go-with-your-gut http://go-with-your-gut.com Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:41:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Food Fête Chocolat http://go-with-your-gut.com/541/food-fete-chocolat/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/541/food-fete-chocolat/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:17:50 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=541 More...]]> How lucky was I to be invited as the ‘press’ along with The Huffington Post, The Daily News to sample the finest chocolates currently on the market at Food Fête Chocolat held at the Helen Mills Event Space on W. 26th Street, NYC.  last night.  In attendance were Amano, American Heritage Chocolate, Chuao, Divine, Fine Chocolate Industry Association, Gail Ambrosius, Gnosis (a fellow IINer), Hotel Chocolat, Kallari, Lindt, The Madison Chocolatiers West, Sun Cups, Truffly Made, Inc and Valrhona.

I wore my Celiebo NO GLUTEN pin so that people would have a visual that I couldn’t eat gluten in addition to me telling them that I was representing the Gluten Free Community (along with Erin Smith, Gluten Free Fun and Jordan Gary, Delight Gluten Free Magazine).

The American Heritage Chocolate had a display of the History of Chocolate and it’s health properties.  I tasted a chocolate drink that was better than any tea or coffee I  have ever had.  They were using a stone slab and made the chocolate in front of us.  The smell was wonderful!

The chocolates were SO beautiful. What was especially enjoyable was that a few of the Chocolatiers talked about the history of cacao in Venezuela, Ecuador and Ghana and how the chocolate groves/farms ultimately produce this artful gastronome.

A few of my favorites:  Sun Cups; using Dark and Milk Chocolate and sunflower seeds.  They are nut free, gluten free, kosher and certified organic by CCOF.  Another favorite was a chocolate salted-caramel by the Fine Chocolate Industry Association.  There’s nothing like mixing the savory wtih the sweet all in one bite.  As well, there were chocolates made with garlic, bacon, and exotic herbs with healing properties.  Really, the displays were like none I have seen, so innovative and the crowd of about 100 was buzzing with excitement.

Needless to say, I walked out with a generous gift bag stuffed with delicious chocolates some of which does contain gluten and that which doesn’t I will gladly eat sparingly.

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/541/food-fete-chocolat/feed/ 0 Renewable Energy – My Camelback Climb http://go-with-your-gut.com/530/renewable-energy-my-camelback-climb/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/530/renewable-energy-my-camelback-climb/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:03:57 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=530 More...]]> I had the pleasure, a few hours before Rosh Hashana 2011, to climb Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, AZ with my dear friend, Kay.  I had wanted to climb Camelback for about 20 years – since she moved to AZ.  And so, on this lovely, 90 degree morning we started out.  I was wearing a camelback backpack filled with ice water and no food.

The hike started out well.  We walked up the mountain on a dirt and rock trail and then we arrived at the saddle about 35 minutes later - it was actually a plateau or landing.  There Kay took a business call and said it might take an hour.  So what else was I supposed to do but climb the rest of the mountain.  I started out on a trail that turned out to be a wrong path.  It was quite close to the mountain edge.  I realized partway through that I had not thoroughly investigated the rest of the trails and so I had reached a place that I could not go any further.  Has that ever occurred in your life?  Reached a place where you couldn’t go any further because you hadn’t fully scoped out all the possibilities?  I went back to where I thought I had gone wrong and then the trail appeared.  And at that very moment, another hiker, Rick, appeared, out of nowhere.  Just appeared.  He and I then proceeded to ascend the mountain – rocks and all.  He was instrumental in my climb – for if he wasn’t there I am not clear if I would have actually gone to the top.  However, as a seasoned climber he help me carefully place my feet in places that were stable. Not looking down or looking back to take away my focus – we proceeded to the top.

Now – right here would have been where the pictures that I took of me and Rick at the top of the mountain.  Instead here is a photo of the saddle.  The height doesn’t look like much, however – it is not for the weak or weary.

‘From the saddle of the Camel’

The elevation is 2,704 feet above sea level.  The highest achievement I have physically endured.  I know I am on to something here.  The climb up freed me from what had been holding me back to achieve the success in my life that is there for me.  What is holding you back?  Go on out and take on a challenge in your life – whatever it is; running a 5K or a marathon, quit smoking, losing 15 lbs, renew a relationship in your life.  There are so many places in life that hold us back from being who we need to be in this lifetime.

