Happy Gluten-Free Halloween!
by TriciaThompsonMS/RD
Halloween is just a few days away and the excitement certainly is growing in my house. But if you have a child who can’t eat gluten you probably are less than thrilled with this holiday.
How do you let them eat candy and make sure it is gluten free, especially when the little mini versions available at Halloween generally do not contain ingredient lists?
You could always forgo trick-or-treating altogether and have a Halloween party instead. If this is considered a “no fun” option in your house than hopefully the following tips will help.
If you haven’t done so already, plan to spend some time at the store parked in front of the Halloween candy display reading ingredient lists. Write down the names of those candies that do not contain any gluten ingredients.
Many candy manufacturers include allergen information on their packaging. However, some allergen information is more helpful than others.
Smarties candy, manufactured by the Ce De Candy Company, states the following on their label, “Smarties contain none of the following common allergens: gluten (from wheat, barley, oats, and rye), milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, or soybeans.” Now that is what I call helpful allergen labeling!! I will buy this candy just for this statement alone.
If the bags of candy you pick up do not contain all of this helpful information and you are concerned about allergens and cross contact, go online to manufacturer websites to see if they have any information available on allergens and gluten. You can also call manufacturers to discuss their quality control procedures.
There are lists of candy made without gluten-containing ingredients available on line. Google gluten-free Halloween candy and several sites will come up. You will have to judge for yourself how reliable you think the information is.
Make sure your child is aware of what candy you decide is gluten free and safe for them to eat. That way when presented with a choice and allowed to choose their own piece of candy, they will choose a gluten-free variety.
If you are friends with some of the families in the areas where you will be trick-or-treating, give them a list of gluten-free candy or provide them with candy yourself. This way your child is guaranteed a gluten-free option from at least some of the houses they visit.
In fact, this is a strategy followed by the Roberts family, a family of five with celiac disease and multiple food allergies.
Mom Jane says, “In the past I have prepared for trick-or-treating by planning ahead. I made 10 Ziploc bags of candies for each of my kids and delivered them to my neighbors with a note asking them to give these to our children on Halloween night. That way, I knew for sure the kids would get at least some candy they could eat.
"Afterward, the children of some of those parents were willing to do a "candy trade" for the candies that weren't safe that my kids received at other houses. It worked out great! I was amazed how willing people were to help out the next year and actually asked what kind of candy was safe for my children. What a treat!”
This may seem like a no-brainer but, just in case, make sure the candy you buy to give out Halloween night is gluten free. Buy extra so that your child can “trade” the gluten-containing candy they receive for the gluten-free candy you are handing out. Kids (at least mine and it looks like Jane’s too) love to trade candy.
Let your child exchange their gluten-containing candy for a toy. We have been exchanging candy for a toy in my house for years simply because I didn’t want my son eating too much candy!
Hopefully some of these tips are useful and will help make Halloween a little less stressful for you!
Tricia Thompson, M.S., RD is a nutrition consultant, author and speaker specializing in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. She is the author of The Gluten-Free Nutrition Guide (McGraw-Hill) and co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Gluten-Free Eating (Penguin Group). For more information, visit www.glutenfreedietitian.com.
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October 28, 2008
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11 Tips for Healthier Snacking
by bethaldrich
I love to snack! It's only human to want some nourishment in between meals, so when looking for snacks, try granola-topped yogurt, celery or carrots, whole-grain toast or whole grain crackers, apples or oranges.
Better yet, try a whole grain (high fiber) cereal bar from Kashi. I've found their ingredient list to be very clean and free from chemicals and preservatives!
Designate a snacking zone in your home to avoid countless calorie build up because of mindless munching in front of the TV or computer.
Make it quick. If you need to snack on the go, think beyond a bag of potato chips. Bring a handful of almonds, sunflower seeds or walnuts or even string cheese, yogurt sticks, cereal bars or other drip-free items to keep your car crumb free.
Don't be fooled by labeling gimmicks. Foods marketed as low-fat or fat-free can still be high in calories. Likewise, foods touted as cholestral-free can still be high in fat, saturated fat and sugar. Check nutrition labels to find out the whole story.
Go for the grain. Whole-grain snacks - such as whole grain pretzels or tortillas and low-sugar, whole-grain cereals can give you energy with some staying power.
Out of sight, out of mind. If the cookie jar is full, you'll probably clamor for cookies. But if there aren't any cookies in the house, fresh fruit or raw veggies may seem more appealing.
Think outside the box and try something new, such as fresh pineapple, cranberries, red or yellow peppers, or roasted soy nuts. Slice a whole-wheat pita and enjoy with hummus.
Revisit breakfast. Many breakfast foods - such as low-sugar, whole-grain cereals and whole-grain toast make great afternoon snacks.
Use the freezer. When bananas have gotten black and soggy, simply peel and place in a freezer bag. Frozen bananas and berries mixed with apple juice and ground up flax makes a super mid-day snack.
Sweeten it up. Healthy snacks don't need to be bland. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try frozen yogurt or frozen fruit bars or agave nectar.
Remember your leftovers. A small serving of last night's
casserole might make a great snack.
Drinks count too. Drink plenty of water between meals. Liven it up with a squirt of lemon, cranberry or other fruit juice.
Happy snacking!
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October 28, 2008
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A Closer Look At Meal Skippers!
by DrKushner
If you tend to rush through your busy day without giving much thought to breakfast or lunch until you’re famished and ready to grab and gobble whatever food is within arm’s reach, you earn the right to be called a Meal Skipper – one of the seven Eating Personalities catered to by Diet.com.
While thoughts of skipping school or skipping down the street may bring a smile to your face, skipping meals is a no-no for the woman or man intent on losing weight.
Without a predictable meal pattern, your diet will vary depending on your schedule, whereabouts and to-do list. Once Meal Skippers realize they’re hungry, options tend to be limited… and unhealthy like the vending machine chips and candy or the closest fast food drive thru window.
This leads to an eating pattern that is irregular and unpredictable – and diet detrimental.
To succeed at weight loss and maintenance, dieters sometimes think that skipping meals will help them save calories. Actually, the opposite is true.
Don’t skip over the latest research:
--One study found that people who skip meals and eat at irregular times end up overeating when they finally do eat.
--People who eat regular meals and snacks experience decreased calorie intake, increased calories burned after mealtime, improved insulin sensitivity and improved cholesterol levels.
--People who eat regular meals have healthier diets and get more vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and fiber -- and less total fat, cholesterol and sodium -- than people who had irregular meal patterns.
--People who are successful at losing weight and keeping it off eat breakfast daily and plan their meals more than people who aren’t successful.
In an effort to lose weight, dieters often struggle with what they are eating (carbs or protein). But if you’re a Meal Skipper, it’s most important to begin your healthy weight loss program by adopting a regular meal and snack schedule.
The Personality Type Diet program here on Diet.com will show you how. So skip the excuses and start eating more wisely! |
October 28, 2008
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