I wanted to share this interesting read on the benefits others have found with a gluten free diet.

Gluten Free Success Stories.

Popularity: 23% [?]

Are you serious? Yes, I am. The folks over at Whole Life Nutrition are offering up a recipe & a FREE flour giveaway! Yummers!!! 

When this becomes available, I’ll let you know … especially since I’ll be baking with it!

Link: Whole Food Nurtition: Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Flour Cake

Popularity: 37% [?]

Hi! There’s a great contest going on over at www.greengiveawaycontest.com for some eco-friendly earrings made by Gretchen & Grace greenwear! Stop by & enter!

Popularity: 41% [?]

Trader Joes sells a great batch of gluten-free peanut butter cookies in their frozen sections. It seems as though they’re now part of the large peanut butter recall. 

According to the Food and Drug Administration: the Frozen Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookie Dough is sold in Trader Joe’s stores Nationwide.  It comes in a 15.3-ounce portion (SKU 91167).  The FDA says the product was pulled from the shelves “…because the products contain peanut butter that was manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA), which is the focus of an ongoing Salmonella investigation.”

So, check your freezers and be sure to take them back to the store for a full refund!

Popularity: 66% [?]

With the economy in the middle of a meltdown, saving money for Aiden’s private school tuition, Ryan in the Fire Academy (hence, no side work $), I had to change up our grocery shopping to try and accommodate my family budget. We were used to shopping at Whole Foods, where the gluten-free options are endless but very much on the pricey side. An average shopping trip would cost me close to two hundred dollars & I still had to go to Trader Joes to get a few other things, that I could get for less. All in all, a weekly trip COULD cost us anywhere from $200-$300 to feed our family, gluten-free for a week. A four pack of bagels would cost us $8. Now, those are still necessities in a big household that’s super busy & doesn’t always have time to cook eggs, etc. So, I wanted to try and keep getting certain items but cut back on others. So, I decided to go to Whole Foods for items like pizza dough, bagels, frozen dinners (spur of the moment, need to eat quick) but to shop around & see if I could find other places that could accommodate us. If I had a choice, I’d shop at Whole Foods, regardless because I LOVE WHOLE FOODS! I’m a healthy eater by choice/instinct and there are many more options at WF but money is an issue, so we need to “buckle down”. Ryan had mentioned that Pavillions/Vons/Safeway had a pretty decent selection at their “natural foods area” and much to my excitement, they do. They also have a lot of products throughout their store that were safe for us to eat! I was able to get rice milk (which was even on sale!), lunch meat (hormel natural), pepperoni (hormel) for our pizza night on Friday, meats, cheeses, drinks, popcorn, Rice Chex cereal, fruits, veggies, beans, rice (Lundberg on sale in the natural section! yay!), yogurts, gluten-free bread mix (again, on sale in their natural food section), an entires week worth of groceries for dinner & lunch for $139! Much better than $200! I was still able to shop “healthy” which meant the most to me. (It also didn’t hurt that I was able to buy laundry softener there… didn’t have to run to Target. — saving gas/environment is another big issue with me!)

And while I still need to run to Whole Foods to pick up the gluten-free items that aren’t available, I’d much rather spend the $100 there/month while saving every week by shopping at Pavillions (with coupons, I might add;) ). 

Also, Safeway has a GREAT gluten-free list of all their name brand products:

*REMEMBER that products & ingredients are constantly changing and you should check back with Safeway often!*

