Category: Newsletters

Summertime recipe, hydration & office change.

Summer rolls:
One of my long-term goals is getting my husband to eat more veggies. When we met as teens, he remarked that the only green food he liked was mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I’ve had lots of practice converting a non-veggievore. He’s come a long way, and happily eats roasted broccoli, grilled peppers, even roasted cauliflower and a few others. But like so many picky kids and spouses, left to his own devices, veggies would rarely happen.

Summer rolls are often an easy way of getting in more veggies, and they’re a lot easier than they look. There’s something about the rice paper that serves as a veggie cloaking device…I don’t understand it, but somehow I’ve consistently seen carnivores chow down on my summer rolls.

Ingredients:
12 lettuce leaves, halved
1 cup shredded carrots
about 1/3 napa cabbage, sliced very thinly
1/2 yellow, red or orange pepper, sliced thinly
1 cup bean sprouts (optional)
1/3 cup mint leaves, cilantro or basil
15 rice paper wraps (a few extra in case of mistakes)

So here’s the general idea:
Have a large dish of warm water and all of your veggies arranged. Put the rice paper in warm water for ~15-20 seconds. It should be firm, but not mushy.

Fish out your rice paper and arrange it on the plate.

Put down the lettuce leaf and add a little cabbage, carrots, pepper and herb of choice.

If you overfill, it won’t close. Less is more.

Roll up! If the paper rips, you can double wrap.

That’s it! Chopping the napa cabbage is the most time consuming part, and start to finish, this recipe is just 30 min.

Gluten-free, vegan, FODMAP friendly. Good stuff. I serve it with peanut sauce or another dipping sauce.

Is hydration a challenge for you during the summer? In addition to adding fruits or mint leaves into your water, consider adding in more hydrating fruit and veggies. A few good ones:

Many veggies and fruit can be a great source of hydration, including

• Cucumbers
• Lettuce
• Zucchini
• Radishes
• Celery
• Tomato
• Cabbage
• Peppers
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe

and my personal favorite for today, peaches!

As we’re talking about veggies and fruit, here’s an article on buying organic on a budget.

Change in the air…
As of Sept 1st, 2017, I’ll be only seeing clients in my Fairfax office, 9675 A Main Street.

I’ve enjoyed working in Alexandria for the past 10 years, both on Duke Street and in Kingstowne. When my husband and I moved further west, having two offices seemed like a good temporary solution, and the plan was to stay a year or two. Six years later (how does time fly so quickly?), it’s finally time to move to Fairfax full-time. After juggling two leases, managing requirements for two tax localities, sending out two different sets of directions and still having some clients end at the wrong place, and making sure the right folders in the right spot, I’m looking forward to the simplicity of this change.

The Fairfax office is right on Main Street, across from Woodson High School, and about 3 miles from 495. I’ve got an overflowing lending library, and I love the spot.  It’s a great place for nutrition sessions.

So…I will be in the Alexandria office through 8/31/17. if you’re hoping to get a time slot in at the Alexandria office, please drop me a line ASAP. And I look forward to seeing many of you in Fairfax.

Last but not least, Summertime always flies by for me, and I hope you get a chance to get away and savor whatever most delights your heart.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax  VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, GI issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, veg/vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.

Often the summer is a slow time for news and research, but not this year! A rundown on communion wafers,

possible changes in Celiac diagnosis guidelines, FDA GF labeling,  not-so-gluten-free pizza, the Specific Carb Diet & IBD and and office change.

Communion wafers:
The Vatican caused a stir when they released a statement that gluten-free communion wafers are not permitted, and the statement itself was a bit confusing. But this actually isn’t new. Church requirements have always stated that at least small amounts of wheat must be present in communion wafers, so truly 100% gluten-free wafers don’t meet that standard. Since 2004, the church has allowed low gluten hosts, which contain trace amounts of gluten that are high enough to meet church requirements, but low enough to get approval from Dr. Fasano and many Celiac organizations. For people who react to even the smallest amounts, having wine only is an option—but only from a separate glass.

The end of biopsies? Not so fast…
A new study showed that a biopsy may not be needed to confirm a Celiac diagnosis in children, and this debate has been happening for the last few years. But make sure you’ve read the fine print. The study showed that people with a tTG (antibody) level more than 10 times above the normal level, and a positive EMA (other Celiac antibody) were normally accurately diagnosed, even without a biopsy. Guidelines for children in the U.S. still recommend a biopsy, and there hasn’t yet been exploration for adults.

