Cross- Contamination in Restaurants, Educate Yourself!

You are probably reading this blog because you are looking for some suggestions on places that you can select to dine gluten free.  Those of us who have been living a strict gluten free lifestyle can understand what a challenge this can be at times!  I attended the NFCA sponsored webinar this week entitled: Cross-Contamination in Restaurants: What You Need to Know and highly recommend viewing the archived webinar.  Even if you have been eating out gluten free for some time, this is a great resource and will equip you with good information to help when selecting restaurants and ordering your food. The webinar is archived here and features the following three speakers:

 Ken Schelper, Vice President of Davanni's, Board of Directors for Minnesota Restaurant Association, Amy Jones, MS, RD, LD, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Celiac Support Group Facilitator, Mary Rutan Hospital, and Pam Cureton, RD, LDN, Clinical and Research Dietitan, Center for Celiac Research, University of Maryland

It was very helpful to hear Ken's point of view as one who has been involved in the restaurant business for many years. He gives a "behind the scene" look at food preparation.  The webinar is one hour and then has about 15 minutes of Q and A; well worth your time!  Great job NFCA and panelists!

Happy Celiac Awareness Month-NFCA webinar

May is National Celiac Awareness Month.  NFCA the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness is hosting a free webinar tomorrow, May 3, 2012 at 2:00pm which will provide up to date information from the leading experts in Celiac Disease and Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity:

NFCA will kick off Celiac Awareness Month with a live hour-long broadcast featuring gluten-free experts Alessio Fasano, MD, Stefano Guandalini, MD, and Cynthia Kupper, RD, CD. Moderated by Alice Bast, NFCA Founder and President, the panelists will provide a “State of the Union” on celiac disease and the new kid on the block, non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

This is a great opportunity to stay current on the latest scientific and practical information for those following a gluten free diet. For more information and to register, go to the NFCA registration link.

NFCA SPONSORED WEBINAR FOR PARENTS OF GLUTEN FREE KIDS:

Thursday, August 25th is back to school for most Durham Public School students. For those parents that might be sending their gluten free child off to school, it can feel a little scary . Does your school nurse or administration need more information on the gluten free diet? Consider the following resource. As a parent you may want to participate in the live webinar on Thursday and then send a note to school personnel about listening to the recorded webinar at a later time. Be a postive influence in the school and an advocate for your child.

Importance of School Nurse Education &

How-To Strategies for Parents of Gluten-Free Kids

Thursday, August 25th, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Topics included in Thursday's Webinar include:

Explain the 504 Plan and its impact on the child's rights in the school environment.
• Advise why school nurses should be educated on celiac disease and the gluten-free diet, including a review of their role in the classroom setting.
• Provide a list of school support staff and their appropriate roles in accommodating a celiac child's needs.
• Share strategies on how parents can maneuver the school year with their gluten-free child.
• Offer tips and suggestions on how parents can create a safe and healthy gluten-free school environment, including recipes and common challenges in the classroom's social setting, such as lunch and snack time, birthday parties and field trips.

Registration information is available at NFCA' site.

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.

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.

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.