All fired up

The Garden State is in full grilling mode and those backyard barbecues can be tricky for celiacs. The Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio has issued a list of tips for parents to keep safe their kids on gluten-free diets.

Photo/National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

The good advice, which is equally valuable for adults, aims to protect celiacs from cross-contamination and ingredients that might be used by hosts who are unfamiliar with the particulars of GF living. Of course, you can host your own gathering at the grill to avoid issues altogether, bring a GF bun or bread for your burger, or offer to contribute a GF dish to share, potluck-style.

Other words of wisdom from the NCH:

Gluten-free: It's what's for breakfast

I got my gluten-free breakfast fix this past weekend with a couple of bagels produced by Pennsylvania wholesaler Sweet Note Bakery. Mine were purchased at Mount Laurel Bagels & Bakery. The everything bagel with cream cheese was delicious! I also tried the plain version, which was good too. Both required toasting to soften them up a bit, which was recommended by the a staff member who lives gluten-free.

In the few days since my visit, Sweet Note announced they are now delivering to The Bagel Spot on Kings Highway in Cherry Hill. In addition to these spots and the two Bagel Talk locations previously mentioned on this blog, these gluten-free bagels are sold through The Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill, Maidenhead Bagel Co. in Lawrenceville and Blue Plate in Mullica Hill.

Where will they show up next?

Sunny days keeping hunger at bay

I fully expect to have a tough time finding suitable food options when I'm in a place like a theme park, where it's a great inconvenience to leave the premises for a meal. Therefore, it's so nice to find a family-friendly tourist attraction that caters to celiacs. On visits to Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa., it certainly surprised me.

"Allergy-friendly" eateries are noted on maps of the park, which is a short drive from Trenton. In addition to gluten-free, they offer special items for visitors with peanut and dairy allergies. While the menu isn't new, it's expanding and its' good for parents with young children to know.

More, more more!

It seems more and more restaurants and mainstream grocery stores are catering to gluten-free consumers. Yay!

Read about the trend and where to dine/shop in Burlington County here: GF Menus and GF Groceries

To celiacs, with love ... part deux

As promised, we have a list of places where the public can drop off gluten-free donations that will go to area food banks, pantries and soup kitchens. We will update the list if additional information becomes available. The "Share-the-Love Gluten-Free" food drive running through Feb. 14 is being conducted by the Theta Lambda chapter of the Eta Sigma Alpha National Homeschool Honors Society.

The locations are ...

To celiacs, with love

There are gluten-free food drives going on in some parts of the state through Feb. 14, thanks to some homeschooled teens with hearts of gold.

The Theta Lambda chapter of the Eta Sigma Alpha National Honor Society is collecting much-needed supplies for social services agencies, including soup kitchens and food pantries, that provide sustenance to families that cannot afford to purchase groceries.Organized by high school-age students who have excelled at academic tests, the "Share-the-Love Gluten-Free" food drives are happening in Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties.

A list of drop-off points is coming. In the meantime, a story published by the Burlington County Times has additional information about one of the drives: Click here

This time of year, donations to food banks and pantries are traditionally down. If you haven't already, please consider giving gluten-free items to your own local social services agency. It'll be a heart-warming experience.

Happy Valentine's Day!
 

Still on a Sweet Note

Fresh-made bagels landed in Jersey earlier this fall. The makers, Sweet Note Bakery in Pennsylvania, have now extended their reach to two new locations.

The bakery announced today its deals to supply doughy, holey rounds of gluten-free goodness at a pair of Bagel Talk stores in Central Jersey. They're located at 8 S. Main Street in Marlboro and 3177 Route 9 in Old Bridge.

For more on Sweet Note Bakery, scroll down to my earlier post or find it here: http://gfgardenstate.blogspot.com/2012/10/beginning-on-sweet-note.html