Gluten Guard Software

[celiacbaby]

Help! I have a three year old with Celiac. I was thinking about geting the Gluten Guard Software for another resourse. Has anyone used this? Is it worth it? If so, does anyone know what type of handheld computer will support this program? I have been researching and can not find one unit that has all of the specifications on it.

[Smunkeemom]

I haven't used it, but have been thinking of getting it, so far I have just researched everything myself and kept a 3 ring binder, but since the delphi list alone is like 80 pages, my binder has grown to like 150, so my hubby is going to make me a data base and I am going to get a handheld computer for it. I can email you some of the stuff I have if it will help you while you are trying to find a handheld, my database won't be done for months though lol.

[Merika]

I had a similar thought - about getting a handheld device for shopping at the store and such - when I was first diagnosed. Over time, though, I've found I don't need one. The important items stay in my head. I do stick with a fairly natural diet, and don't keep track of a lot of junk food. And I don't keep lists of stuff "just in case" because I figure those lists are things I don't eat on a regular basis and so 1) my info may be soon obsolete due to ingredient/manufacturing changes and 2) I can always skip it if I'm not sure.

I also feed my almost 4 year old on this same system. If it's something we don't eat regularly, and we run into it while out and I can't discern ingredients or call a company, we just go without. It's a choice I just think is much simper and less error-prone than relying on long lists put together by someone else.

I guess my point is that if you're newly gluten-free, go ahead and do it if it makes you feel more comfortable, but I don't think it's really necessary, and might be information overload.

Merika

(gluten-free almost 2 years, with ds too)

[tarnalberry]

I also found that I didn't really need anything like that. The important ingredients to steer clear of are a fairly short list, and, like Merika, I also eat a pretty unprocessed, "whole foods" diet, so it's not been much of a concern. I do keep the Silly Yaks restaurant guide on my computer, but that's about it. Do what works for you!

[Nantzie]

Hi! Welcome to the boards. This is a great place, with a lot of helpful information and friendly people.

I was thinking about the gluten guard software too. They do say on their site that even though they try to keep things up to date, they can't guarantee anything because manufacturers can change their ingredients at any time. So they recommend that you call the manufacturer to verify gluten-free status anyway. They say they have a place to put notes about each product though, so I was thinking about maybe using that spot to put the date I called and verified, and a note about likes/dislikes. It may not be perfect, but I think it's a good place to start.

I'm not sure what type of pocket pc you have to have either, but I ended up getting a deal on a refurbished Blackberry. (Cingular.com has them for only 69.99 vs. $250 for a new one.) I don't know anything about them, so I'm not sure what it has until I get it. I'm almost positive that it has it's own operating system though (something other than windows). So I doubt it will work on my blackberry.

Gluten Guard also has software for your home computer, so I might just get it for that and transfer the info to my Blackberry for the items I use.

I'm going to be going gluten free here pretty soon, and maintaining a gluten-free house, so my kids will be gluten-free too. Just for an FYI, my kids so far love the Glutino pretzels and the Mi-Del Choc Chip cookies. My youngest loves the Mi-Del Arrowroot animal cookies. And plain M&Ms are gluten-free too! I think some of the other M&Ms are too, but not sure which ones.

I've actually been working on developing a gluten-free chicken nuggets recipe that looks more like the regular frozen ones that all kids seem to love. I'll post a recipe as soon as I get one together. I have gotten them to look exactly like the frozen ones, but the taste is SO not there yet. They do have frozen gluten-free chicken nuggets (Wellshire Farms is the name, if I remember right), but they are expensive and there are only like a dozen or so nuggets in the bag. So, I've decided to experiment and see if I can make my own.

Nancy

[mommida]

I bought a refurbished model and put gluten free basics on it. I really don't need it for shopping. It is more for the benefit of a babysitter. I do keep it for emergencies. I will never have the gluten free medication list memorized, and I have downloaded the information for pharmacists a few times.

Laura