May is Celiac Awareness Month!

Gluten Free

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) and Triumph Dining have joined forces to promote Celiac Awareness Month. They launched a website badge campaign and have encouraged bloggers/website operators to display badges (like the one you see above) in support of celiac disease awareness.

And Triumph Dining has agreed to give $5 to the NFCA for each website that includes the badge. To get more information on how you can include the badge on your site, click here.

Gluten-Free Skincare / Cosmetics

I recently went through a very stressful experience: applying to business school. When my face started to break out, I attributed it to my late-night-essay-writing sessions. I'm sure the stress from applications definitely played a part - but I couldn't help feeling there was something else...something gluten-ous.

Science will tell you that the gluten protein is too large to permeate the skin, but sometimes science is wrong. I thought I was being good to my hair and face by using Kiehl's products - after all, they tout their use of the "finest, naturally-derived ingredients." Unfortunately, one of those ingredients is the hydrolyzed wheat protein - and it's in everything from shampoo to body wash to moisturizers. I recently embarked on a search for gluten-free skincare and cosmetics; here's a list of my favorite gluten-free skin products:


Giovanni "Smooth As Silk" Deep Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner
Giovanni is an organic haircare line that's also affordable! The duo alleviate frizz and increase shine without using any sulfates. According to their marketing pitch, Giovanni's Smooth As Silk products contain a blend of organic oils, ripe-harvested from renewable plants at the peak of their freshness, cold pressed and refrigerated immediately to ensure maximum purity. In addition to the shine factor, I also love the products because of their refreshing, citrus scent.


100% Pure Organic Pomegranate Antioxidant Hydration SPF20
Straight from the website, this facial moisturizer is 100% natural, 100% vegan and 100% gluten-free. I have freckles, so I only use moisturizers with SPF - then comes the problem of having the product act more like a moisturizer than a greasy sunblock. This lotion is super light weight, which may have been why I did not find it to be super moisturizing. It definitely works in the interim, but I am on the market for a new moisturizer when this bottle runs out. I've been looking at the Keys brand, so I may try their Solar Rx Moisturizing Cosmetic Sunblock SPF 30+

Afterglow Cosmetics

I used to be a faithful Bare Escentuals fan and thought I was doing wonders for my skin with the natural mineral-based makeup. I didn't realize that the excess shine and end-of-day cakey look was because of the makeup's bismuth oxychloride ingredient. Bismuth oxychloride is a thick, heavy mineral with reflective qualities. Afterglow Cosmetics are free of synthetic dyes, paraben preservatives and free irritants like bismuth oxychloride. And they're also gluten-free! I am absolutely in love with my Afterglow foundation, bronzer and blush - they look incredibly natural and I never feel shiny!

Mezes

Date & Time: Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 7:30pm
Company: Katie, Terry, Kiyoka, Roni & Ayelet
Crowd: Fairly empty
Decor: Quaint with somewhat "overly typical" Mediterranean decour, including painted murals
Service: Very friendly
Devour: Lahanika Psita (grilled mixed vegetables) and Garides Souvlaki (grilled shrimps on a skewer with lemon and herbs)

Althought this restaurant is not overly crowded and lacks the "appeal" of some of the newer restaurants popping up in San Francisco, it does have amazingly fresh, delicious Greek food. And, on top of that, they offer a gluten-free menu!

You may want to print out a menu from the restaurant's website, because they do not always have them on hand.

Mezes
2373 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 04123
415.409.7111

Crispy Cat Candy Bars

An organic candy bar? Oh yes.

Crispy Cat bars are dairy free and gluten free, and they definitely hit the spot when I'm craving something sweet and crunchy! I've recently tried the "Chocolate Sundae" bar - it tastes like a rice crispy treat with a dark chocolate coating. I was impressed by how crunchy the granola was as the "crunch" sensation is often lacking in gluten-free alternatives. The bars can be purchased online directly from the company.

I'm not quite sure what to make of it, but a blog article claims the Crispy Cat company changed hands in 2009 and everyone was let go. Hopefully the candy bars will live on!

St. Dalfour "Gourmet on the Go"

Eating gluten-free on the go is not always easy. I was first introduced to the St. Dalfour "Gourmet on the Go" meals at the San Francisco Gluten-Free Cooking Spree in October 2009. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness hosted the event and provided St. Dalfour samples in the goodie bags.

St. Dalfour's Gourmet on the Go meals come in 6.2oz containers with a tiny fork and packets of salt and pepper. Due to a very strong vacuum seal, the mini-meals can be preserved for over two years without the need for any artificial preservatives. And, though the containers can be heated in a microwave, the meals are fine as is. This means, the meals are optimal for anywhere/anytime emergency kits!

Although there are 6 different varietals of Gourmet on the Go meals, only 2 are gluten- and casein-free:

Wild Salmon with Vegetables: Salmon, potatoes, sliced carrots, flageolet beans, red peppers, celery and seasoning. (210 calories per can)

Three Beans with Sweet Corn: Diced carrots, sweet corn, lentils, cannellini beans, kidney beans, onions, flageolet beans and seasoning. (280 calories per can)

Both types are extremely fresh and unbelievably convenient, but I think the Salmon is the crowd favorite! Available for purchase at Amazon.

Camp Celiac

Camp Celiac!

Registration for Camp Celiac started yesterday - visit the camp website to register as either a camper or counselor. Camp Celiac is hosted at the 138-acre Camp Arroyo in Livermore, California during late July.

The camp is for kids ages 9 to 17 years old who have been diagnosed with celiac disease. I attended the camp last year as a counselor. The goal of the camp is to provide children restricted to a gluten-free diet with a safe opportunity to relax and have fun with kids their age, without having to worry about social acceptance or what foods they can eat. The camp's general contact information is below, but feel free to contact me with any questions about my own experience!

Camp Celiac

12 Jordan Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94118

campceliac@gmail.com

Alta

For my first blog via iPhone, I thought I'd share a quick note about one of my favorite West Village restaurants. Alta is a fantastic tapas restaurant with a very non descript exterior and exotic interior. Even better, they publish separate gluten-free and vegan menus!

I loved this restaurant so much that I went twice in one week...on two separate trips from California!

64 W 10th St
Greenwich Village
New York, NY 10011