SELECT/Safeway Brand

• Basmati Rice
• Baking Nuts (Almonds)
• BBQ Sauce (Original, Honey Mustard, Hickory Smoked and Honey Smoked)
• Beef Franks
• Capers
• Clear (sparkling water beverages, all flavors)
• Chai Tea
• Cheese Fondue
• Cheese (Shredded Parmesan)
• Chocolate Chips
• Cocoa Mix –European
• Coffee (Creamy Hazelnut)
• Coffee Beverage, Instant Flavored (maltodextrin corn based)
• Enchilada Sauce (Mild)(vinegar distilled w/wood, pulp, mild)
• Fiesta Fajita Salsa
• Gourmet Club Eating Right (Ginger Chicken, Chicken Lettuce Wraps)
• Gourmet Dipping Sauces (Cook’n Grill Plum and Honey Mustard)
• Herbal Tea (Lemon, Evening Delight, Chamomile, Peppermint)
• Honey
• Jams/Jellies
• Mayonnaise (Regular, Reduced Fat, Fat Free, With Canola Oil (distilled w/wood))
• Mustard (Classic/Country Dijon, Spicy Brown, Stone Ground Horseradish)
• Organic Peas
• Organic Soy Beverage
• Organic Vanilla Soy Beverage (Low Fat)
• Potato Cups (Sour Cream Chive, Three Cheese Broccoli, Roasted Garlic, Buttermilk Ranch) Not Run on Dedicated Line
• Pasta Sauces – Refrigerated Varieties (Classic Pesto, Creamy Parmesan Basil, Garden Vegetable & Herb, Light Alfredo, Mushroom/Onion, Roasted Garlic & Mushroom)
• Pasta/Marinara Sauce (all VERDI)
• Pizza Sauce
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Roasted Rosemary Wedges
• Salad Dressing (like Miracle Whip)
• Salad Dressings (Basil Ranch, Ranch, Roasted Red Pepper & Garlic Vinaigrette, Raspberry Vinaigrette, Red Wine Balsamic, Blue Cheese, Cranberry/Orange, Harvest Vegetable, Tuscan Basil Herb, Creamy Goat Cheese/Dried Tomato, Raspberry Cranberry Vinaigrette, Balsamic & Olive Oil Vinaigrette)
• Salad Dressing Mix (Italian)
• Salsa (All SELECT varieties)
• Sausage (Chicken Apple, Chicken Andouille, Italian Pork, Turkey Chicken Parmesan Basil, and Turkey Chicken Sun Dried Tomato, Beef Smoked, Beef Hot Link, Cajun Style Link, Polish, Italian)
• Signature Broccoli Cheddar Au Gratin
• Signature Ribs (St. Louis Style Smoke House)
• Signature Soup (Fajita Chicken & Toasted Corn Chowder, Baked Potato, Fiesta Chicken Tortilla, Autumn Harvest Butternut Squash, Rosemary Chicken & White Bean)
• Soft Caramel Cups
• Sodas (all varieties)
• Soup Cups (Tex Mex, Split Pea, Black Bean, Potato Leak) Not Run on Dedicated Line
• Soup Mixes (Tortilla Con Queso, Black Bean & Rice) Not Run on Dedicated Line
• Specialty Three Large Eggs
• Specialty Tea
• Steak Sauce
• Syrup (Blueberry)
• Tea (Green, Orange Spice Black)
• Truffles (Chocolate/Raspberry, Mocha, Butterscotch, and Milk Chocolate)
• Tuna (Tongol)
• Vinegar (ALL EXCEPT Malt Vinegar)
• Whole Bean Coffees, flavored
• Winners Thirst Quencher (Lemon Lime, Lemon Ice, Orange, Lemon, Tropical, Fruit Punch, Glacier Wave, Tangerine Freeze, and Amazon Freeze)

ENLIGHTEN Brand

• Dressings (Honey Mustard, Roasted Sweet Pepper & Garlic Vinaigrette, Garden Italian, and Balsamic & Red Wine Vinaigrette)
• Mayonnaise

