Tuesday's Tips: Gluten Free Alcohol Options

The holiday season is upon us, and so is the time for gatherings, spreading good cheer, and toasting! So, how do you know if the drinks being served are safe for the gluten sensitive? The National Institute of Health has stated that all alcohol is gluten free because the distilling process removes gluten proteins. However, some disagree. There's a short article on About.com that explains this quite well. If you're unsure, contact the manufacturer or avoid it. Thankfully, more and more companies are catering to the gluten sensitive these days, and gluten free labels make it easier to find safe options. I've searched the internet for gluten free libations and have complied my results here.

Vodka - Traditionally made with grains containing gluten, but some specialty vodkas are safe. Choose those made with potato, corn, or even grapes. Gluten free vodka list

Wine - Most wines are gluten free, but some might be at risk of cross contamination (lower than 20 ppm) from the wine-making process. Is Wine Gluten Free

Beer - Beers are generally NOT gluten free since they are primarily made with wheat or barley (both contain gluten). However, there are some options that are gluten free. Gluten Free Beers

Hard Cider - Most ciders are gluten free, however those that use malt could contain traces of gluten. Angry Orchard, Crispin, and Woodchuck Cider are some options. Gluten Free Alternatives to Beer

Rum - Rum is naturally gluten free because it's made from sugar. Is Rum Gluten Free

Whiskey - Most whiskeys are made from gluten containing grains. Jack Daniel's states on their website that their whiskeys are made gluten free during the distilling process. Corn whiskey, or moonshine, if it's made from a pure corn mash should be naturally gluten free, but manufacturers warn of possible contamination.

Tequila - Tequila is generally gluten free... except possibly the cheap stuff. Is Tequila Gluten Free

In general, check with the manufacturer if you are unsure, or steer clear. Search for alcohols made from potato, corn, grapes, or 100% Agave tequila. Wine coolers and malt beverages as well as flavored liquors should be avoided.

Other sites:

Glutenista's Gluten Free Liquor List

Glutenista's Gluten Free Drink Recipies

Gluten Free Alcoholic Beverage Guide

Gluten Free Alcoholic Beverages

Is Alcohol Gluten Free

Gluten Free Alcohol

TUESDAY'S TIP: Food Allergies in the Workplace

When you have food allergies or sensitivities the workplace can be tricky to navigate. Decline an invitation to lunch or pass on a piece of birthday cake and they think you're being picky or worse yet, unsocial. So, what do you do when you co-workers throw sideways glances when you say no? First and foremost explain what your allergies or sensitivities are. Most often, people just don't understand. Once you spell it out for them most people are usually more considerate of your needs. When it comes to going out for lunch suggest some places that have options you can eat. You can use a website/app like Allergy Eats or My Gluten Free NJ (doesn't just have information about New Jersey) to find some places nearby. You can also look at the restaurants' websites to see if they have allergy free offerings. If you're concerned about snacks in the lounge or social gatherings at work, be prepared to bring food you can eat. Other people might be surprised to know that your allergy free food could actually be tasty!

TUESDAY'S TIP: Back to School

It's that time of year again. All the kids are headed back to school. I thought I'd compile some helpful resources for parents of children with food allergies. Here are just a few of the things I found in my search.

LUNCH
50 Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Ideas and Allergy Free Lunchbox with Brain Power from Cook It Allergy Free.
Lunch and Snack Ideas from Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom.

TIPS
Be Allergy Ready for school! This site has a lot of great information, links and downloads for going back to school.
Back to School Tool Kit from the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.
Here's a great pdf file of Back to School Tips from OneSpot Allergy.

TUESDAY'S TIPS: Allergy Free Baking

I have been looking into the ins and outs of baking allergy free and thought I'd share some of the resources I've come across.

-Cook It Allergy Free has some tips for avoiding common mistakes and mishaps on their page. There are helpful tips like avoiding sticking, giving more rise to your baked goods, and getting accurate measurements. 

-Gluten Free Goddess, aside from being an all around great resource, posted some tips for gluten free baking and baking substitutes. 

-"The Allergen-Free Baking Handbook" looks promising and you can get it on Amazon. 

-"Learning to Bake Allergen-Free" also looks like a good book to own and can be purchased at Amazon as well.

HAPPY BAKING!

TUESDAY'S TIP: Allergy Recall Alerts

Did you know that you can get alerts from the Food and Drug Administration about recalls? You can sign up from their Email Updates page. Simply enter your email address in and choose how often you want updates (immediately, daily, or weekly). The service is free! How better to stay up-to-date on food recalls? Find out what foods have been compromised either by bacteria or contamination from allergens.

Medicine Net

This site has a wide variety of food allergy information. You can find everything from definitions of food allergy and food intolerance, to symptoms, to diagnosis, and treatment. In fact, there are no less than 20 links to articles on the first page alone. Medicine Net is a great resource for anyone who has, suspects, or knows someone with a food allergy.


Medicine Net: Food Allergy Information

TUESDAY'S TIP : Allergy Free Breakfast

I have issues with wheat, oat, rye, dairy, and eggs. Although it's difficult sometimes to plan meals in general, I find that breakfast can be the most challenging. I tend to find two or three foods that work and rotate them, but it gets boring. Some recent reader comments prompted me to seek out some alternatives. Here's what I came up with.



Of course you can always check out your gluten free section of the supermarket and pick up some allergy free frozen waffles, or box mixes for pancakes and such, but be careful to read the ingredients. Not all GF foods are created equal. See my post about "Free From" foods to get some tips on what to look out for. One of my favorites is a buckwheat waffle with honey and peanut or almond butter (you can try sunflower seed butter if you're allergic to peanuts and/or tree nuts).