My take—Celiac is a lifelong disease, so getting a firm diagnosis is a really important thing, especially for a child. I frequently see clients who are preemptively diagnosed with Celiac based on labs…but when we look at their labs, they don’t meet either criteria–and of course, we don’t know for sure this applies to adults. Working with a knowledgeable gastroenterologist is a big plus, and should always happen.

Move over, Domino’s—there are other not-so-gluten-free crusts
Papa John’s just debuted a gluten-free crust…sort of. According to the company, “it is possible that a pizza with gluten-free crust could be exposed to gluten during the in-store, pizza-making process. Therefore, the brand does not recommend its Gluten-Free Crust made with Ancient Grains for customers with Celiac Disease or serious gluten intolerances.”
My take? I really appreciate companies offering gluten-free products, because I’ve seen people have a much easier time with the diet over the last decade or so. But if they’re going to do it, do it right.

FDA and gluten-free labeling
As many of you know, it was hard enough to get the gluten-free labeling rules passed. Now there has been ongoing difficulty getting the FDA to actually enforce the gluten-free labeling regulations—and of course, if the rules aren’t enforced, they don’t do much to protect the gluten-free community.  Here’s a video letter to the FDA from Gluten-free Watchdog, and if you’re so inclined, feel free to tweet to @US_FDA, tag the FDA on Facebook and/or write letters to the FDA in support of meaningful gluten-free labeling.

Heard of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet?
The SCD has been around for ages…close to a century, actually. The author of the diet, Sidney Haas, MD was quite a pioneer. The SCD was initially intended for the treatment of Celiac disease before doctors even understood what caused Celiac, or could test for it. In recent years, it’s been used for people with IBD (Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis). Clients have always asked me about it, but there’s never been good studies on it until very recently. Here’s a rundown on what the research shows. Putting this together was a labor of love for me. I find it fascinating and have been delighted to see clients feel better.  I’d encourage you to share with anyone with IBD.

Change in the air…
As of Sept 1st, 2017, I’ll be only seeing clients in my Fairfax office, 9675 A Main Street.

I’ve enjoyed working in Alexandria for the past 10 years, both on Duke Street and in Kingstowne. When my husband and I moved further west, having two offices seemed like a good temporary solution, and the plan was to stay a year or two. Six years later (how does time fly so quickly?), it’s finally time to move to Fairfax full-time. After juggling two leases, managing requirements for two tax localities, sending out two different sets of directions and still having some clients end at the wrong place, and making sure the right folders in the right spot, I’m looking forward to the simplicity of this change.

The Fairfax office is right on Main Street, across from Woodson High School, and about 3 miles from 495. I’ve got an overflowing lending library, and I love the spot.  It’s a great place for nutrition sessions.

So…I will be in the Alexandria office through 8/31/17. if you’re hoping to get a time slot in at the Alexandria office, please drop me a line ASAP. And I look forward to seeing many of you in Fairfax.
Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax  VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, GI issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, veg/ vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.

For many people, getting in more veggies is a big plus for good health. If it’s been a struggle, you may want to dress up your options, and/or head to a local farmers’ market for inspiration. It can also be fun to stop at a local community garden. I know I’ve got a bunch of beautiful things growing in my garden!

Here are some easy, quick, veggie-rich trades for traditional carby sides:

Cauliflower rice: You can buy bags of pre-chopped little pieces of cauliflower that are the consistency of rice, but with a ton more nutrients. It has a pretty neutral flavor, and takes on the taste of the rest of the dish. Bonus–it only takes 15 minutes to cook on the stovetop.

Zoodles (AKA zucchini noodles)—or similar carrot, sweet potato or beet noodles. You can buy them at many stores, or make them yourself with a spiralizer. These make a great swap for pasta noodles, and can be fun to make, too. Dress them up the “noodles” with herbs & you’re good to go.

Collard (or Swiss chard) wraps–upgrade your wrap; consider using a collard leaf.

Spaghetti squash:

Quick, simple, delicious. Cut it in half, rub with olive oil, roast. Done. Then you can scrape up the “noodles” and enjoy as a side to your favorite dish.

