Sunday

Kid Friendly Game Day Snacks






Fall is finally upon us. This means that both NHL and NFL fans everywhere are excited and cheering for their favourite teams.

Hockey fans and football fans have a couple of things in common:

1 . They are passionate about their favourite sport

2 . Game day goes hand in hand with awesome food

The most talked about tailgating dishes tend to be on the not so healthy end of things. Tasty? Sure! Great idea every game? Not so much. I've come up with three game day snacks that are yummy, fun to eat, easy to make and KID Friendly!




For this snack, you will need:

Apples
Vanilla Yogurt
Honey
Chia Seeds
Cinnamon Sugar

  • Wash, peel and core the apple
  • Cut the apple into french fry style wedges
  • Toss apple wedges in cinnamon sugar
  • Mix vanilla yogurt with honey and chia seeds
Now it's time to dip the wedges into the honey chia yogurt mixture and enjoy!







For this snack, you will need:

Gluten-Free Wraps (I used Udi's)
Bananas
Peanut Butter
Nutella

  • Microwave gluten-free wraps for about 20 seconds so they are pliable
  • Cut wraps into one-inch strips
  • Slice bananas so they are an inch wide
  • Spread peanut butter on some strips & Nutella on the remaining ones
  • Place banana on wrap and roll up until wrap is secure

Plate and eat!







For this snack, you will need:

Grapes 
Kielbasa
Cheese 

  • Wash grapes
  • Cut kielbasa and cheese into bite-sized cubes
  • Place items on skewers


Voila! You have a quick and healthy snack!




What are some of YOUR go-to game day snacks?






Tuesday

Feast - Gluten-Free, Done Right


I need to share with you guys a fantastic shop in Toronto. It's called Feast and boy, is it heavenly! A friend of my husband's suggested the shop to him a while ago. Unfortunately, we don't visit the city much due to the travel distance. We did, however, see a Blue Jays game recently. This gave us the opportunity to visit Feast!


The first thing I noticed when we got to Feast  was the sign out front. The inside of the shop is cozy and cute. What's super cool is that the owners have done a stellar job creating a cafe which doubles as a pantry shop.






Feast isn't your average everyday store. It's top eight allergy friendly fine food. The owners have strict allergen standards in place to ensure safety. They create a lot of food in house, as you can tell by the awesomeness that is below. Just look at those gluten-free Pocket Pies!






Gluten-Free Donuts. Need I say more?





I went for the "Tripple Chocolate Donut" which retails for $3.50 and it was divine! I would compare it to the awesomeness that is Erin Mckenna's Bakery (formerly Babycakes) in Disney Springs, Orlando. The donut is epic so make sure to try this light and delicious piece of heaven!




I did some pantry shopping as well. One of the many items I bought was this Spice Market gem. Three 5 inch mini pizza crusts for $5.00. Taste, texture and all sorts of goodness in this product!





Check out that sweet little sit-down spot inside. Perfect for enjoying a Pocket Pie and Salad.





Feast is located at 881 Queen Street W. Toronto, ON.

Can't make it to Toronto but want to check out the goods? No problem! Items can be shipped across Canada. Simply visit their online shopping catalogue and you can order all sorts of gluten-free products.


They have also teamed up with Hurrier to deliver Feast made products to addresses within a 3km radius. Items will be at your door in an hour.



Check em out online and send some gluten-free love!

Feast Facebook

Twitter: @thisisafeast

Feast Instagram

Saturday

Stretch Your Gluten-Free Dollar With These Tips





1 .  Buy In Bulk


You can save a lot of money with a membership to a club store such as Costco. If you don't want to pay for a membership, many regular grocery stores offer family packs or club size items as well. Keep an eye out for those "stock up and save" promotions as well.



2 .  Bargain Hunt


This is worth making the extra time for. 

  • Look at flyers to find sales
  • Visit clearance racks
  • Price match
  • Take advantage of discount produce with minor imperfections
  • Buy private label brands



3 .  Frequent Discount Stores


There are actually a lot of places you can find gluten-free food with a price cut. 

Almost Perfect deals directly with major manufacturers. Prices are kept cheap as items are the result of overproduction, cosmetic imperfections and or packaging changes.

Marshalls, HomeSense and Winners sell brand name gluten-free items at 20%-60% less than you would see in other stores.

Dollaramma has many gluten-free items including cereal, snacks and beverages. 



4 .  Use Coupons


There are several ways to find coupons for gluten-free items. Some companies offer printable coupons direct from their website. Signing up for an email newsletter is another great way to get coupons. You can also visit the sites below, to either print coupons and or have them mailed to your home.



5 .  Shop Online


There is an abundance of gluten-free shopping to be done online! Many online retailers even offer free shipping with a minimum order. Not sure where to get gluten-free goods online? Read up on Where To Find Gluten-Free Groceries Online here.



6 .  Use Your Freezer


Once a month, prepare several freezer friendly meals. If you don't have time to do that, make a little bit extra with every meal. This way, you will have food to put aside for freezing. Having something available that can be effortlessly popped in the oven will save you money in the long run. By transforming leftovers, you will also be less tempted to head out to eat.



