Raleigh NC Gluten and Allergen Free Event Webcast - Auto-immune Disease, Traveling, Grain Free, & Bread-making

We are back on the road soon to the Raleigh NC Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event on Aug 11 at NC State Fairgrounds in the Kerr Scott Building from 10 am - 4 pm. Like every wonderful event we hold, this one promises to be focused on local options and national companies to support the community. We are super excited to be back in the state's capital with tons of vendors and speakers to help you.

FREE WEBCAST

RALEIGH GF/AF EVENT

JULY 31

7 pm - 8:45 pm

Join us here on July 31 for an almost two hour webcast free to you with interviews from some of your speakers for the Raleigh event:
Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP ) owner and physician at Infinity Holistic Healthcare in Chapel Hill

Carol Kicinski, Founder, Editor, & Blogger of Simply Gluten-Free Magazine

Tarah Jakubiak founded Allergic Traveler

Dr Kelley Reis founded The Natural Medicine Center in Hillsboro Oregon in 2005 where she practiced as a primary care provider specializing in Natural Medicine for 13 years until moving to Raleigh to open her second clinic.

Meg H. Mason an independent food scientist and researcher with a background in organic chemistry, nutrition, and food history, and has been living gluten-free since 2007. She started the blog Gluten-Free Boulangerie in 2010 to create and share GF breads delicious enough for everyone to enjoy.

Dr. Tiffany Brown-Bush MS, LPC, BHHC, ND is an Integrative Therapist, Nutrition Coach and Naturopathic Doctor. Founder of F4L Diva Bars

Melissa Curran a certified aromatherapist, holistic life coach and the owner of Scented Balance.

Triad of NC GFAFEvent Webcast ~ Recommended Essential Oils, Traveling with Food Allergies, Honey Instead of Sugar & Baking Tips

In light the month of May being Celiac Disease Awareness month, we want to put some staggering statistics into reality for our next GFAFEvent June 2 at Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Home & Garden Building from 10-3. The Triad of NC is comprised of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point as well as their neighboring towns. There are over 600,000 people in the area which translates into over 54,000 people with food allergies/sensitivities or celiac disease. Just let that sink in for a second...

About 1 in 100 people — about 1 percent — have celiac disease. About .4 percent of people have a doctor-diagnosed wheat allergy Put those statistics into play in even the smallest town and you will be amazed at how many people in your community are affected.This is why we work hard on making events a place where people can feel safe and can learn from experts on how they can navigate their lives easier. It is why we keep these webcasts here on the blog as a free resource.

Please join us right here for the next webcast to be held on May 22 at 7:00 pm for an interview with our Triad speakers:

Tracy Bush also known as Nutrimom® - Food Allergy Liason is a Food Allergy Consultant, Author, Blogger, Mother & Self-professed “Kitchen Geek”.

Tarah Jakubiak founded Allergic Traveler and has traveled the world since the age of two. She has multiple food allergies but it does not stop her.

Mary Herrington has two internationally published gluten free cookbooks (with a third GF How To book being revealed at the GFAF Wellness event), won numerous awards for her gluten free baked goods, and is a keynote speaker on living well with several life threatening allergies.

Dr. Tiffany Brown-Bush MS, LPC, BHHC, ND is an Integrative Therapist, Nutrition Coach and Naturopathic Doctor. She is the mastermind behind the F4L Diva Bar a high protein, gluten free, vegan meal replacement bar.

Melissa Curran is a certified aromatherapist, holistic life coach and the owner of Scented Balance.

Meg H. Mason is an independent food scientist and researcher with a background in organic chemistry, nutrition, and food history, and has been living gluten-free since 2007.

Mark Case  teaches 11th Grade science and is a beekeeper. His knowledge of the healthier side of honey is extensive and he is going to enlighten us on the health benefits of bee harvest.

JOIN US 

TUESDAY, MAY 22

7:00 PM

Charlotte GFAFEvent Webcast ~ Keto & Paleo Connection, Link Between Autoimmunity & Food Sensitivities, Traveling, & Baking Tips

Over a decade of Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Events have taken place and brought us back to the event in Charlotte NC on March 24. We decided to change up the venue this year and take it out of a hotel type setting and make it more of a festival by partnering with local kombucha and brewing company, Lenny Boy.

Charlotte is home base for us, as I have written before, and holds a super special place in our hearts. The amount of support that the celiac and food allergy community has held for the event here has always made it a wonderful affair that helps so many.The webcast for the Charlotte Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event features speakers who are tackling current topics within our communities. Therefore, we hope you will join us for another wonderfully informative webcast on March 15.

WEBCAST 

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

7:00

This segment, we will discuss:
Tarah Jakubiak - Allergic Traveler - “Traveling Allergy-Free”
Jennifer Cuevas - The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet - "Keto & Paleo: Grain-Free is the Key”
Dr Akiba Green - Lake Norman Health & Wellness - "The Link Between Autoimmunity and Food Sensitivities"
Dr. Tiffany Brown-Bush - Fit4Life - “Help! I feel Fat, Frazzled, & Fed Up”
Mary Herrington - Spunky Squirrel - "How NOT to suck at Gluten Free/Allergy Free Baking (the Fundamentals)"
Nikki Everett - GFAFWellness Events - “Overcoming Food Allergy Grief”

Top Unavoidable Challenges While Traveling with Food Allergies

Having food allergies and traveling is a bit like being in a National Lampoon movie We find little gems of places to eat and we also find rare moments of kindness that make our challenges a little less hard. And then, out of nowhere, you get dealt a side swipe of a doozy that makes your head spin and you think, "Hmmm, maybe I am not quite as invincible as I thought I was"

I am not talking about just cross contamination, which is a very real and constant thing.that can result in end game, but there are a slew of other challenges to face. If there weren't, we wouldn't spend so much time on blogs and forums/groups discussing them. If they weren't there, we wouldn't own our food allergies like a badge that irritates those who don't have them. It is just a fact of a food challenged life. 