This climb (challenge) came in a perfect time in my life.  It inspired me to achieve what I set out to accomplish. And so, Rick disappeared as he appeared – ‘just like that’.  And though we may never see each other again – along the way it is so much more special to take the risk with someone else at your side.

So many life lessons arise when we challenge ourselves in a way we never thought possible.

I am looking for my next hike/climb in NYC.  Do you think I’ll find it here?  Hhhmmm?!?

 

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/530/renewable-energy-my-camelback-climb/feed/ 0 ‘Gluten Free’ food labeling rule – FDA has opened comment period http://go-with-your-gut.com/517/gluten-free-food-labeling-rule-fda-has-opened-comment-period/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/517/gluten-free-food-labeling-rule-fda-has-opened-comment-period/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:59:02 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=517 More...]]> FDA NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Aug. 2, 2011
Media Inquiries: Siobhan DeLancey, 202-510-4177, siobhan.delancey@fda.hhs.gov
Trade Inquiries: Stephen King, 240-402-1407, stephen.king@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
FDA reopens comment period on proposed ‘gluten-free’ food labeling rule
Rule would help by creating a uniform and enforceable definition
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today reopened the comment period for its 2007 proposal on labeling foods as “gluten-free.” The agency is also making available a safety assessment of exposure to gluten for people with celiac disease (CD) and invites comment on these additional data.
One of the criteria proposed is that foods bearing the claim cannot contain 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten. The agency based the proposal, in part, on the available methods for gluten detection. The validated methods could not reliably detect the amount of gluten in a food when the level was less than 20 ppm. The threshold of less than 20 ppm also is similar to “gluten-free” labeling standards used by many other countries.
People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. About 1 percent of the United States population is estimated to have the disease.
“Before finalizing our gluten-free definition, we want up-to-date input from affected consumers, the food industry, and others to help assure that the label strikes the right balance,” said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods. “We must take into account the need to protect individuals with celiac disease from adverse health consequences while ensuring that food manufacturers can meet the needs of consumers by producing a wide variety of gluten-free foods.”
The proposed rule conforms to the standard set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2008, which requires that foods labeled as “gluten-free” not contain more than 20 ppm gluten. This standard has been adopted in regulations by the 27 countries composing the Commission of European Communities.
The FDA encourages members of the food industry, state and local governments, consumers, and other interested parties to offer comments and suggestions about gluten-free labeling in docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 at www.regulations.gov1. The docket will officially open for comments after noon on Aug 3, 2011 and will remain open for 60 days.
To submit your comments electronically to the docket go to www.regulations.gov2
1. Choose “Submit a Comment” from the top task bar
2. Enter the docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 in the “Keyword” space
3. Select “Search”
To submit your comments to the docket by mail, use the following address:
The Division of Dockets Management
HFA-305
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Include docket number FDA-2005-N-0404 on each page of your written comments.
For more information:
Federal Register Notice (scroll to FDA–temporary link will update when document publishes on Aug. 3):
Gluten-Free Portal (scroll to Gluten-Free):
Questions and Answers on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule:
Consumer Update on the Gluten-Free Labeling Proposed Rule:
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/517/gluten-free-food-labeling-rule-fda-has-opened-comment-period/feed/ 0 ‘Everybody Eats’ Multi-Grain High Fiber – High Protein Loaf http://go-with-your-gut.com/506/everybody-eats-multi-grain-high-fiber-high-protein-loaf/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/506/everybody-eats-multi-grain-high-fiber-high-protein-loaf/#comments Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:07:43 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=506 More...]]>  

A truly delicious and healthy bread.  It is dense and light at the same time.  If you read my blog and /or know me – I am all about healthy gluten free living. This bread is a newly developed by Everybody Eats in conjunction with dietitians and nutritionists.  After toasting this bread it has a delicious, rich, crispy crust and a light and elastic interior. With more than 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per slice (you slice and toast it yourself), it’s great for nutritious sandwiches of all kinds. Even kids like it.

