Have Celiac, Will Travel

In February of 2010, we took our first real trip as a family since our teen daughter had been diagnosed as a Celiac. She was apprehensive, but I assured her that we'd make sure she didn't starve. We packed various gluten free snack bars (as a back up plan) and boarded the plane bound for Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Being that it was a short trip over the mountains from Alberta to BC, there was no need to worry about an in flight gluten free friendly meal.

Arriving in Victoria that February, began a culinary adventure for my daughter that was full of pleasant unexpected surprises. The weather on top of it all was superb, with an early spring that had trees and bulbs in bloom. The whole trip was magical and has my teen daughter and preteen son begging to go back.
http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/Victoria.htm

The first couple of days we stayed locally in Victoria, soaking in museums and shops. Here my daughter discovered The Old Spaghetti Factory and The Joint.
http://www.victoriaentertainment.ca/business/Old%20Spaghetti%20Factory/326
http://www.eatatthejoint.com/html/
The Old Spaghetti Factory offers a gluten free menu that includes pasta dishes that my daughter was happy to devour. The Joint is a pizzeria that offers a gluten free crust that didn't scream gf in it's taste or texture- it was just good as my daughter put it. We soon became regulars at both restaurants though our stay was short.

Our next leg in our adventure on Vancouver Island was a drive to Botanical Beach. Well worth going! The mini hike from parking lot to the beach is a trek though a temperate coastal rain forest- simply breath taking. Once the beach is reached it is a treasure trove of nature- a new micro ecosystem in each of the tidal pools just awaits discovery... My children were constantly calling out- "Hey, come here- you have to see this!"
http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Botanical-Beach-Botany-Bay-Loop-Trail-near-Victoria-BC-647
Of course all this discovery works up an appetite. The nearest town, Port Renfrew, is small and quaint, but had my daughter worried about it's ability to feed her a gluten free meal. Because it was off season for tourism, there was only one restaurant open- this heightened her anxiety. The Coastal Kitchen Cafe was it. As soon as I mentioned that our daughter was a Celiac, they offered a dizzying array of choices that they could make for her. They knew all about being a Celiac- were very knowledgeable, and accommodating. When her meal came, my daughter was not disappointed. In fact, all the food was very good! http://www.discoverportrenfrew.com/activities-dining.htm

Next stop, was a ferry trip to Salt Spring Island. I visited this magical place as a child and it did not fail to wow me once again. My family too was counting the days when we could all go back again, by the end of our day trip to Salt Spring. http://saltspringtourism.com/ Though my daughter was by now feeling more confident that she could find gluten free food in remote places, she still had the nagging worry and a gf snack bar ready. We arrived at Fulford Harbor, investigated a bit, and made our way to The Fulford Inn for a bite of lunch. Again, upon the mention of the word Celiac, the staff were more than eager to accommodate my daughter's gf needs. They have a staff member who has Celiac Disease, so they were well versed in gf cooking. After giving her various options to consider, they came back shortly from the kitchen- and offered to make her fries... They had just cleaned the deep fryer that morning, and it had not yet been used. Of course my daughter jumped at the offer of fries, to go along with her pan fried chicken breast. She was pleased, and her meal was delicious.

The important thing to remember, is that though being a Celiac can be stressful when travelling, be prepared for pleasant surprises too. Sometimes even when a restaurant is out of the way, and/or not on any recommended Celiac lists, that they can be surprisingly accommodating and knowledgeable. Do your best to let the destination guide you and not the food. You will discover new places as well as new restaurants that would have remained unnoticed travelling as a Celiac versus being an explorer who is also a Celiac, wherever that may take you.

Note: Here is another resource we used while staying in Victoria. It is how we discovered The Joint. The Celiac Scene is a fabulous resource!http://www.theceliacscene.com/map5-British-Columbia-Victoria-and-Area-Inner-Harbour.html

Gluten Free?!... There's an App for That!