Here are some of our top unavoidable traveling challenges:

1. Rented a cabin with full kitchen and arrived after a snow storm, only to find the pots and pans were all non-stick surfaced, except for the baking sheet. Needless to say our menu options were a challenge, but aluminum foil is our friend.

2. Rented an Air BnB house, arrived and found that the stove was broken. It was in a remote location with no cellphone service to call owner, so I drove down to a spot I could get signal. When I finally reached the owner, he suggested we take our food to a local pizza restaurant because no service could be rendered on weekend?!? Uhhh, not acceptable. So we left and drove to a city and got a hotel.

3. Caught in a freak snow storm while driving and it took 4 hours to get to a restaurant to safely stop to eat. Now we never get in the car without something packed

4. Airports with not one safe thing to eat except for a KIND bar. Thank goodness for KIND, but our nut allergy friends? Nada. Refer to #3 and pack your carry-on bag with a few things.

5. Emergency pit stops may necessitate you have toilet paper or tissues on hand, in the car, anywhere you can grab it. This will be extremely helpful before hanging off the side of a hill, hiding from cars, while having a coming to Jesus moment because there are no bathrooms in sight...Trust me.

6. Got food poisoning and thought it was cross contamination. Drove 80 MPH to get to health store before they closed to get supplies to help the reaction. Realized it was actually food poisoning because the drive took 6 hours instead of 4. Both my face and bottom know every bathroom between Louisville and St Louis now.

And that's just the top moments revisited. What are some of yours?
We don't know about you, but we can't wait for what 2018 will bring. :)
Happy Travels!

Gluten-Free Pizza Foodie Love - Our Favorites for You

Even with the boom of gluten and allergen free, there are still less places to get safe pizza than you would think. A good pizza is like the Holy Grail of food allergy land. There are just so many things that can go contamination wrong in the process of cooking because of the glutinous flour, dough, and manner in which they cook with speed. 

We have a hard time finding pizzas that are ever as good as the ones we make at home. But who has 3-4 hours to set aside and really get that dough right? If you do have time, here are some of our favorites: 

1. Top 8 free - Enjoy Life Foods Pizza Crust Mix

2. Gluten-free - King Arthur Gluten-Free Multi-Purpose Flour Best for thicker yeasty crust

Here is a fail proof recipe for your crust from America's Test Kitchen

Have no time but want a great crust for home with your own toppings? Try a pre-made crust from one of the following:

1. Still Riding Foods - 6 or 12 inch crust, vegan, kosher, gluten free Local to Connecticut but ship everywhere

2. Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet Gluten & Grain Free Local to Ohio but ship everywhere

3. Kalo Foods Artisan Pizza Crust Gluten Free - 12 inch crust. gluten-free not dairy free. Local to North Carolina but ship everywhere

Next we cover where we have stopped that are as safe as they can be in their floury atmosphere and have mad pizza skills. But here is a little break for That's Amore. One cannot simply write about pizza without a little Dean Martin, or at least I can't. 

Our pizza choices on the road:

1. The Wild Tomato Pizzeria  Harrisburg Pa - Owners are very knowledgeable about handling procedures for celiacs. They offer most things on menu gluten-free. Subs on a real Schar hoagie! But the pizza is yummy and the ingredients, so fresh. They also offer gluten-free cheesy bread and pasta dishes too, but you can't dine in shop as it is take out only. Grab it on your way out of Philadelphia or on your way passing through.

2. Senza Gluten NYC - There are just endless tasty options at this 100% gluten-free restaurant that is Italian based deliciousness in everything they do.  But if you are wanting pizza in NYC, stop here for lunch and dine on gluten-free heaven. Everything from appetizers to desserts are the stuff that celiacs have sugar plum fairy dreams about

3. Pizzeria Verita Burlington VT This Vermont pizzeria makes their own gluten-free crust in a dedicated space and have a separate wood fire oven for gluten-free! Imagine the tastiness happening in that last sentence

4. Pure Pizza Charlotte NC Farm to Fork, organic pizzeria with breadsticks, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and desserts. If you don't mind the parking and hassle of going uptown to their location, it is a must stop.

5. Harry's Bishops Corner Hartford CT This pizzeria was owned originally by the owners of Still Riding Pizza and makes an excellent pie. They have dedicated kitchen space and have excellent feedback about their safety.

6. Baker's Crust Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake Not only do they offer a very decent gluten-free pizza that is Farm to Plate. They also have some amazing other options like Bacon Mac and Cheese. We are putting a pic here because it is just so rare to find it anywhere gluten-free

7 Moonlight Pizza Raleigh NC Another Farm to Table pizzeria finishes out our list and they are divine. In house made gluten free dough that has been raved about online. They offer other options also and are worth a swing by if in the Capital city . 

And here's hoping the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie - Amore!

