As a fiscally responsible twenty-something, I try to limit the number of times I go out to eat to about once a week. Thus, when the weekend rolls around, I spend a significant amount of time deciding where what I want to dine on for dinner. Recently, my friend Anya and I decided to try … More Just Winging It: Max’s Wine Dive
Indian food is one of my favorite gluten free indulgences – I love the spices, the flavors and aromas of freshly prepared dishes like curries, masala and tandoori. Much to my delight, many Indian dishes are often gluten free, as they’re made with natural ingredients like curry powder, lentils, meat and rice. Pondicheri cafe is … More Pondicheri: A Houston Restaurant Review
Happy New Year! It’s finally 2016! Before we move into the next year, however, I wanted to take a moment to review a delicious product I was able to sample in 2015. Last month, Brazi Bites, a Portland based company that I blogged about almost two years ago, was featured on Shark Tank, and ABC television show … More Breaking in 2016 with Brazi Bites!
If you follow me on Twitter, it quickly becomes obvious that I’m on the search for the best gluten-free pizza I can find. The search, however, is not an easy one; it requires numerous taste tests, restaurant visits and deliberation as I take into account factors like taste and consistency. One of the first companies to … More I ‘Knead’ Some Dough: Chebe Pizza Crust Product Review
As someone with celiac disease, I’m often browsing the internet in an attempt to find out if a product is gluten-free. This method is often difficult; I know I’ve spent a lot of time looking through either a company’s specific website or numerous Google result pages, hoping to find an answer. Many times, I’ve struggled to … More GLŪT: Gluten Search Website
Eating in a dining hall on a college campus can sometimes be a risk for college students with celiac disease. For the first time, neither you nor your family is in complete control of preparing the gluten-free foods you eat. Even if a school has incredible gluten-free accommodations, there is always the potential for accidental … More Celiac 101: “Gluten-Proofing” Your Dorm Room
Every high school senior, as well as every college student, is aware of the difficulty in choosing a college or university to attend. A student must take into account factors like academic rigor, opportunities for extracurricular activities, quality of life, and, most importantly, overall ‘fit’. For college-bound celiacs, however, there are many more factors that influence … More Celiac 101: Picking the Right School
The end of July marks a serious time of transition for college students throughout the country. As July comes to a close, college students begin to realize that the end of summer is near; within the next month, we’ll be heading back to our dorm rooms and apartments, where we’ll begin our studies and continue … More Celiac 101 Series: Maintaining the Gluten-Free Diet in College
Throughout the last few years, an increased awareness of celiac disease has led to a tremendous increase in the number of gluten-free products at supermarkets and health food stores. The celiac disease community has seen a rise in quality gluten-free products from national chains, some of which are solely gluten-free companies, and others that … More Product Review: Sammi’s Stuff Latta Java Coffee Cake
Summer is one of my favorite times of the year, as it means I’m able to cook some of my own meals, rather than eat at Rice’s dining halls. I make sure to take advantage of the fresh summer produce available, and wanted to share one of my favorite summertime recipes, Gluten-Free Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes. Quinoa … More Recipe: Gluten-Free Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes
In case you didn’t know, I’ve spent the last three weeks on the island of Menorca, in the Mediterranean, participating in an archaeological dig! I’ve just returned home and am eager to continue blogging! As I spent hours excavating ancient Roman bones in the city’s necropoli, I began to wonder if any Ancient Romans had … More Celiac Disease & Archaeology: Merging the Biological Sciences with Anthropology
As I’ve mentioned before, I really enjoy interacting with others in the gluten-free community, especially those who are close to my age. Recently, I received an email from Alice of the website Gluten Free Allies, who was diagnosed with celiac disease during her first week of college! I love Alice’s blog because it has the perfect … More Get to Know Alice of Gluten Free Allies!
Today, I realized that I’ve been living with celiac disease for over eight years, and that each year, I learn a plethora of new information about the disease and the gluten-free diet, as well as see a drastic improvement of the quality of gluten-free products and options available. I also realized how commonplace the gluten-free diet is … More Mellow Mushroom is a Gluten-Free Must!
Before heading back to school in Houston this weekend, I was lucky enough to have one of my best friends at Rice, Michelle, come visit me in New York. She had never experienced New York City before, so we took the nearest train down yesterday in order to explore, shop, and of course eat in … More Restaurant Review: Risotteria NYC
With 2014 quickly approaching, I can’t help but reflect upon the past year. I’ve experienced tremendous growth with my blog; I can’t believe it has over 800 follows and over 10,000 views! I wanted to thank everyone for the support you have shown as I aim to provide other celiacs with support, resources and encouragement! … More The Overlooked Psychological Effects of Celiac Disease
There’s something inherently beautiful about the transition from fall to winter. Though Houston was finally starting to cool down, I’m excited to be in New York for the next three weeks, as well as wear fuzzy sweaters and justify endless amount of hot cocoa (gluten-free, of course)! I wanted to devote today’s post to some … More End of December Product Reviews: Quinoa Esta! Bakery
I hope you have had a lovely holiday season! I was happy to return to New York to visit my family for winter break, and was even more delighted to help prepare our gluten-free Christmas dinner!! I don’t normally get to indulge in gluten-free pastas and desserts at school, and with the holiday season coming … More A Gluten-Free Christmas Celebration!
