Gluten Free Boy

GF at UConn

2011-12-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I have posted, but I’ve been busy up at UConn So far, college is much different from high school, but in a good way. The most noticeable change is the sheer number of students. UConn’s undergraduate student body is composed of about 17,000 students; Westbrook, my hometown has less than 10,000 residents, and my high school only has 300 kids. Despite this drastic change, I am fitting in well and have met many new people. The atmosphere is also much different, as one would expect. I feel much more independent and in control of my own life, which I love.

Fortunately, the GF food situation is amazing here at UConn. I expected gluten-free eating choices in college to be repetitive and not too great. They have been just the opposite, in fact. All foods are labeled with nutrition cards; at the bottom of the card, there is a line of text that lists the common allergens present in the food. If I see “wheat” or “gluten” listed, I simply don’t eat the food provided. Following this method, I have not felt “gluten-sickness” (as I like to call it) since I’ve been here. The variety of gluten-free foods available is also impressive. For the most part, the meals I consume are regular foods available to other students – they just happen to be gluten-free. There is generally no separate part of the cafeteria with GF meal foods. This prevents students from standing out for being GF eaters, although this has never really bothered me.

In addition to the cooked foods, the dining halls also have frozen gluten-free bread products (and a dedicated GF toaster) that I can access on my own terms if I want a sandwich, bagel, or toast. If in the mood for pizza, the dining hall gave me a number I can call within a half hour to request a customizable freshly baked GF pizza. They will also cook GF pasta with a request. I’ve been to all eight dining halls on campus and have always had something to eat.

Other methods are also employed to assist students with Celiac disease or gluten-intolerance in picking safe food choices. For example, all dining halls have coolers with different tubs of ice cream. The labels on the ice cream usually list the allergens, or there is an easily accessible book of nutrition information (including allergens) available. The ice cream scoops sit in a water bath, which helps to eliminate cross-contamination from other ice creams, cones, etc. UConn even provides GF students with a list of gluten-free foods available at the retail dining locations in the Student Union area. This combination of factors has made the transition from home-cooked meals to UConn’s cafeteria pretty effortless (although, of course, my mom’s food is always better.)

All in all, I would strongly recommend UConn to any GF students considering it. I guarantee if you come here, you will have no problem finding good food to eat, and will not stand out. I’ve already met a few kids on a gluten-free diet. UConn is very GF friendly!

Update on Experiment/ College Status

2011-02-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to give a quick update on my college acceptance and experiment status. Thankfully, I've been accepted into the University of Connecticut Honors Program. I'm very excited about this acceptance because UConn is one of my top choices and they have an outstanding gluten-free cafeteria.

As for my experiment, I just finished the first official test! Unfortunately, the electrophoresis technique that allows me to visualize the presence of the Celiac genes was unclear an inconclusive. I've made many adjustments to the procedure along the way, and will continue to test and adjust until I'm confident with the results. Stay posted! I'll provide soon provide an update once I've achieved a better set of data.

Interesting Experiment!

2010-10-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

Ever since my diagnosis, I have been amazed at the science and cause behind Celiac disease. I am currently enrolled in an independent class at my high school called “Advanced Topics in Biology.” At the beginning of the semester I had a choice from a wide range of topics – basically anything relating to biology. My fascination with Celiac disease led me to choose to design an experiment investigating the genetic factors involved in the inheritance and activation of the disorder.

Although I have not yet started the experiment, I have conducted a considerable amount of research and already learned a great deal of information. I think some of this information, although fairly straightforward, is not known by many Celiac patients. Scientists have not yet discovered the definite cause of Celiac Disease, but they have determined several genetic factors that increase the risk of acquiring the disease. These genetic “markers” or alleles are different forms of a series of genes present on chromosome six, and are involved in the reaction of the immune system to different antigens. The genes are called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLAs) and one of two types (HLA-DQ2 and HLA- DQ8) is carried by virtually every person with Celiac disease. Conversely, however, the fact that one has the allele(s) does not mean they will have the disorder. These forms of the gene are present in about 30% of the white population, many of whom don’t have any form of gluten intolerance. While these alleles are considerable factors in the genetics of the disease, there are many other genes that also have a major effect.

In my experiment, I will take DNA samples from several groups of people and test for some of the most popular HLA alleles, in an attempt to find some sort of correlation between the alleles and the presence of Celiac Disease.