Guide to Best of Gluten & Allergen Free Holiday Foods

We spend so much of our time on the road planning and executing events that having some Holiday time at home with friends and family is welcomed. During the course of this year though, we have had to add a dairy allergy to our usual gluten-free requirements. Yes, our beloved cheese and milk products are now a no-no. So we must revamp recipes, try new products and try to maintain our normalcy, as we all do when multiple allergies coexist. So we thought we would share some of the best tasting options we ran across this past year at our events to help you out at home.

Some of the following products are nationally available if only by ordering online. In each description their web site is linked.

Stuffing Mix & Pies
Whole Foods Gluten-Free Bakehouse has made your life easier and tastier with their addition of seasoned bread cubes packaged up without you having to toast off your expensive bread to make stuffing mix. We used them to make our cornbread dressing with stellar results. You can also follow Whole Foods recipe since they are kind enough to post so many online to help their customers  Equally impressive are their choices of Holiday Pies including Pumpkin and Pecan.

Tartlets & Mixes
Mina's Purely Divine makes amazing allergen friendly mixes which are free from gluten, wheat, soy, corn, dairy, eggs, and nuts. But they also manufacture some cute little tasty tartlets in chocolate or plain sweet to make your entertaining large parties easier. Just think of all the delicious fillings you could pair with them to have bite sized sweets.

Soup Stock, Egg Noodles, Dumplings & More
Looking for a variety of Southern based mixes, soup bases, egg noodles, dumplings, cheese crackers, coatings, and other deliciousness? Check out Anne's Old Fashioned Foods gluten-free products. Also contact them for their Dairy-free options that are not listed on web site. We had some of the best Chicken & Dumplings the other night thanks to their line. When they do an event with us, they need a huge booth because they offer so much.


Breads & Pastries
JP's Pastry has stolen our heart for the most amazing array of goodies that are all made in the only 100% certified gluten-free bakery in North Carolina. They also do Vegan and dairy-free with the same care and love that JP's puts into all of their products. Not only will you be able to find them in coffee shops and many Whole Foods in the Carolinas, but you can purchase mouth-watering Gift Boxes online. Local to Raleigh NC? You can order cakes that are out of this world good and decorated beautifully.

Pictured is JP's Pastry Holiday Gift Box

Onion Rings
Looking for an amazing onion ring to top your Green Bean Casserole? Look no further. Raw Food Central has an Onion Ring that will do the trick or you can pick some of their other various vegan, gluten-free, kosher and non-GMO snacks

Rice
Need the best rice for your side dish? Try Lundberg Family Farms found in Publix, Whole Foods, and Ingles Markets or online through Vitacost.This family owned Canadian company has purity protocol in place and non-GMO goodness. Their rices are some of the highest quality we have used and prefer them over most any brand.


Baking Ingredients
Enjoy Life Foods has some great allergy-free ingredients like their morsels for chocolate chips and their baking mixes. Top 8 free and non-GMO
Swerve Sweetener is a healthier natural alternative to sugar and will make your baking sweeter without the calories.


Hopefully we will have helped you in your Holiday cooking with these suggestions. Come back next time for more suggestions as we continue to review vendors we met in the 2017 season.
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Greensboro GFAFEvent Webcast ~ Food Allergies & Disabilities Act, Traveling, Baking Tips & To FODMAP or not FODMAP

Hey everyone! It's almost time for our last Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event of the season for 2017 and it is going to be held in the great city of Greensboro in the Piedmont of NC. We love being in our home state and love how much the people of North Carolina support the awareness we strive to bring with the events. A great portion of the vendors for this event are local to NC and surrounding Southern states which goes right along with our vision of supporting local allergy and gluten-free friendly businesses as much as possible.

GREENSBORO GFAFEVENT WEBCAST

NOV 2

7:30 pm EST

This month's webcast on Nov 2 is chock full of information from speakers who will be educating at the Greensboro event on Nov 11. This will be the last webcast of the year and we won't be doing this again until next year, so we hope you can join us.

FYI: When you get to the GFAFEvent on Nov 11, look for Kalo Foods booth to sign up for a chance to win a basket of Kalo goodies worth $100.00!

Giveaway basket goodies from Kalo Foods

This month's speakers will include

Tarah Jakubiak - Allergic Traveling

Mary Herrington - Gluten/Allergen Free Baking Made Easy

Mike Cusato - Food Allergies and the Americans for Disabilities Act
Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP - To FODMAP or not to FODMAP

Lindsey McClellan - Essential Oils for Optimal Health

Hartford CT Gluten & Allergen-Free Webcast - Grain Free Living, Should you be Gluten-Free?, Food Allergy Traveling, & Gluten-Free Ghouls

We are still whirling from the Raleigh GFAFEvent because it was a phenomenal turn out of attendees, food, and fun. But, we are now only a few weeks away from one of our favorite events of the year in Hartford, Connecticut and the excitement is growing each day to get back to our New England home away from home. The people, food, and experiences in Hartford continue to be some of the most rewarding we have ever had. So, we hope you will bring the whole family and join us on Saturday, September 30 at Holiday Inn Downtown Hartford from 10am - 3pm to sample foods, learn from expert speakers, commune with others, and participate in family friendly activities. It will be a blast!

Mi Tierra Tortillas will be at Hartford GFAFEvent

Burton's Grill in South Windsor will also be there!

And so much more!

