Can We Eat That?

Woodchuck Cider Honors Celiac Awareness Month

Celiac Disease Awareness, Gluten-Free Market & Woodchuck Cider

MIDDLEBURY, VT -- (Marketwire) -- 05/16/11 --   May is National
Celiac Awareness Month and nationwide resources and events can be
found at the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness website --
http://www.celiaccentral.org/awarenessmonth/. Celiac disease is a
digestive condition triggered by consumption of the protein gluten,
which is in foods containing wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats.
Celiac disease affects 3 million Americans, yet 95% of sufferers are
unaware or undiagnosed. There are limited dietary choices for people
with gluten sensitivity and as a result the gluten free market has
exploded. According to "Gluten-free Foods and Beverages in the U.S.,"
Packaged Facts Report, the market for gluten-free foods and beverages
has grown at an annual rate of 30% between 2006-2010, reaching sales
of $2.6 billion in 2010 and estimated to exceed $5 billion by 2015.

The handcrafters of Woodchuck Hard Cider take celiac disease
seriously, and since Woodchuck has always, and only, been made from
apples (not wheat, barley or rye) none of the cider varieties have
ever contained gluten. Further, all cider varieties have been tested
by ABC Research Corporation of Gainesville, Florida and the Woodchuck
Cidery in Middlebury, Vermont maintains a completely gluten-free
facility. Woodchuck's flagship Amber is still handcrafted by cider
master Greg Failing and his original recipe from Woodchuck Cider's
humble beginnings in 1991 in Proctorsville, Vermont. 

Throughout May, Woodchuck Cider is sponsoring the Woodchuck Celiac
Awareness Sweepstakes awarding ten grand prize $250 gift certificates
to Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods and Gluten-Free Starter Kits. Fifty
second prizes of one year subscriptions to Gluten-Free Living
Magazine will also be awarded. 

With a gluten-free diet, most beer is off limits. With Woodchuck Hard
Cider, there's no need to worry. The only pressing questions are
choice between the Core Styles, Limited Releases, or the rare Private
Reserve Ciders, all ranging between 4% - 6.9% alcohol by volume.

Woodchuck Cider also makes an excellent ingredient in gluten-free
recipes -- as a glaze, in a soup, as a marinade, or to enhance a
dessert. Woodchuck offers some favorite recipes at

http://www.woodchuck.com/cider/recipes.html and also encourages their
exuberant fan base to share recipes through blogs via their Facebook www.facebook.com/WoodchuckCider and Twitter www.twitter.com/WoodchuckCider. 

 

Looking Beyond a Gluten-Free Diet by Jennifer Cerbasi

Published April 26, 2011 at FoxNews.com

"For years parents and physicians have been examining the benefits of a gluten-free, casein-free diet for children with autism. 

Many report great success with such restrictions. Now, parents and doctors of children with special needs are looking beyond these diets to check food labels for dyes, additives and sugar content.

The concept of monitoring synthetic food additives first gained popularity among parents of children with ADHD, but now parents of children with autism are examining the benefits of eliminating these artificial flavors, dyes and sugar from their children's diets. The goal of eliminating these elements is to reduce inappropriate self-stimulatory behaviors and increase focus. Parents and teachers are reporting success.

"I saw a change within 24 hours. This student was laughing uncontrollably, all the time, and within the first day he was quieter and more focused," one teacher shared.

A mother of two children on the spectrum says monitoring sugar intake keeps her children's moods more even. 

"When they have things like gluten or too much sugar, their moods change quickly," she said.

Taking the first step to implementing these changes can be hard for parents, especially when feeding children who only eat certain color foods or eat the same foods each day, common habits among so many children with autism. In addition, many children in ABA-based programs are reinforced with edible items, which often include candy, chips, cookies, or other highly-motivating snacks.

Americans in general have become more conscious of what they put in their bodies in recent years, as seen in the number of healthy cookbooks, natural and organic food stores, and holistic medicine options available in the U.S. 

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder continue to research ways to support their children's cognitive, social, and physical growth and eliminating synthetic food additives and sugar from the pantry is another attempt to live a healthy life and solve the puzzle of autism."

Jennifer Cerbasi works as a special education teacher at a public school in New Jersey. As owner of The Learning Link, LLC, she works with parents in the home to support children's academic, social, emotional, and physical health through a variety of services. Jennifer utilizes her training in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis in both settings to foster children's development. In addition to her work both in the classroom and at home, she is also a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. For more information, go to www.jennifercerbasi.com.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/26/looking-gluten-free-diet/#ixzz1KrKAt2via www.foxnews.com

Gluten Free at Trader Joe's

 

Trader Joe's keeps a running list of it's gluten free products which is updated with some regularity.

The printable link is http://www.traderjoes.com/pdf/lists/list-no-gluten.pdf and I have printed it out before to take with me to the store.

Trader Joe's also provides good labeling with little "Gs"  spotted around the store.

 = No Gluten

I think the GF frozen waffles and pancakes are pretty good--the kids like them. I also like the selection of chocolate covered fruits, nuts, caramels, etc.  The yogurt, cheeses and juices are always a safe and easy bet as well. I really like the boxed indian entrees in the dried goods section as well as the frozen taquitos and their flour-less chocolate cakes.

TJ's will also give you a personal tour of their GF selection upon request. All in all, that's great customer service!

Here's the website"s direct link with a summary: http://www.traderjoes.com/lists/no-gluten.asp