Gluten-Free Mall has 10% off everything until Friday, Jan. 14.

10% Off Everything - Order by 1/14/11 Coupon: 194f25
(10% off product total, offer not valid with other specials or promotions. Limit 1 use per customer)

www.GlutenFreeMall.com

AllergyEats: the online guide to allergy-friendly restaurants and more!

AllergyEats.com, an online service founded by Paul Antico in Feb. 2010, contains a comprehensive online database of over 600,000 eating establishments across the United States, with menus, allergy information, and ratings provided by customers with food allergies. The site has been endorsed by several organizations, including the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Gluten Intolerance Group, Healthy Villi, Go Dairy Free, and Best Allergy Sites.

Membership is free and member diners are encouraged to submit as many restaurant reviews as possible to add to the value of the database for everyone with food allergies. In addition, the site contains extensive dining tips, resources, relevant news articles, a directory of allergy-friendly bakeries, and an active blog, as well as information targeted to restaurateurs:

"The primary goal of AllergyEats is to connect food allergic individuals with restaurants that are deemed allergy-friendly by fellow food allergic peers.  Besides diner ratings, AllergyEats includes other restaurant information that the food allergy community finds valuable and that helps allergy-friendly restaurants increase patronage.  While AllergyEats looks to incorporate as much free publicly-available restaurant information as possible, it is always looking to add more content and give restaurants a means to promote themselves.  AllergyEats also aims to see more restaurants take the initiative to increase their level of allergy-friendliness."

I encourage everyone to join and contribute information based on their experiences with local eating establishments. Please share what you know with others, as the collective knowledge can only help to promote a more positive and healthy eating experience for everyone with food allergies and gluten intolerance.

Sample screenshot from Winston Salem 27104 zip code: 

The NCPTGIG Meeting scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 has been postponed.

The meeting has been postponed due to inclement weather and will be rescheduled. 

Is it inconsiderate to eat GF when dining with non-GF friends and family?

Note: We seem to be experiencing a dearth of comments in response to this story. Is everyone now committed to the avoidance of social gatherings for fear of causing someone else to be inconvenienced, or worse still, endangering their health with dietary non-compliance just to fit in? 

A recent article by Michael Hastings, the Food Editor for the Winston Salem Journal, entitled "Predictions on top food issues of 2011" includes the following paragraph:

"Gluten-free. More people are avoiding wheat and other foods that contain gluten. It's not just people with celiac disease but also those with sensitivities to gluten. A gluten-free bakery called Lindy's Gluten-Free Goodies and More recently opened in Greensboro, Mellow Mushroom is selling gluten-free pizza, and stores such as Whole Foods Market have large gluten-free sections. Look for this category to expand even more (and cause headaches for anyone planning a party or other food gathering)."

When contacted by a member of the NCPTGIG about his closing statement regarding the headaches destined for those planning gatherings involving gluten free persons, Mr. Hastings replied with the suggestion that gluten free "dieters" are causing non-GF individuals to suffer by giving up their favorite foods to accommodate the special diet. Moreover, he also implies that we gluten free individuals are a rather inconsiderate bunch. While I strongly disagree with his assumptions, which demonstrate a significant lack of tact and respect for those dealing with food allergies, I encourage everyone to read the article written by Mr. Hastings, as well as the email exchange (see "read more" below) I have summarized herein, and form your own opinions. Any and all comments are welcome. If you would like to contact Mr. Hastings or Mr. Cronk, the Team Leader of the Lifestyles section of the WSJ:

Michael Hastings, Food Editor: (336) 727-7394
Alan Cronk, Team Leader: (336) 727-7339

The next NCPTGIG Meeting will be held on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011

Our next NCPTGIG meeting is on Jan. 15, 2011 @ 11:00 AM (please arrive at 10:30 AM) at the Hope Moravian Church (2759 Hope Church Rd, Winston Salem). We will have a program by Dr. Jillian Teta on osteoporosis and celiac disease, with a focus on bone strengthening, diet and exercise.

New study suggests gluten-free diet is beneficial for potential celiac disease patients

ScienceDaily (Dec. 15, 2010) — Findings from a new study of 141 adults add to an ongoing medical debate over which patients with symptoms of celiac disease should go on a gluten-free diet. Published in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, the study concludes that people currently diagnosed as "potential" celiac disease patients and not advised to follow a gluten-free diet may not be "potential" patients at all.

FROGURT of Winston Salem announces Gluten-Free Frozen Yogurt

News from FROGURT: "We have recently opened a Frozen Yogurt Bar in Winston Salem named FROGURT (Off Hanes Mall Boulevard – Between Brixx Pizza & Firebird Grill – Across from Ashley Furniture Store) and we offer a wide range of frozen yogurt flavors that are Gluten Free. We plan to offer a larger variety of gluten free toppings (currently quite a few are already Gluten Free) in the near future."

