One of the boxes of fruit-flavored snacks included in this prize pack is a Variety Pack that includes packets of Fruit Rollups (a classic favorite from my days as a kid), Fruit Gushers, and Fruit-By-The-Foot. The variety pack is an all-time favorite at our house as a dessert choice or a sweet treat during long road trips. Since the kids in our home are not required to eat a gluten-free diet it never occurred to me that these as well as all of Betty Crocker’s Fruit Flavored Snacks are gluten-free.

As much as I like to inform the celiac community of new GF products by new food manufacturers it is also a great pleasure to get the chance to help spread the word that there is a GF product available from a larger food manufacturer such as General Mills Betty Crocker Brand. It becomes a bigger treat when the product is targeted toward children. Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks are a food item that not only your gluten-free child will find in his lunch bag but is something his gluten eating peers will also have. To me that makes this product special.

Also included in this prize pack was a box of Betty Crocker Create-a-Bug Fruit Flavored Snacks. It was fun to watch the kids’ faces light up when I handed them items from the variety pack. However, it was a bigger joy to see them happy to try something new. Their father and I shared a good chuckle as the oldest (a 14 year old girl) told her younger brother (11 years old) who was ready to gobble down the whole pack, that first he has to play with them. When I asked them what they thought of the Create-a-Bug Fruit Flavored Snacks they both exclaimed “Yum, those are a winner!”

In addition to being gluten free all of the Betty Crocker Brand Fruit Flavored Snacks made with real fruit and are low in calories and fat. To learn more about these wonderfully yummy fruit flavored treats visit Betty Crocker’s official website.

To enter the GlutenFreeHotProducts.com “Simple Joys” prize pack contest:

Send your name, email address to alacy@celiaccentral.org , please include “Simple Joys” prize pack in the subject line. This contest will run from November 30th, 2009 till December 14th, 2009. I will announce the winner on GFHP and send them an email requesting their mailing address. Till then Good luck and happy GF snacking!

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Since there is as much variety in pizza preference as there are types of pizzas, it is always great to hear when another gluten free pizza has hit the market. So that is what today’s post is about. I received word that Sam’s Club is interested in increasing the number of gluten free products it sells. One of the items they are using to test the public’s interest is Isabella’s Best Gluten-Free Pizza. The initial test will start with 12″ pepperoni sold in 2 packs. They will be available at select Sam’s Clubs in the Mid-West and on the East-Coast. Nationwide availability will depend oh how successful the pilot is.

This product is getting great visibility from the store itself, however since Sam’s Club is not the first name that comes to mind when it is time to do your gluten-free shopping, sales are not yet what they should be. Every time a large food retailer or food manufacturer realizes the public’s need for a gluten-free product the gf market grows. This increases the availability of gluten free food and eventually affects the cost. So visit a Sam’s Club near you and pick up an Isabella’s Best Gluten Free Pizza today. It’s a delicious and easy way to help the gluten-free market grow.

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While reading Gluten Free Philly, one of the great blogs listed on the NFCA’s Celiac Bloggers page, I was happy to discover that Wegmans plans to offer Bella Monica’s frozen flatbread pizzas in October. Read Gluten Free Philly’s full review of this product, which includes a list of places you can find this product,here.

Bella Monica’s flatbread pizzas are truly one of the best frozen gluten-free pizza’s available. They are available in three varieties, Margherita (Tomato sauce, herbs, and a Asiago and Mozzarella cheese blend), Spinach and Tomato (roma tomatoes, baby spinach, roasted garlic, herbs, and a Feta and Mozzarella cheese blend), and Mushroom and Herbs(roma tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted garlic, herbs, and a Asiago and Mozzarella cheese blend). All three varieties are made on a tasty gluten-free rice-flour flatbread and topped with a plentiful combination of herbs, veggies and cheese blends.

There are a few cons to this pizza. One is that it is a bit light on the sauce. The other is that it is a bit pricey. However the convenience of having an overall delicious, high quality, completely ready-made, gluten-free pizza waiting in the freezer mostly makes up for these. To get the most of these pizzas follow the grilling instructions. This results in a crispier and more flavor filled pizza.

To learn more about this great product visit www.bellamonica.com.

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One snack that quickly became a favorite here is the delicious all natural FoodShouldTasteGood chips. A while back this company sent us a box of all their great flavors. They went fast and of course got a great review.Read the may review of FoodShouldTasteGood chips here

When I was informed by FoodShouldTasteGood that they had released four new flavors: Yellow Corn, Lime, Potato and Chives and Cinnamon, I was more than happy to try them all and I was once again impressed with these products. Each flavor is strong without being overwhelming and lightly coated with just the right amount of complementary seasonings. The ingredients list for each of these chips is short and simple with no artificial flavorings, preservatives, or MSG added. The result is a high quality, all-natural snack that manages to be wholesome while still being packed with flavor. In addition to being gluten free, they are also lactose and trans fat free. This is a hard combination to beat, especially with a chip.

