining event and can be purchased by calling Bella Monica Italian Restaurant at 919-881-9778.

• The Gluten Free Raleigh Blog worked with Sofia Noble of the design firm This Is Beautiful to create a poster featuring all of the top food allergens, including gluten. This poster is now available for download in English and Spanish at the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog. Wake County restaurant owners may use it to educate their staffs about these foods.

“Research indicates there are approximately three million people living with Celiac Disease in the United States and of those, only about 120,000 have been diagnosed,” said Alice Bast, founder and president of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA). “It’s great to see North Carolina working to raise awareness about this disease so perhaps others can be accurately diagnosed by their doctors. Zach Becker and the entire North Carolina Celiac Disease community should be commended for their leadership and successful advocacy efforts.”


About Gluten Free Raleigh Blog
Zach Becker was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in May 2008. He founded the Gluten Free Raleigh Blog in August 2008 and has created similar blogs across the state. He has recruited writers for these blogs so gluten-free information in those communities can be shared. The blogs contain restaurant and grocery store reviews, summaries of national news as well as highlight local companies that cater to the gluten-free community. Becker is an advocate for those living with Celiac Disease in the Triangle and donates his time to educate the newly diagnosed, local restaurants and government leaders on this condition.

Gluten Free Wine Dinner at Bella Monica

The great thing about living gluten free in Durham is the easy access we have to other resources in the greater triangle area. I have just learned of a Gluten Free Wine Dinner being held at Bella Monica in Raleigh on Sunday May 16th at 5 pm. The event will feature guest chef and cookbook author, Vanessa Maltin and the $50.00 fee includes the dinner and a copy of the book The Gloriously Gluten Free Cookbook. Some of the menu items include: Bruschetta, Pesto Risotto, Chicken Fennel Lasagna, White Chocolate-Mango Cheesecake and more! For more information contact Bella Monica at 919-881-9778.

Finally: Gluten Free Pizza in Durham

As written in earlier posts the Durham Mellow Mushroom has launched their gluten free pizza about a week ago. My family finally had the opportunity to visit the Mellow Mushroom in the American Tobacco District for lunch the other day. How awesome it was for those of us that must follow a GF diet to order pizza along with the non-GF folks in our family! Zach, at GF Raleigh did an extensive post when the Pizza made it to the Raleigh market read here for lots of great details! We enjoyed our pizza. It was thin crust and plenty to serve two people with 2 left over slices (6 slices in all). The flavor was very good. The crust was also good but I would have personally liked the crust a little more crisp. Overall I would recommend trying the pizza. I just want to give a shout out to all those Durhamites that we finally do have a place to go to order gluten free pizza and post a few pictures for your review.

Equipping Dietitians to Serve the Gluten Free Client

I had the opportunity today of speaking at the 77th Annual Meeting and Expo of the North Carolina Dietetic Association (NCDA). This was a 2 1/2 day event that brought 300 dietitians, students and vendors together to share products and evidence based nutrition information with one another. It was encouraging to see an enthusiastic attendance at the break out session "Navigating the Gluten Free Diet with Confidence: Equipping Dietitians to Serve the Gluten Free Client". There were dietitians present from across the state of North Carolina in variety of positions including, clinical hospital settings, school lunch, private practice, and university professors, to name a few.

I would like to say a special thank you to Rosie's Plate for sponsoring my talk at NCDA and for exhibiting information at the conference. I would also like to thank Zach, from GF Raleigh for conducting his informal poll of people's interactions with dietitians in respect to the gluten free diet. These results were shared during my talk.

I am encouraged by the interest in this area and by the availability of gluten free foods in an increasing number of settings.

