Ruth

I added the gluten-free Thin Mints recipe to the "Recipe" section.

It's messy, but delicious....no baking involved!

Chelsea... it is great that you are a GS leader w/out having a daughter in the troop. You really must be a great role-model for the girls.

I've printed out your relpy. I feel like I'm ready now! Thanks.

This came from a celiac newsletter from Boston's Children's Hospital Celiac Newsletter:

Close your eyes, and they taste like the real thing!

gluten-free Thin Mints

40 Round gluten-free crackers (I used Casabe Rainforest crackers plain flavor)

1/2 Cup chocolate chips (I used more)

10 drops peppermint extract (I used more approx. 1/2 tsp.)

Melt choc. chips in microwave or double boiler

add peppermint extract and stir

dip crackers to coat (using a spoon helps!)

put on waxed paper on a cookie sheet & place in refrig. or freezer for about 1/2 hour

Enjoy!!

(store in refrig.)

Thank you all so much! This is amazing!!

I'm really excited to try these recipes.

I'm going to email the coordinator right now and let her know I have a solution to my "problem." She's probably reading the email I send her earlier today and thinking "Oh, no how will we deal with this?!?"

ChelsE.... how old are your girl scouts? Our troop is 4th grade juniors. Do any of the scouts have celiac, or is it you? Just curious.

jams... I have a great, easy recipe for gluten-free "thin mints" we made them this year and delivered them to our celiac friends/relatives.

My daughter loves to sell the cookies. We give what we would normally buy to a local food pantry. Because we all remember how special it was to get gs cookies in our school lunch once a year! She is working on a letter to GSUSA to explain the need for a gluten-free cookie option. We'll let you know how it goes!

THANKS!!

Ruth

I haven't posted in a while. After 3 years gluten-free we have such a great routine and a plan for all occations...

But, now we are faced with a new one!

In June, my daughter and I will be going on a large Girl Scout camping trip. It is only for one night, but it is our first and I'm wondering if any one has some experince/tips for gluten-free meal planning and preparation for girl or boy scouts.

While I am very nervous, I am determined to make this work.

I want my daughter to know she can particpate in these types of events as long as she plans properly.

I have volunteered to be involved in the meal planning (I am hoping to do the shopping so I can buy gluten-free products). I am very concerned about cross-contam. I can't imagine anything worse than being glutened and not having easy access to the bathroom!

I've already got my plan for s'mores... but it is lunch, dinner & breakfast I am worried about. They will most likely be large "one-pot" stews, etc.

Any help or suggestions are welcomed!

I will post again if/when I get the planned menu from the coordinator. I may be looking for substitutions, etc.

My kids (and I) used to love to get Frosty's at Wendy's... then we noticed they were off their gluten-free list (barley was added). Now, I noticed they are back on Wendy's gluten-free list (dated 11/2005).

Has anyone tried them recently? Does any one have any additional info?

Thanks,

Ruth

Perhaps those who had a negative experience with Dr. Crimaldi have paved the way for those of us who have had a positive one.

Dr. Crimaldi diagnosed me in March 2003. After my blood tests for celiac disease were negative... and years of looking into other reasons for my illness by other doctors, he is the one who insisted on a biopsy because he strongly suspected celiac disease.

As we know, most of the medical community is just beginning to realize that Celiac is common and does not just display the "typical" symptoms.

Maybe you opeded his eyes, and now he is diagnosing more patients.

If so, thanks!

Does anyone know of any brands of Ribbon Candy that are gluten-free?

Thanks.

I know this has been asked... but couldn't find a recent post.

I just recieved an email from a teacher, the kids will be doing a math activity on Monday with candy corn. I can't reach the companies over the weekend, so I'm wondering:

Which candy corn brands are safe?

I know Brach's won't say, but has anyone had any experience with it?

Farley's was last year...not sure if it still is...

Thanks so much!

My daughter had NO symptoms... she had very high positve blood test and biopsy results (totally flat villi in 11 samples)

I consider us "lucky" for catching this before she developed symptoms.

Best of luck,

Ruth

There was a segment on the Boston CBS News affiliate (WBZ) at 11pm last night.

Open Original Shared Link

Pretty good coverage!

Hi I was glutened at a local, upscale, restaurant last night. I went over the details of what was in the meal, and the only thing it seems like might have been the culprit was the Italian Spices on the potatoes. The brand is "Qualite" from a company called RD Enterprises in College Point NY.

There was not gluten in the ingredient list...but you never know... has anyone heard of this brand of spices? I can't track them down... The chef is also trying to find out.

Thanks,

Ruth Ann

Just a thought... if your husbnd and mother in law are "thin, small boned" they may also have celiac disease. Your smart to pursue testing for your daughter... I believe in mother's intuition!

PS My blood tests were all negative -- which lead to lots of unnecessary testing for other conditions. Thanks to my gastroenerologist he highly recommended the biopsy which confirmed his celiac disease suspicion.

Hi Lisa,

It looks like you have a lot of great lunch ideas... my kids also like:

Food for Life Brown Rice Bread (best for sandwiches) with jelly (allergic to peanuts)

Laughing Cow Soft cheese wedges with Mission brand soft corn tortillas.

Hunt's snack pack puddings, Balance Bars (plain chocolate, not crunch), Smartfood, yoplait yogurt.

