As part of my Back To Basics Series, I speak with Ellen Bayens of www.theceliacscene.com to find out some of her best strategies for dining gluten free safely. Ellen is well known as an expert in advising celiacs where and how they can eat safely as well as a resourceful advisor to restaurants to help them serve gluten free safely. Ellen walks us through the questions you should be asking and what some of the red flags might be, and when it’s best to not eat at a particular restaurant. We chat about different cuisines, the format of menus and even the different terms used on a gluten free menu.

Here’s the link to Ellen’s post for more information –

How to Order a Gluten-Free Meal

Communication is the key ingredient to every successful gluten-free restaurant meal. When diners, chefs and servers are able to collaborate on what is required and what can be reasonably delivered, there is cause for celebration! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION OF QUESTIONS TO ASK! But where to begin?

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

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

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

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

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

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

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

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

In the first of my Back to Basics Series, I speak with Registered Dietitian Selena DeVries about Cross Contamination. From the time we first hear about the gluten free diet, we try to absorb the concept of cross contamination and how to avoid it. Selena walks us through our kitchen setup, bakeware, pots and pans, and even shopping at a bulk food store.

My big take away – Gluten Can’t Jump!

You can find Selena on Instagram @celiac_dietitian.

Her new website is coming very soon at SelenaRD.com

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

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

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

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

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

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

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

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

In preparation for Celiac Awareness Month in May, I thought it was a good time to find out what’s been happening rcently with Celiac Canada. The organization is celebrating its 50^th birthday this year and along with events in May, there are lots of opportunities to learn and get involved.

To raise awareness of economic issues and the under-diagnosis crisis, Melissa will be on Parliament Hill for a breakfast event on May 30^th in an attempt to capture the attention of our Members of Parliament. Gluten free food fortification and the upcoming grocery rebate are all topics up for discussion.

Good news has come through from the Province of Ontario that going forward the blood test for celiac disease will now be covered under provincial OHIP.

Julie tells us about Webinar Wednesdays during May, and an opportunity to “Ask the Expert” at the Gluten Free Garage at the end of May in Toronto.

Lots is going on during the month of May including light up events across Canada, along with meetings, meals and informal get togethers. To find out more you can go online to www.celiac.ca and look up events.

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

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

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

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

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

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

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

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

It’s time for the roundup chat with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com. May is Celiac Awareness Month and Ellen and I start things off with a call to help spread awareness. It can be as simple as a conversation with those around you, or you can attend an event that might be happening near you. You can find out more about Celiac Canada’s plans on their website www.celiac.ca.

Ellen brings to our attention a study in Italy of school children to help identify more celiacs at a young age. The interesting thing here is that the initial testing is done with one drop of blood, then children who are positive go on for further testing. Sounds simple and hopefully this test can be used more widely in the future. Ellen brings us up to date on the current practice of diagnosing and managing patients with refractory celiac disease – a condition that does not respond completely to the gluten free diet.

Covid-19 vaccines have been controversial, but what was understood is that the celiac population responded similarly to the overall population with the vaccine. A recent study showed that unvaccinated celiacs are more likely than the general unvaccinated population to be hospitalized and suffer more ill effects.

Ellen made a discovery at Walmart! Walmart is selling the Schar brand of gluten free foods, but what Ellen found at her local store was a treasure trove of all gluten free Schar foods brought into Canada. Different stores carry different products, and may place then in different aisles, but if you look, you may be richly rewarded.

During this month Ellen will oblige me by asking two questions on her social media – firstly, as a consumer would you like to see, in a grocery store, all the gluten free food together, or mixed in with the regular food in the separate aisles? And second, how do you feel about store brands of gluten free foods, cookies, pizzas etc., co-packed, marked gluten free, and with the store branding? Is this something you would purchase and support?

Hopefully, you’ll weigh in on our two questions and Ellen and I can discuss the responses at the beginning of May.

Here are links to some of the topics and articles we spoke about –

NEWS FROM THE CELIAC SCENE

Let’s Keep the Symptoms of Celiac Disease Top of Mind
High Prevalence & Under-Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Identified in Italy
Clinical Practice Update | Diagnosing and Managing Refractory Celiac Disease
Expert Asserts Unvaccinated Celiacs Twice as Likely to be Hospitalized with Covid
Be Wowed by What I Discovered at Walmart!

A CANADIAN CELIAC PODCAST

What is Tapas and is it Safe for Celiacs?
Gluten Free Certification Program
Cruising Gluten Free
Gluten-Free Baker on Wheels on ‘A Canadian Celiac Podcast’
Celiac News Round Up on ‘A Canadian Celiac Podcast’

GLUTEN FREE WEIGH IN

Aaron Diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Aaron has Corrective Surgery & his Celiac Disease Report Card

GLUTEN FREE RECIPES

• Real Foods Corn Thins Recipe Ideas

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

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

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Celiac Kid Stuff – https://www.celiackidstuff.com

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

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

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

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

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