Yellow Corn is the simplest of the new flavors, made only with stone ground corn, sunflower and safflower oil, and lightly seasoned with sea salt. Though it is simple it taste great, is nice and crunchy, and sturdy enough to go perfectly with many dips and salsas.

Lime chips also would go great with similar dips, though I was content to eat them alone as a snack. I was extremely impressed with the Lime chips as soon as I opened the bag because I could immediately smell the real lime. After smelling them I thought the flavor was going to be too intense, however it turned out to be perfectly balanced.

Potato and Chives chips are extremely good. The flavor is so real that it is more like a crunchy baked potato than just a corn chip. I like these best when served with a dip made out of sour cream and fresh cut veggies.

The Cinnamon chips were a surprise hit for me since I’m not a huge fan of cinnamon. Yet I found myself eating chip after chip of this flavor. They are a nice combination of slightly sweet and mildly salty with a hint of cinnamon spice.

Along with these four new flavors, FoodShouldTasteGood has also added more flavors to their 1.5 oz line. The 1.5 oz line is the perfect size to fit into a school or work lunch or an easy to grab snack at home and provide a healthier, yet still very tasty, gluten free alternative to a potato chip.

To learn more about this great gluten free product line visit FoodShouldTasteGood.com. There you will get full product details, recipes, suggestions and special offers.

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Part 2: 10 Gluten Free Ready-Made Meals.

• Namaste Foods
  Nameste Foods offers three mouth-watering pasta meals that are ready in less than 15 minutes.
• GoPicnic
  GoPicnic has designed 5 healthy, delicious and easy gluten free ready-to-eat meals perfect for school or work lunches, field trips, sporting events, road trips, after school snacks, or any time that you want to fit in a healthy well balanced yet convenient meal. Each box is filled with delicious well known gluten free products and No refrigeration or heating is required. Read the full review for this product for more details.
• Amy’s
  Amy’s Kitchen offers a wide variety of gluten free frozen dishes such as vegetable lasagna, pizza, mac and cheese and even gluten free Kids Meals. Read the full review of this product line for more information.
• Glutenfreeda Foods
  Glutefreeda foods is created by the same people behind the awesome online gluten-free cooking magazine, Glutenfreeda.com. This food line is created to assist the members of the celiac and gluten free community who are too busy to cook. One of their newest items are frozen gluten free burritos available in four delicious flavors.
• Thai Kitchen
  In the mood for some great tasting gluten-free Thai food, without the wait or the work? Then try one of the many ready-made meals from Thai Kitchen. Not all the products offered by Thai Kitchen are Gluten-free, however to make things easier and safer they have prepared a great allergy page
• Tasty Bite
  Tasty Bite offers fast, easy and delicious gluten free Indian and Thai ready made dishes. A two examples of these great dishes are Peas Paneer & Basmati Rice, green peas and paneer cheese simmered with onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. and their new Malaysian Lodeh, a Vegetable and tofu medley simmered in spiced coconut milk.



• My Own Meals
  My Own Meals, offers five kosher main course meals, which are perfect for those who must maintain a gluten-free diet.
• Glutino
  Glutino, a great source of gluten-free food products in general, also makes a wide variety of yummy, fast and easy frozen meals.
• Conte’s
  Conte’s Pasta Company has designed some great gluten-free pizzas and pasta dishes.
• Allergaroo
  Allergaroo makes three great flavored, easy, and microwave ready rice pasta dishes perfect for a child on a gluten free diet.

Check out Part 1: 10 Gluten Free Candies to add a quick desert to one of these great meals and be sure to stay tuned for Part 3: 10 Gluten Free Cookbooks!

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Taco salad with a gluten-free snack bar, a cup of mixed berries or other fruit, and a serving of Pirates Booty is one of the examples I liked best. The Taco salad consist of Tortilla chips with chopped tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese, and shredded lettuce served in a container. A delicious, healthy, and gluten free corn chip is made by Food Should Taste Good and fits this taco salad recipe well. For the snack bar try one of Enjoy Life Foods gluten free snack bars. They are soft, chewy, nutritious, and come in four great flavors. Pirates Booty is a great tasting, baked, all natural puffed rice and corn snack that comes in a variety of flavors. These great gluten free products along with the fresh fruit and veggies suggested in this sample menu add up to a healthy well rounded lunch that both you and your child will be happy to have in their lunch box.

For more sample menus and helpful back to school tips and suggestions read the rest of this article here. While you are there you may also be interested in the NFCA page on Navigating the School System, and the Gluten Free Candy and Snack List that you can print, personalize for your child, and bring to school

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Tinkyada Brown Rice Spaghetti is the perfect gluten-free noodle for this job. Slightly under cooked it produces perfectly firm pasta with a flavor and texture that rivals those traditionally made of wheat. If you prefer you pasta a bit softer you’ll be happy to know that Tinkyada is a bit more forgiving than many other rice pastas and will not turn into mush if it is a bit over cooked. This pasta handles spaghetti sauce wonderfully and will compliment its flavor instead of taking away from it. Tinkyada’s Brown Elbow pasta is just as great and perfect for making a delicious gluten free mac and cheese with a texture that is hard to beat.

