Fox Barrel Cider

I absolutely love that my classmates are spread all across the country for the summer. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to miss them, but at the same time I get texts, emails and pictures of some really cool gluten-free things. On their way to D.C. some friends took a quick pic of an advertisement for Fox Barrel Cider because it boldly says "GLUTEN FREE"!

They have 4 different ciders at this time:

- Apricot Pear

- Pacific Pear

- Blackberry Pear

- Ginger and Blackcurrant

Now I'll definitely be on the lookout for this beverage so I can give it a try myself!

Gluten/Allergen Free Expo: Hit List!

So, in one day I have to hit a vendor fair of over 70 companies that I'm interested in. Because of that I did a lot of research this week to make sure I hit my top interests. I thought I'd share them with you all too in case you have any information or thoughts!

·         Kim Koeller

o   GlutenFree Passport: http://glutenfreepassport.com/

·         Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery - http://www.rudisglutenfree.com/category/blog/gluten-free-events/ Love the outreach

·         San-J – On front page of website: http://www.san-j.com/

·         Schar – great use of technology and web interaction - http://www.schar.com/us/ 

·         Living Without - http://www.livingwithout.com love it, want to learn anything and everything I can about getting involved with them 

·         Enjoy Life 

·         Happy Baby – organic baby food, focus on allergens and keeping them out – this is awesome! http://www.happybabyfood.com/

·         EZ Gluten – definitely…who knows they could be the next big thing – test strips for gluten in food - http://www.ezgluten.com/

·         Lovegrown Foods – http://www.lovegrownfoods.com/blog/ - would love to discuss their expansion plans

·         CrunchMaster – http://crunchmaster.com/health.aspx

·         Udi’s

·         Namaste Foods –  http://www.namastefoods.com/index.html

·         GF Coupons - http://www.gfcoupons.com/  anyone looking to buy them?

·         Allergy Free Foods - http://www.allergyfreefoods.com/index.php/who-we-are/meet-our-staff their CEO Kellie would be a great person to get to know…15 years in marketing and business development

·         Gluten Intolerance Group

·         The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center – what is their main focus? Awareness, testing, FDA? 

·         Natural Grocers - http://www.naturalgrocers.com/ they have a challenge on their hands, what is their marketing and business development strategy for differentiation??

·         Subway – pure curiosity, I would love to know how a non-gluten focused restaurant chain like Subway is going to make the switch

·         Dr. Stephen Wangen – Healthier Without Wheat - http://ibstreatmentcenter.blogspot.com/ Try to see him!!

My Top 10 Most Challenging G-Free Situations

Along with a poll I'm running on my Twitter account, I wanted to discuss some of the most challenging situations that pop-up for one who has to eat gluten-free. These are mine...feel free to comment with any others that are especially hard for you! Each time I am faced with one of these scenarios it gets better, but it is still never easy.

1. Visiting family and friends out of town - they feel like they have to cater to you, which they kind of do because if not then you are either starving or spending the whole trip making phone calls and no one wants to feel like even more of a burden - and it's usually a WHOLE weekend of eating out

2.  Long airport travel days - especially with delays (airports SUCK at having g-free, usually it's McDonalds fries and a Wendy's Frosty for each meal)

3. Networking events/get-togethers with new people - that involve food - having to explain over and over why you aren't eating gets old...I have learned to just say I'm not hungry

4. Traveling for work to random small towns - I did this a lot with my last job...it takes a bunch of research and a prayer that they at least have a Chili's

5. Wedding weekends - especially if you are in them...rehearsal dinners, brunches, dinner...and no time to sneak off and find your own food or bring some with you to heat up - bring me the champagne!

6. Any situation where you simply have to go with the flow - being out and about for happy hour and everyone wants to go eat dinner together, or the whole office is going to lunch...do I want to come? It's never that simple anymore.

7. When a hostess offers you gluten-free food that they prepared special for you...how do I politely ask them to rattle off all of the ingredients to make sure, withOUT being rude

8. Dining out at restaurants that say they can make x, y, z gluten-free and I don't like any of the choices...they don't seem to understand that I have taste buds too and don't have to like everything that is gluten-free...sorry!

9. Being the one who always has to "pick", no matter what. It sounds good in theory but in reality it's a pain in the butt to have to think that hard about any meal.

10. Any situation involving cake. Birthdays, parties, going-away...god, I really miss cake with butter cream frosting!