One loaf of MULTI-GRAIN costs $12.00 and can be purchased at these retail stores nationally http://www.everybodyeats-inc.com/retail_stores.html

Ingredients: Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Buckwheat Flour, Sorghum Flour, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Whole Egg, Potato Flour, Xanthan Gum, Kosher Gelatin, Iodized Salt, Canola Oil, Poppy Seed, Sesame Seed, Flax Seed, Millet, Yeast, Evaporated Cane Juice, Cider Vinegar, Potato Starch, Calcium Lactate, Calcium Carbonate, Citric Acid, Cellulose Gum, Carbohydrate Gum.

(All products made in a 100% dedicated gluten free and 100% dedicated ground and tree nut free facility that uses dairy. No legumes or soy are used in our recipes. Chocolate products may contain soy lecithin.)

It’s worth every bite!

 

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/506/everybody-eats-multi-grain-high-fiber-high-protein-loaf/feed/ 0 Joan’s GF Great Bakes New Product! http://go-with-your-gut.com/487/487/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/487/487/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 18:43:15 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=487 More...]]>

Joan's GF Great Bakes Multi-Grain English Muffins

I love to do research!  And in the gluten free industry that means sampling gluten free food.  Today I am particularly happy to be sampling Joan’s GF Great Bakes products recently introduced to the market; specifically the multi-grain English muffins.  Besides her delicious line including bialy’s, Italian bread, bagels, English muffins, Scicilian pizza, corn toaster muffins, chocolate chip cookies and calzone, she has introduced double chocolate muffins, crumb cake, and multi-grain English muffins.

And Joan has really has done it again.  I am a proponent of healthy gluten free living and in large part those of us that are gluten intolerant (Celiac Disease, gluten sensitivity) have taken the whole wheat out of our diets and are left with low fiber, low nutrient dense food from which to choose.  Joan’s multi-grain English muffins are made with 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber (amaranth, flax seed meal, organic buckwheat, and are also fortified with iron, vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, and D3, Calcium, Folic Acid) and many more.

At first glance, taste and smell I was so pleased.  First off, the package of 4 muffins comes in a resealable plastic bag that is compact for the freezer.  I defrosted the muffin for 30 seconds and in that time I knew that it was in for a treat.  The smell was very inticing.  I then toasted the muffins for a crunchy texture.  I ate them plain with a bowl of soup so I could savour the flavor of the muffin.

Joan’s GF Greatbakes is a dedicated gluten free facility.  They are also peanut, tree nut and soy free.  They have many products that are dairy and gluten free and some that are gluten, egg and dairy free

You can order Joan’s product on-line or find them in select stores nationally.

Are you hungry yet?

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/487/487/feed/ 0 Tates Bake Shop http://go-with-your-gut.com/476/tates-bake-shop/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/476/tates-bake-shop/#comments Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:52:28 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=476 More...]]> Today, on this chilly cloudy Sunday, I took a drive to Southampton, NY to buy Gluten Free Chocolate Cookies from Tates Bake Shop.  Yes, it was a bit eccentric to drive an hour for cookies, however, the mood struck so I went.  I had seen the packaging in many retail grocery stores yet not gluten free.  It was very much worth the trip.  The coookies are sold in a stack of 12.  They are thin and a take-off from their signature chocolate chip cookie.  There is a buttery, sweet, chocolately, salty taste all in one.  The slightly salty taste enhances the other flavors, for sure!  I had a couple while sitting with a cup of organic tea at the chairs and tables in front of the shop watching the passers-by.  The rest are in the freezer for safe-keeping!  What a lovely few hours away!

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/476/tates-bake-shop/feed/ 0 Move over Betty Crocker…! http://go-with-your-gut.com/451/move-over-betty-crocker/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/451/move-over-betty-crocker/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 14:09:16 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=451 More...]]>

Lindsey Deitsch, debuting her line of gluten free baking mixes at Natural Products Expo West 2011

Here comes Lindsey Deitsch with her line of gluten free baking mixes using organic coconut flour. The creation of XO Baking Co. began with Lindsey’s lifelong love affair with the art of baking and desserts.  Lindsey is a Nutritionist and culinary-trained Chef/Baker.  She uses a proprietary blend of whole grain brown rice and coconut flours.  Coconut contains a substance called lauric acid, which protects us against bacteria and viruses that cause illness.  Coconut flour is very high in dietary fiber, has a low glycemic index, packed with protein and is known to improve digestion.

