Gluten Free In Seattle Washington
As I have written before, travelling always brings out a certain, well, uncertainty in where I might find my gluten free food choices. It was no different as we travelled up North to Seattle, Washington. I, of course, travel with plenty of emergency food items in my purse. My new favorite is Pamelas Oat Cranberry Almond bar. At 140 calories, it packs so much flavor and satisfaction with every bite. I also brought dried Montmorency tart cherries great as an anti-oxidant!
So the first day we were there, we decided to take a walk up to Pike Place Market. It was a beautiful day and everyone was out and about. We stopped at a few places my husband bought a cup of chowder and I bought a banana. While strolling along the street, I saw a bakery, but what really caught my eye was this red tape around the section marked, Gluten Free. Im not too much of a baked goods eater, but I asked the store manager about the way they baked their cookies, rolls, etc. They talked about dedicated pans and spatulas, etc. She also mentioned that there was another bakery down on another street below the market. And that this new bakery also served sandwiches. Yum! Her directions were a series of signs and landmarks. How fun is that?
Heres the directions she gave us:
Head inside the market and when you see the neon sign that says, Rotary Grocery,
go down the hallway past the Pike Place Bakery ..
Step inside and see all of the gluten free goodies.
Ask for a sandwich if you like.
Step : Watch Out For Cross
When preparing gluten-free foods, take care to prevent cross-contact with foods containing gluten. Cross-contact can occur if foods are prepared on common surfaces, or with utensils that are not thoroughly cleaned after preparing gluten-containing foods.
Using hard to clean equipment for both gluten-free and gluten-containing foods is one potential source of cross-contact. Toasters, strainers, and flour sifters should not be shared. Deep-fried foods cooked in oil that are also used to cook breaded products should be avoided.
Spreadable condiments in shared containers may also be a source of cross-contact. When a person dips into a condiment such as mustard, mayonnaise, jam, peanut butter, or margarine a second time with the knife used for spreading, the condiment becomes contaminated with crumbs and is not safe for consumption by individuals who cannot tolerate gluten. Consider using condiments in squeeze containers, when you can, to prevent cross-contact.
Wheat flour can stay airborne for many hours in a bakery or at home and land on exposed preparation surfaces, utensils, or uncovered gluten-free products, potentially causing a problem for anyone avoiding gluten.
See our articles 7 Tips for Avoiding Gluten Cross-Contact at Home and Gluten in Your Food: Cross-Contact or Cross-Contamination?
Should We Apologize For Being Gluten Free
Its funny Ive noticed myself occasionally apologizing to a waiter for having to be gluten free. I think its because of all the negative press the gluten free industry is getting that maybe people dont really need to be gluten free. Some say that its in fashion to say that you are gluten free even if you arent for medical reasons. And some are even stating that even with the diagnosis of gluten intolerance that maybe you can eat gluten every once in a while! Can you believe that?? A lot of people say that if you need to stay away from gluten for medical reasons, then you need to stay away from gluten altogether! Seems logical to me I dont know why other people cant understand that. You know what I say to those people when they say to me, Oh, a little bit is not going to kill you! I say, Well, heres some rat poison a little bit wont kill you, here, go ahead, have some. They dont have much to say after that.
I think the wheat industry is also purporting a lot of negative press big surprise there! Its their entire industry we are staying away from and it hurts their bottom line. Funny, but I dont feel bad about saying that I have to be corn free they seem to be a bit more empathetic about that one. Last night the waitress said, Oh, youre gluten free AND corn free? Anyway, Im not apologizing anymore! Its poison to my body and if they dont understand that, then tough cookies !
Also Check: Gluten Free Diet For Dogs
Mccormick Turkey Gravy Mix
McCormick Turkey Gravy is labeled gluten free on the front of the packaging. Its ingredients include cornstarch, buttermilk powder, corn maltodextrin, salt, hydrolyzed corn and soy protein, onion, modified palm oil, yeast extract, caramel color, potassium chloride, potato starch, corn syrup solids, spices and herbs , turkey powder, guar gum, sodium caseinate, and natural flavor.