Gluten Free Meals for a Week at Rosie's Plate

Need some menu ideas? Help organizing your meals for the week? Then you may be interested in registering for the following class at Rosie's Plate in Raleigh:

Gluten Free Meals
For A Week
Thursday, April 22 7-8:30 pm $50

Gather the inside scoop on preparing a week's worth of healthy meals in one day at this fun class. You'll learn how to plan, cook and store these meals that everyone can enjoy!
Reserve Your Seat
833-0505




Rosie's Plate
701 N. Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27604
919.833.0505
www.RosiesPlate.com

Local Resources Twins at the Durham Farmers Market

Just a reminder that Twin Cakes Bakery will be at the Durham Farmers Market on Saturday and every Saturday. Come out and buy a gluten free goodie and let them know we appreciate the efforts to come to Durham! This Weeks menu includes:

Markets menu:

Carrot cake mini bundt cakes

Coconut lime bundt cakes

Lemon lavender scone

Ginger Pear scone

Orange cranberry scone

Cinnamon blueberry coffee cake

Cinnamon baked donuts

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches (mint,vanilla, and coconut lime filled)

And more

Gluten Free Challenge

The Gluten Intolerance Group and Pamela's Products are teaming up together to sponsor the Gluten Free Challenge. You can get more information and sign up to receive a recipe of the day and tip of the day at Go GF Challenge. The event kicks off April 21st with a weekend challenge to non GF folks to join us on the weekend of May 22 to experience the joy and challenge of eating gluten free! The month long event is in honor of Gluten Free Awareness Month in May. In addition to recipes and tips there will also be various prize drawings.

Duke Diabetes Day-April 24,2010

The risk of Celiac Disease is increased in those who have Diabetes. Following a gluten free diabetic diet can be very challenging and extremely important in obtaining optimum health. On April 24, 2010 Duke Diabetes Day will be held at Sherwood Githens Middle School. This is FREE fun filled day geared toward children, young adults and their families who have diabetes. Medical providers are also welcome and CEUs have been applied for. The event runs from 9:30-3:15. Of particular interest to those with Diabetes and Celiac Disease are a few specific topics: Celiac Disease and Diabetes and Gluten Free Diet and Celiac Disease. There is also an option of ordering a gluten free lunch! Prize drawings are planned and ongoing events include: ask the doctor, ask the dietitian, field day, diabetes games, emergency situations, and much more To see the complete itinerary of events click here.
To Register for this event call 919-681-6063 or email peddiabetes@mc.duke.edu. Include name number of attendees, and if you need a gluten free lunch or vegetarian lunch.

Gluten Free Pizza arrives at Durham's Mellow Mushroom

After several weeks of waiting it is true Durham now has gluten free pizza! I first started writing about this back in January. Zach called attention to the breaking news last week in his gluten free Raleigh blog. The company website confirms that Durham, Raleigh and Burlington are the North Carolina test market sites for Mellow Mushroom's new gluten free pizza. And the launch date is Monday April 5th. I know where we are going for dinner!

Note: When I called Mellow Mushroom Saturday evening, the person I spoke with did not seem to know anything about the gluten free pizza option??? You may want to give a call before showing up to order your GF pizza. I will update information as it becomes available.

UPDATE as of Monday April 5th 4:30pm
I did receive an email confirmation from Jason Kemp with marketing at Mellow Mushroom that the GF pizza would be available today. However after speaking with a manager in Durham this afternoon she has stated that the GF pizza will be available to order in a week on MONDAY, APRIL 12; and she also noted they have gluten free beer too!

Mellow Mushroom
410 Blackwell Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 680-8500

Twin Cakes Comes to The Durham Farmers Market

This Saturday Twin Cakes Bakery will debut at the Durham Farmers Market. I can attest to the quality of their gluten free products! They will be at the market from 8:00-12:00 and the following items will be available:

Markets menu:
Carrot cake mini bundt cakes
Lemon Poppy seed bundt cakes
Lemon Blueberry scone
Strawberry Banana coffee cake
Baked chocolate glazed donuts
Mint Chocolate cupcakes
Pizza Crust
*new item - Pizza Rolls
*Frozen Pretzels

** Easter Special: If you spend over $25 you will receive a bag full of Easter Sugar cookies (only while supplies last)

Dry Mixes that will be available this week:
Pancakes
Brownie
Raw Cheez Cracker
Raw Pumpkin Kale Cracker

The weather forcast is great for the weekend! I am headed to the Farmers Market to welcome Twin Cakes Bakery and to stock up on some Easter goodies.

