Lauren is a gluten free teenager living in Canada, with a passion for good food and a care in her heart for those in Haiti! Lauren may be a teen but she is now deemed a humanitarian in my eyes as well as many others. As a children’s author, writer, humanitarian I do know how much time this must have taken to organize and get all this gathered to a completion. A lot!
Here is what Lauren has to share: “After all, that is what this is about: selling ebooks to donate money to Haiti. All proceeds will do to the Red Cross. The Canadian Red Cross that is. You see, I am Canadian so it only makes sense to donate to this one. Also, it has been in Haiti for many years, so they will be able to use the funds to help as in the best areas possible. And here’s the really important part: the Canadian Government will match all donations received by February 12th, that are marked for Haiti Relief (as I will be doing to these). They are matching donations made by individuals as well as those made from fundraisers for Haiti (like this ebook) by schools, businesses, social groups (that is what I believe we are, as blogging is a community of people, in this case coming together around food), etc.”
Going back in time, Lauren started this project in January 2010- ”I don’t know how long it will be, or how much work it will take, but it will happen. Relief is being sent there in bundles now, and in a few weeks, they will still need clean food and water. Medical support will still be saving lives. Currently, some of the “big” bloggers are getting together to make a cookbook, but I’m sixteen. With that said, if you’re a blogger, send me your favourite, most loved recipe that makes you feel at home with an email subject line of “Haiti Ebook” to mail at celiacteen. com. Please also include a picture! The recipe does not have to be gluten free. It can be a baked good, a meal, a breakfast, a treat, anything. Whatever it is though, make sure it makes you think of home. They lost theirs, so a comforting dish is the best way in my eyes!”
The project is complete- Help support Lauren’s Cause.
http://www.celiacteen.com/2010/02/haiti-ebook.html
Tina Turbin
Good news ! We have gluten-free options at Starbucks.
When Starbucks announced the cancellation of their cake via Twitter this started a petition to bring back the cake. They listened and acted upon this petition and the many calls they received.
All of the gluten-free items they now have offer a longer shelf life. This they hope will lead to less waste and less profit loss. For the full Starbucks gluten-free product list, check out Gluten-Free Philly’s post. There are nut free and dairy free options this time around too.
Starbucks has shared that after the discontinuation of their Valencia Orange cake the gluten-free consumers really expressed a desire for more healthy snacks so they decided to accommodate this need. Yay Starbucks!
It’s is a smart move for Starbucks to accommodate gluten-free, vegan and organic minded consumers with these new food options. Many people will enjoy these products.
I have stopped at a few Starbucks to check them out. I have found ones that do not have the GF items yet. I was told they are getting them, the one in Texas airport told me that it has to do with the heightened security on getting new products in and the one in Clearwater, Florida at Barnes and Noble just did not have them delivered as of yet.
Let me know what you guys find out and if they have Oats or not as I know that Lucy’s ( above) does have oats, be it gf oats though. I still prefer to stay off the oats as much as I can.
ENJOY! Tina Turbin
Viitals Bakery
Ivan Nikolov
Tampa, Fla. October 7, 2009 Viitals owner, Ivan Nikolov announced the opening of its new retail storefront, which offers gluten-free healthy choices for those trying to live a healthier lifestyle. The bakery had been strictly wholesale until its grand opening.
This bakery offers gluten-free, hypoallergenic, high in protein, organic ingredients snacks, such as muffins, crackers, cake-bars, loafs, and more.
The Bulgarian bodybuilder, Ivan Nikolov and NPC Tampa Bay Classic overall winner and his wife started this bakery to service the needs of the growing community with allergies, celiacs and the general public looking for higher protein and nutritious snacks.
The opening of his new storefront, Niklov said, now makes him not only a wholesaler, but also a retail gluten-free cafe.
Ivan states that his products are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, and they are hypoallergenic, vegetarian or completely vegan, all-natural with many ingredients that are organic. He balances his products by adding protein, making them a complete meal.
Ivan said customers will be served gluten-free bread, cookies, brownies, cakes, VIITALS smoothies with organic fruit and protein, gluten-free sandwiches and gluten-free soups.
For more information about VIITALS Bakery visit:http://www.viitals.com
View their awesome menu they updated this month: http://www.viitals.com/VIITALS-Menu.pdf
Tina Turbin
Laura contacted me to ask to do a review on me and my site and of course we got into the conversation of celiac and gluten-free, some of my favorite subjects. I have a new friend who loves food as much as I do and she is a phenomenal reviewer and writer on foods and restaurants. We have so much in common.
She previously reviewed Deerfield Bakery in the Schaumburg, Illinois and it just so happens that I just had a terrific conversation with Tim Schmitt, the owner and will be reviewing his products and his 3 bakeries next month!
Laura wrote and published an article released today about me and my website http://GlutenFreeHelp.info , the article is entitled Entrepreneur spreads the word about wheat allergies.
You are even treated to my gluten-free flourless chocolate cake recipe!
Thanks you Laura!
Tina
Many of us are eating Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) whether we realize it or not. Do you know how to tell the difference?
