Posts Tagged ‘glutenfreefoodie@gmail.com’
GLUTEN FREE Night at the Mariners Game Tuesday, August 31, 2010
August 27th, 2010 at 10:51 am by Lisa - Gluten Free Foodie
How exciting ... even the Mariners are going to celebrate a GLUTEN FREE Night on Tuesday, August 31, 2010!
Come join at least 100 of your fellow Gluten Free Mariners Baseball Fans at Safeco. I think it is a perfect way to wrap up our summer season by supporting our Mariners and creating more awareness about living Gluten Free. Safeco Field has been offering Gluten Free Food since opening day this year.
Tickets are specially priced at $11 (regularly $20) and a GLUTEN FREE seating section is reserved for GLUTEN FREE FANS! The best part is that the concession stand near SEC 347 will feature a larger selection of GLUTEN FREE FOOD -
Hot Dogs with Gluten Free Buns, Gluten Free Beer and as always in the Terrace Club by SEC 249 ... Gluten Free Fish & Chips!
Angels vs Mariners
Gates open at 5:10 PM and the first pitch is at 7:10 PM
The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) will also be there handing out information about living Gluten Free.
Looking forward to seeing you in around SEC 337for the seats and SEC 347 for the GLUTEN FREE FOOD ...
the Cool Section ...
THE GLUTEN FREE SECTION at Safeco Field!
Play Ball ....
Lisa
glutenfreefoodie@gmail.com
P.S. THANK YOU MARINERS AND GIG!
Fabulous Gluten Free Food Drive Kick-Off!
August 22nd, 2010 at 8:33 pm by Lisa - Gluten Free Foodie
Well, I have to say last night's event at Anthony's in Bremerton was all about Gluten Free and FABULOUS! The table was perfectly set in a corner of large windows overlooking the marina. The gracious staff was so helpful and sweet making sure we had everything from their monthly special - Peach Lemonade to quench our thirst to our perfectly made Gluten Free food - Fresh Alaskan Halibut with Pineapple Mango Salsa was a big hit, Fresh Wild Chinook Salmon with Sundried Tomato Basil Butter, and I saw several orders of Lobster Tail! Then the desserts came out and I think it was a tie between Peach Ice Cream and Burnt Cream.
The big event of the night was the donations of the non-perishable Gluten Free Foods the box was practically over flowing! Such generous hearts shown by everyone bringing their favorite foods like Bob's Red Mill Mixes, Pamelas Products Mixes, DeBoles Pasta, Betty Crocker Brownie Mix and Asian Helper and the big surprise donation of the night ... Gluten Free Bisquick!
It was so great to meet all the new people from all over the Seattle area. I just love seeing such a great mix of people having such a great time. I really love hearing such interesting stories and how they connect us. It is such a great feeling to know that we can actually have fun and celebrate living a healthier Gluten Free lifestyle. Thank you to everyone that attended for the donations.
A really big thanks to the Anthony's at Bremerton staff for such a great service and delicious food from their Gluten Free menu. Thank you to the General Manager, John Heidt for giving us the best spot in the house and making us feel at home. I think I can say that we all loved meeting Chef Paul and chatting with him about our Gluten Free meals and the menu. Last but not least, Anthony's real gem, Angel our server was the best! It is so great to talk to a server that knows what it is like to be Gluten Free because she too has Celiac.
Looking forward to meeting all of the additional people that contacted me that could not make it to this event. We will be collecting donations for the Kitsap County Food Bank Coalition through our November 18th meeting, just in time for Thanksgiving!
See you next time ...
Sunday, September 26th from Noon - 2PM at Stella's Pizza & Pasta in Poulsbo. Please RSVP to me at glutenfreefoodie@gmail.com
Thank you!
Lisa
GLUTEN FREE FOODIES for more info about living a Gluten Free lifestyle and events.Why a Gluten Free Food Drive?
August 18th, 2010 at 11:19 am by Lisa - Gluten Free Foodie
Lately it seems that all I read in the news is how bad the economy is and how many people are still losing their jobs. It worries me to think that people are stressed, getting sick and they do or don't know why. Did you know that Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance are triggered by high amounts of STRESS or TRAUMA? Well, I would say this economy is enough for everyone to feel sick to their stomachs! Ever since I figured out that I had Celiac disease, after an auto accident, it has boggled my mind to think it was so hard to figure it out. Now that I know so much more after 7 years of suffering it makes me want to do everything I possibly can to help gain awareness about Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance. I want to reduce the amount of pain and suffering that the illness causes because of lack of info or access to healthy Gluten Free Food. I think part of the reason it is so hard to diagnose is because there are over 300 symptoms that may seem minimal or common and so we just deal with it until it gets worse. When the symptoms are vague like headaches - that last for weeks or worse turn into migraines, swelling of joints, depression, anxiety and pain or when we finally can't deal with the relentless major stomach and digestive upset do we finally decide to seek medical attention. Little do we know that all of these are symptoms of Celiac or Gluten Intolerance. Typically the doctors, figure it is something we ate, we get a pill and it is supposed to go away. But then it doesn't because maybe the pill has gluten in it and we continue to get worse. It can happen! If you don't know what is making you sick then how can you get better?