Before then, we invite you to join us once again here on our blog for a pre-show interview with your speakers that will be presenting at the event. 

WEBCAST

MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 18 

7:30 PM EST

Jennifer Cuevas - The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet 

Dr. Burkman ND and Dr. Julia Vitali DO - Collaborative Natural Health Partners 

CJ Williams - Tumbling Gluten Free

Paige Lawrence - Gluten-Free Ghouls 

Regina Shula - Personal Chef

Katie Grzybowski - Young Living Essential Oils

This esteemed list of speakers will be presenting on Gluten-Free Ghouls, Grain Free Living, Should you be Gluten-Free?, Food Allergy Traveling, Converting Recipes to Gluten Free, Essential Oils, & more. Tune in with us by PC, mobile, or phone for this free webinar 

Raleigh NC Gluten & Allergen-Free Webcast - FODMAP Diet, Packing Lunches, Paleo, GF Sourdough & More!

It's been a long hiatus from events as we have enjoyed our summer so far. Hopefully you have enjoyed yours too. That's what summers are all about, but, time has flown by and we are planning for the second leg of our events this year.

We made a trip to Raleigh NC in preparation of the next Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event on August 12 at NC State Fairgrounds - Kerr Scott Bldg from 10 am - 4 pm. The Raleigh event has become one of our favorites of the year because Raleigh is an amazing city if you have to be gluten-free or allergy-free. They have so many options that they continuously remain on the top lists of towns to be in and eat out while accomodating multiple allergens. Many of the best of options available in Raleigh will be at our event, so we hope you will join us.

This will be the 6th year we have held the event in Raleigh and all of your favorite speakers and a couple new ones will round out a day of incredible info. As always, we are going to offer a free webcast right here on our blog so ou can preview the speakers information, learn some new things in a more relaxed setting (the comfort of your home or office), and decide who you want to spend time listening to at the show.

Raleigh GFAFEvent Webcast

July 31

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

This Presentation schedule for the day of event can be found HERE.
This webcast will include the following:

Beth Mincher
Elemental Wellness
“Aromatic Wellness - Using Essential Oils to Support Optimal Health”

Pam Jordan
I’m a Celiac
“Gluten Free Meal Planning and Packing Lunches”

Jennifer Cuevas
The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet
“Bridging the Divide from Gluten-Free to Grain-Free”

Tarah Jakubiak
Allergic Traveler
“Allergic Travelling”

Meg Huebner
Gluten Free Boulangerie
"Gluten-Free Sourdough: Recipes, Science, and Nutrition"

Columbia SC GF/AFEvent Webcast - Saucy Woman, Fit4Life, Gluten-Free Baking & More

We are back for another incredible webcast before the next event which will be held in Columbia, South Carolina on April 29 at Holiday Inn Express on Garner's Ferry Rd from 10 am - 3 pm. This first time event in the capitol city of the Palmetto state is highly anticipated as there has never been a large allergen friendly event held here. Columbia is not only a college town, but also a fast growing city with fantastic support groups helping the city's population.

The speaker roster for this event is well planned and encompasses many helpful areas of expertise including some areas that may not be as familiar. So, join us on April 17 at 7:30 pm EST for the webcast to learn a little more from these experts on things like Aromatic Wellness, Importance of Nutrition, Nickel Allergies, Gluten-Free Baking, Integrative Functional Medicine & more.

Dr. Tom Stetson received his Doctorate of Chiropractic degree, with high honors, from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA and he also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the owner and founder of Columbia Family Chiropractic. Dr. Stetson has received advanced training in spinal correction, toxicity, exercise and nutrition from some of the largest and most respected health clinics. He spends countless hours training and traveling all over the country to get the most cutting edge information on health to bring to his patient base in Columbia, SC. Due to his training and expertise he has been a chiropractor for Olympic Team USA Wrestling, Judo, Weightlifting and Martial Arts. Dr. Stetson hosted “Maximize Your Health” radio show on WIS 1320AM for more than a year in the Columbia, SC. Dr. Stetson is a sought after speaker in the community. He is regularly asked to speak at churches, corporations, community groups, and the military. His goal is to see our Columbia, SC community become as healthy as possible using effective approaches.

Beth Mincher is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies.
Beth’s goal is to educate and empower people to make positive lifestyle choices that will lead to more energy, less stress and a stronger, happier body, mind and spirit.

Tiffany Brown-Bush MS, LPC, FDN is committed to the Integration of Mental Health, Natural health and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition & Interventions. Tiffany treats Eating Disorders, Food Addiction, Mood Disorders, Adult ADD and Resistant Weight Loss, using Food as Medicine in the Charlotte region. This integrated interest in food as medicine is how she became the Co-Creator of the F4L Diva Protein bar line. Tiffany is a NC Licensed Professional Counselor, NC Dietetic Board Approved Nutrition Counselor, Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist,Certified Brain Health Coach, Fitness Trainer, and completing training as a Naturopathic Doctor (Traditional). Currently, she devotes her practice to treating Eating Disorders, Mood Disorders, Digestive health and Weight Loss.

Mary Herrington has been featured in Gluten Free Delights, has 2 internationally published gluten free cookbooks (with a third GF How To book being revealed at the GFAF Wellness event), won numerous awards for her gluten free baked goods, and is a keynote speaker on living well with several life threatening allergies. She works with area doctor's in Charlotte assisting their patients adjustment to their new diet through menu and recipe creation.
Mary suffers from two rare disorders: Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome and Mastocytosis making eating anything gluten a life threatening activity.

