Oklahoma Celiac Gluten Free Blog

Link: http://www.lonelyplate.org/

Lonelyplate.org was launched by Sharona Schwarts, who up until a year and a half ago, was a News Coverage Manager at CNN's Washington Bureau which included producing stories on food allergies and working with chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.   She is also a Mom of a daughter diagnosed with multiple food allergies, including wheat, peanuts, fish and more.

At this website, individuals dealing with food allergies and Celiacs can write reviews about restaurants they visit.  There are fantastic online resources reviewing restaurantes and hotels (Tripadvisor, Yelp, VirtualTourist; etc.), but when Sharona could not find one that consolidated our unique experiences in an easy, interactive, national platform, she launched her own!

Check out this interactive database to review restaurants, hotels, airlines, and kid-friendly venues. Wouldn’t it be great to give a shout out to a place that did a great job helping you have a safe meal or to warn others to stay away at all cost?

Link: http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/morning_news/videos/vid_795.shtml

This morning our local Fox affiliate featured local restaurants that are gluten free friendly.  This video link is about Paseo Grill located in the Paseo area of Oklahoma City.  For more information about the restaurant, check it out at: http://paseogrill.com.

Also featured:

Akins Natural Food Market:  http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/morning_news/videos/vid_791.shtml

PF Chang's:  http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/morning_news/videos/vid_794.shtml

Sage Grill:  http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/morning_news/videos/vid_797.shtml

At Sage Grill, almost 80% of their foods are gluten free! Here's their website:  http://www.sageokc.com/

Another great gluten free option is available at Starbucks and on Friday, February 5th, you can get it FREE!  Starbucks added Almond Cashew + Omega 3 to its existing superstar line up of KIND flavors:  Fruit & Nut Delight, Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants and Mango Macadamia + Calcium.  Almond Cashew is only 150 calories and packed with 500 mg of Omega 3 Fatty Acids 9ALA), which helps support a healthy heart and immune system.

On Friday, February 5, 2010, Starbucks will offer free samples of KIND bars at their 7000 stores nationwide.

According to KIND's website, their products are tested for gluten and meet FDA’s proposed requirement of 20ppm (0.002%) of gluten. Their manufacturing plant is dedicated gluten free and has a strict allergen control program.

Enjoy! 

Link: http://www.tulsacampfire.org/images/tulsacampfire/ResidentCampPDF/Website%203%203%20Gluten%20Free%20Camp.pdf

Tulsa, Oklahoma will host its first gluten free camp from June 20-26, 2010.  All food served during camp will be gluten free even though all campers will not necessarily be gluten intolerant.

Camp Fire USA in Tulsa, Oklahoma is running a summer resident camp June 20-26 for kids with Celiac Disease/gluten intolerance and their siblings.   This camp is for families with kids that just can’t go to a regular summer camp because of the food. Information is available at the above hyperlink or by calling Vicki Proctor, Camp Services Director at 918-592-2267. Camp Fire USA strives to build caring, confident youth and future leaders and we feel camp is an important (and fun!) part of ALL children’s development process.

What a terrific idea for Celiac kids and their siblings! 

Link: http://www.celiacdisease.net/care-package

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease by biopsy within the past three (3) months, you can order a Gluten Free Care package from the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center.

The package will contain information you need to start the gluten-free diet so that you can spend your energy getting well instead of looking for information.  For more information and to request a Gluten Free Care Package, call  773-702-7593 or visit their website at http://www.celiacdisease.net/care-package.