Gluten-free and allergy-free people have to pay more in general for their groceries. I love Whole Foods Market and am grateful that they carry so many gluten-free items. It’s just that I end up spending so much money there because I buy a lot of my other groceries there too. Great products, but it’s killing my bank account!

One thing I started doing this year to save money is shopping on Amazon. You can find great deals on, well, everything, but also on food. If you have products that have become regulars in your household, buying a case of your favorites can save you money.

Let’s do the math

Here’s a practical example of my money-saving technique: at Whole Foods I think I pay $4.59 for a package of Pamela’s bread mix (a staple in our house). On Amazon, I can buy a case for $23.80, which comes out to $3.97 per package. But wait, there’s more! Amazon now has a subscription service that allows you to set up regular shipments of products, either every 1 month, 2 months, 3 months or 6 months. Setting up a subscription saves you an extra 15% on every shipment. I figure I make bread (or something else with the mix, like pizza) every 1-2 weeks so I signed up for 1 case of 6 to be sent every 2 months. With the extra 15%, the case now costs $20.23, which works out to $3.37 per package. If you don’t use bread mixes, then think about other favorites like Erewhon crispy rice cereal or Larabars or Pamela’s pancake mix.

What about shipping?

Many grocery items qualify for Free Super Saver Shipping with a $25 minimum order. Now, if you are a serious Amazon shopper (as I am), sign up for Amazon Prime! You pay $79 for the year and get free 2-day shipping on anything that ships from Amazon. There is no minimum order. You even get the free 2-day shipping if you send it to someone else, which is great when you need to send a gift quick. I am an Amazon Prime customer and let me tell you, it is great to get your gluten-free groceries in only 2 days (especially when you need them for a party or a trip) and not have to pay any shipping.

Is this an ad for Amazon?

Really I just want to help everyone out there struggling with their grocery bills (not to mention the time and gas spent to go find all of the special products). I do get a small commission if you buy on Amazon when you click through from my site (at no extra cost to you). So if you want to show Sure Foods Living some love, you can either shop at my Amazon gluten-free store where I have hand-picked the products I recommend, or you can just click here to shop anywhere on Amazon. These links are also always available in the right sidebar. Every little bit helps keep this site going and I appreciate those of you who have been doing it!

Filed under: Products, Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, Tips | No Comments »

I was skeptical… vegan rice cheese? Surely it won’t melt, and will probably taste weird too. But the prospect of my dairy-free soy-free daughter getting to have “cheese” — on tortillas, in a sandwich, on pizza! — was too exciting to pass up, so I bought a pack of sliced cheddar flavor.

I thought I would try a quesadilla first. “Quesadilla?” she asked, her nose in a quizzical wrinkle. “Yes, do you want a quesadilla?” I responded. “You mean… with cheese??” she asked incredulously. “Yes, with a special kind of cheese that you can have.” “A special kind of cheese that I can have?” she parroted. Boy, I thought, this better be good after all this!

I put a little oil in a pan, threw in a corn tortilla and let it heat up and soften a bit, then turned it over and laid down a slice of cheddar flavor rice cheese. I doubled the tortilla over and waited… please melt, please melt. I peeked inside the tortilla — it melted! I gave it to her and watched her reaction. “Mmmmmm! I love this quesadilla! I love this cheese!” she emoted as she ate it all… and asked for another. It not only passed the test, but exceeded my expectations. And the best part is that she can have CHEESE.

So where does one find this cheese? It is made by Galaxy Nutritional Foods and can be found in various locations, including Whole Foods (you can look up your area here). Be careful though — there are 2 different rice cheeses and one has casein milk protein in it. I don’t understand why they would put casein in a rice cheese — isn’t anyone buying rice cheese doing so because they don’t eat dairy? Anyway, make sure you buy the one that says “Vegan” and “Casein and Lactose Free” on it.

Update 7/20/08: My friend said her daughter didn’t like it. Quesadillas are definitely the best use of the cheese and my daughter still likes them.