7 .  Look For Naturally Gluten-Free Food


Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Seeds 
Nuts
Eggs
Brown Rice
Lean Meats
Popcorn




8 .  Keep Those Receipts



Canadian's who have been diagnosed with Celiac can submit a Doctor's note with their taxes. They can then claim the incremental cost of gluten-free food as a medical expense every tax season. Please visit the Canada Revenue Agency for more information.




9 .  Grow Your Own Produce


There are several benefits to starting a garden. 

  • Taking care of a garden involves exercise and time outdoors
  • You will be more likely to eat healthy
  • It's a great family activity
  • You will learn something
  • Gardening is a great way to relax
  • You will also save money







Tuesday

7 Gluten Free Mistakes You Don't Want To Make






7. Assuming You Don't Need a Support Network


Adjusting to the gluten-free diet is a big lifestyle change and it's not easy.Surrounding yourself with people who are supportive is vital. Celiac associations, friends, and family should all be a part of this circle. Just as important is distancing yourself from those who bring you down. You know, the people who get offended that you won't can't eat gluten-containing food.



6. Being in the Dark About what Celiac Disease actually is


Celiac is a life-long autoimmune disorder, so understanding what it's all about is paramount. While you won't become an expert overnight, reading an educational book or two on Celiac will certainly help you out. The more you understand it, the more likely you are to maintain the diet. Knowing what Celiac is all about and sharing that knowledge with those around you is a double win.

5. Overindulging In Gluten-Free Junk Food


Just because it's gluten-free doesn't mean it's magically good for you. Junk food is still junk food and moderation is key. True story. Since we are being honest, eating a healthy gluten-free diet requires some extra work. Why? Well, most gluten-free food is full of sugar and various other substitutes to make up for that missing wheat stuff. This means it's even more important to be aware of what you're eating and not over do it with the junk.



4. Failing to do Your Own Research 


Please don't accept everything you see or hear as fact. Although the interwebs are full of great resources, rumours and inaccurate information lurk everywhere. Myths are abundant and a Facebook meme doesn't come with guaranteed authenticity. Fact-check legitimate resources such as the CCA or NFCA. Also, if there ever is a pill/cure/therapy etc. Those two sites will list it front and centre. Until then, everything is either in research mode or non-existent hocus pocus.


3. Focusing on What You Can't Eat


There is an entire world of "yes" food out there just waiting for you to dig in. Seriously, the gluten-free food department has come a long way. You're going to have to get creative and shop around more, but you will discover great products.You may even learn new kitchen skills in the process. By focusing on what you can enjoy, you will bypass that feeling of missing out.

2. Not Creating a Celiac Safe Area in Your Kitchen


This is a big deal. Without a safe zone to prepare your gluten-free food, cross contamination is just hanging around, waiting to happen. It's important to keep your food clearly labelled "gluten-free" and away from any non-safe items. Designate the top two shelves in the fridge for gluten-free only. Also, pick a cupboard to house all of your gluten-free pantry items. You can and should keep a separate cutting board, strainer and dish sponge in a special non-gluten zone.



1. Forgetting To Be Your Own Advocate


I can't stress how important it is to look out for number one - that's you!
Not everyone has an in-depth understanding of Celiac Disease, so speak up, be firm and when in doubt go without.


Friday

My Gluten Free Bucket List







1. Master the art of Gluten-Free baking. Seriously, I need help.

2. Visit Feast in Toronto. I've known about this gem for some time now and I really need to get there!   *Visited July 2015

3. Read:

  • Gluten Freedom by Alessio Fasano, MD 
  • The Gluten-Free Revolution by Jax Peters Lowell
  • Mayo Clinic Going Gluten Free: Essential Guide to Managing Celiac Disease and Related Conditions by Joseph A. Murray


4. Take another Walt Disney World resort vacation, aka Gluten-Free paradise

5. Add final touches to the Gluten Free Doll website and officially launch it

6. Attend a Gluten-Free expo/conference


7. Cross-border shop for Gluten-Free goods which are not available in Canada


8. Encourage Rogers Centre to host a Celiac Awareness night


9. Help rid Celiac of the fad stigma


10. Find a delicious Gluten-Free croissant and eat it









Disclosure

This policy is valid from 23 February 2013

This is a personal blog written and edited by me. All opinions are that of my own. I am not a healthcare professional or an expert. All information presented in this blog is purely that of my own experience and or opinion. Please consult a medical professional before making any changes to your diet.

I write this blog as a hobby that I am passionate about. From time to time, I may receive monetary compensation for a sponsored post. I only work with brands that I trust and would use in my own home.

This blog accepts complimentary products for review. The opinions I have of a product will never be swayed by a company sending me an item(s) for free. I take into consideration the opinion of family members who are gluten-free due to Celiac Disease and I also value the opinions of non-gluten free family members. Taste is a matter of personal opinion so please use your own discretion and don't take my opinion as a gold standard.

Any ingredient or gluten-free claims should be verified with the restaurant/manufacturer as things can and do change.

For questions about this blog, please contact: sandra@glutenfreedoll.com

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