HEALTHY ADVANTAGE

• Vegetarian Chili

SAFEWAY Brand

• Apple Sauce (Cups, Natural and Sweetened)
• Aspartame Sweetener
• Black Olives
• Butterscotch Chips
• Baking Powder
• Beef Franks (Jumbo)
• Beef Jerky (Original and Peppered only)
• Candy Corn
• Canned Beans (Pork & Beans, Light & Dark Kidney, Pinto, Black-eyed, Chick, Lima, and Black, Green)
• Canned Vegetables (No Salt Whole Kernel Corn, Button Sliced Mushrooms, Cream Style Corn)
• Carrots (Baby Peeled)
• Cashews, Halves & Pieces and Whole
• Cereal* (Fruity Nuggets, Puffed Corn, Cocoa Astros (produced on line with other gluten products)
• Cheese Curls
• Cherries (Red Tart Pitted)
• Chicken Broth
• Chili Beans (Mexican Style)
• Chocolate Chips (Semi Sweet, Real Chocolate, Milk Chocolate)
• Chocolate Syrup
• Cinnamon Imperials
• Coconut (Sweetened)
• Coffee (Decaffeinated Classic Roast)
• Cooking Spray (Butter Flavored)
• Cocktail Sauce
• Corned Beef Hash
• Corn Starch
• Cranberry Sauce (Whole and Jellied)
• Dessert Mints
• Dried Beans (Pink, Great Northern, Lentils, Black, Black-eyed, Small White, Large Lima, Small Red, Green Split, Light Red Kidney, Pinto, Baby Lima, and Navy)
• Dried Fruit (Prunes, Raisins, Apricots, Peach, Apple, and Cherry)
• Drink Mixes (Sugar Free Raspberry & Lemonade, Strawberry Star Fruit)
• Evaporated Milk
• Espresso Coffee Beans
• Extracts & Pure Spices** (if gluten, ingredient statement will declare)
• Fajita Seasoning Mix
• Food Coloring (Assorted)
• Fruit Snacks (all)
• Gelatin Mix (all flavors)
• Glazed Cake Mix
• Grated Parmesan Cheese (3, 8 & 16oz.)
• Gummi Bears
• Gummi Worms (Sour, Regular)
• Hash Browns (Shredded, Southern Style, Country Style)
• Honey (Pure and Creamed)
• Hot Cocoa Mix (Sugar Free, Fat Free, With Marshmallows)
• Iced Tea Mix (All flavors)
• Instant Breakfast
• Instant Chocolate Drink Mix
• Instant Gelatins (Sugar Free and Regular)
• Instant Mashed Potatoes (Herb/Butter, Roasted Garlic)
• Instant Milk
• Instant Rice
• Instant Potatoes
• Jams/Jellies
• Jelly Eggs ((Classic) Jelly Beans)
• Juices (Apple Cider, Apple Juice, Apple/Cranberry, White Grape, Grapefruit/ Tangerine Cocktail, Cranberry Cocktail, Cranberry/Raspberry, Grape/Cranberry Cocktail, Lemon, Light Cranberry Cocktail, Lemonade, White Grapefruit, Pink Grapefruit, Grapefruit, Ruby Red Grapefruit Cocktail, Orange, Vegetable, Prune)
• Ketchup
• Lemon Drops
• Lemon Juice
• Limeade
• Maraschino Cherries
• Margarine
• Marshmallows (Large & Mini)
• Microwave Popcorn (all varieties)
• Milk (Sweetened Condensed)
• Milk Drinks (Mocha Cappuccino, Chillin Chocolate, Very Berry Strawberry, Marvelous, and Vanilla Shake
• Mixed Fruit & Peel
• Mustard (Including Stone Ground Horseradish)
• Nuts (All varieties from S3012)
• Nutritional Shake/Drink (including Plus) (all Flavors)
• Oils, edible
• Olives (Manzanilla)
• Onion Soup Mix
• Peanuts (Dry Roasted, Roasted/Salted Spanish, Butter Toffee-All varieties with S3012)
• Peanut Butter (Regular & Reduced Fat Creamy and Crunchy)
• Pickles (All)
• Pineapple Lime Gel Cups
• Popcorn Cakes** Not Run on Dedicated Line**
• Popcorn (Yellow and Kettle, Light Butter Microwave)
• Potatoes (Crinkle Cut, French Fried, O’Brien, Restaurant style Crinkle Cut, Shoestring, Steak Cut, Twice Baked, Crispy Fries, Potato Sticks)
• Pudding (Cups & Instant)
• Puffed Cheese Snacks
• Pumpkin (Canned)
• Quick Cheese (Sharp Cheddar)
• Refried Beans
• Rice (White)(Long Grain)(Enriched Calrose)
• Risotto (Cheese) (Facility produces other Wheat products)
• Salad Dressing (Light & Regular Zesty Italian, Creamy Italian, Light & Regular Ranch, Ranch w/Bacon, Fat Free & Regular 1000 Island)
• Salad Dressing Mix (Ranch, Italian)
• Salsa Con Queso
• Sauerkraut
• Sliced Peaches
• Sloppy Joe
• Snack Pudding (Vanilla)
• Soup (Only Condensed Homestyle Chicken with Wild Rice & Chicken With Rice)
• Spaghetti Sauce (Mushroom, Meat, Traditional)
• Spiced Cranberry Apple Cider Mix
• Spice Drops
• Splash (Tropical, Strawberry/Kiwi, and Berry)
• Spread (Light Homestyle)
• Sprinkles (Holiday, Halloween, Valentines, Easter, Sand Sugar Party)
• Star Light Mints
• Sugar (Granulated, Powdered, and Brown)
• Sunflower Seeds (Kernels)
• Syrup (Old Fashioned, Original, Light, Butter Light and Pure Maple)
• Taco Shells (Jumbo, White Corn)
• Tea Bags (Decaffeinated)
• Tomato products (all canned)
• Tortilla Chips (White Corn)
• Tortilla Strips, Nacho Cheese, and Golden Chips (Casa del Pueblo)
• Trail Mix with Candy Pieces
• Tuna, Chunk Light
• Vegetable Oil Spreads, 70%, 37% Light, and 70% ¼ lb sticks (Homestyle)
• Weight Loss Shake (Chocolate Royale, Vanilla, Milk Chocolate)
• White Hominy
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Yellow Corn Meal (Facility processes other Wheat products)