Filed under: Products, Dairy Allergy, Soy Allergy | No Comments »

I was sick of using plastic bags. I felt guilty creating such waste every time I made a lunch for my daughter to take to preschool, plus I didn’t think the lunch looked very appetizing — piles of plastic that had to be opened to get the food out. I thought, “there must be a better way” and lo and behold, I spotted it: a lunch box that opened up and had compartments for the different foods. I only saw it from afar at a playground, but it caught my eye and I never forgot it. “I must get one of those lunch systems” I thought to myself, and then, there it was again — my sister had a Laptop Lunch System for each of her boys (ages 5 and 7). She gave my girls each a set as a gift.

It was a gift to me, really, as it made my life easier and made my daughters excited about their lunch! And no more plastic bags.

Here’s why I like Laptop Lunches so much as a mom:

• It comes as a whole system, with carrying case (that looks like a laptop computer case, hence the name Laptop Lunch), water bottle and fork and spoon. I didn’t have to add a thing to start packing lunches.
• You can choose from various color options. Kids love color!
• It forces you, the lunch-maker, to be creative because there are 4 little compartments to fill, 5 with the little dipper one (it’s actually kind of fun!)
• It is so easy to wash!

Here’s why I like Laptop Lunches so much as a mom of kids with food allergies:

• Allergic children have to bring their own lunches ALL the time, so anything that makes it easier to pack a lunch is great.
• Most prepackaged foods are filled with allergens — think packs of cheese and crackers, little packs of goldfish, peanut butter and ritz crackers — so these aren’t an option to throw in a lunch. These little compartments make it possible to put in healthier foods and serve them like you would a meal at home, like beans or olives or fresh corn or gluten-free pasta salad.

• Food looks so appetizing when served this way, the allergic kid will not feel he’s missing out on a thing!

Here’s a lunch I made recently. It’s nothing fancy, but somehow looks a lot yummier than if it were in plastic bags.

Don’t have kids? Want to eat healthier? The Laptop Lunch is great for adults too. There are some mellow color options if you don’t think hot pink will work in your office!

You can win a Laptop Lunch System!

This is very exciting… one lucky reader will receive a complete Laptop Lunch System, courtesy of Obentec, Inc., the company that makes them. Just leave a comment below with an idea you have for what to put in the Laptop Lunch before July 4 and I will randomly select one of you as the winner.

For more information and to purchase Laptop Lunches, visit laptoplunches.com

CONTEST UPDATE: A winner has been announced… go here to see who the lucky gal is!

Filed under: Babies & Kids, Food Ideas, Products, Food Allergies | 69 Comments »

A while back I told you about some of the gluten-free and allergen-free snack bars on the market. I received feedback and product samples of some more so I thought I would let you know about them! Feel free to leave a comment and let everyone know what you think.

• Trio Bars by Mrs. May’s
  • light and crunchy
  • comes in four flavors: Blueberry, Cranberry, Strawberry, and Tropical
  • from their website: “All Mrs. May’s products are vegan, non-GMO, cholesterol free, dairy free, wheat free, Gluten free, 0 Trans Fat and contain no artificial colors or flavors.” Note: these do contain nuts and seeds.

• Omega Smart Nutrition Bars



• dense and chewy, not too sweet
• gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, some flavors are also soy-free, some flavors contain nuts
• from their website: “ALL Omega Smart bars are easily digested, help to manage blood sugar, contain over 2,000 mg. of Omega-3’s and offer an ideal ratio of complex carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy-fats”
• comes in many flavors, including Cinnamon Apple, Banana Chocolate Chip and Apricot Almond
• Bakery on Main granola bars



• crispy, chewy and sweet
• comes in three flavors: Cranberry Maple Nut, Extreme Trail Mix, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
• from their website: “extensive procedures are followed to make sure that no gluten is present in our finished products.”
• AllerEnergy Bars



• from their website: “no peanuts, no gluten, no eggs, no milk or dairy, no soy, no tree nuts, no shellfish, no corn”
• ANDI-Bars



• gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free, corn-free, GMO-free, free of artificial flavors, colors & preservatives
• from their website: “nutritionally balanced, ANDI bars add vitamins and minerals to your child’s diet. Flax seeds add a delightful crunch, and your kids won’t even know they are getting vital Omega fatty acids! Each 2 oz. bar contains a whopping 15 grams of protein!”
• Tiger’s Milk Bars



• all are gluten-free except Peanut Butter Crunch; all contain milk, soy, peanuts and tree nuts
• note: these bars contain high fructose corn syrup, but if you don’t care about that… I have heard that they taste good!