Passover and Gluten Free Products

Passover began at sunset Tuesday March 29 and extends through Monday April 5th. Dietary restrictions include refraining from "Chametz" all edible fermented grain products to include leavened grains. While not all "Passover foods" are gluten free many are and can be easily found in the grocery store. The Gluten Intolerance Group features a very good article by Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, LD entitled:"Passover Great GF selection". You can also go to the Manishewitz site for a complete listing of their gluten free products.
Tip: Many of these items may go on sale after Passover and this would be a good way to stock your gluten free pantry!

Restaurant Eden, Restaurant Review

I have enjoyed both lunch and dinner at Restaurant Eden. The restaurant describes itself as having a "refreshing, healthy and simple approach to familiar American cuisine." The website describes their philosophy further:

What sets Eden apart is our support of local small businesses and farmers as we proudly serve locally farmed produce from our State Farmers Market. Our menu will evolve with the seasons to capture the very highest quality ingredients just when they reach their peak.

This is sticking with one of themes for March's National Nutrition Month of "eating from the ground up". Eden does not offer a specific gluten free menu but catered to my specific needs. At dinner the wait staff asked several questions of the chef and we were able to mutually agree on a steak dinner. I had a great experience at lunch (note this was a slower time and easier for the wait staff to spend extra time with me). I was given a copy of their lunch menu with selected items circled that were gluten free and others crossed through so I knew they contained gluten. I enjoyed the Eden Salad with Salmon which was very good.
As a side note, I would encourage you to check out restaurant.com. This is a great site that offers coupons to various local restaurants and Eden was featured in the Durham zip code area.

Restaurant Eden
3211 Shannon Road
Durham,NC 27707
www.restaurantedendurham.com

Hours:
Monday 11:00AM-2:00PM Lunch Only

Tuesday 11:00AM-9:00PM

Wednesday 11:00AM-9:00PM

Thursday 11:00AM-9:00PM

Friday 11:00AM-10:00PM

Saturday 4:00PM-10:00PM Dinner Only

Sunday Brunch 11:00AM-2:00PM Brunch Only

Donate Gluten Free Food at the NCSSM Food Drive-Saturday March 20,2010

The North Carolina School of Science and Math will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for a 24 hour food drive by a non-charitable organization in a single location on Saturday, March 20th. The School will be accepting donations from 7:00am-10:00pm. It is very difficult to find gluten free food options at food banks this would be a great way to help stock some of the shelves with non perishable gluten free foods!
According to the Food Drive Website the schedule is as follows;

NCSSM World Record Food Drive
Saturday, March 20, 2010
7 a.m. – 10 p.m.1219 Broad Street / Durham, NC / 27705
Stay tuned throughout the day for Food Drive updates:
twitter.com/NCSSMFoodDrive
facebook.com/NCSSMFoodDrive
www.ncssm.edu/fooddrive
Questions? Call the NCSSM Food Drive hotline 919-416-2963
Due to limited parking availability on the NCSSM campus, if you choose to stay for any events,
we ask that you please park in the surrounding neighborhood.
Thank you!

Schedule of Events
7:00 a.m.
Food Drive begins!

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Food Drive T-Shirts Available for $10*
*$5 will go directly to purchasing additional food for the drive
Raffle Tent
Bryan Lawn

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Meet & Greet: Miss N.C. Teen USA 2010 and Mrs. America 2009
Raffle Tent
Bryan Lawn

11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Meet & Greet: “Biggest Loser” Contestant Antoine Dove ’04
Raffle Tent
Bryan Lawn

1:30 p.m. “Biggest Loser” Journey: Antoine Dove ’04
Raffle Tent
Bryan Lawn

5:00 – 9:00 p.m. RAFFLE DRAWINGS (See separate schedule)
Raffle Tent
Bryan Lawn

7:00 p.m. NCSSM Asia Fest
General Assembly Hall
John Friedrick Educational Technology Complex (ETC)

10:00 p.m. Food Drive ends
T.B.A. Meet & Greet: Wool E. Bull

Gluten Free Product Recall,Gluten Free Naturals Mixes

GLUTEN FREE NATURALS MIXES HAVE RECALLED SOME OF THEIR PRODUCTS DUE TO POSSIBLE SALMONELLA CONTAMINATIONL The following information is from the FDA website:

