luvs2eat

Nope, we can not... period. It's cross contamination and will do damage even if it doesn't cause physical symptoms. It stinks, but there it is. There ARE places w/ dedicated fryers and I'm grateful for them!

My Hub just saw a garden store ad for blueberries or raspberries. How easy are raspberries to grow? We are lazy gardeners.

I've just gotten a tutorial from my neighbor who gave me a bunch of plants. She said to plant them about 3-4 feet apart and to put in 2 poles at each end of the row and run wire or string on both sides of the plant to keep them kind of contained. Otherwise they'll grow to huge unruly bushes. They send out runners under the ground. Neighbor had many plants coming up outside the garden box. Also, don't plant blackberries anywhere near raspberries.

A few months ago my BMI was 31... considered obese. I'm trying hard to change my eating habits and am now at a BMI of 29... just overweight.

I was diagnosed very quickly... only about 2 months after symptoms showed up. Then I went way overboard cooking/baking/making the things I COULD have to make up for all the things I could no longer have. People would ask me what the symptoms of celiac disease are and I'd say, "Well, the first is often unexplained weight loss," and then I'd look down at myself and say, "ummmm... I didn't GET that one."

I've come to the depressing conclusion that I am a total carb/fat/dairy addict. I always crack up when I see shows about food and the psychological reasons people eat what they do. I always yell at the TV, "WHY can't it be that I just LIKE macaroni and cheese better than salad???"

I had to cut way back on my carbs. I eat bread only once or twice a week. My normal lunch is 1/2 cup brown rice, broccoli and carrots and a few tblsp. lite ranch dressing. Suppers are lean meat and veggies. Snacks are fruit. I limit dairy ... cheese especially. I can't have butter in the house!

I've lost 15 lbs. w/o too much effort and have another good 15 to go. Exercise would help, but I'm kind of slothy.

I haven't found one I like yet, depressing. BUT I need to lose weight so no pizza for me!

I HEAR ya on that one!! I've been treating myself to a pizza on Saturday nights while dieting the rest of the week. Namaste pizza crust mix is my new fave product!! The crust is thin and crispy... delicious!!!

I tried a crust made w/ cheese and it was just okay. It got completely soggy w/ toppings. I'm now a huge fan of Namaste pizza crust mix that I just found in my health food store (I live in rural Arkansas and gluten-free options in stores are mighty slim). One bag makes 2 pizzas, but you can measure out just 1 crust's ingredients. I spread it out on parchment paper on top of our Pampered Chef pizza stone and the resulting crust is PERFECT... thin and crispy!!!

I'm glad y'all got the computer glitches figured out so we could read the letter! What a completely disturbing revelation by Snyders!! I'd like to send them a letter telling them about the letter and WHY I'll never try their gluten-free products... AND to write a letter to Glutino thanking them for their efforts that can be trusted.

I live in north central Arkansas, where there's no dirt... literally!! It's all hard-packed clay and rocks! Last year I gardened right in big garden soil bags (read about it in Mother Earth News and their new April/May issue shows it again!) and I have 'em ready to go again.

I've already planted mesculin, kale, and arugula in one. I have sugar snap peas in and cukes and zucchini. Tomato plants will have to wait till it's a bit warmer. I can't find butternut squash seeds but do have spaghetti squash ones that need to go in.

I have basil, parsley, thyme, and chives in big pots. I think I can take them outside today... we have gorgeous weather and night temps are not so cold.

I also ordered 2 blueberry bushes that went in last weekend and have 3 or 4 raspberry plants to go in when I can finish filling up the trench that hubby dug for me w/ a machine w/ good dirt and garden soil... backbreaking work!

Last year, we made our own "topsy turvy" tomato planters w/ old pastic hanging basket containers. We had cherry tomatoes right outside our kitchen door... it was great!

My kids were good veggie eaters but occasionally I'd serve something they turned up their noses at. In that case, they got a "no thank you" portion... maybe a tablespoon that they were expected to eat. Once my youngest DD stuffed the "no thank you" portion of spaghetti squash in her mouth and was trying to say, "Yum... this is good," inbetween GAGGING. ha ha. They were such good veggie eaters, I didn't make her swallow it!

