Starting a Celiac Support Group, Part II

Starting your own Celiac or Gluten Intolerance 

Support Group - Part II

Free is for me:

So I’m pretty certain by now you've realized my major theme :-) If it’s free…it’s for me.  I don’t mind spending my time…but I don’t have the extra pocket change to spend my own money.  So now you've got your location and schedule pinned down…here are some Freebie (and Cheapo) hints for expanding your Support Group.  Don't forget to check out Part I.

Website:

With that free G-mail address…you also get a free blog.  Here's mine for our Gluten-Free in Florida Support Group.  Super simple :-)  Go ahead and get a bit inventive…work up a front page just for your meetings.  Tell people a little bit about what you plan on doing.  Post your location and your schedule for at least the next 12 months.  Make certain you post your contact G-mail address.  Then use that HTTP address as your webpage address.  Once you have that front page in place you won’t need to do any more blogging.  You can make corrections or updates as you need to.

Phone:

DO NOT put your personal phone # out there…I still don’t feel that’s a safe thing to do.  BUT another freebie you can get with that same G-mail address is a Google Phone # that you CAN publish.  What it does is give you a phone # that you can publish that will link directly to your own phone.  You can make your own recorded message.  People call the Google phone # and get your recorded message, they then leave a message of their own…and you get notified by text or email that you have a message waiting.  You can then go into your G-mail account and listen to the message and return the call on your own phone. Be careful to set it up for messaging only and use it for incoming calls…you do get charged for any outgoing calls.

Business Cards:

Vista Print…that’s all I have to say.  Use that same G-mail address and get yourself some business cards.  These do cost about $15.00 but that’s pretty darn cheap and very good quality for about 250 cards.  I did put my Cell Phone on the cards.  And I don’t hand them out by the dozen.  I hand them out one at a time to people who ask me for some contact information...yes, I am cheap.

Press Release:

Go ahead and write up a Press Release.  Just one or two short paragraphs with all the important information – Who, What, When, Where and Why.  VERY IMPORTANT – include that G-mail address, your Blogger web address and your new Google Phone #. Then read it…several times.  Read it to yourself, read it out loud, read it in front of a mirror, read it to your dog/cat and then let someone else read it.  Make corrections, additions, check for spelling errors, grammatical errors…fix it until it doesn't need to be fixed any more.  The last thing you want to do is look like an idiot when you start putting things into print…with your name attached to it. Then store it in several places because it’s going to become important.

Free Advertising:

Stop by your biggest neighborhood health food store.  You know those free papers they always have in the bins at the front of the store??  Grab one of each and take them home.  Some place in the first few pages of the papers you will find email addresses for contact. Start emailing that Press Release you worked so hard on.  Send it out about once every six months.  Look around on Google for any online new papers, or places that accept Press Releases.  You may hear from one or two wanting to sell you space…just be polite and say ‘no thank you’.  Because what you truly want are those places that will accept your Press Release as part of their Community Resources and give you a little free advertising.  Over the years I’ve managed to get free advertising in just about every media available – Online, Newspapers, Magazines, Radio, TV, Community Bulletins – you name it, with a little bit of research and a great Press Release you can get just about anything.

Donations:

Never be afraid to ask for donations…and I don’t mean money.  I mean Gluten-Free products.  My little Support Group just loves getting samples to try out at our Meetings. There are tons of manufacturers out there just waiting to get samples of product into your hands.  Put your hands out and ask!!  Do some searching on Google and work up a list of different GF manufacturers.  Stick to Companies that specialize in Gluten-Free items…it’s safer for you that way.  Remember that Press Release??  Now it’s time to change it up a bit and ask for donations of product for your group to sample. Invite them to send brochures or flyers along with ordering forms for people to place future orders. Simply send out two or three requests per month to different manufacturers.   DON’T GET GREEDY…keep your requests to a minimum.  The idea is to begin building a relationship with these companies…not force them to dump you into their Spam Box.  A good rule of thumb is to request from each manufacturer only once per year.  Some companies will insist that you use their forms on their websites…don’t be afraid to do just that.  Many will ignore you, but many will email you back for dates and shipping information.  I try to make arrangements for stuff to arrive a few days just prior to the next meeting.  And I have it delivered to my home address.  That way all I have to do is bring it with me the day of the meeting.  And who doesn't love free stuff??