Filed under: Products | 7 Comments »

Now that my daughter is in preschool, we are on the birthday party circuit. Telling her she can’t have a piece of cake or cupcake because of her food allergies would be upsetting (for both me and her), which is why I make sure that I always have cupcakes on hand. Here’s how you can do the same and be a superstar mom or dad!

Do this now:

1. Make a batch of chocolate cupcakes, and freeze what you don’t need to use that time, or even double the recipe to make sure you have extras. The easiest thing to do is make a mix, like Pamela’s chocolate cake mix or CherryBrook Kitchen (both good for egg-free). I also like Gluten-Free Pantry and Namaste. Any cake mix can become cupcakes, just cook for less time!
2. Make a batch of vanilla cupcakes too. Vanilla cake is harder to make egg-free, but Pamela has a vanilla cake mix that I have made with egg replacer and they turned out okay (see picture at right) even though the directions say it will not work! Or, if you’d like, make a cupcake from scratch using a gluten-free recipe. And, by the way, muffins magically turn into cupcakes when topped with frosting and sprinkles, so that’s another option!
3. Make chocolate frosting and vanilla frosting and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Tip: Start by making vanilla frosting, take out half and then add the cocoa to make chocolate — that way, you really are only making one batch of frosting. You can use frosting mixes, like Pamela’s (I substitute softened palm shortening for the butter to make it dairy and soy-free), or you can use good old C&H powdered sugar and follow their easy recipes, some of which are below.

Do this later:

1. Before the day of the party, talk to the host of the birthday party to find out what food they are serving (in case you also need to bring your own snacks or lunch) and what kind of cake or cupcakes they are having. It is usually always some combination of white or chocolate cake and white or chocolate frosting. Try to match what they are having.
2. The night before or the morning of the party, take some cupcakes out to thaw. I bring 2 for my daughter just in case, but she usually only has one. Also, I like to have one on hand in case someone else needs an allergen-free cupcake (hasn’t happened yet, but when it does, I will make someone’s day!) If it is really last-minute, you can thaw the cupcake in the microwave.
3. Take out your frosting to thaw also. Or, you can microwave it just as you would to soften butter (don’t melt it).
4. Frost and decorate the cupcakes. If you want to get fancy, you can use decorating tools. It is actually really easy and you get to feel like a pastry chef for a minute! For sprinkles, I like India Tree brand or Let’s Do Organic Sprinkelz, which are gluten-free (most sprinkles contain wheat). As long as you’ve got yummy frosting and sprinkles, the cupcake part doesn’t even really matter that much!

Now SMILE and pat yourself on the back because your child has not been deprived of that age-old birthday treat - the CUPCAKE!

A few allergy-free frosting recipes adapted from C&H website:

Basic Decorating Icing (good for piping)
Ingredients:

• 4 cups powdered sugar (a one-pound box of C&H)
• 1/2 cup butter or shortening (palm if you want to make it soy-free)
• 1/4 cup water or milk (rice milk works well)
• 1 tsp. vanilla or other flavoring
• food color (optional)
• add 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder if you want to make chocolate

Instructions: Beat all ingredients until smooth. Keep icing covered to prevent drying. Store in refrigerator. Thicken with powdered sugar or thin with a few drops of water or milk, if needed. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Vanilla Glaze — a traditional glaze for coffee cakes and sweet rolls, but good on cupcakes too!
Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. milk (you can use non-dairy milk — rice milk works great)
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Instructions: Beat all ingredients until smooth. Makes 1/2 cup.

Chocolate Glaze — A smooth, rich glaze for cookies, cakes, cupcakes and more!
Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chocolate pieces, semisweet
• 1 tbsp. butter or margarine (or shortening)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. milk (or rice milk)

Instructions: In small saucepan, melt chocolate with butter (or shortening). Remove from heat and beat in powdered sugar adding milk gradually until mixture is a pourable consistency. Makes enough glaze for a layer cake.