GFN Foods, LLC Voluntarily Recalls Gluten-Free Naturals Pancake Mix, Gluten-Free Naturals Light & Moist Yellow Cake Mix and Gluten-Free Naturals Cookie Blend Flour
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 11, 2010 - GFN Foods, LLC of Cranford, NJ is voluntarily recalling:

Gluten-Free Naturals Pancake Mix – UPC 187058 000043
Lots 09159 (exp 12/8/2010), 09320 (exp 5/16/12) 09322 (exp 5/18/12)
Gluten-Free Naturals Light & Moist Yellow Cake Mix – UPC 187058 000067
Lots 09083 (exp 9/24/10) and 09322 (exp 5/18/12)
Gluten-Free Naturals Cookie Blend Flour – UPC 187058 000029
Lots 09086 (exp 6/24/10), 09219 (exp 11/7/10) and 10035 (exp 5/4/11)

These products, manufactured by GFN Foods, are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The FDA and Thumb Oilseed Producers Cooperative of Ubly, MI found traces of salmonella in Thumb Oilseed's facility. GFN Foods, LLC is voluntarily recalling the products that contain the ingredient supplied by Thumb Oilseed.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and in some cases fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which can be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result into getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.

The safety of our products is of paramount importance to GFN Foods. Customers that have purchased the above products should contact GFN Foods at 866-761-6147 for a refund or to arrange for replacement product. You can also email sales@gfnfoods.com or call with any questions.

Note: The GFN website does not list any retail options for these mixes in North Carolina, however they are also a mail order product through the Celiac Shack and through GFN's own on line store.

PF Chang's Boasts 28 Gluten Free Offerings

PF Chang's continues to increase it's gluten free offerings! I received this information via email and wanted to pass it along to the Gluten Free Durham readers. PF Chang's has increased it's gluten free offering to include 5 new gluten free beef dishes: GF Mongolian beef, GF Hong Kong beef with snow peas, GF beef a la sichuan, GF pepper steak, GF beef with broccoli. You can review the entire gluten free menu here. I have reviewed my dining experience at PF Chang's in a previous post.

The Durham Location is at:
6801 Fayetteville Rd (across from South Point Mall)
Durham,NC
919-294-3131

Refectory Cafe' at Duke University, Restaurant Review

As I mentioned in my previous blog March is National Nutrition Month. The American Dietetic Association has picked the theme for this year to be "Nutrition From The Ground Up" Two points of this message include choosing locally grown produce and limiting trans fats in the diet. The Refectory Cafe' at Duke University encompasses both of these ideas.
I recently enjoyed lunch at The Refectory Cafe',located near the Duke Chapel in the Divinity School. This popular breakfast and lunch spot is a "Green Cafe'" which features: local products, organic ingredients using recycled material and follows sustainable practices. The Cafe' has a casual, welcoming atmosphere. You are able to view your food options at the time of ordering, and I was happy to see clearly marked ingredient listings and gluten free offerings! Their website explains that:

The Refectory Cafe is proud to serve all foods free of transfats and in styrofoam-free containers.
Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free & Low Carb menu items available daily.

I chose a light lunch of vegetarian gluten free chili and corn chips which were very good. You can sign up to receive a weekly email of the menu and specials at www.therefectorycafe.com
The Refectory Cafe' has two locations on Duke's campus one at the Divinity School and the other located at the Law School. It is great to see Duke University offering so many gluten free offerings for students, faculty, staff and visitors. I have already written about the other options at The Great Hall and Trinity Cafe'.

The Refectory Cafe' at Duke Law School Hours:
8-6:30 M,T,Th
8-2:30 W&F

The Refectory Cafe' at Duke Divinity School Hours:
8-2:30 M-F
11-3:00 Sunday Brunch
Driving Directions:
15-501 to Cameron Blvd - Head towards Washington Duke Inn. At the light is the entrance to Duke's West Campus - Science Drive on the Left. Turn Left - approximately 1/2 mile ahead on the right is the Bryan Center Parking Deck.
On foot, outside the parking deck head towards Duke Chapel follow the path to the Left. The Divinity School is immediately to the Left. Enter the first set of doors (adjacent to the Pentecost Stained Glass Window). Go down 1 flight of stairs - The Refectory is on your right.