CarolAnne Le Blanc

Gluten-Free Naturally: https://glutenfreeforlife1.blogspot.com

Gluten-Free Travel:  https://glutenfreeinflorida2.blogspot.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Gluten-Free for Life is a section 501(c)3 charitable organization.

All gifts and donations are tax deductible in accordance with law

"A Copy of the Official Registration and Financial Information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state."  

1-800-Help-Fla (435-7352)  Www.Floridaconsumerhelp.Com

Starting a Celiac Support Group, Part I

Starting your own Celiac or Gluten Intolerance

Support Group - Part I

Find your passion

So you think you want to start a Support Group. Well you’ll need to find your passion for the task first. If you can’t do something like this with love and determination then you might as well give up now and allow someone else to take over. Better still hunt around a bit and drive the distance to join another group or locate one online. Starting a Support Group is no easy task…it will take hours of effort on your part just to get things started. Once you’ve got it started it will take on a life of its own and you can sit back and relax a bit. But you’ve got to be passionate about what you want to accomplish - then just jump in with both feet and get things moving.

Find a location

Location, location, location…yes, it is that important. More important is it has to be free. So you want a spot that’s easy to get to, has plenty of parking, and allows for handicapped access…and it has to be free. It’s my understanding that in the US at least most Community Facilities are obligated to give back to the Communities that support them; which often translates into free space…and sometimes into free coffee/tea too. Don’t be ashamed to ask for more…you might just be surprised at what you receive. Our Support Group has been getting free space, free coffee/tea/juice AND free GF lunch for over 3 years now.

Be consistent

Before you start making all those phone calls, or sending out all those emails…think about when you want your meetings. Since it’s only you right now, just go ahead and be selfish and pick a few days and times that work best for you. But you must be consistent. People tend to look for the patterns in their life…they like things they can count on to be there when they expect them. So choose a date and time that works for you this month, every month, ad-infinitum. Now once you start making those phone calls and sending those emails you may need to be a bit flexible…but you get the idea and you at least have a starting point. First Tuesday of every month at 7:pm or the second Saturday of every month at 10:am pick a few that work for you and keep those in mind when negotiating for your space. And don’t forget that most meetings run about an hour and a half to two hours long.

Getting started

So now it’s time to get started and find that location. Don’t go racing around like a spider in the rain...use the phone…use the computer. Set up a Gmail account specifically for your Support Group. Start contacting Hospitals, Community Centers, Libraries, you name it. Any Facility that might have meeting rooms and is supported by the Community is eligible. Even large Attorney’s offices, Doctors’ offices, Medical buildings, Senior Housing complexes or Hotels are places to call. Ask right up front if they have any free space available for your monthly Support Group Meeting. Don’t be disappointed by the No’s…respond politely and move on to the next one. Ask the No’s if they can recommend a place that would have some free meeting space. When they ask tell them you need free space for a Support Group for people living and coping with Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance. Don’t be shy…get the word started…you never know who you’re talking to and who might be looking for your Support Group in the future.