When I was trying to figure out - why was I so sick? My stomach was so painful and nauseated, I would eat toast and get worse. I had headaches for weeks, fatigue so bad I could not get out of bed. Yet I felt so bad I couldn't sleep! I had no strength because my muscles were in spasms and cramps all the time. I felt like hell! I knew I had to figure this out because my body was screaming ... So what is one to do? I had to dig to my core of my fo
ggy brain to think about what was happening. I had to ask myself questions like ... why can't I eat? Why am I gaining so much weight? Why am I so INFLAMED? I looked into all sorts of medical books, magazines and the Internet. I looked up each symptom individually as best that I could. I knew there was a connection. I kept thinking about my blood tests and why was my CRP- C-reative protein aka Inflammation markers or test so HIGH? I looked into what causes that. I just couldn't figure out why I couldn't eat ... and then it hit me as my hair was falling out, my eyes bloodshot like road maps, my cheeks were reddish in some areas, breaking out and grey all over ... not very pretty ... (Thank God there are no pictures!) What is going on? My systems are not functioning, but why? What do they need to function? I am not getting nutrients! Why am I not getting my nutrients? I looked up nutrient deficiency and causes ... there it was ... Celiac Sprue! I went to my rheumatologist's office for a visit later that week. He wanted to do more blood tests. I asked him to include the test for Celiac Sprue. He asked why and I explained my reasoning. He agreed. I remember getting the phone call from my doctor when he got the results ... I remember thinking ... uh oh ... this is serious if my doctor is calling ... and then he said it ... positive results for Celiac Sprue!
ggy brain to think about what was happening. I had to ask myself questions like ... why can't I eat? Why am I gaining so much weight? Why am I so INFLAMED? I looked into all sorts of medical books, magazines and the Internet. I looked up each symptom individually as best that I could. I knew there was a connection. I kept thinking about my blood tests and why was my CRP- C-reative protein aka Inflammation markers or test so HIGH? I looked into what causes that. I just couldn't figure out why I couldn't eat ... and then it hit me as my hair was falling out, my eyes bloodshot like road maps, my cheeks were reddish in some areas, breaking out and grey all over ... not very pretty ... (Thank God there are no pictures!) What is going on? My systems are not functioning, but why? What do they need to function? I am not getting nutrients! Why am I not getting my nutrients? I looked up nutrient deficiency and causes ... there it was ... Celiac Sprue! I went to my rheumatologist's office for a visit later that week. He wanted to do more blood tests. I asked him to include the test for Celiac Sprue. He asked why and I explained my reasoning. He agreed. I remember getting the phone call from my doctor when he got the results ... I remember thinking ... uh oh ... this is serious if my doctor is calling ... and then he said it ... positive results for Celiac Sprue! This is just my story but there are so many more. How do people figure this out? The only treatment is to go on a very expensive Gluten Free meal plan or diet. (Side-note I don't like to use the word diet because I feel like it implies - fad diet but what is one to do?)
What do people do if they can't afford their home let alone the high cost of Gluten Free food?
This is why I am doing what I can to give back to my community. I want to bring awareness about Celiac Disease to anyone who will read or listen. I want to bring attention to the food banks to increase donations of Gluten Free Foods or "special dietary food". I can't imagine anyone eating food that will make them sick just because they can't afford it or do not have access to it.
So I picked up the phone to ask the food banks in my area, do you get requests from people needing Gluten Free Food? The first one said yes, 2 families. I also asked, do you get donations of Gluten Free Food and the reply was sometimes but not really. I called another and found out that there is a coalition of 8 food banks in my area - Kitsap County Food Bank Coalition. So I made more calls. I went to their monthly meeting the next day. I asked them how many people have the need. Some had the answers and others did not. One of the larger food banks said, "They have 45 people requesting food for their specialty diet and some of those need Gluten Free."
It made us realize that we needed to look into this further and as one person said, "This is all news to me, I didn't know about Celiac Diseases or what Gluten Free Food meant". So they are going to begin to ask the question, do you need Gluten Free Food? Maybe in a few months we will have a better idea as to the number of families in our area that require Gluten Free Foods at our food banks. On the flip side, I asked if the food banks get Gluten Free Food donations and some did and some did not. If they do get Gluten Free Food donations it was rare, they put the food into their "specialty diet section" of the food bank. The people that are on a "specialty food diet" go and select the specialty foods in that area.