With so many information sources available in this technological age, it can sometimes be overwhelming. Combine that with the anxiousness that can accompany being on a restricted diet, it can go from overwhelming to exhausting. However, gluten free information overload "has an app for that".
Many of us has phones that do more than simply act as a communication device. They entertain, inform, and help with productivity. And now we are in the dawn of the "tablets" that do even more. Both tablets and smart phones have a vast and varied number of applications- gluten free applications included. For this post I will be only referring to those apps that can be used through the iphone or ipad, since I am unfamiliar with other similar devices.

The first app that I added to our gluten free arsenal- Gluten Free Restaurant Cards for iphone (works on ipad too). These "cards" can be handy to have available when at any restaurant. They explain simply the condition of Celiac Disease and it's dietary requirements in the language you need. Very handy if you plan on visiting ethnic restaurants, and there are no "cards" to lose because it is on your iphone or ipad.

Some apps specific for ipad that are great for the kitchen (celiac or otherwise)- Allrecipes.com and Epicurious. Though both are good and provide lots of recipes at your fingertips, I prefer the format of Epicurious. Both though have good feedback for rating each recipe, which is helpful in choosing a recipe that you have never tried before. But don't fret about having to choose between the two- both are free. Another excellent free recipe app is Whole Foods Market Recipes. Again, there are what seems to be hundreds of recipes. You can even further tailor your dietary needs if you needed dairy free on top of gf- each recipe is coded for easy viewing to find the one that suits your needs. Epicurious has the ability to input multiple search parameters, allowing for gluten free, low sodium, kosher recipes to be searched for, or any other combination. Both Whole Foods and Epicurious also have the added benefit of creating a shopping list for the recipe too. Handy!
Though there are many more apps available, those I have mentioned are free and seem to be the most helpful of the free apps, making living gluten free simpler for Celiac's. I have yet to explore those apps that need to be purchased. Though their cost is not great, I have been too occupied with the ones I currently have. I will post on this later when I have explored more of these handy little gf digital tools.

Celiac Awareness- Fighting Against the Fad

It seems that there is more awareness of Celiac Disease these days. Along with this awareness, more people are becoming diagnosed. In turn, there are more companies producing gluten free products and many restaurants are willing to be acomodating. All terrific for someone living with Celiac Disease for years, or those new Celiac's with former mystery medical conditions. BUT...there is a dark beast looming in the shadows. 

Over this past week, I have come across two disturbing articles. In one instance, a prominent chef apparently disregarded requests for gluten free meals- knowingly feeding these patrons gluten. He supposedly stated this himself on his facebook account, saying that he thought that the whole gluten free thing was in people's heads. The second article is unfortunately a proven case. This particular gentleman thought he'd make money by selling bread to Celiac's telling them it was gluten free, when it was in fact NOT! He has been tried, and sentenced to a minimum of 9 years and a maximum of 11 years. While I think his sentence is a little excessive (since often rapists, pedophiles, and murderers get lighter sentencing than this), I believe it is the start to better regulation and accountability in the gluten free industry. 

So why would these individuals be so blatantly deceptive?... For one, though there is more awareness out there than ever before about Celiac Disease, it seems that the necessity of the Celiac gluten free diet has been hijacked by those who are following the latest health craze or diet fad. Don't get me wrong, I am not a health nut hater- I think it just has caused some confusion with needing to be gluten free and wanting to be gluten free. In either instance both parties have the right to eat a gluten free diet, and violating that right is wrong. But it seems that living gluten free by choice has begun to gloss over Celiac Disease- thus you have people out there that begin to believe being a Celiac is nonsense, and/or simply wanting to cash in on the latest health craze (since gf food tends to be expensive). Both of these ways of thinking are dangerous to a Celiac. Being that it is an autoimmune condition rather than an allergy, some may also leap to the conclusion that since a Celiac doesn't react immediately to gluten exposure that they must be one of these health nuts- they can charge more for their "gf" product, or simply be lazy and not go the extra mile to avoid gluten...that no harm will come to the individual ingesting gluten. Not eating gluten free does do damage to a Celiac's health!