If youve been on a gluten-free diet long enough, you know there are a few red flag ingredients, such as yeast extract, which is typically made from spent brewers yeast, and caramel color, which often contains barley.
However, because the gravy is labeled gluten free, the product contains less than 20 ppm of gluten, per the FDAs guidelines for gluten-free labeling. McCormick says any product with a gluten-free claim on the label means it has been validated to be gluten free.
Furthermore, McCormick offers the following allergen statement on its website, stating that it never hides allergens under the notations of spices or natural flavors.
I also tested McCormick Turkey Gravy with my Nima Sensor, and Nima did not find any gluten. A smiley face means no gluten found. You can purchase .
Sneaky Sources Of Gluten
“Gluten is lurking in so many different foods because there are so many ways companies can use gluten,” says Begun. So you’re going to get used to playing food detective. While food companies are required to list allergens on the label , they are not required to do this with gluten. So while you can look for “gluten-free” on the front of the package, you should also flip it over and read the ingredients label. Reading labels and checking for cross-contamination is a must for people with celiac disease.
Related:14-Day Gluten-Free Meal Plan
Here’s what you’re looking for, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation: wheat, barley, rye, malt, brewer’s yeast and oats. Oats are often contaminated with gluten, so they have to specifically be certified gluten-free oats. Gluten-free flours, such as millet or amaranth, should also be bought certified gluten-free, says Begun. If the label lists an ingredient you’re not familiar with, “wait to eat it until you can confirm that it’s safe,” she says.
You probably know that a whole-wheat bagel is not gluten-free, but you might be surprised that some of your other favorite foods aren’t either.
Watch out for flavored nuts and chips , energy bars , creamy soups , candy, salad dressings, marinades and soy sauce. If you’re vegetarian, you might eat a lot of fake meats , but know that these are often made with seitan, which is wheat gluten.
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Step : Learn What Foods To Include Or Avoid
While the basis of a gluten-free diet is avoiding certain foods, you should also learn what foods are safe to eat. There are many naturally gluten-free foods you can still enjoy that happen to be delicious and healthy! Focus on shopping the perimeter of your grocery store: vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, meats, and dairy products are good places to start. In their natural forms, without potentially gluten-containing flavorings or ingredients added, these foods are gluten-free and are staples of a gluten-free diet.
If you are going gluten-free, these gluten-containing grains should be eliminated from your diet:
- Wheat Includes all varieties and forms such as: durum, spelt, semolina, couscous, bulgur, emmer, farina, farro, and einkorn.
Avoid varieties and derivatives of these three grains including:
- Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye
- Wheat starch that has not been processed to reduce gluten to the levels that meet the definition of gluten-free
- Malt extract derived from barley
- Malt vinegar derived from barley
- Brewers yeast usually derived from beer that is brewed from wheat, barley, or rye
Choose naturally gluten-free grains and flours, including rice, corn, soy, potato, tapioca, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, cassava, coconut, arrowroot, amaranth, teff, flax, chia, yucca, bean flours, and nut flours.
What about oats?
Savory Yogurt With Kimchi Tamari
Makes 1 serving
You can go gluten-free joyfully when you try new foods and combinations of flavors that wouldnt have occurred to you before. Savory yogurt may be unfamiliar, but once you try it, youre going to want more.
The key is to think about texture and flavor. Creamy yogurt? Were used to topping it with fruit. Instead, try a little mound of spicy kimchi. Instead of sweetened granola, try any chopped nuts you like. And salt the food with another flavor. Try gomasio, a Japanese sesame seed salt .
With just four ingredients, this dish offers surprise and delight.
½ cup full-fat yogurt2 tablespoons chopped tamari-lime-chili almonds ½ teaspoon gomasio
Spoon the yogurt into a bowl. Top with the kimchi. Strew the chopped almonds, then sprinkle with the gomasio.