Low Sodium Options for a Gluten Free Diet

Do you know how much sodium is in your gluten free diet? I have found that we sometimes focus so hard on the "gluten free" aspect of our diet that we can forget the other components that contribute to healthy eating. March is National Nutrition Month and I hope to have several posts this month focused on nutrition as it relates to the gluten free diet. The current dietary guidelines recommend individuals consume less than 2300mg of sodium per day. These guidelines are revised every 5 years, so 2010 will offer some updated guidelines. The American Heart Association is now recommending that individuals consume no more that 1500 mg of sodium per day. Note one teaspoon of salt contains 2400mg of sodium! Just 14 tortilla corn chips provide 150 mg of sodium to one's diet. Sodium is added to many processed foods, soups, frozen meals, and deli meats. One of the most significant sources of sodium is the salt shaker.The Chicago Tribune published a timely article on what some food companies are doing to limit excess sodium in foods. Read the article here. Reducing sodium intake can lead to improved blood pressure, decrease fluid retention and decrease risk for heart disease.

Durham offers a valuable resource to those looking to buy low sodium foods. The Rice Diet Program, the famous weight loss center located on Cole Mill Road includes the Rice Diet Store. This store is open to the public weekdays from 8-12. Ira Green is the gentleman that manages the store and is very helpful in answering questions. I recently attended a panel discussion on obesity at the Rice House and was able to take a peek in the store. I was surprised to see many gluten free offerings at a reasonable price. The store's website is very well designed and it lets one click on the food item and review the ingredient list. A few of the gluten free items available include: Quinoa pasta shells for $3.25, and Notta Pasta Linguine for $4.25. To go to the Rice Store and review products click here.Do realize that the store's main focus is low sodium and not all products will be gluten free.


The Rice Diet Store
1644 Cole Mill Road
Durham,NC 27705
www.ricedietstore.com
919-383-7276 ext 2

Gluten Free Week at Camp Kanata

No TV, Video Games or worries about what to eat......Camp Kanata is gearing up for GLUTEN FREE WEEK! Camp Kanata is a residential camp for campers ages 6-15 located near Wake Forest, NC. During the week of June 27-July 3, 2010 the camp along with the Gluten Intolerance Group offers a gluten free menu option for campers. What does that mean? Well, a parent can send their child to camp without sending extra food or worrying about explaining special dietary restrictions. It also means that your child can take non-GF friends along because this camp is not limited to just kids with "special food needs". It means that gluten free foods are kid friendly and taste great. Volunteers duplicate the camp's cycle menu and prepare the GF option in a separate cooking area. The campers all eat together, the gluten free kids just go through a different serving line. An example menu from a day at camp includes:

Breakfast: French Toast Sticks, Bacon, Baked Apples,Fresh Fruit,Juice and Milk
Lunch: Beef Patty w/Cheese on Bun, Crinkle Fries and Watermelon
Dinner: BBQ Chicken,Hush Puppies,Green Beans, Parsley Potatoes, Applesauce and Banana Pudding

Afternoon snacks are handed out at the Snack Shack where kids have enjoyed gluten free ice cream cones! Camp Kanata Ia a popular YMCA camp and registration generally fills quickly. We are unable to save designated gluten free spots so if you are considering going to camp we advise registering by the end of February. Note need based scholarships are available through the Gluten Intolerance Group. In addition Camp Kanata is also offering a special with registration before March 1:

We want to make sure your child has an opportunity to enjoy Camp Kanata this summer. We’re accepting applications now, and we’re holding a drawing for a $200 Visa gift card on March 1. Everyone who has registered for Summer 2010 overnight camp at Kanata will be eligible for the drawing.

If you have not already registered, this is a great time to mail, fax or drop off your application. Please write “Registration Giveaway” at the top of the first page. We’re looking forward to camp, and we hope to see you here!

This will be my fourth year with the camp as the volunteer Registered Dietitian. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the camp experience. Think all this sounds like fun? If you like to cook and see smiling faces consider volunteering with us. You can contact me at debbie.jongkind@gmail.com. You may also contact our amazing camp coordinator Alanna Conder at Conderaac@yahoo.com. See my previous posts on Camp Kanata here.