The trick is planning ahead. Call the local health food stores where you’ll be staying well ahead of your trip and ask them about their selection of gluten-free foods. If there aren’t enough gluten-free choices, usually the store will be happy to order your favorite gluten-free foods for you.
If there aren’t any health food stores around, some grocery stores have health food sections and may be able to order gluten-free foods for you as well. You can always bring along your own supply of gluten-free foods, such as gluten-free flour and pasta for instance, or you can order online from your favorite gluten-free sites and have the gluten-free goodies delivered straight to where you’ll be staying. If you won’t be staying with friends or family, I suggest you rent a condo or get a hotel room with a full kitchen for your gluten-free cooking.
If you’ll be staying with family, particularly during the holidays, tell them ahead of time about your celiac child’s gluten-free diet needs so they can stock up gluten-free foods. You can also send them some gluten-free recipes for the family’s favorite holiday foods. Oftentimes you’ll find that your family will be more than happy to make your celiac child feel at home with gluten-free goodies and a generous stock of gluten-free foods for your gluten-free cooking.
Learning how to meet the gluten-free dietary needs of your celiac child has required some planning and a few adjustments, but in the end it isn’t very tough to successfully adopt a gluten-free lifestyle. Similarly, keeping your celiac child well-fed on gluten-free foods during travel and vacations requires some work and planning ahead, but you’ll find that you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
Tina Turbin
The matter of rice flour substitutes was brought to my attention recently through a message from a fellow GlutenFreeHelp user:
“I have a gluten intolerance and I’m also allergic to rice.
“What other options do I have that you might know of? I am already using almond flour. The sorghum flour doesn’t really agree with me either. Any suggestions would help me especially when creating baked goods that taste good.”
My reply:
“There are SO many flour “mixtures” and options to replace the rice. You have to keep in mind that the “mixture” will need to balance to make a whole structure to accommodate any particular recipe. The Xanthum gum will need to be altered or even the liquid based on which flours you use.”
After my personal success with Bio-K+, which has their home base in Canada, I reached out to find out more about this company.
Bio-K+ started with two people and a vision, which all merged into a reality. Dr. Francois-Marie Luquet and Mr. Claude Chevalier met over twenty years ago at a dairy industry conference and discussed the health benefits of probiotics. Fast forward many years and their paths crossed again. Dr. Luquet shared his new strains of acidophilus with healing and health benefits. A company evolved.
Dr. Luquet is by no means new to this business. He brought many years of research and development with him from well-known names as Dannon and Activia. This new “strain” and concept was new, unique, and allowed the strains to live in high dosages before getting to work in the body, unlike its predecessors.
Each product contains a proprietary type of L. acidophilus and L. Casei. I was well-informed each behave different—acidophilus more antibacterial, and L. Casei more antiviral, yet when together they can antagonize one another. Bio-K+ has developed a way these strains can survive together, in the manufacturing, in combining, and in refrigerator storage—all until it reaches our system, producing effects well-documented over and over in individual, clinical, and hospital studies. Nothing comes close to these studies in what products I’ve tested and what I’ve read thus far. I am impressed.
The company currently has less than sixty high-quality people in the facility itself overseeing the two-week process it takes to make each and every batch. Currently it’s available in soy (mango flavor), original (unflavored), and fruity (pineapple and vanilla flavor), and soon a rice-based vanilla will be available.
Bio-K+ has a minimum of 50 billion L. acidophilus and L. casei per 3.5-oz. little bottle. Compare for yourself—nothing comes close. I was also sent (and you can read on their website) a number of clinical results and hospital testimonials. The company’s products are superior, and so is its staff.
Note: It was explained to me that the number CL1285 after the name Bio-K+ simply indicates the specific C strain and is just arbitrary, but that the strain is unlike any other available.
This product is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended and I will be on the radio with BioK PLus as well as an supporting an product give-away for four days.
Tina Turbin- founder of www.glutenfreehelp.info.
