Simply Gluten Free Recommends

Kay's Naturals - BETTER BALANCE

2011-01-13T19:05:00.009-05:00

Now here’s a company that is really taking nutritious snacks, cookies and cereals to-the-next-level!! Developed by a Doctor with the science of nutrition at the forefront of his thought process – these yummy Snacks, Cereals and Cookies by Kay’s Naturals are Better Balance - and are a REAL solution to gluten intolerance, obesity and diabetic concerns as they provide Protein and Fiber to sustain energy, manage weight loss and stabilize blood sugar levels. Here is a REAL solution for the kids who want (and we need to provide them with) good-for-you snacks, cereals and cookies!!

ALL of Kay’s Naturals products are Gluten Free!! The French Vanilla Protein Cereal tastes totally awesome – no trans fats – only 3gs sugar – only 100 calories – and 9 grams of Protein per bag!! I couldn't put the Crispy Parmesan Protein Chips down once I started to taste them – total yammers!! And only 110 calories – no sugar – AND 10 grams of Protein per serving!!!

With Kay's whole line of products which includes differant flavored Pretzel Sticks, Protein Chips, Protein+ Cookie Bites, and great tasting Protein Cereals you finally have a gluten free, high protein snack - yes, even the cereals make for a great snack - you can toss in the kids lunch boxes and know they are getting a quailty treat at school or as my husband did - snack away between dinner and going-to-bed, while watching his favorite TV show!

Gluten Free AND - High in Protein - Low Calorie - Low Carb - Zero Cholesterol - and a good source of Fiber!! Daaahhhhh!

A lot of science and dedicated work went into the making of this line of products - I strongly encourage you to utilize it and fully enjoy them for the whole family!!

You will find Kay’s Naturals Better Balance in Health Food stores or you can order assortments from Kay's Naturals by clicking HERE.

Plainville Turkeys are Gluten Free

2010-11-01T10:14:00.006-04:00

One of my pet peaves is when a food item that does not naturally contain gluten is "glutenized" for no good reason. Case in point is turkey. I can't tell you how many times I have heard the story of someone being oh so careful not to accidentally eat gluten; staying away from the stuffing and gravy, bringing their own gluten-free pies, asking if the creamed spinach was thickened with wheat flour only to become ill after a Holiday meal. The culprit? The one thing that should not have had any gluten in it in the first place - the turkey! Did you know that the turkey you purchase for your holiday dinner may be injected with flour?

Since turkey is the star of the show for my Thanksgiving and other Holiday dinners I like to make sure I get the best turkey I can find. Not only do I NOT want any gluten injected into it, I want it to be all natural, have no hormones added and to be raised antibiotic free. Most importantly I want it to juicy, tender and taste great!

Plainville Farms is where I'll get my turkeys from now on. All their turkeys are fresh, gluten-free, have no antibiotics or growth hormones injected into them and are humanely raised. They are fed a vegetarian diet which not only produces a healthier turkey but a better tasting one!

Don't take any chances this year with your Holiday Turkey - get a Plainville Turkey. You will love it! And Martha Stewart agrees with me!

Sunbutter

2010-10-01T16:11:00.000-04:00

I first found Sunbutter creamy spread when my sister asked me to come up with an alternative to use in my yummy gluten-free peanut butter cookies for her son Kelton. Kelton is severly allegic to peanuts. We are talking shot carrying, anaphylactic shock inducing, scare the heck out of you allergic.

He is also gorgeous, brilliant and charming and has the effect of making me want to do anything I can to make him happy. And he is a picky eater. (I can't blame him, who wants to eats something that doesn't taste good?)
Sunbutter turned out to be the answer. Sunbutter products are completely peanut free, tree nut free and gluten free. The products are processed in a facilty that does not process any tree nuts or gluten and are made with roasted sunflower seeds making them lower in fat (by a lot!) higher in fiber and iron than peanut butter and a great source of protein.

But all the nutritional info in the world means nothing to a three year old! Kelton is concerned with one thing and one thing only when it comes to food - is it yummy? This is where Sunbutter gets the big thumbs up! He loves it. Turns out I love it too as does my husband.