EATING RIGHT

Majority of ER entrees contain wheat gluten - For those that do not, product is run on same line therefore possibility of cross contamination exists even with the best QA practices in place.

• Soy Crisps - BBQ, Ranch, Sour Cream, Sea Salt

CAPTAINS CHOICE

• Cocktail Sauce
• Cooked Tail on Shrimp
• Cod Fillets

MANOR HOUSE

• Frozen Enhanced Turkey
• Chicken, MH all Varieties in 4lb Resalable Bags, Frozen

LUCERNE Brand

• Aerosol Whipping Cream (Light and Non Dairy)
• Best Of The Egg
• Butter
• Buttermilk (Regular/Low Fat/ Fat Free)
• Cheese (ALL varieties)
• Chocolate Milk
• Coffee Creamer (French Vanilla, Original, Powdered)
• Cottage Cheese (except fruit added)
• Cream Cheese, (Soft bars, Onion/chive, Strawberry, Garden vegetable, Light, Neufchatel, Fat Free, Whipped spread)
• Creamer (French Vanilla, Irish Cream, Hazelnut) (Liquid)
• Dips (French Onion, Clam, Bacon Onion, Green Onion, Ranch, Avocado, Guacamole)
• Egg Nog
• Eggs
• Half & Half
• Light Non Dairy Creamer
• Milk (Lactose Free Fat Free)
• Ricotta Cheese
• Sour Cream, Regular, Low Fat/Non Fat
• String Cheese
• Smoothies (Light, All Flavors)
• Whipping Cream (Regular/Light/Heavy)
• Whipped Topping (Regular/Light and Lactose Free)
• Yogurt, (ALL varieties, Pre-Stirred Low Fat, Fat Free, Yo on the Go and Yo Cups)

SELECT/Safeway/Lucerne Brand

• Assorted Ice Pops
• Basic Red Vanilla Ice Cream
• Kreme Koolers
• Lucerne/Select Ice Cream (All with no inclusions i.e. Candy Pieces, Chocolate Chips, etc.)
• Lucerne/Select Ice Cream (If inclusions are present, Modified Starch must be declared, or DO NOT recommend
• Lucerne Fat Free Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
• Lucerne Fat Free Chocolate Frozen Yogurt (starch MUST be declared)
• Lucerne Vanilla Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Fudge Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Orange Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Vanilla/Sherbet Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Root Beer Float Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Toffee Brittle Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Vanilla Sundae Ice Cream Bars
• Lucerne Vanilla Sundae Ice Cream Cups
• Lucerne Egg Nog Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Fat Free Caramel Swirl Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Fat Free No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Fruit Bars (All Flavors)
• Safeway Select Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Caramel Caribou Ice Cream Bars
• Safeway Select Coffee Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Caramel Cashew Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Light Peppermint Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Mother Load Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Mocha Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Ole’ Vanilla Ice Cream
• Safeway Select Pecan Praline Ice Cream
• Sherbet (Key Lime, Lemon Crunch)
• Sorbet (Chocolate, Raspberry)

BUTCHER’S CUT

• Bulk Wrapped Corned Beef Brisket
• Bacon (All Varieties must have EST 13331)
• Beef Burgers
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• Bratwurst
• Cooked Ham (95% Fat Free)
• Corned Beef Brisket
• Corned Beef
• Ground Turkey
• Italian Sausage (Regular, Mild)
• Jazz N Spicy Buffalo Wing Sauce
• Jumbo Franks (Including Chicken and Pork)
• Jumbo Turkey Franks
• Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (98% Fat Free, Regular)
• Polska Kielbasa
• Shank Cut Ham
• Smoked Sausage
• Spiral Sliced Ham (glaze packet is not gluten free)
• Preglazed Spiral Sliced Ham
• Young Chicken Tighs