Jicama: ever had jicama? More on how to peel and cut them here. This crisp root veggie has all sorts of health prebiotics, and more nutrients than a bowl of tortilla chips. It’s a great swap for dipping your salsa or guac.

Or portabella pizzas:

Take a portabella mushroom, top with sauce & cheese & you’ve got a mini pizza right there!

Cauliflower pizza crust: (so many brands!)

I’ve only heard good things about this new crust from Trader Joe’s–and you can easily top with your favorites to suit you taste.

For those of you with tummy troubles who are getting indigestion just looking at these veggie recipes, spaghetti squash and carrot noodles are good options. Also, I just posted an updated list of low FODMAP shopping guide.

I’m sure I’m missing some of your favorites. Feel free to leave me a comment on this post.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, GI issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.

Heard about low FODMAP and wondering if it makes sense for you? A low FODMAP diet is a specific elimination diet designed to help with tummy troubles–gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea and constipation. There’s a growing amount of research supporting it for people with tummy troubles of all sorts, especially IBS or IBD (Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis) and SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). Reducing these FODMAPs help about 75% of people with IBS problems. Obviously, this is a big deal for many people who experience ongoing gastrointestinal distress.

What is a FODMAP, anyhow? FODMAP is an acronym for classes of carbohydrates that are poorly digested, which is why they can cause obnoxious symptoms. But for most people, the problem isn’t ALL classes of FODMAPs, just some.

So if you do suspect you may have a FODMAP problem, the general protocol is first an elimination diet, which is generally 2-4 weeks, then followed by a structured re-introduction to ID the problematic foods. I’d strongly suggest finding a nutrition professional to pair with. It makes the process a lot easier and simpler, because most of the info online gets outdated quickly as newer testing info is available. For example, Monash just retested bananas and found that ripe (browning) ones are much higher in FODMAPs than the yellow ones.

The goal isn’t to just eliminate FODMAPs and then go forth and be low FODMAP. The goal is to reintroduce as many foods as possible to eat as varied and as balanced (and yummy) diet as possible without discomfort.

I just put together a BIG list of low FODMAP friendly foods packaged foods that are suitable for the elimination phase. It’s not every food out there, of course, but the most common products that clients ask about.

However, low FODMAP isn’t a healthier diet, or an ideal diet for long-term health, it’s a diet for management of digestive symptoms. I have posted on it a few times for my gluten-free newsletter because so many people with Celiac and gluten sensitivity do have ongoing digestive distress–and low FODMAP was initially designed at Monash University for people with Celiac who were gluten-free and didn’t feel better. But to be clear, if you don’t have digestive problems, this diet isn’t a good choice for you—it excludes a lot of tasty foods that provide great nutrients!

Cookbook review:
While we’re on the topic of FODMAPs, I wanted to give a big thumb’s up to Patsy Catsos‘ new book, The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook. It has the most up-to-date lists of low FODMAP foods, and a great explanation of both the elimination and reintroduction. Of course, there are wonderful recipes, too. In fact, I’m so tempted to make the Raspberry Lime Ice Pops tonight, which look perfect for the warmer weather.

Kitchen tip:
If you’ve learned that garlic and onions are not friendly to your tummy, this is your time of year! It’s pretty easy to find garlic scapes at the Farmers’ Market (as you can see above), and also spring onions with the greens on them. The green shoots seem to be FODMAP friendly, the same way that chives and scallion greens are. You can get a bunch, puree the greens (not the white part!) and freeze them in an ice cube tray. Then, when you need a little of that flavor, pop a cube in whatever you’re making.

News:

• Fascinated by digestive diseases & the microbiome, and/or SIBO research? I know I am! There’s a live science Reddit this Friday (tomorrow) June 9^th at 1pm EST with many of the leading researchers.
• Love meal prep services? Gluten-free & More Magazine just posted a list of the ones that have gluten-free options.
• Recent studies have indicated that the rate of Celiac disease is climbing in teens. This article explores the data and discusses potential causes & implications.
• Exercise is exercise is good for digestive disorders, like IBS or IBD–but too much can be harmful, too. A new study showed that 2 hours of strenuous exercise led to more digestive distress, especially in hot weather. So don’t overdo it. https://goo.gl/f267gD
• For those of you who have SIBO, a new paper is out on best practices of testing standards for North America. This will hopefully make life simpler for patients.

Have a great summer!
Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, digestive distress, food allergies, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.