Sunbutter makes creamy, crunchy, organic unsweetened and natural peanut butter alternatives and they have just recently come out with Sunbutter On The Go Snack Packs! What a great way to take a delicious and healthy snack on the road.

Sunbutter products have been residing in our home and are now a part of our "family" as well. Please welcome Sunbutter to the Simply...Gluten-free family as one of our gluten-free partners.

Tasty Bite

2010-09-15T17:44:00.000-04:00

No matter how organized you are, how fabulous of a cook you are or how great you are at time management, you may just find yourself in the situation of being hungry and too tired or busy to cook. And for the gluten-free, convenience foods can be a problem.

Enter Tasty Bite. Tasty Bite makes a whole line of packaged, shelf stable, prepared Indian and Pan Asian foods that are not only convenient but as the name implies, very, very tasty. They offer selections that are gluten-free, dairy-free, Kosher and vegan. Amazingly enough Tasty Bite foods contain no preservatives and require no refrigeration. And best yet, they are ready to eat in only 90 seconds - perfect to take to work for lunch, on camping trips and for college dorm rooms.

My oldest son was born with his days and nights mixed up. As a baby he was up all night and slept all day. This is something that never really changed. Oh, he had to conform to schedules while he was in school but as soon as he was on his own he reverted back to his natural ways. Fortunately he is an artist where working through the night is not only acceptable but considered uber cool. The down side of this is that he often finds himself starving at 4 in the morning when no restaurants are open and he does not like to break his creative streak by taking too long to prepare food. His pantry is stocked with gluten-free meals from Tasty Bite. As a mom I rest easier knowing he will not starve to death in his art studio.

If you just shipped your child off to college, Tasty Bite can send them college care packages which will help them resist the urge to give in to the “normal” college diet of beer and pizza!

Gluten Free Product Recommendations

2010-08-15T19:59:00.058-04:00

Now here’s a company that is really taking nutritious snacks, cookies and cereals to-the-next-level!! Developed by a Doctor with the science of nutrition at the forefront of his thought process – these yummy Snacks, Cereals and Cookies by Kay’s Naturals – Better Balance - are a REAL solution to gluten intolerance, obesity and diabetic concerns as they provide Protein and Fiber to sustain energy, manage weight loss and stabilize blood sugar levels. Here is a REAL solution for the kids who want (and we need to provide them with) good snacks, cereals and cookies!! ALL of Kay’s Naturals products are Gluten Free!! The French Vanilla Protein Cereal tastes totally awesome – no trans fats – only 3gs sugar – only 100 calories – and 9 grams of Protein per bag!! I couldn't put the Crispy Parmesan Protein Chips down once I started to taste them – total yammers!! And only 110 calories – no sugar – AND 10 grams of Protein per serving!!! You will find Kay’s Naturals Better Balance in Health Food stores or you can order assortments from Kay’s Naturals directly.

Finally, a great-tasting daily multi-vitamin drink I can enjoy and one that the kids love also, without tons of sugar or corn syrup, which comes in convenient packets for lunches or anytime pick-me-ups! Oxylent – a unique blend of multivitamins, minerals, enzymes, electrolytes, amino acids and antioxidants – is Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Caffeine Free and Preservative Free – and naturally sweetened with Stevia and a small amount of Organic Cane Sugar. And aside from coming in many super tasty flavors – Blackberry Pomegranate, Mandarin Orange, and Sparkling Berries – it also comes formulated specifically for Prenatal Moms and Children! Oxylent was rated 2009 Top Ten New Products and received the Best Supplements Award 2010 by Better Nutrition magazine – impressed me!! It’s available at Whole Foods and Vitamin Shoppes or for your convenience, you can order it on-line also. A real quality product that, again, tastes great!