As a resident of Texas and a native New Yorker, South American is a cuisine I rarely encounter. I did have the opportunity, however, to live across the hall from two Brazilian exchange students during my sophomore year at Rice. Upon telling them about my dietary restrictions, one friend informed me of all the gluten-free … More Brazi Bites Product Review
Eating out is one of the most difficult tasks for anyone with a gluten intolerance. We experience a loss of control, as we can no longer verify that utensils are clean and that our meals are kept free from cross-contamination. Many celiacs would agree that Asian is one of the most difficult cuisines to accomodate … More P.F. Chang’s Review
I love fall. As a native New Yorker, fall was always an exciting time. The leaves embody a beautiful color scheme of reds, yellows, and oranges, and the weather turns crisp, cool, and all around, perfect. Houston is slightly different; while there is no color change, the weather has gotten less humid (meaning I can … More All Things Pumpkin, All Things Fall!
The power of innovation is a concept familiar to celiacs; the adjustment to the gluten-free diet is not easy, and I remember numerous times when I had to get creative in the kitchen (especially back in the mid-2000’s). What resulted from a lack of good gf products in my health food store was continual experimentation … More When life hands you lemons, make gluten-free lemonade- Outer Aisle Gourmet!
I am a huge proponent of celiac disease awareness and education, and finding helpful books related to gluten-free living and celiac disease often make me excited and eager to read! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to run a giveaway for TWO copies of Angela McKeller’s best selling book, Gluten-Free Made Easy as … More Book Giveaway! Gluten-Free Made Easy as 1,2,3
There is one word that nearly all celiacs have come to fear when outside of the home: bakery. A bakery is a dangerous land, where the air is thick with wheat flour, and the threat of gluten contamination imminent. You can imagine, then, my excitement when Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop sent me a … More The Best Things in Life are….Macaroons?
Faye Elahi is a gluten sensitive nutritionist with 22 years of experience in special needs nutrition. She has served over 1200 families with food allergies, intolerances, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders associated to Celiac disease, Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She’s also been an advocate for gluten-free college students, helping over 250 … More Guest Post: Faye Elahi of Gluten Free-Nutrition for Life
As a native New Yorker, and previous fan of authentic Bronx pizza (before I was diagnosed with celiac disease, of course), I’ve come to realize that it’s incredibly difficult to master the art of gluten-free pizza making. Thin crust pizza is especially challenging, and I don’t think that I have ever seen a slice of … More Restaurant Review: Russo’s New York Pizzeria
This weekend, I was lucky enough to travel to the Woodlands, Texas, and attend the Celiac Awareness Tour. The event was presented by Kroger, one of Texas’ most popular supermarkets, and was sponsored by two AMAZING gluten-free companies, Enjoy Life Foods and Rudi’s Bakery. Besides sampling some delicious gluten-free baked goods, I was also able … More Celiac Awareness Tour Review!
One of my close friends, Estevan, turned 22 today, and the two of us celebrated with a pre-birthday dinner last night. We prepared portobello mushroom tacos, which are not only incredibly delicious, but simple to make as well. Estevan’s shared his mother’s taco recipe with me, and we prepared a slew of sides to go … More Happy Birthday Dinner-Portobello Mushroom Tacos!
If there is one thing that pushes my family through the hectic and stressful week, it’s Sunday afternoon dinners. Somehow we manage to cook copious amounts of food (probably enough to feed a small army), and then proceed to consume ALL of it in a matter of minutes. This past Sunday, we were feeling a … More Dinner and a Recipe Post: Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallops!
Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone! As National Celiac Awareness Month draws to a close, Memorial Day is the perfect time to share your experiences and knowledge of celiac disease at a barbecue. There are certain things you need to be aware of if you plan on attending a party where GLUTEN will be served. Whether or … More Surviving Memorial Day Gluten-Free!
One of the worst feelings for any college student is an unsatisfied food craving. For college students with celiac, it’s even worse, as our restricted diet puts even more limitations on the foods we can eat. Every so often, I’ll develop a craving for some exotic cuisine or food, oftentimes Indian or sushi. In a … More New Product Review: Tasty Bite Natural Indian Cuisine!