Don't know how old she is, but I've seen kids go nuts for veggies served raw in muffin tins w/ some sort of dip... hummus? Salad dressing?

When my kids were small... if they absolutely refused to eat supper, which was really rare, and were hungry after supper... I'd let them have a piece of fruit. We weren't junk food eaters anyhow, so it wasn't much of a battle of wills.

I'm w/ you, FMMcGee... I'd rather have a tiny little bit of something real than a whole container of the fake stuff out there! I remember a friend challenging me to be able to tell the difference betw. REAL ice cream (cream, sugar) and fat-free ice cream (fake everything). It was a no-brainer... or a no-taster!!

This tastes JUST LIKE RITZ. I let my "normal" husband and mom try them and they actually liked these better! Recipe is by Elizabeth Barbone. I highly recommend her cookbooks.

"Ritz-y gluten-free Crackers"

DRY STUFF:

1 1/4c white rice flour

1/2c cornstarch

1/4c sweet rice flour

1t salt

1t baking powder

1/2t xanthan gum

2 1/2T sugar

WET STUFF:

1/2 stick COLD butter, cut into 1/4" pieces

1 lg. egg

6T heavy cream (I used evap. milk)

3T melted butter to brush tops of crackers

Kosher salt, for sprinkling

1. Whisk dry ingredients together in lg. bowl

2. Using fingers or pastry cutter, cut in butter until mixture looks like a course meal.

3. In a separate bowl. mix together egg and cream until smooth. Pour egg mix over dry ingredients. Stir w/ a fork until dough forms a loose ball.

4. Using your hands, gather dough together and pat into a 1" thick disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for AT LEAST 1.5 hours.

5. Preheat oven to 425. Line 2 baking sheets w/ parchment. Dust a work surface lightly w/ rice flour. Roll dough out to 1/8" thick. Using a round cutter, cut out crackers. Place on baking sheets and prick all over with a fork. Press scraps together and repeat until all dough is used.

6. Bake first sheet for 6-7 min. Remove pan and carefully turn crackers over. Bake for an additional 4-6 min or until Ritz colored (golden brown).

7. Remove from oven and lightly brush w/ melted butter. Immediately sprinkle kosher salt over tops of crackers. Transfer to wire rack to cool. While first sheet cools, bake second sheet.

I use a cutter that looks just like a Ritz cracker, about 1.5" across and this recipe makes about 7 dz. crackers. You can use whatever cutter you want. I warn you: these things are addictive!

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Would it be easier to form the dough into a log and refigerate it and then cut thin cracker slices? I'm going to try it out!

When I was diagnosed, my doc told me it was more common in those of Irish ancestry. I told him my mom was "right off the boat" ... she was born in Belfast. I'm the only one in my family and in my extended family. In my own research, I found it can be more common in Jews... so my kids have a double whammy... Scots/Irish mom and Jewish father.

I make gluten free waffles and freeze them. A few min. in the toaster and a banana sliced or smashed on one w/ the other as a top makes a great "in-the-car" breakfast sandwich. I've also taken rice cakes smeared w/ peanut butter.

My only two symptoms about 8 years ago were unrelenting diarrhea (like getting up a few times a night and all day) and belly noises that sounded like wolverines were trying to fight their way out of my intestines! I had no pain at all. I only had the diarrhea for about 2 months before I saw a GI doc who treated me for giardia (parasites) while waiting for blood work. My blood work was so positive, my doc told me, that he didn't even recommend endoscopy. I went gluten free right then.

About a year later... I made beautiful (regular wheat) loaves of bread for a party (one of my fave things to do) and cut off a hunk, buttered it, and ATE it!! It was so danged good!! And guess what? NOTHING happened!! I was so excited and thought maybe I could "plan" a cheat from my gluten-free diet... maybe once a month. Well... the next time I tried it I was as sick as a dog... nausea, diahhrea. So... I've never eaten gluten intentionally since.