Meg Huebner is an independent food scientist and researcher with a background in organic chemistry, nutrition, and food history, and has been living gluten-free since 2007. She started the blog Gluten-Free Boulangerie in 2010 to create and share GF breads delicious enough for everyone to enjoy. However, she soon began to wonder whether aiming to replicate wheat through the use of gums, highly-processed ingredients, eggs, and other common substitutes might actually be hindering, rather than helping, the quality of GF foods. On a more philosophical level, she also felt these ingredients were still standing in the way of truly “real bread.”

Charlotte GFAFEvent Free Webcast 2017 - 10th Anniversary Special

It is so hard to believe that we have been planning and executing the Charlotte Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event for almost a decade now! Hard as it is to believe, we are right around the corner from the big date. This means that it will have been 10 years since our daughter Erin's (aka Doodle) diagnosis of celiac disease.We started the events right after as a way for her to feel normal and get to try all of the goodies she had been missing. Luckily, we also got to share the experience with thousands of people through the years.

We hope you will join us March 18th at Oasis Shriner Auditorium from 10 am - 4 pm for the Charlotte Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event. Below is a free webcast before the event to give you a preview of speakers that will be presenting. As usual, it is a star studded cast of who is who in the gluten and allergen free world local to Charlotte.

We had a tiny bit of technical difficulty, so please fast forward when playing the audio to 1:18 into the recording. Our apologies for the inconvenience

Beth Mincher Beth is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies. Beth’s goal is to educate and empower people to make positive lifestyle choices that will lead to more energy, less stress and a stronger, happier body, mind and spirit.

Top 10 Gluten Free Picks from 2016 to Try at Your Holiday Dinners

Here are some of our favorite finds this year at the 2016 Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Events that may help you with your holiday meals.

Aleia's Gluten-Free Stuffing has been one of the greatest finds in a long time! I can actually mix it in to my cornbread stuffing recipe and no one will know I didn't make it myself. Their bread crumbs are our easiest and most convenient way to make sausage balls, meatballs, and a variety of other recipes for entertaining.

Tracy's Gourmet Aloha Kick pineapple, coconut oil, and black pepper dressing made it's way onto our table for a marinade on salmon that would melt in your mouth with goodness and take you back to the islands for a warmer Holiday treat.

Purely Elizabeth granola is super yummy and makes a delicious topping addition to Sweet Potato Casserole or Apple Cranberry Crisp which are both Thanksgiving dishes we adore.

Need to eat egg free too? We tried Neat Egg Replacer this year and can't say enough about this chia seed and garbanzo bean derived alternative.

Our favorite allergen friendly baking and pancake mix came from Mina's Purely Divine. This year they have added pre-made gluten-free tartlets to their products which we can't wait to try while making desert cups for guests.

Need a snack for guests that you can pull out of the pantry and place in a pretty dish? Try Ginny O's Gluten-Free Gourmet Cheese Straws or for a quick appetizer, try some Peggy Rose's Hot Pepper Jelly over some cream cheese served with some crackers, pretzels or crudite..

Our fave hummus this year comes from Roots Hummus from local Asheville producers. Pair that with some Milton's Craft Bakers Chips and you can't go wrong.

Local Kalo Foods pumpkin pies are amazing and don't skrimp on taste one bit. They have an apple pie that didn't last long in our fridge either.

Luckily pasture raised turkey is naturally gluten-free and we love eating it! We order ours from a local butcher shop that deals only in small family farm raised meats. Check for one in your area.

Have a very Happy Holiday season!

Top 5 Allergy Friendly Halloween Tips

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays, but the very nature of giving treats to children and adults presents the ever present danger of cross contamination. Here are our top 10 tips for getting through this holiday if you have little ones in your household.

1. There are many safe lists put out each year for treats. Hitting all top 8 allergens narrows the risk of a child being able to eat safely but does not account for a myriad of all allergens. In order to steer clear of all allergens, try non-food items for treat giving. The Teal Pumpkin Project advocates this very thing and participate by having a Teal Pumpkin on your doorstep

2. Plan an allergy free Halloween party for your kids and their friends who must eat allergen free also. Parties like this allow kids to feel as normal as the next kid on holidays that surround foods. Make it a pot luck and share spooktacular recipes with one another. Here are some Recipe Ideas
Sometimes there are local support groups that plan parties, check online.

3. If you plan on trick-or-treating anyway, have a plan to supervise snacking on treats only when you arrive back home where you can safely go through the candy trove before tearing into it. Parents can bring safe treats with them to delay the temptation of sneaking in an unsafe treat.

4. If you have to go to a non-allergy friendly party, say with a family member, bring a little treat bag with treats that mimic the treats provided. (example: a mini allergen free pizza, allergen free cupcakes, a treat bag made with safe treats for them to take home)

5. If makeup is also an issue, opt for a mask or a costume that uses hypoallergenic makeup like Fruiggi 

Fruiggi painted faces at Hartford GFAF Event

Most importantly, have fun and be safe!

Hartford GFAFEvent FREE Webcast ~ Food Labeling, Living Happy with Food Restrictions, Gluten-Free Ghouls, & More!

We are gearing up for the Hartford Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event already. It is the last show of the 2016 season, which makes me sad but ready for a great ending, kind of like anticipating a huge firework grand finale. To have that ending in a beautiful Fall New England town is perfect. We love going to the Hartford event because it gives us Southerners so many exciting cultures to experience.