Light. Fluffy.  Perfect taste.  However, don’t take my word for it though.  Within the next month, you will have the same good fortune I did – to be able to taste this delicious product line.  Sunday morning I made these mouth-watering pancakes with XO Baking Co.’s All Purpose Flour.  I added my own blueberries and bananas.

Light. Fluffy. Delicious taste. Blueberry, banana pancakes.

The mixes are 100% gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and wheat free.  The line consists of Banana Bread, Corn Bread, Brownies, Gingersnap Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Chip Cookies and, of course, the All Purpose Flour Blend. The whole product line can be purchased on-line beginning June 2011.

XO Baking Co All Purpose Flour Blend

One bite and your hooked!

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/451/move-over-betty-crocker/feed/ 0 Live Stream: Should you be Gluten Free? http://go-with-your-gut.com/449/live-stream-should-you-be-gluten-free/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/449/live-stream-should-you-be-gluten-free/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 14:38:38 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=449 Should you be Gluten Free? With Jill\’s List: NFCA\’s Alice Bast, Dr. Mark Hyman and Glow Gluten Free\’s Jill Brack

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/449/live-stream-should-you-be-gluten-free/feed/ 0 Press Release, Burbank, CA – Gluten-Free Event Kicks Off Celiac Disease Awareness Month http://go-with-your-gut.com/436/press-release-burbank-ca-gluten-free-event-kicks-off-celiac-disease-awareness-month/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/436/press-release-burbank-ca-gluten-free-event-kicks-off-celiac-disease-awareness-month/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:33:55 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=436 More...]]>  

Press Release

Contact: Deb Wheaton (contact@notevenacrumb.com)Phone: (818) 249-4668 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE9 A.M. EDT, April 28, 2011

 

FREE! Gluten-Free Event Kicks Off Celiac Disease Awareness Month

Burbank, April 28, 2011: Going gluten-free is a hot topic among those embracing a more healthful diet in 2011.  And new research estimates that gluten sensitivity may affect over 40% of the population. 

But for 3 million Americans, going gluten-free should be more than a lifestyle choice. Celiac Disease affects 3 million Americans, yet 95% don’t know they have it.

May is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month and the Celiac Disease Foundation (www.celiac.org) is celebrating 21 years of raising awareness.

Monday, May 9th from 11a.m-2p.m join the Celiac Disease Foundation and Pam’s Gluten-Free Market, (3516 W. Magnolia Bl., Burbank) to kick off National Celiac Disease Awareness Month!

Attendees to this FREE event will enjoy yummy, sweet and savory samplings from several Gluten-Free Food vendors. Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese Sandwiches courtesy of Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread, and Gluten-Free Goodie Bags courtesy of PF Changs China Bistro.

Foundation members will be on hand to answer questions and provide informational flyers about Celiac Disease.

Please join us as we raise awareness about Celiac Disease:

“The #1 disease you’ve never heard of”

 The Celiac Disease Foundations Annual Educational Conference and Food Faire will be held on May 14th at the Universal Hilton, Universal Studios.

Registration is available on-line: www.celiac.org. , or by calling (818) 990-2354

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]]> http://go-with-your-gut.com/436/press-release-burbank-ca-gluten-free-event-kicks-off-celiac-disease-awareness-month/feed/ 0 G-Free NYC Opening http://go-with-your-gut.com/425/g-free-nyc-opening/ http://go-with-your-gut.com/425/g-free-nyc-opening/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:42:52 +0000 Ilise Ratner http://go-with-your-gut.com/?p=425 More...]]>

I happened to be in NYC for the Grand Opening of G-Free NYC on April 20th.  We are all so happy to have a one-stop shop for all of our gluten free needs and one day a gluten free planet!  This photo demonstrates the variety of our favorite items they stock.  You will find frozen foods, floor to ceiling shelving, delicious baked goods and will be starting ‘Sample Sundays’.  When visiting NYC or doing your weekly gluten free shopping – I hope you’ll stop by to see Lynn and Pam!  You won’t be disappointed!

For a full list of the products sold at G-Free, check out their website.

G-Free NYC, 77 West 85th Street (1,2, A, C, E), g-freenyc.com

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