You know I love my gluten-free desserts. But I am trying to make healthier choices in my eating habits. I believe that small changes can add up to big results. This is why I am now using Wholesome Sweeteners line of agave nectars, honeys, molasses and organic sugars. With no harmful chemical, no genetically modified ingredients and of course, no gluten I can feel just a bit better about enjoying my desserts! I may have started using organic sugar as a small step to healthier eating but the reason I continue to use it with such pleasure is that it tastes incredible! Not a sharp sweetness like bleached granulated sugar, it has a mild, mellow flavor which adds such depth and dimension to baked goods. This is due to a bit of natural molasses being left in the sugar crystals when they are milled. Wholesome Sweeteners sugars are all Fair Trade Certified so I can feel even better about giving my sugar business to a socially responsible company. Two of their products that have changed my life are the organic powdered sugar which contains no cornstarch and the maple flavored agave. Seriously, changed my life!

When I was developing gluten-free recipes for my dessert cookbook, I discovered SOLO's Almond Paste in the local supermarket. Since then I've kept my pantry stocked with a half dozen cans, as I find myself reaching for it all the time, especially when making not only gluten-free but grain-free desserts. As we all know, when you take out gluten you run the risk of loosing the structure the gluten adds to baked goods. Oh! And seriously, it tastes AMAZING! It adds a sweet almondy goodness to all sorts of baked goods. I use it all the time in making cookies, cakes. Another reason I like Solo's Almond Paste (as simplistic as it sounds) is because it comes in a can and as a result, I've noticed it tastes fresher than another brand I tried that came in a tube. Besides, I live in hurricane country - so a stocked pantry is a must! When torrential downpours happen it is good to be able to make gluten-free cookies! Solo makes many other gluten-free products - cake and pastry fillings, pie fillings, marshmallow creme, marzipan, apricot butter and many more items - see them all on their website at http://solofoods.com/

I recently got to try this wonderful cookie and was totally amazed! Mim's Kitchen is on a Celiac-inspired gluten-free cookie mission..."simply helping you bake memories", as the Founder, Lynn Padasak says! By the way, “Mim” means “Mom” in Lynn’s household. She uses only the freshest All Natural ingredients to make her cookies!! These are “ready to bake” cookies that come frozen as preformed cookie dough. It’s so easy, fast and makes the whole house smell soooo good!! Warm, crispy and ever-so-delicious cookies in minutes – simply Bake and Enjoy!! All Mim’s products are Gluten-free and OUD (Orthodox Union Dairy) certified and CSA (Celiac Sprue Association Recognition Seal) certified. Over and above all that, the best thing about Mim’s is that the cookies taste awesome!!

I love Kelapo's coconut oil! Virgin coconut oil is known around the world as a healthy, flavorful alternative to butter and other oils and Kelapo is the ONLY organic and Fair Trade certified brand available - and its gluten free of course! Kelapo coconut oil adds enticing flavor to foods both savory and sweet without adding any trans fat. Great for cooking and baking with gluten-free recipes. It is also my secret weapon when I make vegan cupcakes and frostings. Erin Meagher, a high school teacher, discovered the value of virgin coconut oil as a replacement for butter and other oils and after extensive research has developed the finest tasting, highest quality food grade virgin coconut oil in today's marketplace. Added to that, Erin has taken on the role of spreading the word to those of us so interested in our health. Kelapo is also committed to eco-friendly practices to protect and preserve the planet's natural resources. And I just love companies who care as much about our planet as they do about making good products, don't you?

I have found a turkey I can highly recommend to all my readers - Plainville Farms Turkeys. Plainville Farms grows its turkeys in a humane, animal friendly environment and without the use of antibiotics. They use only the finest vegetarian feed free of any animal by-products which not only produces a healthier turkey but a better tasting one! Completely gluten-free with no injected fats, oils or gluten, antibiotics or growth hormones, these fresh turkeys are quite simply the best tasting turkeys I have ever cooked. And I am not alone in that opinion, Martha Stewart also recommends Plainville Turkeys and they are the turkeys she sells as her signature turkey under the Martha Stewart brand. Plainville Farms are not only dedicated to raising safe, wholesome, delicious turkeys but are the leaders in humane, sustainable turkey farming.

