Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event in Raleigh Recap

This weekend, I attended my first Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event in Raleigh, NC! What a fun weekend! I was invited to attend the Pre-Event Bloggers Dinner Friday evening at Primal Restaurant in Durham, NC, an all gluten free restaurant. I was a little nervous at first since I did not know anyone, other than following some of the attendees on Twitter. My fears were quickly dispelled when I met everyone.  Hey, we all have "that gluten free thing" in common, right!? Everyone was so friendly and it was great to get to know some of the other bloggers while chowing down on some yummy gluten free food. Also, it was fun to put a face to a Twitter handle! Once we were sufficiently gluten free stuffed, we had to head home to rest up for the big event.

On Saturday, the Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event was held at the Doubletree Hotel near NC State University in Raleigh. Approximately 800 people attended to learn more about gluten free products, sample delicious treats, and hear experts in the field speak on important topics. Where do I begin? Everything imaginable gluten free was there, from snacks to meals to spices to health and beauty products to healthy stuff in general. If you did not leave completely stuffed, you missed out!

By attending the Blogger Dinner the night before, it was fun to catch up with new friends and really see how they are using their blogs and products to help the gluten free community they have created.  Be on the lookout for some great blog posts about their creations!

Now, on to some of my favorite gluten free products and foods from the event:

Plentils from Enjoy Life Foods

Ok, so who will willing admit they like lentils? Not me, but these light potato chip-like snacks are super yummy! Free of the top 8 allergens and 40% less fat than regular potato chips. 

http://www.enjoylifefoods.com

YoDish App

As you well know, I photograph my food for my blog (is there a 12 step program for that??). Now, with the YoDish app, I can more easily share my hits and misses when dining out with food allergies to help others find great allergen free food. In turn, I can scope a place out before I try it. 

http://www.yodish.com

Bella Monica

Gluten free pizza is one of the most difficult things to make taste like "the real thing." Bella Monica achieves this with their gluten free pizza, available in your grocery's freezer case, as well as their own restaurant, located in Raleigh, NC.

http://www.bellamonica.com

Allergic Traveler 

How do you convey your food allergies needs when there is a language barrier? The Allergic Traveler has you covered with her International Dietary Alert Cards. The cards are customizable, available in 18 languages, and can come as a luggage tag which is great for kids' backpacks. 

http://www.allergictraveler.net

Raleigh Raw

A person with food allergies has to even be careful of juices. All those additives and flavorings can contain allergens. Not at Raleigh Raw! They make organic cold pressed juices with no preservatives in yummy flavors and interesting combinations. My fav: Summer in the City, a combination of Watermelon, Celery, Lime, and Chia Seeds.

http://www.raleighraw.com

Almost Heaven Gluten Free Bakery

Located in Cary, NC is the most heavenly bread. It is gluten free and corn free and so spongy and light. It makes the most perfect homegrown tomato sandwich. Another home run from a gluten free North Carolina company!

http://www.almostheavenglutenfree.com

Whole Foods

One of the first companies to embrace the need for gluten free options on a national basis is Whole Foods, with its Gluten Free Bakehouse in Morrisville, NC.  The Bakehouse has a variety of breads, biscuits, cupcakes, pies, and now, decorated cakes. Can we say no fuss birthday cake?? Attendees were able to taste all four flavors, as well as angel food cake. 

http://www.wholefoods.com

I had a great time at the Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event. I met some great friends and fellow crusaders in this gluten free journey. Events run throughout the year across the country, so be sure to check out http://www.gfafwellnessevent.com to find events in your area. I can't wait to attend the next one!

GF: Ruby's Gold Golden Granola

Breakfast is the hardest meal for me, especially when I am traveling. I am always on the lookout for a quick and tasty breakfast that will stay with me for a couple of hours. Gluten Free Oatmeal is a great choice and a good source of protein, but it is not always readily available on the road. I found Ruby’s Gold Golden Granola at my local Whole Foods Market, a perfect item to just keep in the car when traveling with a carton of Blue Diamond Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Almond Milk.  Ruby’s Gold is made in Chattanooga, TN and my local Whole Foods carries six different flavors:

Almond Crisp – Almonds and Raisins
Eve’s Delight – Orange, Cranberries, Dark Chocolate, Flame Raisins
California Mix – Wild Blueberries, Dates, Walnuts
Walnut Crumble – Walnuts and Cinnamon
Orange Blast – Orange and Cranberries
Cinnamon Twist – Cinnamon and Ginger

My favorite is the Almond Crisp, with Eve's Delight a close second. Ruby’s Gold  is All Natural, Gluten Free, Vegan, Low Fat, Low Sodium, and made in a Gluten Free facility.  With ingredients like Gluten Free Rolled Oats and quinoa, this granola is a healthy way to start your day.

Do you have any great allergen free breakfast ideas? If so, please share in the comments.

GF, DF, EF, SF: Just Mayo has arrived!

I am so excited my local Whole Foods has started carrying Hampton Creek’s Just Mayo!   Just Mayo is a Non-GMO, egg free, soy free, dairy free, lactose free, gluten free, vegan, cholesterol free, and kosher “mayonnaise.”  It has the same consistency, color, and taste of regular mayonnaise and is made from a yellow pea protein that is more sustainable and environmentally friendlier than eggs. You can find it in the refrigerated section with the salad dressings.   The Whole Foods stores on the West Coast have been carrying it for months and even switched to it instead of regular mayo in their prepared food items and on the hot bars.  For those of us with egg and soy allergies, we know how difficult it is to find a good mayo substitute!  I hear it can be used as an egg replacer in recipes, but I have not tried it for this use yet.  Will keep you posted! Hampton Creek also makes a Just Chipotle Mayo and Eat The Dough, an egg free cookie dough.  Can’t wait until those hit the shelves!