The CeliAct Blog

When I was diagnosed with celiac, I went through a period of grieving for carrot cake. The delicious combination of moist carrot flavored cake with cream cheese frosting was easily one of my favorite treats. It’s taken a lot of searching, but I finally found a recipe that I trust and love, and would like to share it with all of you! We even used it as the smash-cake at my toddler’s 1 year birthday party, so it is also kid-approved. Enjoy!    Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Ingredients 3 large eggs 1/2 cup light vegetable oil 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/3 cup plain yogurt or coconut yogurt (I always like to use greek yogurt) 2 […]

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It’s not easy to find gluten-free snacks that are packed with protein. While jerky certainly fits the bill, the market is dominated by jerky products that contain gluten. Those who don’t often use less than desirable ingredients and have cross-contamination issues. That’s why we can’t wait for Think Jerky, a gluten-free jerky product featuring all natural ingredients, sustainable farming practices, and exciting, creative flavors. Think Jerky has developed the first line of chef-crafted, artisan beef jerky. Not only is Think Jerky gluten-free, it’s also healthier than other jerky on the market, using ½ of the salt and ⅓ of the sugar that other brands use. Each 1.5oz bag of jerky contains 100 calories or less, […]

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We know far too well how this story goes. You’re on the road and need to stop for a bite, or on the way to work and forgot to pack a lunch, or you’re just craving a quick snack. As gluten-free dieters, it’s slim pickins at fast food restaurants. In addition to menus having little to no options for us, often times the gluten-free items are hiding on the menu. It’s also hard to find restaurants that use dedicated fryers, and often times staff aren’t knowledgeable about gluten, making the possibility of cross-contamination or mistakes likely. All of that is about to change, with a fast-food restaurant initiative that not only is going to give […]

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You’ve decided to host a cocktail party for your colleagues. You’re throwing your best gal a baby shower. It’s the NBA Finals and your college friends are coming over for beer and snacks. Whatever the reason, isn’t it going to be a lot more enjoyable if you can eat the things you’ve provided for your guests? For those who only recently began eating gluten-free it may seem like an impossible task to host a party with all gluten-free options, but it’s not as hard as you think! Also, with the fast growing number of folks adhering to a gluten-free diet, odds are you won’t be the only one at your shindig who needs to avoid […]

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I write this blog to provide gluten-free news, yummy recipes, and important information and facts concerning celiac and living a gluten-free lifestyle. Today I wanted to change the pace a bit, and focus on what we can do to give back to the gluten-free community. This blog focuses on gluten-free fundraising, and how to get involved in your community to raise money and awareness for celiac and gluten sensitivity. Read on for 4 creative and fun fundraising ideas!  1. Gluten-Free Restaurant Night: Have a favorite local restaurant with delicious gluten-free options? Ask them to host a fundraiser! Often events such as this are attractive to restaurants (especially on slow nights) because they bring in more […]

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Those with celiac and gluten intolerance know the deal. Gluten is hiding everywhere: in our food, in our makeup, and yes, in our medication. One man has had enough, and is taking his complaint as high as the FDA, who he is now suing. Michael Weber has celiac. 7 years ago he took a generic drug that induced symptoms similar to those associated with gluten ingestion. As gluten is sometimes used to coat prescription drug and over-the-counter medicine capsules, he grew concerned and decided to look into the issue. As the medication Weber took had no labeling regarding gluten, he decided to call the pharmacy where the drug came from. They were unable to determine […]

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It’s time I give credit where credit is due. I’ve been itching to blog about Udi’s for a long time now, but it wasn’t until we decided on our “Crazy About” series that I felt it was the perfect match. “Crazy About” features gluten-free products, restaurants, companies and startups that impress us so much we just have to share them with you. Today we sing our praises to Udi’s, and if you haven’t heard of them, you’d better get a move on it. Read on for all you need to know about Udi’s Gluten-Free.   Since Udi’s broke out on the gluten-free scene in 2008, they have been unstoppable. In the past few years they […]

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Ever just want to grab something tasty to munch on? I love salty snacks, and options are not as plentiful on a gluten-free diet. I can’t just grab a handful of pretzels, and often even bags of roasted nuts have gluten in them. I want to share with you my two favorite gluten-free munchies that are super quick and easy to make! These two recipes can be made from simple ingredients at home, and they have become two of my absolute favorite snacks. They are healthy, easy and the ingredients are cheap, something rare when it comes to gluten-free snacks. Make them in big batches so you’ll always have something to munch on in between […]