The space

What you’ll want is a meeting room that can handle at least 25 people…perhaps more. Our group is very small…about 12-24 people…but there’s a group just north of us that has 40-50 people every month, and one further south that can number in the hundreds. You’ll want a room that provides chairs…tables are nice…but chairs are important! Some may want you to setup and cleanup yourself for each meeting. That means you’re on your own for the first few meetings. Don’t be afraid to put people to work when they start showing up for your meetings. People love to be needed…and you’ll be needing them to help setup and cleanup or you’ll be stuck doing it all by yourself and it won’t be long before you resent that. Ask if the facility can provide coffee/tea or if they have vending machines that your members have access to. Ask about bathrooms. If they keep their bathrooms under lock and key it may not be the ideal place for your meeting. Ask if it’s ok to bring food in…you may want to do the occasional pot luck or bring in samples for people to try out. If you can do it…go and visit the space before you commit to it. It’s not going to do you any good if it’s in the middle of a construction zone, or near an area that’s loud and busy, or even hidden deep down in the bowels of an ancient building. Once you’ve found what you want…give them your dates for at least 6 months – preferably 12 months – and ask them to make certain your group is placed on their calendar.

Tell the world

So now you’ve got your free space and you’re on the calendar…it’s time to get the word out. Hopefully, while you’ve been getting all the work done…you’ve been telling anyone who would listen what you’re planning to do. And I mean everyone! Anyone who would stand still for five minutes and listen…your Doctor, your friends, your family, the mailman, the taxi driver…you never know who will need you in the future. Remember that Gmail address you set up…that’s going to be your main form of contact for a while. Be cautious about passing out your personal phone number. Use the email address as often as possible. I actually have two emails…the first is my spam filter…it gets used on EVERYTHING…even my business cards (I’ll get into that later). I check that email daily and anything that comes through that I want to read or answer I forward it over to my second address and then handle it from there. Set up a Facebook account with your Gmail address. Post your meeting location and dates everywhere. Do a search for others in your area that might be looking for Support Groups. Poke around on Google for any online groups or calendars that might be willing to carry your meeting information. There are tons of ways to advertise your Support Group for free…hunt them down and use them well.

Now that you have the first building blocks in place it's time for the most important step...show up for your first meeting!!  Be there at least 30 minutes early...bring a friend along just in case no-one else shows up...and stay for the meeting.  First month, every month for at least three months.  If you're getting the word out...they will begin showing up.  If you build it...they will come.  Don't get discouraged.  Keep trying.  If after three months you're still sitting in the meeting room alone...well, then you may want to consider it wasn't the right time to do it.  You can consider trying a bit harder to get the word out...or release your reservation on the hall and go home.  But I really don't think you'll be doing that.  I honestly think that in three months you'll be needing to read Starting your own Celiac or Gluten IntoleranceSupport Group Part II...good luck!!

CarolAnne Le Blanc

Gluten-Free Naturally: https://glutenfreeforlife1.blogspot.com

Gluten-Free Travel:  https://glutenfreeinflorida2.blogspot.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Gluten-Free for Life is a section 501(c)3 charitable organization.

All gifts and donations are tax deductible in accordance with law

"A Copy of the Official Registration and Financial Information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state."  

1-800-Help-Fla (435-7352)  Www.Floridaconsumerhelp.Com

Celiac Service Dogs

Celiac Service Dogs, Gluten-Free Emotional Support Animals

And the difference between the two… 

One thing I’ve learned on a recent trip…is that there’s a HUGE difference between genuine Service Dogs and what’s known as Emotional Support Animals, sometimes referred to as Comfort Animals.  Emotional Support Animals or ESA’s, are a wonderful comfort and support for those who need them.

But an Emotional Support Animal is a pet not a Service Dog; in fact they don’t even need to be dogs at all. They can be any domesticated animal capable of being trained not to be a pest in public areas. To be designated as an Emotional Support Animal, the pet must be prescribed by a licensed Medical Professional for a person who needs the therapeutic support that an ESA can provide.

And then there’s the family pet…not a Service Dog, not an Emotional Support Animal…but a very much loved family pet.  There are tons of SCAMS going around on the internet encouraging people to pay from $50.00-$200.00 so they can register their family pet as an Emotional Service Animal. They then receive bogus paperwork and a vest that the animal can wear while ‘working’.  They’re also told that their family pet now has all the same legal rights as a true Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal. Sadly, it’s all lies :-( And millions of people are being taken advantage of…buy these sham animal registries…and by those who knowingly register their family pet as a fake Service Dog or ESA.