Other combinations that work well together:
- Yogurt, sauerkraut, pistachios and smoked salt.
- Yogurt, pickled red cabbage, garlic-roasted cashews and rosemary-lemon salt.
- Yogurt, grated pickled carrots, toasted sunflower seeds and Cajun spiced salt.
Shauna James Ahern is the author of several books, including Gluten-Free Girl Every Day, a winner of the James Beard Cookbook Award for Focus on Health, and the memoir Enough: Notes from a Woman Who Has Finally Found It.
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Become An Avid Label Reader
Read every label. Its like gluten-free 101. Even if its for a product you buy regularly, still scan the label to confirm nothing has changed in the formulation. Even if the product says, certified gluten-free, still scan the label. You are your best advocate. Its your responsibility to keep yourself healthy. Know the difference between Contains and May Containand your tolerance for both.
Yummy Gluten Free Oat Bars
I have created a very yummy gluten free oat bar for you guys to try. It also got ginger in it to help fight cancer cells!
Try it out and let me know what you think!
Gluten Free Oat Bars Recipe
Ingredients:
2 C gluten free oats
1/2 C sliced almonds
2 tsp gluten free oat flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
10-12 tbsp raw organic unpasteurized honey
Instructions:
Mix together in a bowl until thoroughly mixed. Spoon into a small glass dish and smash down until evenly distributed. I just made it up so feel free to let me know how to improve it!
Enjoy!
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Simply Organic Brown Gravy
Simply Organic also makes a gluten-free gravy mix. However, the gluten-free label is hidden on the back of the packaging. The gravy mix is certified gluten free by the Gluten Intolerance Group.
The gravy is made with organic cornstarch, sea salt, organic maltodextrin, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa powder , natural flavor , organic garlic, organic onion, organic rice concentrate, organic mushrooms, organic beef flavor , organic paprika, organic black pepper, and organic celery seed.
The company says on its website that only products it has tested and that meet FDA gluten-free labeling guidelines are labeled gluten free if the product is not labeled gluten free, the company says it cannot guarantee it is gluten free.
I tested Simply Organic brown gravy with my Nima Sensor, and Nima is all smiles, which means no gluten was found. Find .
Is It The Gluten Or The Gmo Wheat Causing Havoc
I was talking with someone today who is gluten intolerant and has a girlfriend who is diagnosed celiac. He was telling me that gluten definitely has an effect on him. Not only does he not feel good after ingesting gluten, but he also gets brain fog and depression exactly 3 days after eating gluten. And his girlfriend is extremely sensitive to gluten and feels the effects after ingesting gluten. Then he told me something very intriguing. He said that they visited a bakery in Napa that only used ancient wheat grains in making their artisan bread. Apparently the bakery had enough of a compelling story that the wheat they were using was from way back prior to the GMO phase, or franken wheat days that they both tried it.
Guess what??? None of them had a reaction to it!!! Wait!! What??!! How could that be? I wonder if the GMO wheat is the component that makes us all react horribly?
Although, I was talking with another celiac person the other day and they said that one of the first cases of celiac was about 100 years ago before the GMO days gotta wonder. Its worth looking into though in my eyes, this whole GMO thing. I try and not eat anything that has been genetically modified. Thoughts?
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Make A List Of The Foods That You Like Best And Will Have To Replace With Gluten
You want to make a list of these products so you can focus on finding substitutes for them ASAP to minimize the time you are without them. Some of the usual suspects are bread, buns , pizza dough, pasta, cereal, snacks, pre-made gluten-free desserts . We have already created some great gluten-free food lists that provide you with gluten-free chocolates, candy, condiments, and other sauces. Check them out they are a great resource.