The event will take place at West Hartford Meeting Center, 50 S Main St, West Hartford CT on October 1 from 10 am - 3 pm. The speakers on this edition of the web cast will all be present at the event and giving their knowledge and tools to help attendees navigate their journey to health and wellness. But as always, we are going to offer a web cast right here as a preview. This web cast we will be discussing Food Labeling, Living Happy with Food Restrictions, Gluten-Free Ghouls, & More!

FREE WEB CAST 
SEPTEMBER 22

730 pm EST

Heather Jacobsen is an author, researcher and founder of the online magazine, Stuffed Pepper. She has an MSc in Ethnobotany, and worked at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, as well as the National Academy of Sciences. Always fascinated by the endless ways that plants are incorporated into every day life, she dreamt of roaming jungle forests with indigenous tribal leaders, in search of native flora with untold healing properties. Instead, she found herself taming the wilds of nutritional science as she dealt with health issues that no conventional doctor seemed to be able to solve. As she worked to unravel the true science behind diet, lifestyle and chronic disease, it turns out that maybe Heather is the modern ethnobotanist… not exploring plants in the wilderness, but exploring how removed we have become from the wild, and how that has adversely affected our health in so many ways.

Bruce Homstead MS, RDN, LDN, AFMCP
President, Board of Directors, Celiac Support Association
Graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, minor in Food Facility Engineering. Chef, baker, manager of several large and small restaurants, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for hospitals and nursing homes.
Areas of interest include gluten sensitivity/celiac disease, thyroid disease, weight management, sports nutrition, nutrition for seniors, gender issues, autism spectrum disorders, wellness issues.
Clients include: Restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, pre-school facilities, groups and teams, professional and world class athletes, individual clients.
Contact information: homsteadhealth@live.com

Dr Kendra Becker
Tara Hood
The Practical Practitioners are the Co-Hosts of the Holistic Health Hour TV program. Kendra Becker- Musante ND, APRN is an author, and blogger with a thriving practice. She has been gluten free for 10 years. Tara Hood APRN is a dynamic Functional medicine practitioner focusing on autism recovery. Together the "practitioners" educate and heal with diet, as well as discuss these and other pertinent issues on their TV program weekly. Both ladies lecture locally and nationally on healing diets, autism recovery and MTHFR (and gluten sensitivity).
www.drkendrabecker.com
www.tarahoodnp.com
Calvin Eaton is an educator, chef, and writer who launched his blog, the Gluten Free Chef Blog, in 2012 after years of living with the effects of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and celiac disease – conditions that are exacerbated by the presence of wheat, gluten, and dairy products in foods.
His goal has always been to make gluten free living accessible to everyone. His blog www.theglutenfreechefblog.com features fool proof recipes and meal plans, ensuring that everyone could and would eat wonderful gluten free meals - and never tell the difference. Mr. Eaton intends to continue to raise awareness for gluten intolerance by offering a variety of workshops, classes, networking events, and private lessons all tailored to those who are living gluten free at the new event and education center 540WMain (www.540westmain.org)

Stefanie Freeman is a Certified Holistic Health Coach who received her training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach that emphasizes the importance of not only diet, but an entire lifestyle. Physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, lifestyle and the use of natural remedies are important for a health lifestyle.

Rustie MacDonald - a single mother, Author, Celiac, Life Coach, Motivational Speaker & International Radio Talk Show Host. Rustie is a lover of life who continues to challenge herself by sharing her abilities with the International Community in efforts to help others “Live and Thrive” in the ever changing world we live in. Humor, Grace, and Compassion fills each show with a welcomed lightness.

CJ Williams is a content marketer and author, who fell into wheatlnessness one May six years ago when she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. She is now a nutrition consultant as well, and is the founder and author of Tumbling Gluten Free, both a nutrition business and blog. She has worked with schools and community co-ops, as well as restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments to teach and instate safe food preparation practices as a consultant.
CJ is constantly curious about the opportunities gained by the tumble with a disease that affects nutrition and digestion. Through her blog Tumbling Gluten Free, and freelance writing, she explores the psychological impact of food on community, loves supporting sustainable living and local farms, and offers her readers and clients inspiration, quirky and multi-cultural recipes, and a flexible approach to living that leads to whole foods fueling a whole life.
CJ Williams Tumbling Gluten Free ( http://tumblingglutenfree.blogspot.com ) @TumblingGF

Greensboro GFAFEvent FREE Webcast Aug 29 - Food Sensitivities, Gluten Allergies, Elderberry Health, Essential Oil Blends, & More!

Wow! You guys blew our socks off in Raleigh with a fantastic show on Aug 13 at N.C. State Fairgrounds! When we finish the year, we will make a post about specific vendors in each of the cities we visited. But right now there is no time for that as we slide on into another great emerging event coming to you on Sept 10 in Greensboro N.C.!

Have I told you how much we love our home state of NC? We have a plethora of allergy-friendly vendors right here near home and lots of national vendors that are offering more options in our stores. But in holding true to our vision, we love local food and resources and we focus on what's available to keep your life as balanced and sustainable as possible while also living to your fullest with safe options.