Happy Celiac Disease Awareness month! There’s been a lot of research in the gluten-free world lately, and so here’s an update.

Did you see the headlines on heart disease and a gluten-free diet? This May 2017 study followed a large sample of health professionals, and estimated the amount of gluten they ate and tracked their risk of cardiovascular disease. What they found was no significant relationship, although there was a trend towards more heart disease in people eating less gluten. The authors guessed this trend was due to the lack of whole grains.However, there are a few big caveats about this study. It didn’t look at people with Celiac disease, nor did it even look at people following a gluten-free diet per se—it just compared people eating the most and least gluten. I’d also be curious if there were other differences in the diets of these people that might have been the cause.

• Main take home—don’t follow a gluten-free diet primarily to improve heart health.

This article was more concerning. It looked at people around the U.S. following a gluten-free diet, and compared blood and urine samples. People following a gluten-free diet had much higher levels of  mercury, and almost double the amount of arsenic. Yikes.

I’ve written about arsenic risk here and in Simply Gluten-Free Magazine. Essentially, the problem is that rice fields were sprayed with pesticides containing arsenic years ago, and people on a gluten-free diet tend to eat much more rice than average.

• The simplest answer is to vary starches rather than overdoing rice. That could be sweet potatoes, potatoes, quinoa, buckwheat, beans or lentils, and the range of gluten-free grains, like GF oatmeal, wild rice, corn, millet, teff, sorghum, amaranth, etc. There’s always zoodles, cauliflower rice and other starch alternatives, too.
• Consider checking in with a nutrition pro to make sure your diet is balanced.

Why did I get Celiac? And why now? While 30% of the population has the genes for Celiac, only 1% of the population has it, and there’s tremendous speculation on why and how we go from the potential to have Celiac to actually having it. We may be one baby step closer to an answer. A new study found a link between a common virus and the development of a Celiac-like condition in mice. Surely much more to come!

Another recent study found that the risk of anorexia is higher in women with Celiac disease. Women with Celiac disease were twice as likely to be later diagnosed with anorexia—and women diagnosed with anorexia were more likely to later be diagnosed with Celiac, too. To be clear, this doesn’t mean that Celiac causes anorexia, but it’s just one more reason to emphasize good emotional health for people with Celiac disease.

Speaking of a center that does a great job with addressing the emotional health side of Celiac, Children’s Celiac Disease program is having their annual Washington DC Gluten-Free Expo on June 11^th, 2017 in Bethesda. It’s always a lot of fun and a lot of good food, and supports a wonderful cause—gluten-free children! I really appreciate the great work CNMC does.   Register at and there’s a 10% discount code, HarrisHealth.

Last but not least–it’s Farmers’ Market season! Find one near you.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, GI issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.

Foods to avoid

Mindful eating class

Low FODMAP products

It’s almost Spring, which is a great time to clean out the old…and bring in the new.

A few things to purge:

Anything (everything) with trans fats. This includes Girl Scout cookies, like Thin mints and Tagalongs. Due to evidence of effect on mood, heart health and even memory, trans fats will be restricted as of 2018, but they’re still on the shelves now. Yes, the label says 0 grams of trans fats, but that’s because it contains less than .5 grams, and they’re rounding down to zero. So if anything you see says “partially hydrogenated xyz”, just put it down.  Normally, I advocate for moderation, but not here. Even small amounts can have a physical impact. So if you want to support Girl scouts, just donate.

Other products with trans fats: a range of crackers, cookies, and snack foods.

Artificial sweeteners: Diet coke drinkers, I’m looking at you. For years, diet drinks were pushed as a way to have your cake and eat it, too. But there are a range of concerns. Studies indicate that artificial sweeteners may affect gut health because they may alter the kind of bacteria in the gut. They’re linked to thyroid dysfunction—including Splenda, BTW. Additionally some studies have linked diet sodas with increased cardiovascular health risk.

Need an extra reason? The strangest study I think I’ve ever read was one where rats were given the option of saccharine or cocaine. They chose the saccharine. Ever heard someone say diet drinks feel like an addiction? It raises some questions, for sure.

BPA, and the replacements: BPA (short for Bisphenol A) is everywhere, and if you’re not going out of your way to avoid it, it’s most likely in your diet.  It’s found in can liners, which includes canned vegetable, soup, or soda and more. It is in many plastic or polyurethane containers, water bottles and even on cash register tape. (Whole foods and Mom’s use BPA free receipts). The hypothesis is that the chemical mimics estrogen, and can affect hormonal systems in the body.