It turns out that you can easily tell whether the produce you purchase at the grocery store is a GMO simply by reading the PLU (price look up) code.
Here’s what you need to be aware of:
1. If the PLU is 5 digits and begins with an 8, then it a Genetically Modified Organism.
2. If the PLU is 4 digits, even if it contains a symbol at the beginning, then it is not a GMO.
Regarding your purchases of processed foods, keep in mind that according to Wikipedia, as many as 75% of ALL processed foods on American shelves contain at least one GMO.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to discern if a packaged item contains GMOs or not. Yet another reason to avoid the entire middle section of the grocery store as much as possible.
For wholesome, nutritious and delicious recipe ideas, be sure to visit my gluten-free recipe page.
Best,
Tina
There are many ways we with celiac or gluten intolerance can help others. One way is to head a group. Janet is an exceptional woman with her story and running a group for many years now. Here is her story and a link to a news article about her and her experiences. Really worth reading. Janet has recently attended my GF taste testing party to assist in my Reviews. She is FUN!
Janet Heitler joined a pre-existing group (Tampa Bay celiac Support Group) in 1995 two weeks after she was discharged from the hospital with her celiac diagnosis. She had a long time of misdiagnosis and no diagnosis. Things did not look good up to that final day of being correctly diagnosed.
Two women initially founded the group and Janet ended up in the group after they resigned from being Co-chairs. A husband and wife team took it over and I wanted to contribute because everyone was so wonderful – so Janet said she would be the Treasurer, easy to do. Everything was fine until two months into their “reign” I got a call that they were moving to Nevada. Bam – she got in 1998 and I has had it ever since.
The meeting calendar was all over the chart and the first thing she did was announce to meet on the second Saturday of every other month – Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct and Dec. We meet at 1 – 3 PM at the Jimmy Keel Library on Bears Avenue in Tampa, unless a luncheon is arranged.
They have done 2 GF Beer and Pizza Parties, when Pei Wei first opened they had a luncheon, and a luncheon at Trang’s Viet-Nam Cuisine — 90% of the menu is GF – it is not a GF restaurant it just works out like that, she says.
There are 200 people on her mailing list, but the most she has ever had at meeting (Beer/Pizza luncheon) was 70 people yet normally there are 20-25 people attending.
According to Janet, a lot of times newbie’s come once and think they know everything there is then fall aside. Then she gets a call and they talk as they are in trouble. She reminds them of the meetings and she tells them the new things that are out there and having the emails has helped people to reconnect and stay connected.
Janet’s email – jchtbc42@tampabay.rr.com
Janet’s latest article:http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/lifestyles/food_cooking/article/sifting_through_the_options/4033/
Thank you Janet! Tina Turbin
Florida-based organization Allergies and Me is an incredible resource for children and adults with food allergy and intolerance issues.
Therefore I’m very proud to be associated with such a dedicated organization and to have contributed a gluten-free recipe to their website.
I invite you to take a look by clicking on the following links:
Allergies and Me press release
Browny muffins and more Browny muffins
A short paragraph from their website is excerpted below:
“Tina Turbin is a children’s book author, Danny the Dragon, and provides gluten-free support on her blogsite, www.GlutenFreeHelp.info as well as her main website, www.TinaTurbin.com . Tina has donated one of her favorite gluten free recipes, “Browny Muffins”, and it should become a household favorite. “
My husband I both feel like the reason I have been so successful with addressing my Gluten-Free situation is because of my ability to research in-depth every single component of this disease. The first time I went to the grocery store after getting my gluten-free diagnosis . . . I spent hours on the computer researching food and then at least 2 1/2 hours at the store reading labels. People without financial means or a commitment to educating themselves do not have the same opportunities for health, and that is something I want to be able to facilitate change. Just my two cents for the day. I will be sharing my story with you Tina, as a means to help others to get through their dilemma, and the severe troubles they may be going through. It is my way to help others.
Best wishes,
Dr. Maureen Ellis
Business and Information Technologies Education Department
East Carolina University
Read Part 2 now
Through my lovely sister-in-law Marsha , I had the pleasure of connecting up with Laura Hansen, “Best of the Best Dining in Chicago”. They met at an event and then dicussed gluten-free foods, lifestyle and eating and what do you know, the name Tina Turbin came up. The rest is history.
Laura contacted me to ask to do a review on me and my site and of course we got into the conversation of celiac and gluten-free, some of my favorite subjects. I have a new friend who loves food as much as I do and she is a phenominal reviewer and writer on foods and restaurants. We have so much in common.
She previously reviewed Deerfield Bakery in the Schaumburg, Illinois and it just so happens that I just had a terrific conversation with Tim Schmitt, the owner and will be reviewing his products and 3 bakeries next month!
Laura wrote and published an article released today about me and my website http://GlutenFreeHelp.info , the article is entitled Entrepreneur spreads the word about wheat allergies.
You are even treated to my gluten-free flourless chocolate cake recipe!
Enjoy…I sure did, Tina
