The holiday season has passed but there are still occasions when you’ll need a host gift. If you are gluten free and need to bring something over to say thank you or if you’re not gluten free and going to someone’s house who is, bring a box of Glutenetto cookies by Cookies Con Amore. You will be the hero of the party.

These cookies were wonderful and the assorted box it smelled like an Italian grandmother’s kitchen of butter, almonds and fresh baked cookies. The packaging says, “Cookies con Amore” and that’s how I felt when I opened the box and the delicious smell reminded me of grandma. Click to continue reading »

We’ve posted in the past about the various forms of gluten-free Asian noodles but they’re still easy forget about when I’m doing my weekly meal planning. Pairing these noodles with a gluten-free soy sauce or gluten-free teriyaki sauce (like the one made by Kikkoman) makes a great quick, weeknight dinner. Click to continue reading »

By now you’ve seen them outside your local grocery store and Starbucks: Girl Scouts of America. Maybe they’re even knocking on your door or sending out neighborly emails. The selling season has begun!

The first of its new gluten-free offerings that we tried was Toffee-tastic, buttery cookies with toffee bits. This is the first time in the 98-year Girl Scout cookie-selling history that a gluten-free cookie is available nationwide. Last year, the Scouts tested a gluten-free Chocolate Chip Shortbread in select markets. Click to continue reading »

If you have been following a gluten-free diet, due to gluten intolerance or celiac disease, but still suffer from lingering fatigue and digestive distress, you’re one of many.

The intestinal damage that accumulates during the months and years prior to your diagnosis can take years to fully heal. Unfortunately, every time you accidentally ingest small amounts of gluten due to cross contamination, your symptoms flare up and it sets your full recovery back even further.

The folks over at CeliAct created Gluten-Free Diet Support, a nutritional supplement created specifically for those on a gluten-free diet. Gluten-Free Diet Support contains highly bioavailable forms of 12 different vitamins and minerals that help alleviate fatigue.

Additionally, Gluten-Free Diet Support contains a powerful probiotic called Unique IS-2, a strain of bacillus coagulans that has been shown to help ease bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

CeliAct is offering the readers of Triumph Dining 30% off their first purchase.

It’s my first time in a CrossFit gym. Tim, the gym owner who introduces me to the program and workout, opens by talking about nutrition. The CrossFit movement is big on the Paleo Diet. Paleo people avoid gluten. While that’s not what brought me to CrossFit, it is a draw.

If you’re not familiar with CrossFit, it’s a strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and other elite and professional athletes worldwide. Click to continue reading »

Last time I ordered a bun-less burger from a fast casual restaurant I got a weird look and a shrug. It was as if they were saying, “You want what? Ok. Whatever, weirdo.” That judgment, attitude and lack of knowledge of the gluten-free diet or even the low carb trend is exactly why I don’t normally eat there. But on a cold night with two sleeping kids in the car I found myself in the drive-through.

What a difference it was when I went to Meatheads for the second time. They were happy to serve my all-beef burger in lettuce with plenty of choices for other fresh toppings like cheese, avocado, roasted red pepper or pineapple. They knew that the fries were cooked in a dedicated fryer, separate from the chicken, and that I had to stay away from the Cajun seasoning. Click to continue reading »

Cuisine Cube has done it again. They’ve sent me something gluten-free that I haven’t seen before. This time it was CoraBella gluten-free gnocchi.

Gnocchi is a small dumpling-like pasta that’s traditionally made with potato and wheat flour. I’ve suspected that this would be easy to convert into a gluten-free version but I’ve never actually seen one nor have I been curious enough to try to make it from scratch. This pasta was tender and chewy and held together. It’s heavier than typical pasta, so for me, the serving size is smaller.   Click to continue reading »

Dr. Shawn Khodadadian of Manhattan Gastroenterology saw a definitive rise in Celiac Disease testing among patients undergoing family planning in 2014. He says, “I have unquestionably performed more Celiac Disease testing and treatments this year and specifically amongst women considering pregnancy”.

Due to increasing awareness and concern over Celiac Disease and the issues it presents to reproductive health, Khodadadian has incorporated a lower threshold for screening for Celiac Diseases in these populations. Click to continue reading »

It’s not often that I can find a gluten-free, sugar-free, corn-free snack that gives me the crunch I crave. As I try to curb sugar and grains from my diet I find that this becomes what I want – and the hardest to find.

A 1.75 oz bag of Parm Crisps made by Kitchen Table Bakers arrived with my Cuisine Cube delivery this month. It says that there are 3.3 servings in this bag. I’m always searching for a low carb snack in the afternoon that is something other than apples and carrot sticks. These crisps really filled a void for me and did it without carbs.

Parm Crisps are made entirely of aged Parmesan cheese and that’s it. They are 80 calories per serving, with 7 g protein. Click to continue reading »

It’s a cold gray day. I have one kid home sick resting and the other due home from school shortly. I’m taking a quiet moment for myself with a hot chai tea and a few Almond Shortbread cookies by Five Points Baking Company.

These shortbread cookies are addictive. I made sure to put a few on a plate and leave the others in their package so I wouldn’t eat too many. Their small flower shape makes them all the more decadent. They are buttery and crumbly and melt in your mouth. I can taste the almond meal and the cookies have a smooth, not gritty texture and are not overly sweet. They pair well with a hot beverage on a cold day.

Five Points Baking Company is a new North Carolina venture with a purposeful vintage vibe. Their products are made with the best ingredients and prepared in small batches. All products are all natural and gluten-free. Four of the almond shortbread cookies, made by substituting almond meal for flour, contain 3g protein, 2g fiber and 8g carbohydrates.

I’m partial to the shortbread cookies but they also make gluten-free cheese straws. The shape and texture of the “cookie” is similar but these are cheesy and have a note of heat with each bite. This snack is gluten-free, sugar-free and low in carbs.  Instead of a hot beverage these would pair well with your favorite gluten free beer.

This review is based on the pre-made shortbread cookies and cheese straws but you can also buy the mix to make yourself. I’ve not tried that yet so stay tuned.

Five Point Baking Company products are sold in select retailers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. If you are outside of those areas visit their online store.