Yes, folks, even sometimes I make mistakes. As hard as I try to stay completely gluten-free, there was a time I was accidentally ‘glutened’ (is there a proper word for it?), and yes, I did know it. And now, as I sit in this lovely cafe, I, the dark, brooding blogger wearing red lipstick, will … More That One Time I was GLUTENED! -A Novel by Chynna Foucek
As a person who has had celiac disease since I was about 13, the topic of oats has been a controversial one. At the time of diagnosis, there were numerous questions surrounding this superfood. Was this grain actually gluten-free, or was it the cross-contamination in factories that actually made oats unsafe for celiacs? Since then, … More Product Review: Glutenfreeda Oatmeal!
I know that three posts in three days is, in fact, very overwhelming, but I couldn’t resist posting my homemade gluten-free gnocchi recipe on this very chilly Monday. If you’re still in class, or studying for finals, this will be a perfect treat to end the semester. I made these for Mother’s Day yesterday, as … More Recipe: Gnocchi in a Poppy Seed & Butter Sauce
A few weeks ago, I travelled to Rice Village (a lovely shopping area behind Rice University), in the pouring rain, by bike, in order to get my hair cut. After my appointment, I lacked a desire to return to campus, and instead decided to stop for dinner at the Black Walnut Cafe. I walked into … More Well Done, Black Walnut- A Restaurant Review
I’m back! After a stressful and busy college semester, summer has finally arrived, and though it will still be busy (MCAT studying, furthering my efforts in research, work), the days will be longer, and I will be able to devote much more time to baking, sampling products, and stay up-to-date with the latest celiac research … More Back for the Summer and Gillian’s Apple Crisp Review
Celiac disease is something that I’ve never been upset about. Granted, we’ve all been in situations where someone has offered us a pretzel, or cake, and then remembers that we have a gluten intolerance and can’t eat it. Our response, however, always differs; some celiacs laugh it off, some celiacs actually get upset, and, if … More Making the Best of Celiac Disease-Humor is Always Good!
I know, I know- I’ve been terrible with posts for the past two months Sometimes life gets in the way, and suddenly you have cell biology and organic chem tests within 3 days of each other, or you find yourself planning the largest alumni and undergraduate event on campus and spend about 12 hours in … More It’s Been A While-But Exploring GF Options in Other Countries
Every college student struggles with the concept of stay healthy, especially during freshmen year. Thankfully, as a student with celiac disease, a lot of unhealthy options, such as fried foods, pizzas, and decadent desserts are off-limits. However, with a dining hall that offers unlimited foods, it’s still easy to lose track of what you’re eating. … More Staying Healthy While In College & Living with Celiac Disease
Happy New Year! I’m preparing to return to Rice this weekend, and have made sure to take advantage of the gluten-free goodies in my kitchen! I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions, but I did write up a bucket list for my next semester at Rice. Besides activities like rock climbing and hiking, I … More New Year’s Day Dinner and Product Review: Conte’s Gnocchi
Hope that your holiday season has been full of gluten-free deliciousness! Our family celebrated Christmas, and I’m pretty sure that my family and I ate for about 36 consecutive hours. Our Christmas Eve dinner consisted of lobster, but it was our meal on Christmas Day that stole the show. Check out some pictures below! Keep … More My Christmas Has Put Me In A Gluten-Free Food Coma
One of my sister’s favorite meals to make at home is nachos! As the 14 year-old sibling of a college student with celiac, she’s always eager to make sure the meals we eat at home are both delicious and gluten-free. However, if you’re hiding away in your small college apartment or dormitory, this meal is … More Recipe Post: Homemade Single Serving Nachos!
Though I’ve returned to Rice University, I am still recovering from the obnoxiously large amount of gluten-free food I consumed over Thanksgiving break. While my family and I prepared a lot of homemade gluten-free recipes, the break also presented the perfect opportunity to sample some gluten-free prepared foods from our local DiCicco’s Food Market, located … More Product Review- feel good foods Vegetable Egg Rolls
Given the opportunity to bake in my own kitchen this week, I jumped at the chance to prepare a gluten-free dessert for Thanksgiving. I decided to take a chance and try a new cake mix (I usually stick with Bob’s Red Mill or Betty Crocker GF mixes, both of which are fantastic), choosing to try … More Product Review- Kinnikinnick White Cake Mix
I recently came across an article regarding the feud that occurred between actress (and member of the celiac disease community) Jennifer Esposito and CBS. The Blue Bloods star collapsed on set because of the disease, and as a result, CBS has written her character out of the tv show because she was “unable to perform … More Celiac Disease In the News-Discrimination Based on our Diet
I’m in love; well, that may be stretching it a bit, but I discovered a new obsession this weekend when I purchased Schar gluten-free multigrain bread. Though there have been significant improvements in the realm of gluten-free breads since I was diagnosed about 7 years ago, many breads made from processed rice flours with little … More Professing my Love for Schar Multigrain Bread: A Product Review
The Corporate Celiac 