Gluten free has never tasted so good - that's Kinnikinnick's motto and I wholeheartedly agree! 15 years ago when I first went gluten-free, I thought that many simple, beloved foods I had taken for granted were to become a thing of the past. But thanks to the dedicated efforts of Kinnikinnick we gluten-free folks can now enjoy breads, muffins, bagels, cookies, hamburger buns and even doughnuts! All Kinnikinnick's products are gluten, wheat and nut tree free and many are dairy free as well. Not only does Kinnikinnick made delicious tasting gluten-free products, they are socially responsible as well, supporting groups that further the eduction of Celiac Disease and Autism as well as helping to fund Research Centers. As a note I recently tried one (or 5) of their K-Toos (a gluten and dairy free cookie VERY similar to an Oreo Cookie) and may I just say, it was a little bit of heaven in my gluten-free world.

I am picky about a lot of things and ketchup is one of them. I will be honest, I have tried many brands of sugar free, organic ketchup and even though I know organic is the way to go when ever possible, I just didn't like them. That was before I came across Organicville's ketchup. 100 percent organic, no sugar added (sweetened with agave), gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, this ketchup is most importantly, delicious! With a line of condiments which includes various types of mustard, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, pasta sauces and salsas - ALL 100 % ORGANIC AND GLUTEN FREE - I have found my source for condiments. If you have never tried Organicville products, I urge you to try them now! You are in for a wonderful surprise. All Organicville's products are not only organic but are also gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. So go ahead, add some condiments to your life.

Nature's Path Organic is truly the industry leader in organic cereals and has been for 25 years. All Nature's Path Organic products are organic, non-GMO and many are gluten-free. They produce a whole line of gluten-free cereals, snack bars and cookies that are not only delicious but that appeal to adults and children alike. I have found that packaging plays a very important part in getting kids to try something. Nature's Path Organics Envirokidz products are packaged not only to appeal to children but whenever you buy one of these products 1% of the sales goes to charity with over a million dollars having been donated to date. And as a side note on their packaging, they have gone against the tide of most commercial food producers and have made their packaging smaller rather than bigger to help conserve our natural resources. This is a company that truly cares not only for our bodies but our planet as well. They are socially and environmentally responsible and produce great tasting and healthy food.

Let's face it, even the best of cooks finds themselves from time to time in a situation where they need something to eat that is fast and convenient. Personally, I don't care how much of a hurry I am in or how hungry I am, if I put something in my mouth, it better taste good. Tasty Bite offers 39 ready to eat, shelf stable, international meals with a wide variety that are gluten-free as well as Kosher, vegetarian and vegan. Their products require no cooking or refrigeration, are easy to take to the office or school for lunch or on a camping trip or to stock up the college student's dorm - have no preservatives and taste phenomenal. Tasty Bite is also a company with great social responsibility, they offer scholarship programs for children of their factory workers, have disaster relief programs providing food in emergency situations such as earthquakes and 80% of their energy consumed comes from renewable sources. Spice it up with a Tasty Bite's all natural, Indian and Pan-Asian prepared foods.

Glee Gum is a all-natural, gluten-free chewing gum with no artificial coloring, flavoring, sweeteners nor preservatives. Glee Gum is the only gum in North America made the old-fashioned way, with chicle! Chicle is a natural tree sap harvested sustainably from the rain forests of Central America. Once all chewing gum was made with chicle, but today most gum is made entirely from synthetic stuff. Not Glee Gum! Glee Gum uses chicle because it is an eco-friendly way to help conserve the rain forest. Chicle is also what gives the gum such great, long-lasting chewing texture! Glee Gum is a “green” gum right down to the packaging, which is made from biodegradable, recycled cardboard. Glee Gum is made in the USA by Verve, inc., an independent, certified woman-owned business dedicated to creating socially and environmentally responsible products. In addition to Glee Gum, Verve, inc. produces a line of all-natural Make Your Own Candy Kits for kids. Verve, inc. is a proud member of Green America and 1% for the Planet. To learn more, please visit gleegum.com. And chew with Glee, naturally!