Celiac is a tough disease…don’t let anyone fool you. It takes a determined person to choose to be healthy. Being different is tough…you take a lot of abuse because you go against the norm. It takes a strong person to fight the temptations, to stand up for yourself or your loved ones, to realize you’re important. For many Celiac’s the day to day struggles can be overwhelming. Being excluded or alienated, even challenged by friends and family by a Disease they never asked for can be devastating. For many an Emotional Support Animal is exactly what’s needed to help their humans through the rough spots in life. All domesticated animals may qualify as an ESA (cats, dog, mice, rabbits, birds, snakes, hedgehogs, rats, mini pigs, ferrets, etc.) and they can be any age…even young puppies and kittens, too!  You DO NOT need to register your ESA, simply keep a copy (updated annually) of the letter from your Doctor handy in case you’re asked for it.

It’s important to remember that an ESA has no more rights than a pet. The only legal protections an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) has are:

(1) Fly with its human in the cabin of an aircraft without being charged a pet fee.

(2) Qualify for no-pet housing without being charged a pet fee.

No other public or private entity (motels, restaurants, stores, trains, taxis, busses, theatres, parks, beaches, libraries, zoos, etc.) is required to allow an ESA to accompany their human. That means they aren't protected by law in any public place that does not allow pets. It doesn't mean these places won't let them in, it just means that they’re not required to, by law.

Did I mention that Celiac is a tough Disease?  Well, unfortunately it can be a deadly one too. For the vast majority of us with Celiac Disease we know all too well what can happen to us if we slip up, or fall off the wagon temporarily, or get sidetracked by life on occasion. But for a very few who may have a much more complicated version of Celiac those slip-ups can be deadly.  Just the slightest risk of Cross Contact and it can mean an emergency trip to the ER and weeks, if not months, of recovery. For them, having a fully trained Celiac Service Dog can be a life-saving necessity. Stated very simply, Service Dogs spend the first two years of their lives learning how to work in harmony with humans while being trained to do something very un-doglike.  It’s the reason genuine Service Dogs are NOT cheap.  All that hard work and training can cost from $10,000.-$20,000.00 per dog and to their final human partner they’re worth every penny! A Celiac Service Dog is trained to sniff out even the tiniest bit of Wheat, Barley, or Rye across the entire spectrum of all the dangers their Celiac human may encounter. During the final testing process for certification the dog will be evaluated on food items, medicine, and hygiene products such as lotion, toothpaste, and makeup.

There are many types of Service Dogs that include Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Seizure Dogs, Diabetic Alert Dogs, Gluten Detection Dogs, Mobility Dogs just to name a few.  There are even Psychological Support Service Dogs (Autism & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). These are all highly trained working dogs that receive up to 18 months of training and go through many medical exams and temperament testing before being matched up with their human partner.

Service Animals are defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. These are the ONLY animals approved to serve as “service” animals. And these are the ONLY animals allowed to go wherever, whenever their human partners go. When it's not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. 

Staff may ask two questions: 

(1) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?

(2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

A Gluten Detection Service Dog is a serious commitment, but one that can be extremely rewarding in the right circumstances.  The entire process takes quite a bit of money (often between $10,000 and $20,000) and up to 18 months initial training time. At the end, you’ll have a dog that’s ready, willing and able to protect you from gluten – but also a living, breathing creature that needs to be taken care of and treated with love and respect in order to do its job.  And don’t forget this dog will be around you all the time (and will be responsible for your well-being) for the next 7-10 years and you will be responsible for keeping up the continuous training for the rest of the dog’s life. In effect you must continuously calibrate the dog's nose to the entire ever-changing array of all the dangers their Celiac human might encounter.