There’s growing evidence that BPA is problematic.  A study came out from JAMA showing that BPA seems to be linked to obesity in children. Moms with more BPA in their urine during pregnancy seem to have children with more emotional issues at the age of 3. Certainly there is considerable speculation that it may be linked to cancer, too. Also, for reasons that are not clear, women with PCOS (a common endocrine disorder) seem to be more sensitive to BPA and have higher levels, and there is some speculation that BPA may even cause PCOS.

But are the replacements actually better? There’s growing concern that the BPA free bottles may be just as bad, or even worse.

My vote? Get a stainless steel or glass water bottle instead. We know those are  non-reactive, and the stainless steel ones are light weight and sturdy. Ball jars like the ones pictured are a great replacement for Tupperware. You can buy them easily locally, especially during the summer, and crafts stores and Wegmans’ generally carry them. If that’s not logistically possible, you can store your food in plastic, and reheat on paper or glass.

Mindful eating workshop: Looking for new good habits? Join me for a workshop on Mindful eating this Saturday, March 25^th at Empower Fitness in Fairfax, which is just across the parking lot from my Fairfax office. As some of you know, I’ve been practicing and teaching on mindfulness for over a dozen years. We’ll be talking about practical tips to incorporate mindful eating into your life. Sign up here: http://www.harriswholehealth.com/classes

Also, for those of you on a low FODMAP diet. As some of you know entirely too well, FODMAPs may cause digestive upset in people with IBS and IBD. Good news! FODY foods just launched a line at some DMV Wegman’s stores. This is garlic and onion-free salsas, BBQ sauces, bars, and more. However, my store list includes Alexandria, Woodbridge, Leesburg, and others in MD, PA and NY, but no Fairfax.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA. She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, GI issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great! Email or call 571-271-8742.

Recipes

Happy almost Thanksgiving! I’m sure this is already on your radar if you’re gluten-free.

Thanksgiving tips:

It takes a little planning ahead to guarantee a great Thanksgiving. In many ways, it’s easier if you’re hosting, because you’ve already got the most familiarity with the diet. Most people hate to impose on their hosts, but it’s easier on you AND your host to ask beforehand than sit through a four-hour meal and watch others eat. Remember, nothing is more important that staying safe! I love these tips from Shirley of GFE and from GF Jules.

Turkey:
Though it’s always good to check, the good news is that all plain, fresh turkey is naturally gluten-free. Again, that’s ALL plain, fresh or frozen turkeys. I know there are emails that go out every year about warnings of “hidden gluten” in the turkeys, but ironically, the turkey usually the easiest and safest part of the meal. For the past 5 years I’ve been looking, calling and asking around if any of the brands of un-stuffed turkeys have gluten, and I haven’t found a single one in all that time. If you’ve seen one, email me or leave me a comment below. So you do have to look out for stuffed turkeys, and you do want to look out for gravy packets and of course, the preparation of the turkey.

The only exception Tofurky, which has gluten, and some glazed hams DO contain gluten. As always, read carefully! I have a gluten-free turkey list, with has manufacturer contact info.

As always, there can still be risks in the ingredients used on or in the turkey, and cross-contamination always needs to be on your radar. You’ll need to talk to your host about:
* Preparation method: Broth used for basting, or even the butter used for basting. This also includes the kind of flour used if a turkey is cooked in a bag.
* Seasonings
* Stuffing in the turkey
* Cross contamination

Gravy

Many regular canned gravy and gravy packets are not gluten-free. Gluten-free gravy is available online, and Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, etc. sell  some now. Even Mc Cormick’s has a gluten-free gravy packet that’s certified GF! Also, it’s pretty easy to make a simple gravy with gluten-free broth and cornstarch instead of wheat (and if corn is a problem for you, arrowroot can be substituted 1:1 instead).

Herb Gravy From Elana’s Pantry

My favorite gravy (paleo/starch free)

Gravy using Cornstarch from Simply Recipes or see this link for recipes.

Side dishes

There are lots of good options here. Green bean casserole (sub the french onions–Aldi’s and a GF version last year, or use almonds) or get creative–we do roasted green beans, baked yams, cranberry relish, gelatin salads, butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, applesauce…all of these things are easy to adapt to food restrictions, and they’re healthy and delicious to boot.

