Packing gluten free school lunches

As the school year ramps up again, that means packing lunches for the kiddos. Here are some of my favorite healthy options.

-Greek yogurt with chopped nuts and added fruit

-Homemade chicken salad with gluten free crackers

-Rice and lentils with turmeric and butter/margarine (if heating an option)

-Bento box - turkey breast slices, raw veggies, hummus, grapes or apple slices, nuts 

-Cottage cheese with pineapple and chopped nuts

-Gluten free wrap with almond butter and jelly

-Rice noodle salad with sliced peppers, green onions, tofu chunks and peanuts

Kudos Starbucks! You did gluten free right!

Many restaurants offer gluten free menu items. However, it's not uncommon to see fine print indicating the risk of cross-contamination. Starbucks began offering a gluten free breakfast sandwich that is sealed in a package and heated that way so there is no cross-contamination. It is also quite tasty! I think that the 2 slices of Canadian bacon is a little much...one would suffice. Would love to see more gluten free options like this!

Kudos Starbucks! Celiacs thank you for the safe gluten free offering!

Enzyme for gluten cross-contamination??

AN-PEP (Aspergillus niger-prolyl endoprotease enzyme) is an enzyme that is unique in that it works in the stomach where the environment is acidic. In research studies, this enzyme has been shown to break down gluten in the stomach of gluten sensitive individuals who were fed a porridge with wheat containing cookies added. While these studies did not test gluten degradation in people with celiac disease, this enzyme may offer some promise in reducing symptoms caused by accidental cross-contaminations such as in a restaurant. It does not allow a celiac to eat gluten intentionally, but this early research suggests that it may degrade accidental gluten in very small amounts and therefore reduce or eliminate the problematic symptoms caused by accidental gluten contamination. I encourage anyone with celiac disease to consult with a health professional to determine if an enzyme make be helpful in maintaining their gluten free diet.

Metagenics currently offers a product called SpectaZyme Gluten Digest that contains AN-PEP similar to what was used in the studies.