DELI COUNTER

• Corned Beef
• Classic Potato Salad (facility produces other wheat products)
• Creamy Cole Slaw (Dominick’s)
• Deli Roasted Chicken
• Deviled Egg Potato Salad (facility produces other wheat products)
• Genoa Salami
• Hard Salami
• Mustard Potato Salad (facility produces other wheat products)
• Old Fashioned Potato Salad (facility produces other wheat products)
• Roasted Turkey Breast
• Salsa

PRIMO TAGLIO BULK DELI MEATS

• Black Forest Ham with Natural Juices, Coated with Caramel Color
• Cervelat Salami
• Chicken Breast (Oven Roasted) Browned in Hot Cottonseed Oil
• Cooked Corned Beef
• Genoa Salami
• Maple Ham (Old Fashioned) with Natural Juices
• Mortadella, Black Pepper Added
• Primo Taglio Bulk Deli Meats (cont)
• Pastrami Coated with Spices, Caramel Color Added
• Prosciutto Dry Cured Ham
• Salami (Peppered) Coated with Gelatin and Black Pepper
• Sopressata
• Roast Beef (seasoned) coated with Seasonings, Caramel Color Added
• Turkey Breast (Natural Hickory Smoked) with Natural Smoke Flavoring
• Turkey Breast (Pan Roasted) Browned in Hot Cottonseed Oil
• Turkey Breast (Natural Hickory Smoked Peppered) with Natural Smoke Flavoring
• Turkey Breast (Salsa Seasoned) Cooked and Cured
• Turkey Breast (Honey Maple)
• Turkey Breast (Dinner Roast)
• Turkey Breast (Mesquite Smoked) Natural Mesquite Smoke Flavoring Added

VAC PAC MEATS

• Black Forest Ham with Natural Juices, Coated with Caramel Color
• Cooked Corned Beef
• Genoa Salami
• Pastrami Caramel Color Added, Coated with Seasonings
• Maple Ham (Old Fashioned) with Natural Juices
• Mortadella Pistachio Nuts and Black Pepper Added
• Pancetta Italian Bacon
• Prosciutto Dry Cured Ham
• Roast Beef Coated with Garlic, Dextrose and Spices
• Salami (Peppered) Coated with Black Pepper and Gelatin
• Sopressata
• Turkey Breast (Oven Roasted)
• Turkey Breast (Cracked Pepper) with Natural Smoke Flavoring
• Turkey Breast (Hickory Smoked) with Natural Smoke Flavoring

PRIMO TAGLIO CHEESES

• Caesar Jack
• Regular Jack
• Lacy Swiss
• Smoke Fontina
• Imported Ages White Cheddar
• American Cheddar
• Danish Havarti
• Crumbled Danish Blue
• Provolone
• Shredded Asiago
• Muenster
• Hot Pepper Jack