So what is a Celiac to do?... Continue to speak out. Clarify. Specify. While I think the message is getting out there about eating a gluten free diet, I think it is important to explain to people what being a Celiac is when the opportunity presents itself. I recently informed a curious Dairy Queen employee and a customer who both asked me more about "what is Celiac Disease exactly?". Word of mouth is a powerful tool, so don't discount your mini campaign. It may also be helpful to encourage Celiac Associations become more involved in the community at large- speaking to restaurants and grocers; informing them, offering tips and/or training rather than solely focusing on the Celiac's themselves. Regulatory bodies may also jump on the band wagon of "correct" Celiac awareness too in the wake of the fraudulent bread conviction. But in the meantime, put your own voice to work. Speak out. Lobby for change where needed. Inform one person at a time.  

http://www.foodista.com/blog/2011/03/30/chef-admits-lying-to-gluten-free-diners/ 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/12/1125084/durham-man-who-sold-fake-gluten.html

Update: April 21st, 2011
Here is an article related to the need to eat gluten free versus that want of eating gluten free. A positive explanation and discussion about the topic. Thought this link would give some balance to the two previous negative ones.

Cross Contamination Cont...Eating Away from Home

When my daughter was diagnosed as a Celiac, it was a while before she gathered the courage to eat at a restaurant or even a friend's house. She is a particularly sensitive Celiac, so the thought of leaving her meal in someone else's care was scary...at first.
The easiest transition for my daughter was having a meal at a friend's house. Her friends became advocates for her, informing parents of her dietary needs. As an adult however, the only advocate we are likely to have is ourselves. Though you may feel at first that your are imposing on your hosts with your gf needs, don't fret. You can't help that you can't ingest gluten- so why feel guilty?
Any gracious host will be more than understanding and accommodating. Just don't spring it on them when you arrive at the door. Because if you leave your host in the dark, the only one who is going to suffer is you- being stuck with carrot sticks or ingesting gluten. Instead make a courtesy phone call, thanking them for the invitation and explain your gf needs. If they balk at this, then they aren't likely worth your time.
If your host is unsure about what to avoid in the kitchen, offer emailing a list, or direct them to a web listing of what to watch out for. Living Without magazine also has a list of foods to avoid in every issue near the back. In addition, ask the host if they are unsure whether an ingredient used is gf or not that they allow you to read the label. That way you can enjoy your meal in confidence, lacking the nagging worry of how you will feel in the coming hours.
Another tip- serve yourself first, or ask your host to allow you early entry to the kitchen or table. There may be things like bread being served, and crumbs (or serving spoons) can travel to undesired destinations such as your plate. With practice, you and your host will continue to have an open dialogue about avoiding gluten- but be their polite gentle informative guide.
Next stop on the GF Culinary Tasting Tour...Restaurants! Understandably, eating at a restaurant (whether 5 star, fast food or mall food court) can be distressing for a Celiac. There are so many more elements involved- I'm starving, where can I eat right now? Does the chef and staff truly understand what Gluten Free means? Is it a busy restaurant/time where mistakes are more likely to be made?
To get yourself started and back to enjoying eating out, refer initially to your regional celiac association. They will usually have restaurant listings that are gf friendly, and in most cases the staff are well trained in gf awareness. Plan ahead by choosing a restaurant on the list. Then call to see when they tend to be less busy, making a reservation if necessary. When you are seated, ask if a gluten free menu is available- if not, then tell your server that you are a Celiac and ask what they recommend that can be made gluten free. Remember, just because a restaurant is on a gf friendly list doesn't mean it waves your responsibility of informing staff of your needs. Very few restaurants exist that are completely gf.
When you order be very clear that your meal needs to gf, but be polite and make a point of saying thank you. I have found that politeness helps to further keep gluten at bay because your server is more inclined to be more vigilant. Simply being polite, I have had servers catch kitchen errors before the meal even reached the table. However, don't be so polite as to not question your meal when it comes. If it looks suspicious, ask. Send the meal back if needed, requesting a freshly made one.
Here are a few additional things you can do or look out for when out and about and eating gf:
1) Is it deep fried?...I have encountered a few restaurants that recommend items that are deep fried, but do not have a separate fryer for battered foods. This is not gf eating- you cannot cook gluten at a high temp to neutralize it, nor is the gluten going to stay in the oil and not your food. McDonald's is one place that does have a separate fryer for french fries vs. other battered/coated foods.
2) When there is doubt about an ingredient in a meal you would like, avoid and choose something safer, or when possible ask to read the label. I have had many places graciously pull out big jugs to let me read ingredients.
3) Avoid buffets. They are usually not gf, and if there happens to be gf items the likelihood them remaining gf is nil.
4) Avoid hard ice cream and stick to soft serve or frozen yogurt. Hard ice cream is exposed to cones that are not gf. Soft serve ice cream on the other hand comes from a dispenser keeping it gf. (Still ask about ingredients when in doubt though.) Then...ask the server to remove the nozzle on the dispenser and clean it for you- because the nozzle has come into contact with cones and other non gf ingredients. I have visited Dairy Queen on numerous occasions with my daughter, state that she is a Celiac and that ingesting minute amounts of cookie, cones, etc will have her doubled over in pain in an hour. 99% of the servers have be fantastic about cleaning the nozzle. Only one told me to "get over it".
5) Beware of sauces. Ask about ingredients. I have had many servers happily ask the chef on our behalf. When in doubt though, omit or or order a different meal.
6) Ask if your meal can be brought out separately. Some servers like to stack plates on their arm- however this increases your risk of non gf items making their way to your plate.
7) I often stress that my daughter is highly sensitive to gluten, and that croutons cannot be picked off if placed in error- that a single crumb will cause hours of torture. At times I state that she is allergic, though this is a lie- but it seems to get the point across since many are ignorant of what gluten or a Celiac is. And I am descriptive. I tell people anything with bread, cookie, cracker, etc is toxic to my daughter.
8) Ask if it is possible for a special meal that is not on the menu. Sometimes it may be a bowl of fruit, or a lettuce salad with chicken. But understand that it won't always be possible. On a number of occasions, my daughter has been made to feel like a queen- being told they would make her her own special meal.  Once, the chef came out to greet her, telling her he would make anything for her that she wanted, on or off menu- even bread. None of these places were listed on gf recommended restaurant lists, and in fact were in out of the way places. Only one was a four star establishment.
9) Have a back up plan. This means carrying a gf granola bar or other gf snack that can be easily carried with you. This is not ideal, but it prevents you from passing out from hunger in case you cannot locate a place that can be accommodating.
Now what are you waiting for?... Get out there and eat!