Cool GF Bakery in NH!

2010-08-30T19:30:00.001-07:00

On a family vacation I recently traveled to Bristol, New Hampshire, a quaint town bordering Newfound Lake. As usual on any long trip, my family and I prepared a cooler full of gluten-free foods, alleviating us of the worry of not finding things I could eat in the area. Because Bristol was unfamiliar to all of us, my mom decided to search for gluten-free stores in the area. Surprisingly, she found a gluten-free bakery called “Cornucopia Bakery” right in town, a mere five-minute drive from our cottage. Although the shop was closed for the majority of the trip, we were able to visit them on the last day of our stay. I couldn’t believe the extent of their selection of gluten-free baked goods. There was an abundance of breads, scones, cookies, pastries, and even a carrot cake whoopie pie (which was incredibly tasty). The sourdough bread was so delicious that I thought I had purchased the non-gluten-free product by accident!
Anyway, the point is that you should always search online for gluten-free shops before traveling somewhere. You never know what you may come across. Had we not searched for this bakery, we would’ve never known it existed. I had a similar experience last year on a trip to Sedona, Arizona. A gluten-free pizza place was right at the end of my street, but I only knew of it because of a Google search. Gluten-free living is becoming more and more popular as an awareness of gluten intolerance has increased and many people are choosing it as a healthy lifestyle. Shops with these kinds of foods are springing up all over the place, even in unlikely areas.

Gluten-Free Breakfast and Lunch: What to do?

2010-06-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

As a junior in high school, I know how difficult it can be to make (and eat) a gluten-free breakfast and lunch every day, let alone meals that are nutritious and hearty. While most of my classmates can simply grab $2.50 to buy lunch, I have to labor over what I’m going to eat each day at school. Some schools are beginning to offer gluten-free options, but many, including mine, do not. I also need to make sure I eat breakfast before school to make it through the day. Trying to coordinate my gluten-free eating habits all in a 45-minute time period before school, while also making sure I’m prepared for school, can be a very challenging task. Here are a few of the things I do to keep my mornings from becoming too hectic.

If at all possible, I try to get my lunch together the night before. This saves time in the morning and keeps me from having to worry about it too early. I often make deli meat sandwiches for lunch. I use a bread maker to make gluten-free bread then slice it and freeze it, so all I have to do is pop a frozen piece in the toaster. This keeps it quick and easy. I also make sure there are plenty of healthy snack foods around, like pretzels, carrots, fruits, nuts, granola bars, and chips. It’s convenient to purchase packaged foods like granola bars, pretzels, and crackers in bulk because it’s cheaper, and there is a long-lasting supply at home. If not in the mood for a sandwich, another option is to put leftovers in a Tupperware container or Thermos and microwave them at school. I realize this may not be convenient for everyone but if a microwave is available it‘s certainly a good option.

Now that lunch is covered, what about breakfast? There are endless options for breakfast, time allowing. If pressed for time, a simple bowl of cereal (Panda Puffs, Koala Crisp, and organic corn flakes are all good) will do, or even a bowl of yogurt. Many flavors of Yoplait and Stonyfield Farms yogurts are gluten free. If you have more time, however, there are other tasty options. Bob’s Red Mill now offers gluten-free certified oats, so oatmeal is a good choice. Also, eggs, in any form, are nutritious and good tasting. One of my favorite meals is to toast a Gillian’s or Trader Joe’s French roll, melt cheese on it, and make a breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs and salsa. The options are endless. So, the next time you get stressed out about what you’re going to eat for breakfast or lunch, calm down and think about it. You never know what you might come up with.

