I Made My Mom Raw, Vegan, Gluten/Dairy-Free Hemp Brownies...

And she LOVED them!  I used the basic recipe for Coconut Brownie Bites, and rather then rolling them in coconut, I rolled the balls in raw hemp seeds.  Simple, delicious, and in honour of my mom - personal training and health/wellness professional extraordinaire - dare I say, healthy?  I hope you all had a lovely Mother's day, and Happy Monday!!!

Wishing you Health & Happiness,
V

Mother's Day @CanyonCreekEats Gluten-Free Ancient Grain Salad

When it came to planning a Mother's Day suitable for my family, Canyon Creek Airport Location was an option.  Close to a highway entrance those coming from out-of-town, close to Grandma's home, ample parking, comfortable, airy, and not-too-loud dining lounges, and a full, varied menu with reasonable prices.  When it came to the Gluten/Dairy Free options, I was prepared to fully annoy my server (as usual) with many substitutions/alterations in order to have a satisfactory, satisfying meal.  Not so!  When I checked out Canyon' Creek's online menu, I was pleased to see a number of entree salad options that fit my needs, specifically, the "Ancient Grain Salad."  With Chicken crusted in a nut/herb mix over a bed greens tossed with quinoa and a light, zesty dressing, this was right up my alley!  Its so wonderful to see large chains such as Canyon Creek getting on the gluten-free train!  And with delicious results!
Canyon Creek Chophouse - 25 Carlson Court, Toronto (and other locations)

Mother's Day Sneak Peek: @CanyonCreekEats Ancient Grain Salad

I'll be enjoying this gluten-free menu item at Canyon Creek Chophouse's Airport location tomorrow for Mother's day.  My Mom flirts with gluten-free living, so its a great option for our family!  Its also great when large corporate restaurants get on the gluten-free train!  Check back tomorrow for a review!

Guest Post: Common Pitfalls that Newbies Make when Switching to a Gluten-Free Diet

Today's Guest Post was brought to us by Bridget Sandorford who lends her expertise in the area of food writing and research to Culinary Schools (.org) in Chicago.  She has outlined some great tips and guidelines for people who are new to the whole Gluten-Free Diet stuff, and don't know what to look out for.  Great stuff!  If you would like to be a guest blogger, feel free to get in touch using the contact tab in the header.  Even if you just want to drop me a note, or have a suggestion for a great restaurant, market or product, I love to hear from you!

Thanks!  And enjoy the post!

V

Common Pitfalls that Newbies Make when Switching to a Gluten-Free Diet

Whether you suffer from celiac disease or simply have a gluten sensitivity like a surprising number of people, a gluten-free diet can help your body to heal and to get the nutrients it needs. With the growing awareness around the problems that gluten can cause, there are many more foods available that are labeled gluten-free, and there are more foods that are made with gluten-free options (including favorites like bread, pasta, and sweets).

Though it may seem relatively simply to adopt a gluten-free diet (just don't eat gluten, right?), it can actually be very difficult for many at first. Here are a few common pitfalls that newbies make when switching to a gluten-free diet:

Eating Gluten

You know not to eat obvious sources of gluten like bread or pasta. However, you may not understand all the sources of gluten and may end up eating foods that have it unintentionally. There are many hidden sources of gluten in foods that you might not suspect, such as yogurt and some types of chocolate. It is important to know all the names for gluten (including all the ingredients that may contain gluten such as "natural flavoring") and to read labels carefully.

Remember: Not all products that are labeled gluten-free actually are. A certain amount of gluten is legally allowed in foods even when they are labeled gluten-free. Other loopholes may allow even more. Again, it is important to read labels carefully.

Overlooking Other Sources of Gluten

Food is not the only way you can get gluten. There are a surprising number of products in your home that may contain gluten and that can cause a reaction in you. Some examples include shampoos, soaps, beauty products (like make-up), lotions, and more. Using these products can cause an allergic reaction and can make you feel just as bad as if you were eating gluten.

Again, it is important to read labels carefully. If you aren't sure, it's best to err on the side of caution and not use a product.