Middle daughter was diagnosed about 4 years later and youngest daughter was diagnosed this past fall. Oldest daughter is scarfing up all the gluten she can... ha. None of my siblings or any extended relatives have Celiac.

wow...I feel so loved here! I only eat dinner and it is usually lots of raw veggies a littler grilled chicken and rice bread I make myself. I have a cup of non-fat frozen yogurt and go right to bed. I think I could cut out the yogurt and bread. I also have a thyroid disease, but my levels are good...so I don't think it's that. I will say goodbye to my yogurt and bread later and if that don't work...I'm going back to the Dr. and telling her to test me for fat ass disease! I guess I'm lucky my fiance likes my new meat even if I don't. Maybe he pours sugar down my throat while I am sleeping.

If you're only eating dinner (i.e. one meal a day), that could be a big part of your problem right there. Extreme low calorie diets don't work because your metabolism goes into "starvation" mode and slows way down to hold on to the weight. The other's advice of eating more frequent, small meals will really work! I did a 6-meal-a-day diet years ago where I had 2 oz. of protein at every meal... low simple carbs (little bread and lots of veggies) and low fat and lost 25 lbs in about 2 months.

Whenever we go out, even to restaurants w/ gluten free menus and places we've been to before, we go out of our way to make friends w/ our server.... "Have a seat and let me tell you about my food needs." Ha ha. It helps that my husband is super friendly and we are always treated so well. I tell them about celiac disease and let them know just how important it is that saying "no croutons" is serious enough that if my salad comes out w/ croutons on it, I'll have no choice but to ask that the salad be tossed and made again... or the burger will have to be remade and not just lifted off the bun. Every single time, our servers go far out of their way to see that my food is done right. We tip well and thank them for their effort! I've spoken to managers several times about how well our servers have accommodated me.

I think you can trust the menu... but the handling of your food needs to be discussed w/ your server!

I'm so sorry. Heartfelt prayers for her family and friends.

I've had them several times without incident, but ... not ONLY do I not need to be eating fast food french fries... it always seems that the times I would eat them is while traveling (convenient) and always think after eating, "Wow... I sure hope these really ARE gluten-free cause it would really stink to get sick while traveling!" So, I avoid them as a rule.

It's a shame... and really kind... that people went out and bought gluten free stuff w/o talking to you first... cause who, but another celiac, will really understand what issues are going on beyond the gluten free issue? I tell people that if I don't make it... I can't eat it. I absolutely appreciate their efforts and compassion... but ask them PLEASE not to go out of their way for me... cause if I don't make it... I can't eat it... period.

I was diagnosed in November 2008 and been gluten free ever since. I have however been gaining weight steadily since then. I eat well and exercise every day, but still gain weight. Has anyone experienced this? and what suggestions do you have to help me loose weight.

Thanks

As I've said (many times... haha), I gained a good 30 lbs. after going gluten free because I went nuts w/ all the foods I COULD eat to make up for the foods I could no longer have! I'm also a total carb addict... I don't think there's some deep psychological reason... I think it's just that I much prefer mac and cheese to salad and a big fat sandwich and chips to ... salad. Ha ha.

I've had to pare down my carbs dramatically. I eat lots more veggies and fruits and lean meats/proteins and only have a sandwich once or twice a week and have done away w/ the mac and cheese altogether (I actually have no pasta in the house!). I measure out 1/2 to 1 cup of brown rice w/ my meal and try to limit my obvious carbs to one meal a day. I'm also eating way less fat ... occasional lower fat cheese. I've lost 15 lbs... another 15 to go!

Good luck!!

I've been gluten-free for almost a year now and originally started the diet in a weird way. I live in South Korea as a teacher, and started seeing a traditional doctor because of my all-around poor health and fatigue. He recommended losing wheat from my diet, and I found it to be incredibly helpful. I know I eventually need to go to a proper doctor and get tested, but it's difficult to find one and know what I should be testing for.

I feel a million times better now that I'm gluten-free, but it's really demanding to stay gluten-free while living in South Korea (finding food can be a pain, and reading labels in hangul takes forever, etc etc). I find that my boyfriend isn't very helpful, and sometimes I'm sure that he thinks I'm crazy- I feel incredibly high-maintenance because of the diet. How much support should I expect from him at this point?