Learn What You Have To Avoid
First off, you wont be successful if you dont know what youre supposed to avoid. Things you cant eat include anything with wheat, barley, rye, and anything made from those grains. Obviously, gluten is not allowable. If youre Celiac, youll also have to avoid using utensils or other kitchen equipment that comes in contact with gluten-containing foods. There are also grains that have a high risk of cross-contamination. Heres a list of things to avoid:
- Instant coffees
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What Is A Gluten
Pictured Recipe: Charred Vegetable & Bean Tostadas with Lime Crema
Surprisingly, a gluten-free diet is similar to a traditionally healthy dietfew fancy foods required. Fill up your plate with naturally wholesome gluten-free foods, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, fish and lean meat, says Begun. “This is what dietitians recommend makes up the majority of your diet whether you’re gluten-free or not,” she says.
And if you love your grains, you can still eat them. “So many people think that gluten-free means no grains at all, but there are so many great gluten-free options out there,” says Begun. Rice, millet, quinoa and buckwheat are just a few examples. Today, you can easily find gluten-free pasta made from corn, quinoa or beans.
Be sure to check out The Ultimate Gluten-Free Foods List for more specifics.
If you eat this way, you likely won’t have to worry about nutritional deficiencies, says Begun. “The exception is if you suffer from celiac disease, since your body does not absorb all of the nutrients from food,” she says. Commonly, newly diagnosed celiac sufferers are deficient in fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin D and even protein, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. In that case Begun recommends speaking with a registered dietitian, who may recommend supplements or other necessary dietary changes.
Can You Live Gluten
More and more people today are making moves to get healthier by being careful of what they eat. For example, some people are focusing on what they eat and drink to help them deal with arthritis. One option that is gaining popularity is giving up gluten. It may seem like an impossible thing and while it can be a challenge at first to adjust to no gluten in your diet, there are many gluten-free alternatives that you can use in your cooking and baking so you can still have delicious foods to enjoy. If you are looking at making the move to gluten-free living, here are some gluten-free alternatives you will want to swap out right away!
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Research Products And Reviews Online To Find Gluten
Take the list you created in Step 3 and start doing your research. You have every reason to feel confident. The gluten-free food market has exploded in recent years so there is an ever-growing number of traditionally gluten products being made gluten-free and being made very well. Your goal here is to find the best replacement product for your palate and these tips will help make it possible:
- Look to see what product you can make yourself and then look for the best gluten-free recipe for you, to get it done.
- Go to your regular/local grocery store or online store and, if in person, ask for their gluten-free products. If shopping online, try searching the store for the word gluten-free.
- Look online for reviews of the products you are looking for so you can get a sense of their pros and cons.
- Ask your social media group community if anyone has tried the product and, if so, how it was.
- If you want to test it out, look online for coupons or contact the company direct and ask if they have coupons to encourage first-time customers.
Gluten-free products tend to be more expensive so taking these additional steps will help you find the best products for you while minimizing money spent for those living on a gluten-free budget.
Enjoy The Foods You Can Eat
Dont be sad about the foods you cant eat celebrate the ones you can! Besides all the whole, real foods out there to enjoy, there are also a lot of gluten-free options available these days. Sure, youll pay more for them, but if you really want a sandwich or a cookie, you do have options that dont include gluten.
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Work Out Whats Best Financially
If you were looking to sell your home quickly for example, whats the first thing youd do? Youd work out your finances, and ultimately weigh up options such as looking at this company. The same really applies for anything that is likely to drain your finances or impact your day to day living costs, and that includes changing to a gluten free diet.
One of the best things to figure out is what is the cheapest way to buy gluten free. Say that, for example, there are two parents and two children in a household. Two parents and one child are fine, and the other has celiac. What do you do? Do you buy separate gluten free pastas and breads, or do the whole family just commit to the diet? Remember, that for those with a severe gluten intolerance, their food cant even be prepared in the same area as gluten friendly foods, so this is something to consider too. Work out how each shop would add up, and whats best for your family overall before deciding how to go about buying.
Furthermore, you should also check that if the person in question is entitled to gluten free foods on prescription. This is the case for a lot of young children, and could help massively in saving money on the weekly shop.