Eating Too Much Processed Food

Giving up some of your favorite foods can be hard when you go gluten-free. Cakes, cookies, breads and pastas are among many people's favorite foods. Many who are saddened at the loss of these foods are usually happy to see that there are gluten-free options for all of them. As a result, many people eat a lot of these foods, thinking it's OK as long as the foods are gluten-free.

Processed foods, whether they are gluten-free or not, are not healthy foods. They have too many sugars and chemical additives, and they are lacking in nutrition. If you must have these old comfort foods, it's best to make your own versions at home so you can control the ingredients.

Not Getting Enough Nutrients

When you make major changes to your diet, it is normal to have a hard time adjusting. You may not know what to eat, so you stick with a few dishes that you know and love. Just like new vegetarians who end up eating pasta at every meal, many people who are new to gluten-free eating end up eating a lot of the same types of foods, and that limits the amount of nutrients they get.

It is important to eat a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients your body needs. This is even more important for those who suffer from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, as their bodies have long been unable to properly absorb the nutrients in food.

Switching to a gluten-free diet is a bit more complicated than simply cutting out gluten. You have to learn how to properly read labels, to identify all the sources of gluten in your environment, and to make a wide variety of healthy foods to get the nutrients you need. 

Taking these steps can help you to avoid many of the pitfalls that newbies make when switching to a gluten-free diet.

Did you make any of these mistakes when switching to a gluten-free diet? Share your experiences in the comments!

About the Author:

Bridget Sandorford is a freelance food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching culinary arts school in Chicago. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.

Ramen...Gluten-Free Version? Anyone?

Disclaimer: Image is not actually Ramen!

If you're a Ramen-buff (if there is such a thing,) you will notice that this picture is NOT a bowl of Ramen, but rather a clever copy-cat of a Pho-like dish made with rice noodle.  Ramen - which seems to be an urban foodie buzz-food these days, - refers to a hearty soup-like dish consisting of meat, egg, veggies, broth and WHEAT noodles (as well as wheat-containing soy sauce.)  Alas, due to this essential ingredient, I have not been able to partake in this food trend.  BUT THERE MUST BE A WAY!!!  So I put this to you, "freedom-foodies" out there, have you come across any place that serves a rice-noodle Ramen with optional soy sauce?  Is it possible to indulge and feel like a part of the Ramen-mania while still being Gluten-Free?  Have you made your own?  Thoughts?  Opinions?  Recommendations?  I'm open to them all!  (Post your replies/comments below)  Thanks so much everyone!  And happy food-trending!

Gluten-Free Fish & Chips?!?! Tell me more.....

So......this exists.  Tucked just South of Danforth on the East side of Broadview is a tiny little mecca of deep-fried and battered gluten-free-goodness.  Off The Hook Gourmet Fish & Chips (ON FACEBOOK) offers a gluten-free batter for their selection of fresh fish dishes as well as onion rings, and my personal weakness: sweet potato fries...  Check them out!  TODAY!  Tell me what you ordered?  Leave your comments and descriptions below and as allow me to live vicariously...Yummmmmm....
Off The Hook Gourmet Fish & Chips - 749 Broadview Ave (S of Danforth) 

Lucky Lin's West Indian & Chinese in Scarborough

Lucky Lin's is a take-out GEM!  I was in the East end of Toronto a few weeks back - checking out a friend's play @ Scarborough Village Theatre - and when I was scouring the area for some good eats, I came across this place!  Lucky Lin's isn't much to look at, and certainly not a comfortable fine-dining experience...But you ABSOLUTELY CAN'T BEAT THE FOOD AND PRICES!!!  I don't have a pic of the food, and honestly, you're not missing much in presentation...so you'll just have to take my word for this one!  In Scarborough?  REALLY hungry?  Only have $10 on you?  Then you're in luck my friends!  Cause Lucky Lin's has a heaping mound of curry goat with your name on it!
(*Be aware that a number of dishes contain soy sauce which contains wheat.  Be sure to ask when ordering if your dish contains soy sauce.  Cross contamination would be an issue here, not recommended for those with extreme intolerance/celiac)
Lucky Lin's West Indian & Chinese Food - 2 Locations: 226 Markham Rd, 5633 Finch Ave E, Scarborough.