Gluten Allergies - Milwaukee,WI

There is a new gluten-free bakery called Cooqi in St Paul, if you live in the Twin Cities area. They have a website too. It's gotten great reviews.

Hi M.,

Please check out http://www.celiac.org/ for ideas. I was misdiagnosed with IBS and have found a gluten free diet to be a lifesaver! Also, I have noticed that some Pick'n'Save stores now actually have an entire section devoted to "Gluten Free Foods". I generally read all the packages of everything I eat, it is cumbersome, but necessary, I eat a lot of fresh veggies & fruits, but generally try to stay away from most grains unless they are completely gluten free. Good luck!

P.

Hey M. -

I am originally from Hayward, WI and know a family that started a business called Grandma Ferdon's a gluten-free kitchen that ships gluten-free items. Check it out at ____@____.com or call them as I am sure they can relate to your story!

Smiles - S.

Hi M., I do not know too much about gluten alleriges although my mom has celiac disease and is a very strict diet! I would start with the celiac foundation website for support and resources their website is www.celiac.org. In the mean time try lettuce wraps and salads and baked potatoes. I know that is what she eats a lot of. Also, don't forget cheeses and I even know of a friend who has had gluten free donuts! This actually is becomming more mainstream and I know that even P.F. Changs has a gluten free menu and I am sure other restaurants will soon follow. She is so young to have restrictions, and I am sure that this is hard but remind her that she will feel so much better!

www.bittersweetgf.com

This is a bakery in burnsville/eagan area that does all gluten free things. Cakes breads cookies. They also sell thire things at some co-ops I know for sure the whole foods store. Get in touch with www.foodallergy.org they also have great information and lots of brochures etc you can order off the internet. Good luck my son has a dairy allergy and it takes a while to get used to it.

M.,

Gluten free foods/breads can be found at natural stores - Outpost, Whole Foods, etc. As far as websites are concerned - Google gluten free recipes, foods, etc. and you'll get a lot of ideas.
You're little girl sounds awesome -- allergies make life a little more challenging...my mother is allergic to dairy, soy and egg but she's healthy and enoying life. Good luck!

I don't have experience with a gluten allergy, but my older son is allergic to all dairy products. He has been since birth, and we've been dealing with that... I found some books on dairy-free foods (in our case) on Amazon.com. They were pretty reasonably priced (only a few dollars each), and they gave me a lot of good ideas on how to cook and recipe ideas so that my son isn't always eating something different than the rest of us. Good luck!

Go to the Midwest Natural Food Co-ops
http://www.mwnaturalfoods.coop/
to find a co-op location near you. All of the co-ops will have gluten-free products. Many will be able to help you find them and also have recipe ideas. There is gluten-free bread available, so sandwiches are ot out of the question. Good luck. If you are in Minneapolis, I know the Wedge Co-op on Lyndale has many resources. Good luck.

Both of my kids have celiac disease (gluten intolerance) they are 13 and 15. I make them a lunch with gluten-free bread and either lunch meat or PB & J. Hormel makes some lunch meats that are gluten-free. Lays Stax chips are also gluten free. I live in Minnesota and twincitiesrock.org is a great website with a lot of links to others. There should be a link here to the University of Chicago where they do a lot for Celiac Research. They will also send out a gift basket to newly diagnosed celiac's!

More and more products are being labeled as gluten-free. We found the Great Value brand sold at Wal-Mart is usually labled as gluten-free. Other brands that say they will not hide Wheat Rye Oats or Barley in their ingredient labels are General Mills and Kraft.

I know this is a tough diet to stick to, we just have to hope they will come up with a pill or something like they have for those who are lactose intolerant.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!!

Try www.livingwithout.com -- this is a magazine for people with food allergies/sensitivities. There ARE gluten-free breads out there, try your local food co-op. Most are pretty expensive, though. I would try pita bread, I know our co-op has gluten free pitas (taste way better than the gluten free bread, lol) and it's kind of a fun lunch for a kid. Living Without has lots of recipes, or you could try asking your doctor or an allergist at the hospital if they have any suggestions. Good luck! (A good friend of mine has celiac's, I've tried a lot of gluten free goods over the years.)
A.

Hey,

I just found out recently that my daughter is allergic to eggs, milk & all dairy products and peanuts, so I know it's difficult. Anyway, I know it's not the same allergy and I know wheat is in ALOT of things, but I know there is a gluten free store in Milwaukee on the south side, right on chase & oklahoma...I haven't been in there; but I've found things at Outpost Foods in Bay View. For my daughter, she ends up getting alot of fruits and veggies for snacks because there's so many things she can't have...but that's a good thing. Hope this helps and good luck!

Hi M.. Their is a bakery in Eagan that is gluten free, here is their website:
http://www.bittersweetgf.com/

If you just google "gluten free products," you will find a lot of online resources that you can order different products that do not contain gluten. It's handy if you don't have a place around you that sells these things. Good luck!

M.,

I have dealt with this from years. There are some great cookbooks and also some phenomenal products. The products can be expensive (but can have cakes, brownies, pizza, etc) just like everyone else. It would be easier to share in a phone call rather than by email with all of the typing. I will type it if that is your preference though. My number is ###-###-####.

Namaste products (you can get them at Rainbow) are the absolute best. There are also two Gluten-free bakeries in the Mpls-St.Paul area (one in Eagan and one in St. Paul on Marshall just before the bridge where the street will become Lake street. I think that the products are better at the Eagan location, but the Marshall location has a fun play kitchen for kids and tables and little coffee bar also.

www.Namastefoods.com is really the best and most successful for baking, etc and their bread is not bad. I have not tried their pizza, because I make my own dough in a bread maker. I also have a great cookbook (GREAT!!! cakes, and pie crust, etc)

Please give me a call and I would be delighted to talk to you.

C.