Monday, August 1, 2011

Gluten free / Dairy Free and food allergy Resources and Help

I've been allergic to wheat gluten and dairy for more than 10 years.  It was a struggle at first but now there are very few items that I miss.  There are some areas where things are hidden so I want to tell you about those, and then I will give a list of some of my favorite sites and keep updating this blog when I find new items I like.  Recently I found that I was also allergic to soy.  I was eating a soy based ice cream and was getting hot flashes and feeling really run down.  So I have had to look even further in to my dairy free alternatives and have found coconut milk and almond milk to be amazing.

As for hidden lactose, a lot of medications, even over the counter have lactose in them in the "inactive" ingredients.  So, make sure to read all the labels before buying your new script and/ or things like Midol.
Also gluten is in things like soy sauce,  a lot of salad dressings, soup bases and sauces.  So, at first it might seem like your food has to be plain but it really doesn't.

Homeopathic medicine has LACTOSE in the pills.  So opt for the liquid versions.

Always look at INACTIVE ingredients when looking at medications and supplements.

Most probiotics have lactose in them.

It seems like a huge step when you change your diet so drastically, but honestly, I think it is so much better for our systems and our minds to not have foods that make you feel tired and/or bloated or congested.  Just the fact that you have to be conscious before you put something in your mouth is a huge plus to getting healthier.

I will list a lot of things that I have found yummy yet don't think just because they are free of certain allergies that they are healthy.  I like chocolate a lot and sweets so I will let you know some yummy ones so you don't have to do the trial and error that I did.  Trust me there are some yucky versions of these foods.

BTW- SOY LECITHIN gives the same reaction as soy.  So if someone makes desserts or you buy a candy bar and it has this ingredient, and you normally don't tolerate soy, don't eat it!
It makes me bloated, flushed, and my belly gets crampy.  Soy in general is not that great for you and there is no reason people can't use coconut milk, almond milk, etc.  It's much better for you.  A lot of women, including myself get hot flashes and night sweats when they have milk and think they are having pre menapause and go on meds thinking that's what it is and not they soy they eat in their protein bars.

ALSO AGAVE-  I have NO idea you could be allergic to it.  I had two months where I found this raw chocolate listed below by coracoa.  Their chocolate is healthy and delicious.  However, ever day I had this tightness in my chest and thought I was having acid reflux or something serious was going on with my lungs and heart.  It turned out to be an agave allergy.  Really listen to your body!



Bay Area restaurants - with gluten free / dairy free alternatives that are delicious!

Amicis' pizza they have amazing pizza with fresh veggies and thin crust that is amazing!
there are tons of locations as well...

Cups and Cakes Bakery  they have gluten free / dairy free cupcakes both mini and regular size with great flavors, great frosting and you can special order

PF Changs they have great options and a dedicated gluten free part of their kitchen and they are located all over the states... i always make my own concoction ...i order the gluten free lemon chicken with broccoli and then have them add pineapple and almonds to it...on brown rice it's amazing!  it should be the "KG special" i order it so much...plus everyone in there knows me so it's always a fun time...:)


http://hotspudsf.com/ 
Baked potatoes stuffed with goodness! Tons of gluten free options!

Pacific Catch they have a few locations in the bay area...i usually get the regular french fries extra crispy (they are delicious) and then a "wasabi bowl" with brown rice but NO sauce...the sauce contains gluten but the bowls are yummy without the sauce...
you can also get most of their salads, their ceviche, sushi as long as you don't get anything friend, and make sure to get NO sauce on any of the rolls and no tempura...


Cafe del soul
Tons of options for gluten free and dairy free.  They have rice plates, wraps, juices and more!
http://cafedelsoul.net/menu/


Blue Barn - They have something called a u pick salad- You can pick from tons of organic gluten free/dairy free/soy free options like chopped kalamata olives, cucumbers, fresh beets and more!  We need one of these in marin!  This is in SF and Marin. http://www.bluebarngourmet.com/menu/menu.pdf



The Plant Cafe- They have a make your own salad where you get to chose from many yummy fresh organic items.  They also have tons of vegan items and gluten free items.  We also need one of these in marin.  There are several locations but none in marin.





Source sf

minako-organic-japanese-restaurant-san-francisco

confluence kitchen and market

American Grilled Cheese Kitchen

pica pica kitchen

gracias madre

cafe gratitude

The best Almond Butter




Local Raw Chocolate

Coracao - they do use agave in a lot of their chocolate so be careful





Sweetie Organic chocolate shop

www.sweeteorganic.com


Ice Cream

Coconut Bliss is amazing - chocolate peanut butter, chocolate, cappuccino and more...




Pure Sweets amazing treats

https://puresweets.com/index.php





Matzo gluten free and So good!!! 


Cornbread










Glutino Pretzels- They do have soy in them though.


Hot Cereal







Other yummy cereals






Chia ginger cereal and snack (i love this even without milk)












Yummy Chocolate



enjoy life foods makes the best mini chocolate chips







i use them on everything from hot rice cereal

to my rice crispy treats (which i take brown rice crisps, gf marshmallow and dairy free butter and then bake them for a bit, then i put a whole bag of the mini chips on top and bake for five minutes and spread the melted chocolate and by the next morning it is a hard piece of chocolate frosting that is delicious)





(this place even has pizza crusts and bagels)


Dairy Free Milk Alternatives



MORE Yummy Things

Almond crunch in many flavors





Amazing cookies-the peanut butter shortbread is so good!


Dried fruit-regular and dairy free chocolate covered
chocolate covered blueberries, big pieces of coconut, ginger and more...


http://saviseed.com/about-saviseed/nutritional-profile-of-saviseed

Gluten Free Shopping


Dairy Free Shopping


Baking Mixes


this place has great mixes for pancakes, great frostings and mini choc chip cookies- just remember to buy the Gluten Free ones and not their regular ones...