Canine Specialty Training  was originally founded in 1989 and was the very first company to bring Gluten Detection Dogs into the United States.  Susan Bass is the company’s owner and Training Director. She has over 30 years of canine instruction and training experience in diverse canine training disciplines. Erica Gates completed the Dog Obedience Training program at CST and specialized in detection.  Erica has Celiac and now trains the Gluten Detection Service Dogs

Willow Celiac & Allergen Service Dogs  is owned by Dawn Scheu, who is a Professional Dog Trainer with over 10 Years’ experience training Search and Rescue Dogs and has switched to service dogs and continues her education. Dawn also suffers from Refractory Celiac Disease and is partnered with Willow, her Gluten Detection/Mobility Assistance Dog.

Creating New Tails  is located in Hollywood, FL and is owned by Professional Dog Trainer, Jillian Skalky.  Jillian has more than 5 years’ experience training Service Dogs and continues her education. She also suffers from autoimmune diseases herself and has her own Service Dog Rosy.

Nosey Dog Detection Partners  specializes in scent detection training such as nuts, gluten, diabetes, dairy and other allergies. The company’s owner, Kathy Watters, is a Certified Master Dog trainer with specialization in scent detection training. She has over 20 years of experience training and in 2004 received her Master Certification. Kathy knew nothing about gluten when she was asked to take a chance and train the first gluten service dog in the USA.

                CarolAnne Le Blanc

Gluten-Free Naturally: https://glutenfreeforlife1.blogspot.com

Gluten-Free Travel:  https://glutenfreeinflorida2.blogspot.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Gluten-Free for Life is a section 501(c)3 charitable organization.

All gifts and donations are tax deductible in accordance with law

"A Copy of the Official Registration and Financial Information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state."  

1-800-Help-Fla (435-7352)  Www.Floridaconsumerhelp.Com

Thanksgiving Menu - Completely Gluten-Free

Make a Traditional Thanksgiving Menu ... Completely Gluten-Free

It's that time of year again, when people begin to panic about the Holidays. Everyone wants to know how on earth can they make their traditional Thanksgiving Dinner totally Gluten-Free?  Trust me, it’s not that difficult.  Thanksgiving Dinner is primarily Gluten-Free to begin with…and super easy to create your old recipes safely.  The trick to serving a 100% GF Thanksgiving to a mixed crowd is to not tell anyone it’s Gluten-Free.  Aside from a discreet mention to those who need to know…no-one else need know.

THE TURKEY:  You can't go wrong with a fresh Turkey. Fresh Turkeys are always Gluten-Free, just watch for any basting juices added. Otherwise, there are many brands out there that are safe…some even provide safe GF Gravy.  Just to name a few…Butterball, Honeysuckle, Jennie-O, Perdue, Shady Brook…all have GF Turkeys.  Keep in mind, stuffing a Gluten-Free turkey with gluten stuffing contaminates the entire turkey. Don't open any Gravy packet that's included with a Turkey unless it specifically states Gluten-Free.

STUFFING:  It's extremely easy to make Gluten-Free stuffing. Simply replace the bread in your favorite recipe and it's likely to taste almost exactly the way you remember it. If you don’t have a traditional recipe to work with, or you simply prefer not to make your own, there are plenty of GF packaged stuffing mixes on the market now.  Ian’s, Rudi’s, Whole Foods, Gillian’s, Glutino, Trader Joe’s, all have Gluten-Free Stuffing mixes that are easy to prepare.

CRANBERRY SAUCE:  There's no reason for cranberry sauce to contain gluten.  Read the label just to be certain and then check this one off your list. Or you can make your own. Empty a 12-ounce bag of fresh or frozen Cranberries into a saucepan. Add 1/2 cup Sugar, 1/2 cup Honey, some Orange or Lemon zest and 1/2 cup Orange Juice to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the Sugar dissolves and the Cranberries are soft, about 10 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the Cranberries burst, about 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low for another minute or two and mash the Cranberries a bit. Add Salt and Pepper to taste and cool to room temperature before serving. 