SAFEWAY Select Non-Food

• 24-Hour Allergy Relief
• 24-Hour Allergy Relief With Loratadine
• Acetaminophen
• Acidophilus Plus
• Allergy Relief
• Allergy Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride Anti Histamine
• SAFEWAY Select Non-Food (cont)
• Antacid Plus (Double Strength)
• Antacid Tablets (Peppermint, Fruit Flavored, Wintergreen)
• Anti Diarrheal Tablets
• Arthritis Pain Formula Caplets
• B Complex
• Baby Shampoo (Regular & Conditioning)
• Baby Wash
• Benehist Allergy
• Calcium
• Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc
• Calcium Plus D 600 mg
• Calcium With Vitamin D
• Coral Calcium Tablets
• Cough & Cold Decongestant
• Cough Drops (Honey Lemon & Vitamin C Citrus & Cherry)
• Central Vite (Multi Card, Senior Formula)
• Central Vite/Multi Vitamin
• Central-Vite w/Lutein
• Children’s Chewable Vitamins (All)
• Children’s Chewable Non Aspirin- (Grape, Fruit)
• Children’s Elixir Cough & Cold
• Children’s Elixir Nasal Decongestant
• Day Time Cold & Cough
• Docusate Sodium
• Enteric Coated Aspirin
• Extra Strength Acetaminophen Rapid Release Gel Caps
• Extra Strength Non Aspirin Capsules
• Extra Strength Non Aspirin Gel Capsules
• Famotidine Tablets
• Fiber Supplement
• Fiber Therapy
• Fiber Therapy Capsules
• Foam Adhesive Bandages
• Focus Smart (Glucosamine Chondroitin)
• Effervescent Antacid Tablets
• Glucosamine Chondroitin
• Glucosamine Sulfate
• Ibuprofen
• Ibuprofen Brown Caplets
• Ibuprofen (Children’s Grape Oral Suspension)
• Ibuprofen Tablets
• Liquid Ibuprofen Soft Gels
• Iron
• Lip Balm
• Lotion (Moisturizing Replenishment)
• SAFEWAY Select Non-Food (cont)
• Low Strength Aspirin
• Maximum Strength Suphedrine
• Micro Coated Aspirin
• Migraine Relief Capsules
• Milk Of Magnesia (Mint)
• Mineral Oil
• Mucous Relief (DM & PE)
• Multi Symptom Nasal Spray
• Naproxen Sodium Tablets
• Natural Zinc
• Night Time Cold Medicine (Comparable to Nyquil)
• Non-Aspirin Cold (Non-Drowsy)
• One Tablet Daily Vitamin
• Orange Flavored Natural Vegetable Powder
• Stomach Relief
• Suphedrine
• Pain Reliever Fever Reducer Tablets
• PM Pain Reliever
• Prenatal Vitamins
• Rapid Release Acetaminophen Gel Tabs Pain Relief
• Regular Strength Aspirin
• Sam-E
• Sore Throat Spray (Menthol)
• Super Men’s Multi Vitamin
• Super Omega
• Triacting Sore Throat Formula
• Tussin
• Ultra Dairy Digestive
• Vision Formula
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E (UPC 21130 78428 & 21130 78430)
• Waxed Dental Floss (Mint)
• Woman’s One Tablet Daily

* Must avoid cereals where Malt Syrup/Malt Flavorings are used - these malt products are generally derived from Barley.

** Spices not run on dedicated line - Popcorn Cakes, w/the exception of White Cheddar and Mini Caramel Corn, are Gluten-free; however, these products are not run on a dedicated line. White Cheddar is run last with a thorough line clean at end of production.

The following have been confirmed gluten free by our suppliers of the Organics products. If you have any questions on our products that are not listed below, please call us at 1-877-232-4271.

• Apple Sauce
• Baked Cheese Curls
• Baked Cheese Puffs
• Bottled Juices (Apple, Berry Blend, Cranberry Cocktail, Blueberry Blend, Grape, Lemonade)
• Broth (Chicken, Vegetable, Beef) (Facility produces other Gluten products)
• Butter
• Chicken, fresh, all cuts, and whole
• Canned Beans (Pinto, Garbanzo, Black, Kidney)
• Chocolate Chips Coffee
• Enchiladas (Cheese, Black Bean/Tofu) (Facility produces other Gluten products)
• French Fries Fresh Organic (Arugula, Baby Dill, Basil, Bay Leaves, Chives, Fennel, Italian Parsley, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Poultry Mix, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Tarragon, Thyme)
• Ketchup
• Maple Syrup
• Microwave Popcorn-Does Contain Corn Gluten
• Milk
• Mustard (Yellow, Dijon)
• Orange Juice (Refrigerated)
• Pasta Sauce (All with code S8245, next to date)
• Peanut Butter
• Popcorn (Already Popped-Lightly Salted, Cheddar)
• Preserves
• Salad Dressing (Buttermilk Ranch, Light Balsamic, Tuscan Italian)
• Salsa (All with code S8245, next to date)
• Soy Beverage (Plain)
• Soy Milk
• Spinach (Frozen, Chopped)
• Sugar
• Tea Tomato Products-Canned
• Tortilla Chips (Blue With Flax Seed, White, Yellow, Blue With Sesame)
• Truffles (Facility produces other Gluten products)
• Turkey
• Yogurt (All Flavors)

Popularity: 97% [?]

I’m back & ready to rock & roll! It’s been a very busy, stressful, hectic few months. Between Aiden being sick, the Holidays and my husband, Ryan joining the Fire Academy… I haven’t had two minutes to log on to here. I’m hoping that will change & I plan on attempting a post a week. We’ll see.

Popularity: 59% [?]