Also, a tip that might help if your son's class is constantly having b-day parties or parents who send in snacks: We keep gluten-free cupcakes frozen in the nurse's office freezer. The kids have the freedom to go get one whenever they cannot eat the treat being offered (at least once a week!). We use Danielle's Chocolate Cake mix for the cupcakes with Duncan Hines homestyle frosting.

Also, we LOVE The Gluten Free Pantry's Brownine mix! Easy to make, always taste great... make yourself a belated b-day treat!

My kids also keep a bag of non-perishable snacks in the classroom/locker for times when treats are brought into school.

Hope this helps,

Ruth

I am writing an article on celiac disease for a regional parent's magazine. My deadline is Monday... should run in Oct or Nov.

I'm writing it as a thrid-party writer (not my own story...but rather reporting the facts and interviewing another celiac family about their story).

The editor was very open to the story idea!

The article is about 1,400 words plus a sidebar on sypmtoms, etc.

When it runs, I'll post the link to the publication.

Thank you all so much for your replies!

I have decided to send my son with a lunch box filled with his own food.

He is going with a friend's family. Since I can't be there I decided not to risk anything...he also has peanut/treenut allergies. So, eating a the ball park could have a lot more complications than just the gluten. He is so excited... the last thing on his mind is the food!

The folks at Red Sox Headquarters were very nice. They will allow people to bring their own food. The only restriction is beverages... they only allow 1 sealed bottle of water per person, nothing else.

I will be going to a game in a few weeks, I will definetly use all your great advice when I go!

Thanks,

Ruth

I'm going to call to Fenway Park to find out if their hot dogs, popcorn, and ice cream offerings are gluten-free...

Just wondering if anyone has inquired about this before and may have some answers/advice.

If I learn anything I'll post it!

Thanks,

Ruth

Gastroenterologist in Milford, MA: Treats adults and kids:

Dr. Albert Crimaldi, Milford Gastroenterology Speicalists

Children's Hospital, Boston (also office hours in Lexington) Dr. Glen Furuta.

Both very good and knowledgable about celiac disease.

Kimberly...I'm not sure if you've already had them tested but...if not...

Even if your kids are symptom free... please have them tested.

My symptom free kid... the one I'm positive didn't have celiad had very high positive blood tests and biopsy (severe damage to her intestines.) She is on the gluten-free diet so she won't get the symptoms!

Last year, my daughter recieved her 1st communion. We used the low-gluten host that one time. We don't use it every week (we go w/out). While one time did not make either of us sick, her doctor did not recommend we have it on a regular basis.

My daughter had her feelings hurt yesterday by another child, who couldn't accept that my daughter said "No Thanks" to the muffins her mom prepared for the class.

Without rambling about the details, I'll just say that even my very articulate, strong and self confident 3rd grader was very upset when she got home...

It's hard when "I can't eat that, the gluten in it makes me really sick" isn't enough... I have now told her to explain it more "scientifically." I know it works with adults... either they get scared off or really interested. I just thought for kids the explanation could remain simpler for a while.

Wondering how your endoscopy went... My blood tests were normal, too. I also had severe anemia as my major symptom. My endsocopy showed I clearly had celiac. My daughter had no symptoms, but positive blood test, and edoscopy.

Everyone is different... blood tests are not foolproof!

The gluten-free diet has cured me of many health issues --- who knew I could feel so good!

All the best,

Ruth

My daughter's class (3rd grade) does "ticket/treasure/candy"

The tickets are saved up for larger items (use the teachers chair for a day, no homework pass, bring a stuffed animal to school for a day, etc.) the treasures are small items like erasers, stickers, pencils, etc. and the candy has lots of gluten-free and nut free items... smarties, rolos, tootsie rolls.

Also, local ice cream parlors do the coupon fundraisers... most are gluten-free.

Extra recess is a favorite for my son's 1st grade class as an incentive.

celiac3270 and others...

Just wanted to say thanks!

We just returned from our vacation in NYC and were thrilled with Risotteria and Bloom's Deli & Cafe.

My kids were soooo excited about the gluten-free pizza at Risotteria (so was I) and the fries at Bloom's as well as the hamburgers, eggs, fruit salad were wonderful.

So nice to have a gluten-free menu to look at!

We tried to go to the "Brooklyn Diner" which was on one of the lists... they were really friendly but really could not accomodate a full family of gluten-free eaters! They could only offer shrimp scampi and the sundae... so if you have kids I wouldn't recommend them.

They were really interested in the gluten-free list I had and were wondering how they got on it... I said it must be the friendly staff and the gluten-free hot fudge sundae!

If anyone is planning a trip... the Double Tree Guest Suites in Times Square, with a small fridge and microwave in every room was perfect for preparing meals for us celiacs, and a S'barro around the corner for the non-celiacs in our family.

I found NYC to be a very friendly, welcoming city!

Thanks!

What number is this?

Your four year old (not celiac) can list all the things at Wendy's and McDonald's that are gluten free.

Last night, my daughter ran into the kitchen (very excited) becasue on Chalk Zone, a kids show, the "bad guy" was using rice pudding as a weapon and said, "It's yeast free, it's gluten free, it's dairy free...but it's not string bean free!"

Silly.... but she thought it was cool they mentioned "gluten-free"

Rice pudding, laced with string-beans, used as a weapon! HMMM.....