My hope is to see you at our kick off this Saturday, August 21 at 5 PM at the Anthony's in Bremerton. I want to see lots of Gluten Free Foodies enjoying a Gluten Free meal together from Anthony's new Gluten Free Menu. I want to hear conversations and see lots of non-perishable Gluten Free Foods being donated. My hope and plan is to collect the donations at each of our monthly meetings from August 21 - November 18 and maybe we will be able to provide a full Gluten Free Thanksgiving Meal to these families in our area.
The kick-off of the Gluten Free Foodies - Gluten Free Food Drive
will not work without YOU!
I need your support and help with this event by having a large turn out this Saturday, August 21 at Anthony's. Please send this posting to everyone and anyone that would be interested in joining us for a Gluten Free meal (regardless if they have to be Gluten Free or not) or anyone that is Gluten Free! Bring your family, friends, neighbors or associates because someone you know probably has Celiac or is Gluten Intolerant!
So the pictures you see here are some suggestions of non-perishable Gluten Free Foods to donate.
Pasta, Quinoa, Baking Mixes, Certified Gluten Free Oats, Cereals, Crackers, healthy snacks like Gluten Free Granola and trail mixes.
Please RSVP for the event on August 21 via email glutenfreefoodie@gmail.com
If you are a Gluten Free Food company and would like to make a donation please contact me.
I think together we can make a difference! I really appreciate your support!
THANK YOU!
Lisa
Gluten Free Foodies – Gluten Free Food Drive
August 17th, 2010 at 9:58 am by Lisa - Gluten Free Foodie
Please join me in supporting local Gluten Free Families and our local food banks in Washington.
Bring your non-perishable
Gluten Free Food
to the monthly meetings from
August 21- November 18, 2010
to be donated to the
Join us for Dinner at our table with the best view in the house and
meet other Gluten Free Foodies just like you for the kick-off of the GFF Gluten Free Food Drive
August 21, 2010 5 -7 PM at Anthony's in Bremerton .
Enjoy a delicious Gluten Free meal from Anthony's new Gluten Free Menu!
Located just steps off of the Bremerton Ferry on the water at 20 Washington Avenue in Bremerton. Parking is complimentary on level P1 in the garage, follow the signs. Each person will have a separate tab and will pay at the end of the meal.
When you bring your Gluten Free food to be donated you will be entered into a
drawing for prizes each month.
For more information and to RSVP by August 20, 2010 - contact
Lisa Garza - glutenfreefoodie@gmail.com
Suggested Gluten Free Items to donate -
pasta, cereal, broth, soups, crackers, baking mixes
We all know how hard it is to follow a Gluten Free lifestyle and how expensive it can be especially in this economy. It breaks my heart at the thought of someone who is Celiac or Gluten Intolerant - not being able to eat Gluten Free and suffer because they can not afford the food. So my hope is to try to gather food to fill the local food banks in Kitsap County. I also hope as we get closer to the holidays that we can provide some full Thanksgiving meals and maybe together, we can make a difference.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you at Anthony's.
Lisa
Livin’ Sunshine Gluten Free Raw Food
August 14th, 2010 at 9:05 am by Lisa - Gluten Free Foodie
I recently went to the Port Townsend Farmers market and discovered Rainie and her absolutely full flavor decadent Raw and Gluten Free foods - Livin' Sunshine. The Port Townsend Farmers Market runs May - September every Saturday 9 - 2. Located in the Uptown neighborhood on Tyler Street and Lawrence Street. I tried the Blueberry Cheesecake with Coconut Cream topping ... let's just say I walked it back to my car to put it in my cooler bag to enjoy later but ... it did not make it to the car. I was so tempted to take one bite because it was so beautiful ... before I knew it ...
this was the last bite with the gorgeous purple Pansy ... I paused to savor the beauty before me ... a bit of grace you might say for I truly felt lucky that I found Rainie and her Livin' Sunshine.
Rainie has a variety of Raw Gluten Free treats to enjoy like the Coco-Almond Rawola, Live Sweet Onion Crackers ( I bought both and love them.), Live Corn Cilantro Crackers, Sprouted Live Nut Breads, Crunchy Curry Kale Chips, Kombucha and more. All of the products are live and organic. Raw foods are "cooked" by dehydrating or heating to lower temperatures(up to 116 degrees) to retain nutrients and flavors.
If you are in Port Townsend check out her booth and tell her I said that you must try all of it!
If you are out of the area you can order her products online at Livin' Sunshine.
I love the idea and philosophy of Raw Foods and am very delighted that I can find a variety of delicious snacks a bit easier these days. If you haven't tried a raw food treat you will not be disappointed with Livin' Sunshine. The crunch and flavors combinations of the Crackers and Rawola are very satisfying!
On a sidenote, besides the produce, none of the other vendors offered Gluten Free food.
Namaste Rainie!
Lisa