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Finding out that your child has celiac or gluten intolerance brings along with it some pretty daunting questions, concerns and tasks. Numerous adjustments need to be made at home, at school, traveling, with friends and so on. The most challenging task of all may be explaining to your child just what gluten is, and what it means to remove it from his or her diet. We’ve compiled a list of handy tools to help you communicate this to your children and have also included some great resource recommendations, including wonderful childrens books!     1. The Road to Feeling Good: Stay Positive Our kids take their cues from us. If you are upset, stressed and […]

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Since going gluten-free there have been many foods that I’ve had to bid farewell to. Thankfully the food industry has been quite kind to us as of late, and the majority of these things I’ve been able to find pretty good gluten-free versions of, or at least learned to make something almost as good. Pizza? Check. French Toast? Check. Cinnamon Buns? Big Check. Pigs in a blanket have remained a distant, delicious memory. Until now. Whether you want to make your own batch or would rather throw frozen franks in the oven, we’ve got you covered. Those of us that bake know how difficult it is to imitate the flaky, moist pastry dough and companies […]

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A rapidly growing number of people are turning to gluten-free diets to cure all kinds of ailments. If the removal of gluten results in symptoms decreasing or disappearing, then all is well, right? Not so fast. There are very important reasons to get tested for celiac disease before you eliminate gluten from your diet, and we’ve got the 5 main reasons detailed for you here.    The Gluten-Challenge If you decide to test for celiac later on, you’ll have to do a gluten challenge. Celiac testing (which includes blood tests and an endoscopy), looks for your body’s reaction to gluten and for intestinal damage. If your body hasn’t experienced gluten for a while, you could […]

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Spring is upon us, and we in the celiac community know what that means: Passover shopping. It’s a pretty fascinating phenomenon that a holiday infamous for its restrictive menu can be such a bountiful and indulgent time for those of us with celiac or gluten intolerance. This Passover more than ever, stores and online merchants are stocking a wide variety of Kosher for Passover gluten-free items, including crackers, cakes, panko crumbs, chow mein noodles, macaroons, matzo ball mix and more! What does this mean for the celiac and gluten intolerant community? It’s time to stock your pantries. A Kosher for Passover gluten-free shopping spree is in order. What are the best products to pick up? […]

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Before I was diagnosed with celiac, granola was one of my favorite go-to breakfasts. I always kept my favorite brand handy for quick on-the-go breakfasts and was more than disappointed when I realized it had to be eliminated. Not until I began cooking more of my own meals did I realize that I could also create my own gluten-free granola. I began looking up recipes and found a few that have become steady breakfasts around here. They are simple and so delicious that I’d love to share my two favorites. Granola is the quintessential breakfast food. It’s easy to prepare, super versatile and packed with healthy calories and nutrients that you need to get you […]

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Kellogg’s has recently revealed that their Eggo waffles are now gluten-free. Their tasty waffles are available in two flavors: original and cinnamon. This is super exciting news for celiac and gluten sensitive consumers, as breakfast-on-the-go options are slim. Gluten-free Eggo waffles have hit shelves across the country and are available in the frozen food sections of your grocery store and Kellogg has insisted that they have gone above and beyond to make sure that the waffles maintain their “crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside” texture that Eggo waffles are known for. Read on for more regarding this exciting announcement! Coming on the heels of General Mill’s announcement of gluten-free Cheerios, Eggo waffles are joining […]

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We all know it well. Living a gluten-free lifestyle means we are constantly on the lookout for gluten-free flour alternatives. We’ve tried buying mixes, mixing our own flour at home, adding xanthan gum, adding potato starch, you name it. For the gluten-free community, the search for flour alternatives never ends. We are always ready to try new things, new blends, new flavors and textures. So when we heard about these new gluten-free flour alternatives hitting the market, we just had to share the scoop with you! Believe it or not, things like banana, coffee and green peas are being ground into flour and are hitting the gluten-free market.   1. Coffee Flour Dan Belliveau created coffee flour […]

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