The Greensboro GFAFEvent Speakers are going to impart lots of wisdom and tools to help you in your journey to better health. This pre-event webcast will feature Food Sensitivities, Gluten Allergies, Elderberry Health, Essential Oil Blends, & more! We will have some names you may remember from our webcasts and some who are new - Either way, join us while you relax after a hard day for a chat with each Speaker.

Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP - Functional medicine, owner and physician at Infinity Holistic Healthcare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to her DC degree, she has gone on to pursue many hours of study in functional and integrative medicine, as well as earn her Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification. At her office in Chapel Hill, Dr. DiNezza frequently helps those with autoimmune diseases and digestive complaints, among other complex cases. 

Jennifer Cuevas The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet supports delicious eating that is gluten, grain, soy, and poultry free. Jen Cuevas experienced her own journey to wellness by eating this way, and desires to share the message that life can still be delicious! 

Tarah Jakubiak - After working for 20 years in the corporate world, Tarah Jakubiak founded Allergic Traveler. Jakubiak, president of Allergic Traveler has traveled the world since the age of two. She has been to 22 countries and 25 states. Jakubiak has been to all inclusives, gone on cruises, gone camping; backpacking through Europe, gone to the big cities, and little hidden gems. She has multiple food allergies but it does not stop her from seeing the world. Jakubiak is allergic to eggs, nuts, mushroom, soy, garlic, corn, sesame, potatoes, celery, shellfish, chicken, pork, peanuts, and many fruits. 

Meg Huebner - Independent food scientist and researcher with a background in organic chemistry, nutrition, and food history, and has been living gluten-free since 2007. She started the blog Gluten-Free Boulangerie in 2010 to create and share GF breads delicious enough for everyone to enjoy. 

Rodger Lenhardt- Owner and founder of Norm’s Farms, the American source of anti-oxidant rich elderberry super fruit products. He comes from an organic and sustainable perma-culture farming background.  Together with his wife Ann they started growing elderberries as a way to restore health a vigor to the family Farm. Norm's Farms family believes in the sustainable production of healing foods made with natural, simple ingredients. 

Beth Mincher- Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies. 

Dr. Roosevelt Smith Clinic Director Health 1st of Greensboro is originally from New York City area where he was born and raised. His current office location was opened September 4, 2004 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

We will meet you right here AUGUST 29th, 730 PM EST

Raleigh GFAF Event FREE Web Cast: Time for Elimination Diets and Laboratory Testing, Feeding Your Gluten Free Family, Itchy Pig and Traveling

We are headed back to the Capitol city of North Carolina in just a month's time! This is the 5th year for our Raleigh Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event and we can't believe how fast it comes around after a long hot summer is in full swing. I graduated from Jesse O Sanderson High School many moons ago and love visiting Raleigh any chance we get. You just can't beat a city with such a hip vibe and great eats among its many virtues.

Raleigh was placed on the top 10 of places to eat gluten-free on Huffpost if you didn't know. You can get gluten free dumplings, raviolis, pizza, local and sustainable, pitas.....the list just goes on and on of diverse options available. Not to mention how intellectually hipster the place can be with the most PhD holders of any city in America thanks to Duke, Chapel Hill, Meredith, NC State and other colleges that claim their home here.

This month's free web cast will feature some of the speakers that will be at the event on August 13 at Kerr Scott Bldg NC State Fairgrounds from 10 am - 3 pm. We have a plethora of vendors and even a kid's story time planned as well as the incredible giveaway for pre-registered attendees.

To hear the speakers in an incredibly informative web cast before the event:

May 4

7:30 pm - 9 pm EST

Just click below for how you want to connect for the web cast on May 4th

SPEAKERS ON MAY 4 FOR WEB CAST

Pam Jordan
Pam has written 5 cookbooks and lifestyle guides about living Gluten Free. Her last two books made Amazon Best Sellers list. Pam travels the US to speak to groups about living Gluten Free, menu planning, and how to cook simple Gluten Free recipes.

Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP

Dr. DiNezza is now the owner and physician at Infinity Holistic Healthcare in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to her DC degree, she has gone on to pursue many hours of study in functional and integrative medicine, as well as earn her Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (NTP) certification. At her office in Chapel Hill, Dr. DiNezza frequently helps those with autoimmune diseases and digestive complaints, among other complex cases.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrNicoleDiNezza

Beth Mincher
Beth is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies.

Jennifer Cuevas
The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet supports delicious eating that is gluten, grain, soy, and poultry free. Jen Cuevas experienced her own journey to wellness by eating this way, and desires to share the message that life can still be delicious!
Just a few short years ago, Jen was ill with a multitude of issues (although not typical “Celiac” symptoms), including high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, sudden weight gain [over 60 pounds], Hashimoto’s, and arthritis (read more of her story here). After more than seven frustrating visits with various doctors, she finally learned about her gluten sensitivity and Celiac disease. In becoming well, she found that life without gluten was really great from a health perspective, but affected everything else that had a social factor.