I have a new absolutely favorite dessert. I feel like I am in the snow and eating clean bright snow as this ice-cream touches my tongue. This magic is the Decadent Coconut Milk Mint ice-cream from Turtle Mountain. No casein and no dairy!
Tonight I was on my way back to my studio in the car, fighting no traffic as my husband and everyone else in the USA ( or so it seemed) was tucked behind the TV watching the SuperBowl. I stopped for a few necessities, such as a dessert to dive into before walking the puppies when I go there. I have tried Turtle Mountain’s Chocolate( delicious) and Vanilla, as this is what my husband always gets us. Tonight it was my choice. I never knew they had Mint! My hubby has been holding out on me. My oh my! How did they know MINT is my absolute favorite ( besides a delicious GF carrot cake with thick cream cheese frosting). I then stopped for a quick meeting with their manager at the Health Food store discussing a GF event I will do and then I had to stop at one other store for another necessity, not so glamorous as a dessert- for Swiffer Sweeper wipes. The puppies are forever tracking in dirt everywhere from the yard with a smile as if this is their job and I appreciate all their hard work.
Anyhow, I got home about 35 minutes after grabbing that little pint of yum- my mint ice-cream. I opened the top, I knew it would be slightly melted but what the heck. Ice-cream is good no matter what. Well, let me tell you, it was perfectly creamy, soft-serve style and the best darn ice-cream I have had in years. No dairy reaction ( all coconut milk) and no sugar shock. It was so minty and had this large very thin shavings of curled chocolate all throughout. Oh my, I can not even describe the experience and I was not even hungry, so that gives it even a greater rating.
This is not a technical food review. This is a moment of bliss that I am still on a high from and had to run in to my studio and share this with you. Please do yourself a favor and take a moment for yourself one day and give this a try. Let me know what you think.
The company has a number of other types of ice-creams but this is by far the BEST one for any mint lover, like me.
Tina Turbin
As a gluten-free advocate and mother, I am often asked by parents for tips on how to travel with celiac children. A surprisingly easy task, traveling with your celiac child requires a little planning and a few of the same adjustments you’re already mastering at home.
First of all, how you’ll manage your trip depends on your travel arrangements—will you be flying or driving? Each airline has its own set of guidelines which you can usually find online or ask a customer service representative about over the phone. Bring extra gluten-free foods, at least twice as much as you’ll think you’ll require, just in case there are layovers. Oftentimes airplane attendants will be happy to store your gluten-free food for you upon request.
For car trips, bring along a cooler or two with already-prepared gluten-free foods and snacks for your celiac child. Luckily for your child, there are more and more gluten-free snacks available which are perfect for road trips. For instance, you can order online various snacks such as gluten-free jerky, gluten-free potato puffs, and gluten-free popcorn. If you’ll be stopping at restaurants along the way, you can visit a gluten-free restaurant site such as glutenfreerestaurants.org before your trip and plan ahead to eat at restaurants which offer gluten-free foods to its gluten-intolerant patrons. As with flying, I recommend bringing extra gluten-free food just in case there are any delays in your travel such as traffic or car problems.
Tina Turbin
Bio-K+ Giveaway of February
This month I’m pleased to announce the Bio-K+ Product Giveway of their 6 pack boxes of any flavored Bio-K+ product (value of over $300) to TEN lucky winners.
Deadline 2/10/10
Instructions to enter:
1. Sign up to follow Guest and Co-Host: http://Twitter.com/TinaTurbin
2. Follow Guest http://Twitter.com/BioKPlus
3. Follow Host: http://Twitter.com/ThriveInBalance
4. After doing the 3 simple steps above, email info@TinaTurbin.com, and title your subject line: “Free Give Away”. Your email address will be entered.
Winner to be announced Thursday, February 11th. You must sign up on the above Twitter accounts by 2/11/10 to be eligible to enter. Good luck!
Yes – the brownies in the above photo really are that huge!