I could really use any advice as I feel a bit adrift out here in SK, with absolutely no friends with food allergies...

Would you feel less "high maintenance" if you had a peanut allergy or were a vegan? You've chosen to eat food that nourishes you and makes you feel healthy. Expecting your boyfriend to be supportive of you seems like a no-brainer to me. He'd surely be supportive of a possibly deadly allergy... and one would hope one's boyfriend would be supportive of a lifestyle like veganism.

Hi,

i'm 23 and i am extremely sick and have 0 diagnosis after $25k in debt after insurance, 20 doctors, specialists all over from UCLA and cedar sinai. I'm currently still working with them to find out what's wrong.

Basically, ONE of the aspects of my health among many, is gastrointestinal problems. I've been dealing with medium inflammation for 3-4 years on and off that would be aggravated with things like alcohol, yeast products, whey protein, etc. But otherwise, i was doing good, normal formed bowel movements on the dot everyday. However after a course of antibiotics and a flareup of bacteria/yeast, i have never been the same. i can't eat anything, ive developed food sensitivities and bloat up after every meal. I get weird dull pains and a sense of fullness in my small intestines.

I have so many question and confusions. I need to be at least functional and walking again agh.

ive had the gliadin ab test done and it was 5. which is low. you need at least 15 to be positive. but my SIgA was deficient.

My doctor wrote me a lab prescription to get tTG Antibody IgA tested but from what i read, that won't be accurate either and can yield false negative because i have iga deficiency.

Should i ask him to also get tTG IgG as well? both? none?

What about ELISA IgG food allergy tests that test your blood IgG and IgE reactions to gluten? Is that useful for celiacs or is that only for gluten allergy/sensitivity type?

I've been on a very relaxed "gluten free" diet ...eating some gluten in crackers but not wheat or any of those types.. will my test be sensitive or do i need to start eating wheat bread for a week before i test?

Is celiac's curable permanently? are there any members (even rarely) that have been cured of celiacs and been able to eat gluten after their gut has healed, etc?

a lot has been running through my mind. any help appreciated. low money and energy. thank you

There are others here who are knowledgable about your tests... I am not. But I can tell you that at this time, the ONLY treatment for celiac disease or gluten intolerance is a gluten free diet. That means NO gluten... EVER. You can't eat gluten after your gut has healed.

I'd get back to super basics if I were you... plain lean meats, veggies, fruits, and brown rice. Hope it helps!

I was absolutely one who LIVED TO EAT... even after going gluten free. I'd wake up and think about all the yummy things I could eat and what yummy thing I might make for supper.

Of course, I was eating all the WRONG things and am/was a good 30 lbs. overweight.

I've cut most carbs from my diet in the last few months... I'll have brown rice or bread at ONE meal a day and lots of veggies/fruits and lean meat. I'm down 15 lbs... 15 to go... and I've quit waking up to think about all the yummy things I can eat. I know it'll be brown rice and veggies.

So, now I'm absolutely an EAT TO LIVE person. Hope I can stay that way!!

I still dream of mac and cheese tho... ha.

I use Pamela's bread mix. I make it in a loaf or into rolls or even into bagels. They freeze beautifully. I slice the bread loaf into slices and freeze two slices in zip lock bags. The rolls and bagels I put into a big zip lock and then I can take them out individually.

I also made the gluten free Artisan loaf and that froze beautifully too.

What everyone else said... the physical horrors can be diverse and devastating... and life threatening. Plus... going gluten free is tough and giving up foods is hard, but there are so many things we can naturally eat and, w/ a little work, there's almost nothing we can't recreate. The memory (and longing) for the foods we can no longer have really does lessen w/ time and having yummy gluten free foods makes it easier.

I know how you feel... I'd be sorely tempted to keep eating gluten and not feel hungry and easily lose weight, but your long-term health could absolutely be compromised. It's not worth it!!

I think you let her off easy. Feel better soon

I do too! Feel better soon!!