Tarah Jakubiak
After working for 20 years in the corporate world, Tarah Jakubiak founded Allergic Traveler. Jakubiak, president of Allergic Traveler has traveled the world since the age of two. She has been to 22 countries and 25 states. Jakubiak has been to all inclusives, gone on cruises, gone camping; backpacking through Europe, gone to the big cities, and little hidden gems. She has multiple food allergies but it does not stop her from seeing the world. Jakubiak is allergic to eggs, nuts, mushroom, soy, garlic, corn, sesame, potatoes, celery, shellfish, chicken, pork, peanuts, and many fruits. She is originally from Montreal, Quebec and now lives in Greensboro, NC with her husband.
To get in touch with Tarah: tarah@allergictraveler.net

Nicole Cox & Itchy Pig
About the Book:
Itchy Pig is a unique tale of a mischievous piglet who overcomes seasonal allergies. Itchy Pig learns the nature of his sensitivities through outdoor play in ragweed, pollen, and poison ivy. He learns to respect Mother Nature and the importance of preparedness--but his curiosity leaves him with some very itchy consequences.
About the Author:
I am a native Californian. I am married and live in Raleigh, North Carolina. I value the art of writing and poetry. I am an avid animal lover and advocate for animal welfare. I adopted an abused and neglected pit bull puppy named Gunner. This sick little pup was always itchy and scratchy, and we came to find out that Gunner was a very allergenic dog and suffered from many allergies. With his short tattered ears and large snout, Gunner received the nickname Itchy Pig. As I became more confident in writing, I decided to combine my passion for writing and animals; from this, Itchy Pig was born, teaching young children the importance of seasonal allergies. I strive to inspire and entertain those of all ages by making education fun.
***Inspired by my rescue pit bull, Gunner, who suffers from seasonal and food allergies.

Donald Snowden
Donald Snowden is a Maryland native but has called North Carolina home since 2004. He was an professional athlete who had a serious of family and personal health challenges that would end his career and change his life for the better. He became enamored in holistic and naturopathic health many years ago, when he realized he had been lied to by the system and there was a better way. He formed and alliance with Youngevity Life Science International where he has studied under the world re-known Dr. Joel Wallach DVM, ND as well as many other physicians in the world of Natural Healing. Donald's wealth of knowledge in this field is impeccable as he studies all the time and stays on top of current events in the health industry. His passion has become connecting with people and sharing this message of natural and holistic health through his vast research, most complete product line on the market and life saving testimonials.

FREE St Louis GFAF Event Webcast - Teenager's Perspective of Gluten-Free, FDA Food Labeling, The Emotional Side of Dietary Restrictions & More

The newest webcast in the series of Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Events for 2016 will again visit the heartland of America in St. Louis, Missouri. The event is taking place on May 21 at the Holiday Inn SW Route 66, 1709 Watson Rd from 10 am - 3 pm and will be the third one held in the city of the Gateway Arch (The land of Gooey Butter Cake and Fried Ravioli, and yes, you can make them gluten-free)

We have a wonderfully informative panel of speakers lined up for the event and as always, we want to share them here with the global internet allergen-free community on Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 pm CST. We offer them free of charge to remain as a resource.

This webcast, we will hear from:

Bruce Homstead MS, RDN, LDN, AFMCP - President, Board of Directors, Celiac Support Association - Graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, minor in Food Facility Engineering. Chef, baker, manager of several large and small restaurants, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for hospitals and nursing homes.

Beth Mincher - Certified Holistic Health Coach, board certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, and received her training through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She focuses on helping people achieve optimal wellness through a whole body approach; emphasizing the importance of not only diet, but other factors such as: physical activity, personal relationships, career, emotional wellness, positive lifestyle and mindset and the use of natural therapies.

Julia Dotson has been helping families in the St. Louis region with meal planning for the past four years. Due to her own children's health issues she has a passion for working with families that have food allergies and dietary restrictions. Julia's partnership with Wildtree, a Certified Organic and Certified Gluten-Free company, is aimed at reducing stress at dinnertime and getting people out of the "What's for dinner?" rut. Wildtree is debunking the myth that good for you food has to taste bad or be expensive. Wildtree's Grapeseed Oil is our signature product. It is heart healthy and helps lower cholesterol. It also has a flashpoint of 445 degrees making it ideal for grilling! www.mywildtree.com/tn www.facebook.com/wildtreetn

Sema Dibooglu - Only 17, articulate, artistic, and passionate about raising awareness. She lives in St. Louis and is a National Foundation of Celiac Awareness featured Gluten Free blogger. ‘Eat Without Gluten’ is featured on the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness’ webpage, and her gluten free cartoon movie ‘Draw my life’ on YouTube has been featured in many countries, from Ireland to Australia. The blog is written to provide positive, practical, educational and insightful information on the gluten-free diet. Sema is one of the first gluten-free teen bloggers both in the United States and worldwide.

Dr Seth Gerlach - The Institute of Natural Health is an integrative health and wellness clinic in St Louis, MO. They practice functional medicine and see a wide array of conditions, from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune and thyroid conditions, food sensitivities, and many more.
They utilize cutting-edge testing to find the root of the problem and science-based therapies to regain and maintain health.

Nikki Everett is your host and Director of Event Coordination GF/AF Wellness Events & Chapter Leader of R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids). Nikki uses her vast knowledge as an advocate for the gluten/allergen free community on behalf of her daughter who was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2008.
Nikki's mother became a regional leader for Compassionate Friends, a national support group for bereaved families, when Nikki was only 11 years old. She went on to become a youth peer support group leader by 14 years of age. Her presentation to the NC State Board of Education helped open the door for peer support groups throughout Middle and High Schools across the state. Nikki carried on this legacy as an adult by chartering R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids) for Charlotte, NC in 2009 subsequently moved to the Highlands of NC, near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Appalachia.

FREE ST LOUIS GFAF EVENT WEBCAST

Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 pm CST.