Here are some ideas to get you going:

Sides:

My Cranberry Fresh Fruit Relish

Crockpot Applesauce by Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free

Green Bean Casserole from Ginger Lemon Girl

Simply Tasty Asparagus from Celiac Family

Stuffing:

This is obviously more of a challenge. You can go the nontraditional route and do a wild rice, buckwheat or quinoa stuffing. You could use a gluten-free cornbread or pre-made bread crumbs.

Cornbread stuffing with roasted acorn squash from the Gluten-Free Goddess

The NY Times Blog had a G-Free Stuffing section with a few recipes

Dessert!

For many people (myself included!) dessert is the highlight of the Thanksgiving route. If you’d like to use your standard old-school recipes, you can easily make a crustless pumpkin or sweet potato pie or check out Whole Foods’ GF crusts. Even Pillsbury has a GF pie crust! Or, you can easily make a crust from crushed up gluten-free cookies, shredded coconut or almond meal. Apple crisps are also simple, too. And, of course, now with the GF Wegman’s or Betty Crocker mixes, a cake or brownies are pretty simple, even if they’re not traditional.

The Best Pecan Pie (one of my very favorites)

Sweet Potato Pie (vegan), pictured right here—>

Easy, Crustless Apple Pie from Gluten Free Easily

Super-cute baked apples from GF Jules

Ginger Lemon Girl’s Pecan Pumpkin Pie bars

Apple Crisp: simple, delish!

T Day Recipes:
It’s dangerous when someone asks about food while I’m hungry. Here are a bunch of  wonderful things that would make for an absolutely amazing gluten-free feast some of my favorite GF bloggers and around the web.

• Shirley of GFE has a roundup of 100+ Thanksgiving recipes, both her own and others around the web
• Gluten Free Homemaker has a wonderful roundup of recipes
• Food and Wine has a round up
• Food.com has their g-free T day faves
• Gluten-free Goddess updates her roundup every year, and has GF vegetarian recipes, too.
• Elana’s Pantry has a big Thanksgiving Roundup
• Gluten free Girl has an amazing roundup of recipes
• Celiac Family has a Thanksgiving Roundup from a variety of bloggers
• Simply Gluten and Sugar Free Healthy Holiday

And as a bonus, the Happy Tart now has a bakery in Falls Church in addition to the Alexandria location, so it’s even easier to get a g-free pie without pulling out a rolling pin.

For those of you who are low FODMAP, I just put together a list of new low FODMAP bars, some research and tips.

As always, wishing you and yours a joyful, peaceful and yummy holiday season.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, digestive issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.  

Think outside the candy dish…

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. We grow pumpkins every year, and this year, the little guys did fantastically. Aren’t they cute?

As much as I love Halloween, I’m also a fan of balance, so more than a dozen years ago, I made the choice to stop giving out Halloween candy. A big part of it was that I really didn’t need or want to be staring at a bowl of candy the month prior and the month after Halloween. I know myself well enough to know if I see it, I’m much more likely to eat it. Instead, we gave away rubber duckies, mini-slinkies, yo-yos, and other small fun toys. My husband was initially not happy with my decision, and I was a little nervous, until my first trick-or-treater ran back to his dad and said, “Cool! A slinky!” One year, a group of girls even told my husband that she looked forward to the “rubber ducky house” every year.  Somehow, I resisted the opportunity to say I told you so.

There are plenty of good options for stickers, toys, rubber duckies, mini games or even temporary tattoos for children you know well. Amazon has a ton of fun toy assortments (glow in the dark fangs, anyone?) Oriental Trading Company has a wide selection. Another easily available non-food option is mini cans of Play-Doh, (g-free peeps, remember that Play Doh has gluten, so if you play, wash your hands very, very, very thoroughly!) Some are more expensive than candy, but it depends on how you look at it. When you average in the bag of candy you bought on sale in September (and ate), the one in mid-October (trust me, that one will disappear as well) and the one you have to run out at the last minute and buy, it evens out in the end.

One of my clients, Stephanie, got really creative and put together goodie bags of her own (above). She found the DIY approach was cheaper than ones she could buy. I predict they’ll be a hit!