Filed under: Babies & Kids, Food Ideas, Products, Food Allergies, Dairy Allergy, Recipes and Cooking Tips, Gluten Intolerance, Egg Allergy, Soy Allergy, Holidays/Special Events | 6 Comments »

Rating:

Product description:

Coconut Bliss:

• Non-dairy frozen dessert (ice cream) made from organic coconut milk and agave syrup
• Gluten-free
• Vegan (which means no milk and no eggs)
• Soy-free
• Low glycemic index

Review:

Move over Ben & Jerry and make way for Luna & Larry! I have just discovered Coconut Bliss ice cream and I am in love! I have tried many dairy-free ice creams, including soy-based ones and rice-based ones (and some that are made with both rice and soy like Rice Divine). This one is made with coconut milk as its base, and adds no soy or gluten. The result is a rich and creamy ice cream that rivals or even tops dairy ice creams in taste and texture. This is definitely a dessert I would serve to all my guests, not just to my dairy-free kids (in fact, I haven’t decided if I’m even going to share it with them at all!)

I love that the ingredients are pure and agave syrup is used for the sweetener instead of sugar. While the fat content isn’t lower that other ice creams, there is no cholesterol. And if you’d like to learn about the health benefits of coconut, Luna & Larry recommend the website Coconut Research Center.

I can’t wait to get through dinner tonight, so I can delve into dessert!

What I like:

• It is so creamy, just like “real” ice cream
• The flavor makes you say “yummmmm”
• It comes in many flavors: Naked Coconut, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla Island, Mint Galactica, Cappuccino, Cherry Amaretto, Pina Colada, Cinnamon Chocolate Flake, Strawberry Lemon Love, Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge

What I don’t like:

• That 2 flavors have nuts (my daughter is allergic so I need to think about the possibility of cross-contamination)
• I haven’t tried all the flavors yet (and can’t wait!)… I’ll let you know if there are any I don’t like

Where to buy:

As of June 2008, Coconut Bliss is only sold in the western United States. I found it in Whole Foods.

Filed under: Products, Dairy Allergy, Soy Allergy | 3 Comments »

Maybe I’m jumping the gun a little bit on summer, but we just had a record-breaking heat wave here in northern California (it was 97 degrees in San Francisco one day!), which prompted me to start stocking and making summer treats. When you are a kid with food allergies, running out to the ice cream truck and picking out anything you want from the pictures on the side isn’t an option. So, what’s a mom to do?

Luckily, there are a still a lot of refreshing treats that are okay for kids with food allergies. Here is some helpful information and summer treat ideas for when summer officially begins!

1. Popsicles & frozen fruit bars

Most commercial frozen pops are free of the top 8 allergens. They are mainly sugar and/or corn syrup and food coloring, which I usually try to avoid, but sometimes it’s nice that my kids can have what the other kids are having for once! Here is the list of Popsicle brand treats that are probably okay (check the ingredients for your individual needs). You can find a healthier kind of frozen pop made of fruit juices at the grocery store. I like Breyer’s Pure Fruit bars. I also like to make my own pops using fruit juice - check out all these fun pop molds!

The company that makes Good Humor, Klondike, Breyers and Popsicle has the following allergen statement on their website:

Unilever Ice Cream is a member of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis’s Network and the Food Allergy Resource and Research Program. Upon the advice of these consumer and industry groups we do not provide a list of flavors that do not contain gluten. There is always a concern with any product list that it would be replicated and the end recipients would not receive updates that would be required with a formulation change. The safe approach recommended by these organizations is to read the label each time a purchase is made.

Recognizing that reading food labels can be time-consuming and tedious, we wish to encourage you in your daily effort to read all food labels, as it is the best way for us to ensure that you receive the information you need to make an informed and confident choice.