Cross Contamination- The Dark Cloud that Follows Every Celiac

As any Celiac knows, or anyone that knows a Celiac, cross contamination is constantly something that needs vigilance. For my daughter, a single gluten laden crumb is enough to cause several hours of intestinal torture. Thankfully as a mother, I have not yet "poisoned" my daughter with gluten. I am careful, and have gotten into a routine of how I go about preparing meals. However, I cannot keep my teen daughter locked up from the world in order for her to avoid gluten. So we plan, and ask questions, and do alot of reading when out and about.
Over the next few blog posts, this will be the focus- how to avoid cross contamination. Like storm clouds brewing in the distance, one can limit the chances of exposure to gluten by being informed with your own GF Weather Report.
I will leave you with this mini tip until my next post...do not share lip balm or gloss with a non celiac- my daughter borrowed mine once. The lip balm was gf, but my lips were not...tainting the balm. She has never forgotten again.

The Living Gluten Free Challenge

Living gluten free can be challenging. My family discovered this a little over two years ago when our teen daughter was diagnosed. It came as a complete shock since she had shown no obvious symptoms leading up to her dramatic and sudden onset of Celiac Disease. There was no known family history, and though I had heard of this condition, I essentially knew nothing. Once we had the diagnosis by biopsy, it was a steep learning curve for my daughter and our family. The task of feeding my daughter had suddenly seemed like a maze of inedible booby traps. But we got through it. And if you are a new Celiac you will adapt too. My hope with this blog is to help new Celiac's, as well as those who have been living gluten free for years, find resources to live better. You do not need to feel deprived any longer, or overwhelmed by "what can I eat?".