Wow… I keep thinking that I’ll be able to come on here & update but everyday for the past 2 months has been a challenge. Our Aiden got pretty sick, hospitalized once & a whole new team of Drs. We are out at Cedars-sinai now with Dr. Marla Dubinsky… wow, what a difference. She’s AMAZING! It took her 2 weeks to give Aiden a full diagnosis that we’ve been trying to get for a year now! He has tested positive for Crohns: she scoped him & said it “looks” like Crohn’s, his IBD blood panel came back + and then the biopsy from the scopes came back +! So, that’s where we are at. She’s starting him on 6-MP, which is a medication to keep & help him from flaring up. He goes back in 7 weeks (after numerous blood tests to check on how his body is acclimating to the new drug), where hopefully we can learn a lot more about what she thinks his life will look like.

As far as the Celiac disease, she said he did have an increase of cells (according to the biopsy) & his genetic test did come out positive, so she’s also going to treat him as though he has CD. She doesn’t want to “test” him by putting him on gluten, since it could aggravate his Crohns to the point of hospitalization. So, as far as she & we are concerned- we’ll test the theory when he’s around 13, (9 years from now!) and only if he’s in remission, still.

He’s also dairy (lactose) free right now… what a difference that’s made in how he feels! He’s eating, playing, laughing. His blood tests came back much better. He just feels better & so of course, we’re thrilled.

That’s about it for now. I’m looking forward to having a few extra minutes a day to get on here & write. It’s good therapy for me & hopefully I’ll be able to help others with what we go through.

So… until tomorrow, peace.

Popularity: 81% [?]

As most of you know, I decided to leave Aiden’s previous GI and move onto Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. It was a good choice, Dr. wise. They ran numerous tests on him, even did a Celiac genetic test, since they were beginning to think he actually may NOT have Celiac disease. After going over everything, they’ve concluded that it looks like Aiden DOES have Crohn’s disease. Does he have Celiac disease, too? The genetics test came back as Aiden having a 14x greater chance than general pop. to have CD. So, at this point, they’re treating him as though he does have it. They don’t want to take any chances since his Crohn’s seems to be bad right now. While I said this was a good choice, Dr. wise, moving to Children’s, the staff leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth. It’s nearly impossible to get someone on the phone & forget leaving them a message… they won’t call you back. So, we’re moving him, once again to the Cedars-Sinai Pediatric IBD clinic (one of the best in the country!). We’re in the process of getting all of the paperwork transfered over. Wish us a smooth transition. This little guy has been through enough. 

OH! We also went to our first Homeschool meeting at our local library. We’re really excited & know that we’ve made the right decision! We’re all very excited about it! Thank you for the support

Popularity: 92% [?]

I was emailed a link with a story from MSNBC about labels for those with food allergies or those with Celiac disease (not an allergy but close enough). I wanted to share the link with you. Let me know what you think.

Link: Click here

Popularity: 82% [?]

Hi! It’s been awhile since I’ve had a chance to get online & write.

Our youngest son, Milo has been having some digestive issues. We’re still trying to figure it all out but so far we know he has acid reflux disease & a possible dairy allergy. He’s still undergoing some testing, so we’re not positive yet on all that’s going on. He’s incredibly healthy, growing, thriving but just very fussy most of the day, isn’t sleeping well w/ icky poos & burps. He’s a nursling, so I’m diary free at the moment, too! I did start him on some solid food at 7 months (a few weeks ago)- some avocado & pear but he got extremely fussy again, so I backed off & he’s only nursing, no solids. He goes back to Children’s Hospital on Sept. 15th, we’re hoping to get more answers then.

Aiden is also undergoing some more testing. He’s having some genetic testing done & also some testing for IBD- the Dr’s do think he has Crohn’s disease. Obviously, pretty upset about that. We should also know more about that on the 15th with him, as well.

We finally got both boys into the system at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles (associated with USCs Keck School of Medicine- GO TROJANS!!!). We LOVE their new doctors. He’s on a great team of Drs & I feel so relieved to finally have them there. We’re been there about twice a month for the past few months, trying to deal with have two boys there. Luckily from now on both of their appointments are on the same day/time. Yay!

I’ve been in the kitchen TONS lately. Pureeing veggies & fruits to sneak into Aiden’s meals because he’s so finicky. We’ve gotten so good at it- he’ll eat so much more lately. My greatest accomplishment is getting the flax seed meal into his yogurt! Woo Hoo!!!

That’s about it for now, or at least all that I have time for since Milo is waking up & fussing. Hope all is well with all of you.

In peace,

Lisa

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