Gluten Free Colleges

2010-04-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

AAAHHH!!! Searching for a college with a good gluten-free meal plan can be extremely frustrating. With some thorough research, however, it's not as tough as it seems. I recently traveled around the east coast to look at colleges I might be interested in attending. Most of the school chefs said that if I ended up attending the school, they would sit down with me at the beginning of each week to plan out my meals. Most seemed very accommodating. Some even had gluten-free or allergen-free sections of the cafeteria designated for kids with food allergies. Here are my suggestions for finding a good gluten-free college:

Check it out: You won't truly know about the school's meal plan until you visit for yourself. Go to the cafeteria and see how many choices you have for gluten-free food, and how difficult it is to find something to eat.
Make contact: Ask for the contact information of the dietitian at the school. They will be able to tell you anything you need to know about the school's food.
Talk to the students: Roughly one in a hundred people have Celiac disease, so there will likely be several students already attending the school who have gluten-free diets. See if you can talk to one of these students in person or ask for his or her email address. They will have had firsthand experience with the meals there.
Where is it?: If the university is in a college-friendly town or a big city it will probably be relatively easy to find things to eat off-campus. If not, it might be more of a challenge .
Be Patient: It will take a lot of work to find a college with a good gluten-free meal plan. Remember, you'll be there for four full years of your life, so you want it to be a place where you can conveniently get safe and nutritious food.

Warning: Snickers Minis!!!

2010-04-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

BE CAREFUL!! I recently ate several of the Snickers Minis on Easter and became terribly ill. I was vomiting for nearly three hours. Strangely, I often eat the Fun Size and regular Snickers bars and feel fine. Also, I have even eaten the minis before with no reaction. Interestingly enough, I have read articles and online forums in which people complain about reactions they've had to the minis. Although the manufacturer lists no gluten-containing ingredient on the package, it is highly likely that there is a high level of concentration. As a matter of fact, I probably consumed a highly contaminated batch of the candy. If you are even somewhat sensitive to gluten I would strongly recommend you not to eat this form of Snickers. There have been numerous discussions on Celiac.com, a gluten free forum, in which people talk about whether or not they contain gluten. I did eat some from a mixed bag of Snickers, however, which contained dark chocolate and normal Snickers, so that might have had some effect.

Gluten Free Tech

2010-03-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

Have and iPhone? There are tons of GF apps on the Apple App store, and many are extremely useful. Here are a couple I have found to be helpful:

Is That Gluten Free? Although this app is $5.99, it has gluten free information on over 20,000 products and can be very helpful on the go. It also allows you to add your own products that you know are gluten free. Another cool feature is the ingredient search, which tells what ingredients have gluten. Although this app may not be helpful to an experienced gluten free shopper, it can be very informative to a recently diagnosed Celiac.
iEatOut Gluten and Allergen Free: Provides a series of helpful tips for several different types of international cuisine, and tells you what to ask for. A little expensive, though, at $8.99
Gluten Free LifeStyle: Similar to Is That Gluten Free? but provides information on different grocery stores, which is useful. A little bit cheaper, but not as comprehensive.

You have to keep in mind before you buy any of these apps that they are geared toward the common Celiac who needs help shopping and eating out, not the more independent GF eater.

Going Broke?

2010-01-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

Going broke buying GF food? Try buying packaged food in bulk to save money. My family buys nearly all packaged food from sites like Amazon to save a few bucks. Certain foods include Glutino pretzels, Glutino granola bars, Bob's Red Mill Bread Mix, Pamela's Baking Mix, Betty Crocker Cake Mix, corn pasta, EnviroKidz cereals, and many other products. This is a great way to cut back on spending and have a surplus of gluten free food.

Gluten Free Colleges

2010-01-15T18:16:00.000-08:00

Like many kids my age, I have started to look at colleges. A huge aspect of college life to consider is the food. If you go to college for four years you want to be able to have some good food options. I have recently visited some colleges in Boston and am trying to find colleges with good GF options. In itself, Boston is a good city for college Celiac students because there are so many restaurants in the area. Fortunately, many colleges have increased the food options for students with gluten intolerance.

2009-12-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Feeling lost or having trouble following the gluten free diet? Check out this website -

http://www.todaysdietandnutrition.com/exc_061509_20glutenfree.shtml

- for twenty tips on how to live without gluten. These tips include advice on baking, cooking, shopping, and reading labels. I have found this website to be informative yet also quick and to the point - a handy resource.

Miss Rice Krispies?

2009-12-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

Do you miss the actual Rice Krispies? I know I did. You may have seen gluten free Crisped Rice or Koala Crisp which are both good, but neither are actually crispy. I wanted a cereal that would actually "Snap, Crackle, and Pop." Well if you have not yet heard of it, there is a gluten free product available. Although there are others out there, I prefer any of the Erewhon products. They make plain, chocolate, and fruit flavored rice crispy cereals which are all great.