We do want to reassure you that we work closely with all of our ingredient suppliers, including packaging, to verify all ingredient components. This includes those ingredients in natural flavors, colors and spices that would be a concern to persons with sensitivity to gluten. We ensure that this information is then included on our product’s ingredient label as “flour” or “wheat flour etc.” If a source of gluten were used in a product, it would be clearly listed. Some of our flavorings may contain ethyl alcohol, however, because the alcohol is distilled, they would not pose a threat to anyone who is gluten intolerant.

2. Snowcones & slushes

Most snowcones that you find at fairs and amusement parks are free of the top allergens. Usually they are made with crushed ice and a flavoring syrup (corn syrup). Even some packaged snow-cones are okay. Want to make your own at home? Here are some snow cone supplies. Otherwise, you can just make a slush in your blender by blending ice with juice. Serve it in a fun cup with a straw or spoon, or in the real snow cone cups with straws.

3. Ice cream treats

Most ice cream treats, including Fudgesicles, are off-limits for kids with dairy allergies, but there are some dairy-free options. Soy Dream and Rice Dream both have ice cream bars (but none are both gluten-free and dairy-free). Rice Divine makes ice cream bars and sundae cups that are both gluten-free and dairy-free (contain soy). Turtle Mountain makes soy-based dairy-free ice cream bars and ice-cream sandwiches (not gluten-free), and a dairy-free and soy-free fudge bar.

If you can’t find any of those, make your own ice cream sandwiches: take 2 homemade baked (gluten-free) cookies or packaged cookies and put ice cream (or dairy-free ice cream) between. Make a bunch ahead of time, wrap with with plastic wrap and put in the freezer.

Make ice cream cones at home with gluten-free cones! You could even bring your own cone to your local ice cream shop and have them scoop into it. Boy would your kid be excited! Here are the 3 different kinds of gluten-free cones (all are dairy-free also):

• Barkat ice cream cones - can be found at Glutenfree.com or Gluten Free Mall
• Barkat waffle cones (contain soy flour, may contain traces of peanuts and tree nuts) - can be found at Glutenfree.com or Gluten Free Mall
• Cerrone waffle cones - can be found at Glutenfree.com
• All three varieties can also be found at Allergy Grocer

4. Smoothies

Smoothies are always a yummy, healthy option that is refreshing for summer. Here are some allergen-free smoothie ingredient ideas — using a blender, combine them as you like! If you use some amount of frozen fruit, you don’t need to add ice.

• fresh and/or frozen fruit: bananas, strawberries, mango, peaches, blueberries, raspberries (some kids don’t like the little seeds in their drink)
• juice or milk (cow, soy, rice, almond, hazelnut, coconut)
• rice protein powder or vitamin powder

There you go! Now all you have to do is stock up on sunscreen and you are ready for summer!

Any other ideas? Feel free to add a comment below!

Filed under: Babies & Kids, Food Ideas, Products, Recipes and Cooking Tips | 3 Comments »

I love my appliances. I’m not one of those people that has wacky appliances like a Salad Shooter or a snow-cone maker (although summer is coming…). The ones I do have are essentials in the kitchen and make cooking allergy-free foods so much easier. Here are my 3 favorites:

1. KitchenAid stand mixer

I really don’t know how anyone can bake without a KitchenAid stand mixer. I’m not trying to be a snob — I know they are not cheap, but I have used other stand mixers and hand-held mixers, and it’s not fun. It’s frustrating. And if you have to bake a lot because you and your family have food allergies, then it is really worth the investment. I have the Artisan Series which I prefer over the Professional Series because it has a tilt-head. If you’re not in a hurry to buy one, keep checking for special sales at Amazon or other stores!

2. Rice Cooker

Last year I got a rice cooker in a family gift exchange. My old one that I carted around with me from apartment to apartment was permanently crusted and stained and every time I made rice I had to scrape it off the bottom of the pan and then let the pan soak for a day to get all the rice out of it. When I received the Cuisinart rice cooker, I embarked on a whole new way to use a rice cooker. It is smaller in size than my old one (this is a good thing) and has a non-stick surface. I make rice in it of course, but also other gluten-free grains such as quinoa, buckwheat, millet, and oatmeal! I love that I don’t have to worry about watching something on the stove — the rice cooker automatically shifts from Cook to Warm when done so I can make it ahead of time.