Location: 1263 Creekshire Way,Winston Salem, NC 27103.
Tel: 336-331-3939 / 336-331-3130
Email: frogee@frogurtusa.com  

Help raise money for celiac disease research: Visit Alek's Controllable Christmas Lights!

http://www.komar.org/cgi-bin/christmas_webcam

Order your copy of the NCPTGIG Shopping Guide Addendum!

 Click on image to enlarge!

Update: some, but not all, M&M's may no longer be gluten-free

Scott Adams on Celiac.com has a new post on a recent change to the labeling of all types of M&M's, which now state "May contain Wheat".

Reminder: Gluten Free Cookie Event and Swap this coming Saturday, Dec. 4

When: Saturday, December 4 · 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Where: Pilgrim Reformed Church
797 Pilgrim Church Road
Lexington, NC

Bring your favorite Gluten Free cookies and recipes (please bring 10+ copies). Other holiday treats would be lovely too. Joan's GF Great Bakes, Ian's, Glutino, and others have sent samples for all to enjoy and more are on the way (partial list of items below).

Joan's Great Bakes Toaster Corn Muffins
Joan's Great Bakes Sugar Cookies
my homemade local strawberry jam for the corn muffins
Pamela's Spicy Ginger Cookies
Pamela's Sugar Cookies
Pamela's Vanilla Frosting
Let's Do Organic Classic Gummis
Let's Do Organic Super Sour Gummis
Lets Do Organic Jelly Gummi Bears
Let's Do Sprinkles
Edward & Son Onion & Garlic, BBQ, & Salt & Vinegar Rice Snax
Glutino Strawberry Breakfast Bars
Ian's Chocolate Covered Wafer Bites


We will have a prize drawing for GREAT GF prizes! :)

We will have dedicated tables for "Gluten Free", "Gluten Free Dairy Free", and "Gluten Free + other allergens". If you could bring along spiced cider, hot tea, or coffee, please let me know.

There will be a room available for children to play, as well as an outside playground if the weather cooperates.

Please RSVP as soon as possible and invite those you think may be interested.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Please contact Erin Burke Edwards with any questions.

NC Piedmont Triad GIG Meeting Nov. 13, 2010 Recap

Our meeting began with the announcement of the availability of the latest (2010) Addendum to the Shopping Guide for the Gluten-Free Consumer, published by the NCPTGIG. Ordering information will be posted on this blog within the next few days. Click the link below to read the recap..........

Registration for High Point Gluten Free Workshop is Still Open

There is still room for you at the November 20, 2010 Support Group Workshop:

Diagnosis to Treatment: Eating Gluten Free
 

Location: High Point Country Club (800 Country Club Rd., High Point, NC 27262).

Cost: $21.00

EarthFare, Harris Teeter, and Only Earth are setting up tables.

Bob's Red Mill is sending product for us to give away.

Schedule:

• Vendors display 11:00 AM
• Gluten-Free Meal: noon
• Speaker 1:00 PM
• Vendor display 2:00 PM

Directions: Turn onto Westchester from Main Street. Turn left onto Country Club. The building is on the right in about ¼ of a mile.

Contact: Deborah Rosenquist by e-mail or 336 8695958

Invitation to Join the NC Piedmont Triad Gluten Intolerance Group

NC Piedmont Triad Gluten Intolerance Group

Looking for help with the gluten-free diet and/or information on living gluten-free in the Winston Salem area? Become involved and join us for 2011! 

Goals for the coming year:

• provide educational meetings with health care professionals 

• provide educational materials and support for those newly diagnosed persons or caregivers of someone with gluten intolerance

• identify hazards in eating in restaurants and make fellow members aware of the findings 

A year’s membership will run from July 1 to June 30, 2011. We encourage family membership. The best line of support comes from the family and we want them to participate. Children are also becoming friends at the support group events. Please include names of all family members, home address and email. Also include a list of concerns you have about dealing with celiac disease and how you think that the support group might help.

Individual membership: $12.00, family membership: $15. Make check payable to NCPTGIG. Yearly membership cards will be issued. Mail membership information to Jim Johnston, PO Box 367, Lewisville, NC 27023. Contact Grace Johnston with any questions you may have. Upon request, we mail information to members who do not have internet access.

Gluten-free Cookie Exchange on Dec. 4

A gluten-free cookie exchange will be held at Pilgrim Reformed Church in Lexington, NC on December 4 at 2 PM. Bring your favorite gluten-free cookies recipe (10 copies) and cookies to exchange. Also please volunteer to bring spiced cider, hot tea, or coffee.
Contact Erin Edwards for more details.