I had the opportunity to try some absolutely delicious products recently, so incredibly satisfying that I had to run to get to my keyboard and share the news immediately.
Cooqi is a wonderful gluten-free company based out of St. Paul Minnesota. Right this moment I am still smiling with chocolate in my teeth from THE BEST brownies I have ever been sent. These are the real deal folks! I can not believe the texture and flavor of these delectable squares. They are not overly rich and most definitely not too sweet, may I be so bold to say these are truly “perfect”.
Some of Cooqi’s other products include: granola, muffins, donuts, biscotti and specialty gift baskets. If you’re in the St. Paul, MN area, you can stop in for a visit to their bakery, pick up some goodies to take home and of course you can order products online.
You may be wondering about their granola. I did inquire about the source of their oats to discover their oats are delivered shipped in from another company. As always, if you are hesitant about oats, you need to do what you feel is right for your body. Not all celiac or gluten sensitive people have adverse reactions to oats and it is wise to start out a little at a time. For those who can tolerate oats, you will love the wholesomeness of their granola. You may call Cooqi and inquire about the source of their oats for further details.
In addition to the delicious contributions they’re making to our gluten-free community and taste buds, Cooqii’s website has helpful information on the topic of gluten-free, resources as well as informative information. I recommend spending some time on your computer and learning more about Cooqi and what they offer.
Be sure and get those brownies!
Happy Gluten-Free Eating!
Tina Turbin
Full time mother and business woman Consolata Ugboko from Nigeria took the time last month to post a review about my children’s book: Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy.
And a pleasant review it was! I do hope you’ll visit her site to read the review and leave her a comment. Click here and scroll down to the blog entry from January 21st 2010.
Thank you!
Tina Turbin
Can you imagine a sublime brownie-meets-truffle without overpowering sweetness and presented as a piece of art? Well, you can now indulge in this vision in your very home.
Gotta Eat Sweets provides for those with allergies, embodies the aesthetics of Japan, tempts the palate with the finest European chocolate, and has been inspired by the eco-friendly movement. Two unique women united on a golf course to marry their individual talents to produce Truffipops and Truffibites. Oh my, it is truly “food-art,” as I have termed it.
Win a free Gotta Eat Sweets gift on the Contest Page.
All the ingredients are made from scratch. Gotta Eat Sweets roast their own organic nuts, create their own brittles and fruit rinds, grind their own butters, and puree their fruits for their multitude of fruit flavors. You won’t find chemical names listed in any of their ingredients—ever!
The presentation arrived in an earth-tone box with a peek-window on the top, all tied with a satin brown ribbon. I opened the box to behold my first sight of triangular Truffipops. Each unique, large “pop” was perched on a carved bamboo stick. Included were the Truffibites, in well organized bags with fine details of handmade truffles about 1 inch in diameter. I tenderly opened the first bag and had my first bite of Truffi-heaven, unlike any I have ever tasted prior to this moment.
Each flavor of “pop” or “bite” satisfied a taste I didn’t even know I had been longing for and was healthy, lightly-sweet, and beautiful. Search no more for gift-giving ideas! I can’t say enough about this company, these two women, and what they offer—quality, beautiful gluten-free delectables, offering seasonal choices and an abundance of flavors, not one alike. My LA taste team FULLY agrees. Click the following link to watch the full GlutenFreeHelp.info video/review of Gotta Eat Sweets.
Tina Turbin
This FEATURED food company is given a thumbs up and is HIGHLY recommended by award-winning author Tina Turbin and founder of www.GlutenFreeHelp.info. Truffihearts from Gotta Eat Sweets is her February 2010 give-away on the Contest Page.
It's ALL gluten-free!
|
Simply copy the code above and paste it into your website and help others become aware of Gluten Sensitivity.
Tina Turbin became extremely interested and involved in the subjects of gluten free, gluten sensitive and celiac disease a number of years ago as a result of...