3. Toaster Oven

I don’t even have a regular toaster. Have you ever tried to put gluten-free bread in a toaster? Chances are you had to fish it out with a fork because gluten-free bread slices are usually smaller than “regular” bread. With a toaster oven, you don’t have to worry about that. Also, if you share appliances with non-allergy-free people, at least with a toaster oven you can lay down aluminum foil or use a separate oven tray.

I not only like the toaster oven for its ability to toast things of all shapes and sizes, but also for its bake setting. Need to bake just a couple Trader Joe’s gluten-free peanut butter cookies, a few Brazilian cheese breads, or some Ian’s allergy-free chicken nuggets? No need to turn on your big oven and wait a long time for it to get hot enough — a toaster oven heats up much faster and is perfect for baking small-sized things (I once made the mistake of trying to bake a loaf of gluten-free bread in the toaster oven and misjudged how high the bread would rise — oops! The loaf of bread was pretty much stuck in there and I had to decapitate it to get it out!)

What are your favorite appliances?

Filed under: Products, Recipes and Cooking Tips | 6 Comments »

Wow - a mainstream cereal company changed their formula for little ol’ me (and you)! General Mills has taken the barley malt out of Rice Chex and replaced it with molasses. I really think this represents a growing awareness about celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Maybe other cereal companies will catch on!

This cereal is delicious — so light and crunchy! I have never seen my child eat a bowl of cereal with such vigor and ask for more… and more. We have eaten “chex” cereal from Health Valley called Rice Crunchems and Corn Crunchems and they are good, but lately I have had a difficult time finding them in stores near me. Plus, the Rice Crunchems contain corn too, whereas the Rice Chex is pure rice which is good news for corn-sensitive people out there. Another thing I like about this cereal is that it is fortified with vitamins and minerals — most gluten-free cereals are not.

Because this cereal is so new, make sure to check that you are buying the right one. I found the gluten-free version at one store, but the old version was still on the shelves in another.

Thanks to General Mills! I look forward to making some Chex mix soon. Check out all these recipes!

Filed under: Products, Gluten Intolerance | 2 Comments »

Looking for more lunch ideas in addition to the 6 gluten-free lunch ideas for work?

Here are some easy meal ideas for home, work or school:

1. Gourmet on the Go

These ready-to-eat meals from St. Dalfour of France are surprisingly delicious and satisfying. They are vacuum packed, and can be eaten right from the container or microwaved in the container.

Two of the flavors are gluten-free (and no dairy, soy, eggs or nuts) — Wild Salmon with Vegetables and Three Beans with Sweetcorn. I have tasted both and they are really good. My kids even liked them. Plus, they come with a little spork (spoon/fork), always a bonus for getting your kids to eat something! This is great for the airplane. Ask your local store if they carry it, or order it online.

2. Quick Quesadilla

You probably wouldn’t think of putting lunch meat in a quesadilla, but if you don’t have any grilled chicken or shredded pork on hand, you can use packaged chicken or turkey breast slices or salami. It tastes great! In the morning, assemble corn tortillas with cheese and the lunch meat (don’t put beans or anything else that will make it soggy). Pack a side of salsa, lettuce or any other additions. When it’s time for lunch, just microwave the pre-assembled quesadillas and top with your extras.

3. Array of Appetizers

Grab the following out of your frig and cupboards and throw in a bag:
Carrots, celery, crackers, chips, hummus, peanut butter (or pb alternative butter), cream cheese or ranch dressing, slices of lunch meat, slices of cheese, tuna, and how about some tapenade (olive spread). Spread it all out on a plate, mix & match, and enjoy! Your co-workers might think you are a little strange, but they probably already do anyway.

4. Piece of Pizza

If you ever make pizza for dinner, make extra for the next day’s lunch. Making one pizza might be labor-intensive (depending on whether you are using pre-made crusts and how many toppings you are adding), but making a second or third doesn’t add much more work. For lunch, just heat the leftover pieces. Yum.

Filed under: Food Ideas, Products | 1 Comment »