Extra bonus–if you decide to go the non-food-treat option, Food Allergy Resource & Education (FARE) now has an interactive map so that children with food restrictions can find safe houses to visit and you can add your house to the map. The “Teal Pumpkin Project”, a new initiative for people with non-food treats to paint a pumpkin teal and put it on the doorstep, so children and parents know that safe options are available..

This isn’t a rant against candy, because of course I have great memories eating excessive quantities of candy on Halloween as a little kid. I fully trust there will still be more than enough candy to go around, even without my help. However, I’m a fan of treats when I really want them and will enjoy them, not eating treats because they’re sitting right in front of me and then *poof* where’d they go? You can also opt for healthier treats, like mini Larabars and mini Kind Bars, all fruit leathers, mini-packs of pistachio nuts, etc.

Also, if you do have children who are going trick-or-treating, it also may be worthwhile to have a plan for the excess candy. One method can be allowing children to sort their pile and choose a certain amount of candy they really want, and then bring the rest to a local foodbank, like the Capital Area Food Bank, or Food For Others.  to a group collecting candy to send to the troops, etc.

Fall recipes:

One of the things I love most about autumn is the beauty of the leaves. We’re not there yet, so the best is yet to come! The food is a close second! Here are some of my favorites:

• Butternut Squash Bisque: The tastiest way to get vitamin A! A wonderful soup for the fall or winter. Allergen friendly with a dairy free option.
• Hot Mulled Apple Drink: a favorite at our annual pumpkin carving party. It’s the perfect drink for a crisp autumn day.
• Pumpkin Seeds: several variations on this classic snack.
• Roasted Green Beans: So easy to get green beans this time of year. Yum yum yum!

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues , including Celiac Disease, GI issues,  food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.

It’s hard to believe that Halloween is right around the corner when most of the leaves are green, but here we are. Because it’s been such mild weather thus far, our pumpkins are still alive and growing well!

Halloween can create more obstacles on on a gluten-free diet, so I have tips here on how to handle Halloween with food restrictions. I’m a big advocate for non-food treats for trick-or-treaters. It’s helpful both for your waistline, and it’s also a gift to have safe options for the many children with Celiac, gluten-sensitivity and/or allergies in your neighborhood. There are lots of fun options, like rubber duckies, slinkys, yoyos and other small toys, and you can list your house as a safe option for kids on special diets through the “Teal project”.  Bonus: you can save leftovers for next year. If you do choose the candy route, choose carefully–some candies that are normally gluten-free have wheat in the holiday versions.

“Made in a shared factory/shared equipment statements”
Over the past few years, these statement have been a major source of frustration and confusion for the gluten-free community. Because these are voluntary statements, it’s been difficult to assess the relative risk of these foods, and of course, the absence of a statement doesn’t mean anything, either. Most people see those as warnings of increased risk of gluten contamination, and allergy guidelines recommend removing those products, but according to a recent study, products with those warning statements are not useful for determining which products contain gluten or wheat.

Tricia Thompson of Gluten-Free Watchdog, Trisha Lyon and Amy Jones authored Allergen advisory statements for wheat: do they help US consumers with Celiac disease make safe food choices?  Surprisingly, in that study, foods with the allergen (made in a factory) statement warnings were less likely to contain gluten that packages that said nothing at all. It is a small study, but it’s an important conversation to have.

Most people I see are avoiding the “made in a factory” statements and instead choosing products without those warnings. At the very least, this provides a false sense of security.

So, best practices:

1. Buy products with a gluten-free certification, such as through the GIG or CSA. This is especially important for flour and grain products.
2. Buy products specifically marked “gluten-free”.
3. Ask questions when you can, and email or contact the company. Manufacturers only go to the effort of labeling and testing for gluten if they believe it will influence the bottom line.
4. Avoid all bulk bins, or situations with known cross contamination risk.
5. Do monitor your Celiac antibody numbers yearly. They’re not perfect, but if they are positive, they’re an indicator of ongoing gluten consumption.
6. Help advocate for change. FDA needs to do a better job and actually define those statements–or better yet, require companies to monitor and/or eliminate cross contamination with major allergens. We, collectively, can and should be doing better. So many people’s health is at stake.

Of course, ideally you also choose naturally gluten-free, unprocessed or less processed foods when possible.

Have a beautiful autumn.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Wellcoach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA.  She helps people with a range of dietary issues, including Celiac Disease, digestive issues, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals and feeling great!  Email or call 571-271-8742.