For those of you just switching to a gluten free diet, with the help of experienced readers, I figured we could assemble a list of essential things to try first or own to assist in switching to a gluten free diet.  This will help you get started.  I will start with my favorites. Non-food products to own: Triumph Dining Combo Pack:  Gluten Free Restaurant Guide, Grocery Guide, and Dining Cards.  This is my favorite resource when heading to the grocery store or out to eat.  They are all easy to use and an invaluable resource. Books???  (I haven’t read many, so I’ll need some help...

I’ve heard: “Unbleached flour paste is used to assure a leak-proof seal on the heads.” Wine is one of those things celiacs have always assumed to be gluten free… BUT is it really? First, I have NEVER heard, even from the most sensitive people, that wine has ever bothered(gluten style) anyone. Here are two links to descriptions on how wine barrels are made.  You will notice they use a flour paste to create a leak-proof seal: http://www.stavin.com/barrelsystems/insert.htm http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/howbarrelsmade.htm On the contrary…. “I’m a winemaker...

I’m running out of basic articles to write on my experiences.  I’d like to know what readers what to see. I’m going to start shifting to video blogs for most of my articles especially interviews. Here is what I am considering writing about: How to request a gluten free item into a local store. Guide to gluten free BBQ sauces. Interviews with local gluten free bakeries.

Celiac Disease affects 3 million Americans. 1 Celiac Disease affects more Americans than Epilepsy(2.8M), Crohns(500k), Ulcerative Colitis(500k), Multiple Sclerosis(333k), Cystic Fibrosis(30k).  1 1 in 133 people have Celiac Disease. 1 1 in 22 people with celiac disease have a first degree relative diagnosed. 5 1 in 250 in Italy; 1 in 300 in Ireland.  3 500,000 new Celiac diagnoses are expected to occur in the US by 2012 — thanks to efforts to raise public awareness of the disease.  6 1 in 4,700 people are ever diagnosed. 1 97% of Americans estimated to have CD are not diagnosed. ...

I love contests and giving away free things! Purchase a Gluten Free Bumper Sticker and you will be entered to win an iPod.  We decided to use an increasing prize scale for this contest.  The more awareness that is spread, the more we have to give back to the gluten free community.  Each gluten free bumper sticker purchased gets you an entry into the drawing.  Buy them for your friends and family! The prize starts at a 1GB iPod Shuffle, increases to a just released 4GB iPod Shuffle, and ends with an 8GB iPod Nano.  You will have your choice of color… but we recommend green!  If we so...

1. I don’t like coffee!  I don’t like the smell, the taste, or the prices… I’d rather buy a top-shelf gin & tonic for those prices! 2. They took away free wifi!  …at least I think they did.  I haven’t tried recently. 3. They got rid of their gluten free Valencia Orange Cake!!! WTF! Triumph dining has put together a petition they are going to send to Startbucks to let them know how upset we are.  It’s like a slap in the face to the gluten free community. “Dear Starbucks, I am writing to request that you bring back the gluten-free Valencia...

This was too funny not to share.  I think we all can relate. GLUTEN FREE The Movie from Tyler Isaacson on Vimeo.

The following is a list of people who are actively blogging about the gluten free lifestyle.  You can learn so much from just reading people’s personal accounts and from the information they provide: recipes, product reviews, lifestyle suggestions, and more! This will always be a work in progress, so comment or email me  your blog address, and a short description and icon-sized photo.  I want to assure people that the blog is active, being updated, and includes up to date facts, so I will only accept submissions from the owner or author.  Let’s build this list quickly and huge! ...