MASHED POTATOES:  This is another no-brainer…Mashed Potatoes should be naturally Gluten-Free.  Whether you like your Potatoes mashed, smashed, au gratin, baked or broiled…even Dairy Free…it’s just a matter of choosing alternative ingredients to match your recipes.  There are even some brands of instant mashed potatoes that are Gluten-Free as well, just make certain to check the label first.

SWEET POTATOES:  If you’re working with real ingredients you’ll have no trouble recreating your favorite Sweet Potato dish. If you need Marshmallows for your recipe, several different brands of marshmallows, including Kraft, Campfire, Jet, and even store brands are safely Gluten-Free. I actually prefer a simple roasted Sweet Potato...cubed Sweet Potatoes, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper, even touch of Honey and Cinnamon if you like...then roasted to perfection.

GRAVY:  I remember Mom making the Thanksgiving Gravy using the Turkey pan drippings, plus Corn Starch…there was no need for flour there. Or you can use a GF Gravy mix, there are even some great jarred Gravies that are safe. McCormick's has a packaged mix that’s clearly marked Gluten-Free. And don’t forget, some Turkeys even come with a GF Gravy ready to heat and enjoy…just check to be certain it’s Gluten-Free. 

DINNER ROLLS:  Now this one can trip you up if you let it. We all know how difficult it can be to find a decent GF Bread for sandwiches…Rolls are no exception.  So I’ll share my favorite Secret Ingredient Biscuits, from Cook’s Country.  Try them, your guests won’t be disappointed.

Ingredients:

2 cups Gluten-Free all-purpose flour mix

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk (not non-fat)

3/4 cup mayonnaise (not “fat free”)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking

powder, baking soda and salt.  In a small bowl, whisk together milk and mayonnaise until smooth. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until no streaks of flour remain. Dough will be sticky. Lightly grease a 1/4-cup measure or an ice cream scoop and scoop the dough onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until biscuits are golden. Allow to cool slightly before serving, but these do taste best while still soft and warm from the oven. Makes 12.

Also, instead of rolls, you might consider deviating a little from the traditional menu and trying a Gluten-Free Cornbread recipe.

DESSERT:  The trick to making a decent Gluten-Free pie is placing the emphasis on the filling, not on the crust.  For years I’ve made my pies without the crust.  It doesn’t’ serve up the same…but hey, it’s all about the filling right?  And a scoop of my favorite pie in a bowl leaves plenty of room for Whipped Cream, or Ice Cream.  And if you’re really desperate for a Gluten-Free crust you can occasionally find them in the freezer section of a local Health Food Store.

CarolAnne Le Blanc

Gluten-Free Naturally: https://glutenfreeforlife1.blogspot.com

Gluten-Free Travel:  https://glutenfreeinflorida2.blogspot.com

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/glutenfree.inflorida

Gluten-Free for Life is a section 501(c)3 charitable organization.

All gifts and donations are tax deductible in accordance with law

"A Copy of the Official Registration and Financial Information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state."  

1-800-Help-Fla (435-7352)  Www.Floridaconsumerhelp.Com

Surviving a Family Reunion Gluten-Free

Surviving a Family Reunion Gluten-Free

This is the house that we rented in Gatlinburg TN.  It’s called the Gatlinburg Mansion and boasts 14 bedrooms! We rented it for our 'once in a lifetime' Family Reunion. There were 27 of us staying here and with that many people, and that many cooks in the kitchen; I had resigned myself that I was going to get sick. As it turns out, I didn’t get sick, and I wasn’t alone either. There were about 5 of us with different degrees of Gluten-Freeness. I was the only one at 100% but that was OK since I was also the one in charge of the menu and the shopping list.