Paperback Cafe

2009-10-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend the SGFA hosted a completely gluten free buffet dinner at the Paperback Cafe, a delicious restaurant offering gluten free food in Old Saybrook, CT. We were served pesto pasta, a tasty garden salad, and scrumptious Chicken Parmesan, all of which was gluten free. They also served prosciutto like appetizers which were great. The Paperback Cafe is an excellent restaurant that all Celiacs should try. On their normal menu they serve an array of gluten free foods including pan pizza and apple French Toast for breakfast.

Bread!!??

2009-10-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Having trouble finding a good gluten free bread?
Most Glutino bread products are great, whether they are bagels, English muffins, bread, or pizza crusts. However, as many of us know, these can certainly rack up a huge bill. It's much cheaper to bake your own bread. I use the Pamela's bread mix. It's easy to bake and it's flavorful, nutritious, fluffy, and delicious. After baking, I cut it into slices and freeze it. When I want a slice, I take one out of the freezer and throw it in the toaster. (All gluten free bread should be kept frozen until eaten and toasted before eating, or it crumbles horribly.)

I tend to stay away from the rice breads because they are very dense.

Gluten Free Pizza

2009-09-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Many pizza places are starting to offer gluten-free pizza. There are a few places on the CT shoreline that now have a GF option. These include:

Grand Apizza in Clinton (GF beer too) (860) 669-1204

Illiano's in East Lyme (also available at other locations) (860) 739-7017

Pizzetta in Mystic (the best in my opinion) (860) 536-4443

I have found that almost all GF pizzas need to be cooked longer than normal or else they turn out somewhat mushy.

Betty Crocker Cake and Brownie Mix

2009-08-28T08:11:00.001-07:00

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't updated the blog in a while but I will now be adding posts much more frequently.

Betty Crocker recently came out with gluten free cake, brownie, and cookie mixes. I have tried the cake and brownie mixes and they are both fantastic. I ordered the two in bulk from Amazon.com to save money. You can order six packs of the delicacies at:

http://www.amazon.com/Betty-Crocker-Gluten-Brownie-16-Ounce/dp/B002AQP5MK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1251472690&sr=8-2

2009-04-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. The group that I'm part of just had a great Celiac Conference. On Saturday April 25 gluten sensitive people from all over the shoreline gathered at the Saybrook pavilion to enjoy a conference put on by the SGFA (Shoreline Gluten Free Association). The meeting hosted two guest speakers, one of whom was the head of the GIG. We enjoyed a gluten free lunch along with goodie bags that included gluten freee foods and info. I found out that all bleu cheeses are gluten free. Apparently the wheat that they are sometimes grown on have no significant effect on them. Who knew? I was very pleased with the amount of people who showed up - I hope to see more and more at every event. Stay posted...

Eating at Italian Restaurants

2009-03-21T15:21:00.001-07:00

Has anyone ever had the problem of going for dinner at an Italian restaurant and having nothing to eat? Well so have I, and I came up with an idea. If you know that you're going to an Italian restaurant, whip up a batch of GF pasta noodles (I like the quinoa) beforehand and put them in a Tupperware container. Then, when the waiter asks for your order, ask him to bring out just a dish of sauce. I usually ask for them to put in peppers, onions, sausage, and what ever else I'm in the mood for. Make sure that you tell the waiter of your situation so they can tell the chef not to add flour or anything like that. Then, ask them to bring out a plate so you can pour the sauce right on top of your pasta, and heat it up if necessary. This has worked out great for me, but I suggest you only do it at a place you're familiar with. Good Luck!!!!!

Almondy

2009-03-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I just found a delicious new GF cake that is made with almond flour. It has a chocolate coating and Daim candies (a danish toffee) in the inside, and I thought it was excellent. Its called "Almondy: Authentic Swedish Almond Tarta." I think my mom found it in the frozen section at IKEA. Good luck finding it!!

2009-03-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Check out my group's blog called Gluten Free on the Shoreline.

2009-03-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first time ever blogging, so bear with me. I am excited to start sharing some of my ideas and thoughts with everyone. I created this blog as part of the Shoreline Gluten Free Association of CT in an attempt to get more kids and teens involved. We have an upcoming chili fest on Saturday March 21 with many different GF chilies and cornbreads, so I hope to see many people there.