My chat this week is with internationally known lifestyle expert, Kathy Smart.  Kathy has appeared on dozens of TV shows talking about the gluten free lifestyle and how to make it healthy.  She runs Live The Smart Way which offers a self-improvement program to both lose weigh and get healthier and it’s all based around a gluten free diet.  Kathy presents an annual health fair in Ottawa with the majority of businesses represented offering gluten free. 

You can check out Kathy’s website at https://livethesmartway.com

Twitter – @KathyLynnSmart

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/livingthesmartway

Instagram – @livethesmartway

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/livethesmartway/

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Rfwlqksb_u362iUGCfQag

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?

list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

     (search Sues Gluten Free Baking)

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts –

In anticipation of talking with Kathy Smart, I was hoping to get the opportunity to ask her about how she was “treated” when she was a guest on different TV shows.  What I wanted to know was did they have gluten free snacks prepared for her, and were they expecting her to need them?  Her answer was enlightening, but not unexpected.  The better the management of the production, the better she was “cared for”.

It is now estimated that 20% of the world’s population identifies with some type of food sensitivity or intolerance.  I remember years ago, at a CCA conference, one of the presenters was a chef who had worked at many large by-invitation-only banquets.  He told us a similar statistic at that time – If asked, one in five people will respond to an invitation with some sort of food intolerance or allergy.  At the time, this number seemed very high to me, but now, I realize it’s actually quite accurate.

Maybe that’s why I am always surprised when I register for a conference or presentation with my affiliations – “Sue’s Gluten Free Baking”, or “A Canadian Celiac Podcast”, or “Gluten Free Weigh In” – they don’t automatically assume or ask if I require a gluten free snack or meal.  I have to tell them.  I have long since given up expecting even the most “foodie” groups to figure it out.

The key here might be – “if asked”, the terminology used by the chef who worked those large banquets.  We should be asking, and in a way that people won’t feel embarrassed, or ashamed to admit their food issues.  Yes, the chef had it correct – when you invite someone somewhere there is going to be food, it should be accompanied by a request to identify any special food requirements they have.

For years now, I have tried to do this.  It doesn’t come naturally at first, and I remember sounding very awkward when I asked, but of late, it just slides off my tongue.  Who knew one family member was vegan, or another didn’t eat red meat? Well I found out by asking, and I was prepared for both of them.  It’s a lesson we can all learn – ask about food allergies and intolerances and nowadays, expect to be told.

The topic for this week’s episode is staying at an all-inclusive resort.  This poses many problems, but also opportunity for someone on a special diet, if you research and plan ahead.  I spoke with Tarryn of My Celiac Life who travels frequently and Lisa from my Gluten Free Weigh In podcast.  Tarryn walks us through the process she uses and Lisa chats about her recent vacation in Cuba.

You can find the restaurant cards Lisa speaks about at http://www.celiactravel.com/cards/ and also at https://www.selectwisely.com/catalog/Gluten-Free?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI89WF5frb3wIVxh6tBh1fngHrEAAYASACEgIzlPD_BwE

Tarryn can be found online at https://www.myceliaclife.ca/ on Instagram at myceliaclife.

Lisa is on Instagram at gf_ketogirl.

 

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts –

I love to travel.  I must admit, I was one of those people who thought my days of travelling were over when I was diagnosed.  I remember travelling with violent stomach issues.  Now that I knew what caused my discomfort (to put it mildly), I really didn’t feel that I could enjoy travelling anywhere because of my restrictions.

My problem was that I worked as a freelance travel agent and was expected to travel, which in the long run was a good thing.  I did learn to travel.  My favorite vacation is on a cruise.  My second favorite is at an all-inclusive.  The all-inclusive was often not of my choice, but dictated from a supplier.

I faithfully used the restaurant cards and learned to ask and question everything.  I became a keen observer of the routines of the restaurant staff and was very pro-active in any situation.  I have to say, I have never been sick at an all-inclusive.

Cruising is my other go-to option.  I have a cruise booked over the winter and will look at how to eat safely on a cruise on a future podcast.

Travel is fun and rewarding, don’t let your special diet stand in your way.  Work with your diet to travel safely – it will be worth the effort.

My interview this week is with Amy Horrock a Registered Dietitian who specializes in Celiac Disease.  You can find Amy’s website at https://clearfocusnutrition.ca/

on facebook at clearfocusnutrition and on Instagram at gluten_free_dietitian.  You can find more information about celiac disease on the website for the Canadian Celiac Association at www.celiac.caand diet information at

Celiac Disease Diagnosis-Newly Diagnosed-Canadian Celiac Association

This is a brief introduction to the gluten-free diet (GFD) to help you get started on your journey to better health. See a registered dietitian for detailed dietary information, needs assessment and education. The gluten-free diet is a diet for life and should never be started before a small intestinal biopsy is positive for celiac disease.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

     (search Sues Gluten Free Baking)

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode.

This week I spoke about an article I wrote for the Winter 2018 Issue of Gluten-free Canada.  This magazine can be read online at –

Magazine Issues

Enjoy a free electronic copy of Gluten-Free Canada by selecting the issue you’d like to read below: Winter 2018 Issue

I chat about the article, read some excerpts and add some extra thoughts. 

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

     (search Sues Gluten Free Baking)

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

New Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts –

I often see posts on social media about the cost of gluten free foods.  Yes, some prices seem outrageous, but we do have to realize that ours is specialty food.  It might just take a shift in our priorities to get the cost of gluten free food for our families under control.

My solution has always been to make as much as I can myself.  I realize this approach is not going to work for everyone, time is a precious commodity.  It also depends how many people are eating gluten free, if it’s just for one person, the effort doesn’t seem worth it.  Our family essentially went gluten free in our home (sometimes a gluten option is available, but for the most part it’s gluten free).  Feeding a family is a very good reason to make and bake from scratch, or at least from mixes.

I can attest that the results will be fresher and far more pleasing than the fat and sugar laden baked goods bought in the supermarket.  Many of the products on those shelves arrive at the store frozen, thaw on the shelf and then you re-freeze them once you get them home.  No wonder so much gluten free food gets a “thumbs down”.

I am certainly not faulting anyone who can’t manage to prepare gluten free from scratch, we are all so busy these days, this is certainly an extra burden.  The takeaway message here is to give it some thought – you don’t go out and spend your money in fancy restaurants all the time because you can make something that suits you fine at home, so maybe, just maybe, it might work that way with gluten free as well.  You may be surprised how successful you are at making some of the basics.  I know, from experience and from my friends, that once you can make a bread you enjoy, that’s what you’ll get used to and want all the time.  If you’re looking for a simple bread recipe, try the baguette recipe from my baking show.  Here’s the link – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com/small-breads-4

My chat this week was with Melissa, owner-operator of Happyditty Bakery.  The bakery recently relocated from Victoria, BC to Kingston, Ontario.  Melissa and I speak of our shared experiences in operating a gluten free bakery, many things you would never consider you might have to be concerned with when starting a business.  If it was only all about the baking.  You can find more about Happyditty Bakery online at https://happyditty/squarespace.com or on Facebook and Instagram at Happyditty.

Thanks Ellen Bayens of Theceliacscene.com for introducing me to such a nice, interesting person as Melissa.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

     (search Sues Gluten Free Baking)

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

New Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com