If you’re a fan of chewing gum after a meal or simply for the flavor, but you worry about the aspartame and who knows what else, Glee Gum could be something new for you to try.

Most gums on the market are filled with all sorts of artificial ingredients but Glee Gum is different. Glee Gum is made using all-natural coloring, flavoring and sweeteners. There is no aspartame, preservatives or GMOs. Aspartame gets a lot of bad press and it’s rare to find a gum free from aspartame so this is pretty great news. Click to continue reading »

This month by Dr. Susan Blum released her new book, The Immune System Recovery Plan. Dr. Blum is certainly a credible advocate for the gluten-free community. She is both being a medical doctor, as well as holds a master’s degree in public health. Her research focuses on autoimmune disease that plagues people all over the world, from thyroid disease to Crohn’s disease to Celiac disease.

While I’m sure most of you are aware when it comes to doctors and illness, they often retroactively treat symptoms (take X to relieve GI distress), rather than treat the root of the problem. Dr. Blum focuses her practice on preventative treatment, seeking to explore what is causing disease or gastrointestinal distress.

Her book systematically explores how the immune system is affected by what we eat. She delves into the issues on a deeper level, offering practical solutions to healing damaged guts and rebuilding our systems’ natural protective abilities. As most Celiacs have discovered through their own trial and error, it is oftentimes the processed foods that cause us the most problems. Moreover, if Click to continue reading »

When I first heard about I Heart Keenwah, I loved their company name! On first hearing about the mysterious quinoa, the gluten-free grain which isn’t actually a grain at all, did you try searching for it by typing in “keenwah” or was that just me?

Now that I’ve had the pleasure of trying I Heart Keenwah’s quinoa bites, I can now say that I’m also a fan of their delicious gluten-free treats as well as their fun name.

Quinoa is the only grain which is a complete source of protein, meaning that it contains all 9 essential amino acids. As well as being a great source of protein, it’s also gluten-free, low-glycemic, high in fiber and packed with a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals. Sounds pretty great to me! Click to continue reading »

If you haven’t yet heard of Go Picnic, they make boxes of ready-to-eat meals which are small enough to take with you when on-the-go and don’t need any refrigeration, heating or preparation. They are a great if you’re looking for a convenient meal that you can eat anytime, anywhere.

The meals are nutritionally balanced and each variety features a combination of protein, fiber and fruit using wholesome ingredients. They have a line of gluten-free meals, as well as vegan, vegetarian and kosher options. All of the food items in each box are individually wrapped and utensils are included as required.  Click to continue reading »

Store House Foods offer a variety of Pouch-to-Plate soups and entrees, all of which are gluten-free. They may be something to check out if you have a busy schedule and fancy something speedy and simple for lunch or dinner.

The beginnings of Store House Foods came in 2009 with founder, Yvonne Williams. She aimed to develop a line of products that would address the needs of people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

For meat eaters, entrees are available in Southwest BBQ Chicken Rice & Beans and Click to continue reading »

Our friends at Better Batter recently introduced gluten-free snack bars. The bars are a bit different than your regular gluten-free treats. Each supports one of the company’s causes and is named for the child that chose the philanthropy. The brownie batter, Caedon’s, supports providing clean water for kids in developing countries. Cherry chocolate Kaylee’s promotes Celiac awareness. Zion’s chocolate mint supports Autism awareness and research.

Our testers found these bars dense and flavorful. They’re easy to throw in your purse or your kid’s backpack in case you end up somewhere with limited food options. Click to continue reading »

We’re loving on these gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic index biscotti right now. Pastry Chef Lauren Hoover-West developed these in response to her food allergies and we’re glad she did. Like so many others with dietary restrictions, she grew tired of going for coffee with friends and not being able to find a cookie or dessert to go with her hot beverage.

Lauren’s Double Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Raisin and Cardamom cookies hold up well as dunkers in your favorite beverage. These Biscotti are great for lunches or popping in your purse to eat on the run. They contain:  Click to continue reading »

This week Triumph Dining came across another great company offering wheat and gluten free pasta. Mrs Leeper’s pasta is made from rice and corn and comes in lots of different shapes and flavors.

Gluten Free corn pasta shapes include spaghetti, elbows, vegetable radiator and rotelli. If you’re more partial to rice pasta, you can choose from spaghetti, vegetable twists, penne and elbows. For gluten-free pasta loving kids, they also make alphabets and kids shapes.

As well as traditional pasta, Mrs Leeper’s also offer boxed dinner kits. You can get a Lasagna or Creamy Tuna box dinner made with corn pasta or Mac n Cheese, Beef Stroganoff, Cheeseburger or Alfredo made with rice pasta.

Whilst Mrs Leeper’s pasta is not made in a completely gluten-free facility, they do have procedures in place to eliminate the threat of cross contamination. Their gluten-free pasta undergoes thorough testing in Click to continue reading »

Today I’m excited to tell you about a gluten-free bakery that not only offers amazingly delicious gluten-free products, but one that I frequently get to visit  as they are located right here in the beautiful Bay Area.

Mariposa’s gluten-free kitchen can be found in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland. At this location is also their first retail bakeshop. Luckily for both San Franciscans and tourists headed to this amazing city, Mariposa also has a store in the Ferry Terminal Building where customers can expect to find all sorts of yummy breads and hand-crafted goodies.

Savory products include lots of fantastic breads, bagels, crackers, croutons, pizza bases Click to continue reading »

Being in the business, we come across great gluten-free products all the time. The fun part of our job at Triumph Dining is sharing those things with you, knowing you might not discover them on your own.

Here are a few products that won 2012 Best of Gluten Free Awards, ones that might not yet be on your radar. This underscores the importance of voting in the 2013 Awards. If you have not already done so and asked your friends to do the same, please join the cause. Without this continual knowledge, new products might not gain market awareness and these manufacturers might not continue to manufacture them.

Click to continue reading »