To learn more about Tinkyada Rice Pastas visit www.tinkyada.com. While you are there check out their great recipe section.

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• Spring Salad Mix
• Red Seedless Grapes (cut in half)
• Pear (Peeled and cubed)
• Blue Cheese
• Pistachio Nuts
• Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

The amount of each ingredient can be increased or decreased depending on your taste. I like to empty the salad mix into a large bowl, add the dressing, and toss it to get a good coating of the dressing. I add the other ingredients after I have placed the tossed greens into the bowls the salad will be served in.

Now, a few notes about some of the ingredients in this salad:

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese can make some people nervous. This is because in the past Penicillium mold, the blue stuff you see marbling the cheese, was grown on bread. Now-a-days cheesemakers and manufacturers have the option of using a mold grown on a gluten-free media, though some still prefer to make it the old fashioned way.

After a bit of research I found a great blog post about this subject on Serious Eats. The post quotes a recent study performed by the Canadian Celiac Association that discovered blue cheese with mold made from either source contained less than 1ppm of gluten. You can read that post here. If you’d rather play it safe, Allison St. Sure, the creator of Sure Foods Living, has posted a great list of GF Blue Cheeses here. Shredded cheddar cheese can be used instead if you prefer to avoid blue cheese all together.

Pistachio Nuts

Though I have not found any Pistachio Nuts that list wheat as an ingredient I have read a few complaints. I suggest purchasing Pistachios still in their shells, which you can find at Wegman’s as well as many other stores.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
With salad dressing as with any food it is important to check the label and do your research. Newman’s Own website has a very helpful table listing their products and any allergens or sensitivities included in them. Their balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing is listed as gluten free and it is yummy.

Happy Healthy Eating!

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I’m not a big fan of breakfast foods. Pancakes and waffles are the breakfast food I eat least, mostly because the heavy feeling after eating either. However, occasionally I do get hungry for a nice fluffy pancake with just the right amount of syrup. Since it is such a rare occasion not just any pancake will do, it has to be tasty. A great cure for this craving is to have a box of Maple Grove Farms Gluten Free Pancake Mix and a bottle of Maple Grove All Natural Fruit Flavored Syrup on stand by. Both products are delicious and gluten free.

The Gluten Free Pancake Mix makes nice fluffy, great flavored pancakes that are simple to make. If you are in the mood for something extra special you can make simple additions such as chocolate chips, nuts, or fresh fruit to spice up. Either way this product is a simple cure guaranteed to fix any pancake craving you have.

Maple Grove Farms makes several gluten free syrups including pure maple. But I prefer the naturally sweet taste of fruit flavored syrups. The fruit flavored syrups Maple Grove Farms are all natural and come in five great flavors, Apricot, Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry and Boysenberry.

To get full product details and information on how to purchase these great products visit www.maplegrove.com .Maple Grove Farms makes many gluten free and sugar free products so their site is a great place to visit even if you are not in the mood for pancakes.

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Today’s review is for a fun and fabulous product produced by a great company called GoPicnic. GoPicnic are the creators of healthy, delicious and easy ready-made meals. Some of their meals are designed to fit specific dietary requirements such as kosher, vegetarian, vegan, and thankfully Gluten-free. Among the ready-to-eat meal choices they offer are five gluten free versions of their MightyMunch and Break Meal lines. The MightyMunch and Break Meals are like healthier, far more balanced versions of Lunchables. Each box is filled with delicious well known gluten free products such as Copper Cowbell Cheeses, Old Wisconsin Salami, Ortega salsa, Mrs. May’s, and Enjoy Life dessert just to name a few. No refrigeration or heating is required and they even come with wet napkins and a spoon. This makes these meals a great choice for school or work lunches, field trips, sporting events, road trips, after school snacks, or any time that you want to fit in a healthy well balanced yet convenient meal.

ExploreMunch, SafariMunch, and SportMunch, are aimed more toward children, though I think any adult would be glad to find these meals in their lunch box. A great example of one of these meals is the ExploreMunch, which contains Old Wisconsin turkey snack stick, Copper Cowbell white cheddar cheese slice, Sweet Perry Orchards natural strawberry applesauce, Calbee baked snap pea crisps, Mrs. May’s sunflower seed crunch, Surf Sweets natural gummy bears. The AnywhereBreak, and Zesty Break are more adult orientated. The AnywhereBreak includes Jack Link’s beef steak nuggets, Corazonas Squeeze of Lime tortilla chips, Ortega mild salsa, Copper Cowbell white cheddar cheese slice, Mrs. May’s cashew crunch, Mariani dried cranberries, and Swiss Delicato dark chocolate. All Five choices of ready-to-eat meals are made with natural ingredients and no artificial flavors or colors. Every meal is filled with a variety of high quality, healthy products and are affordable priced.

To learn more about these and other GoPicnic products visit www.GoPicnic.com. There you will find full product details and learn how you can purchase some of them for yourself.

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