I had never coordinated such a huge project before…but I had often done it for much smaller groups, so I was a logical choice. I was given a $5,000.00 budget, and I had my girls to help me. They totally understand my needs and how to cook for me. We kept the menu easy, and naturally GF with only the occasional tweaks to insure my safety. And since it was a Family Reunion we pulled out all the old family recipes. Like Shepherd’s Pie (easy GF) and Thanksgiving Dinner, (separate stuffing), Spaghetti night (separate pasta), Boston Baked Beans & Hot Dogs (easy GF), BBQ Ribs & Burgers (easy GF). Rice, potatoes, veggies…those were all super easy GF too.  

Shopping was a bit of a challenge because when I shop for a mixed group like this I ALWAYS brand shop. So I had to do my research online to find out what brands were available in Tennessee and which ones were Gluten-Free. Doesn’t matter what we’re buying, we always try to get the GF version :-) The kids wanted cereal and cookies and they did get straight away Gluten-Free options only because kids have been known to be extremely messy! I’ve watched one lonely kid gluten an entire house with one chocolate chip cookie in only 15 minutes! S0 yes, the kids did not get any glutenous options.

Snacks, spices, chips, sauces, condiments, you name it; we found a GF brand name item that satisfied everyone. We did buy normal, everyday bread & rolls along with flour for baking. Everyone was asked to use the flour for baking only…and use corn starch for thickening. And I tacked a couple of cautionary signs up in the kitchen…just in case.  Since there was quite a bit of baking planned we also got some Gluten-Free cake & brownie mixes. So those of us who needed Gluten-Free could have dessert options too. Funny thing was…it ALL disappeared! Lol

We had two big nights planned.  On Tuesday it was a Cocktails and Hors d'Oeuvres party in honor of our Dad’s birthday. Everyone chipped in a bottle of something and we enjoyed an amazing night playing cards and games.  Our Mixologist pulled out all the olds recipes from the 30’s-50’s for the grown-ups and we had non-alcoholic mixed drinks for the kids.  Along with some amazing Hors d’Oeuvres, we used post-it notes to indicate which items were safely Gluten-Free.  On Thursday we had a fancy Tea Party in honor of our Mom & Dad’s Wedding Anniversary. The kitchen was a blur of activity all day as everyone prepared their favorite sandwiches, cookies, fudge, and cupcakes. Those post-it notes really came in handy! 

In the entire week I would say that nearly 75% of every meal was Gluten-Free and enjoyed by everyone. And all of our Kitchen Helpers were incredibly careful about managing any cross contact and keeping everything clean.  It ended up our shopping only used up $3,000.00 of our budget, so we really planned things out well.  If you’re curious about what we bought to feed 27 hungry people for an entire week, here’s our Shopping List...

Aluminum Foil

Apples

Applesauce

Avocados

Bacon (Black Lable – 6 packages)

Baking Powder 

Baking Soda (1 Large)

Bananas

Beans, Canned (Black/Red/Pink – 6 Cans each)

Beans, Dry (Navy – 5 Lbs)

Beef, Ground (10 lbs)

Bisquick GLUTEN FREE

Bread Crumbs (Progresso GLUTEN-FREE)

Bread GLUTEN-FREE (Against the Grain – 2 Loaves)
Bread (Sandwich, English, Hot-Dog/Hamburger)

Broccoli

Broth (Better than Bullion – Vegetable & Chicken)

Brownie Mix GLUTEN-FREE (King Arthur)

Butter
Cake Mix GLUTEN-FREE (King Arthur)

Carrots 

Catsup (Heinz – 1 Large)

Cauliflower

Celery (1 Bunch)

Cereal, Chex (4 Boxes, Variety)

Cheese (Cabot, Variety – 5 Pkgs)

Cheese (Goat, Romano, Parmesan)

Cherries, Fresh 

Chicken (10 lbs)

Chips (Lays, Variety – 5 bags)

Chocolate Chips (Tollhouse – 4 Bags)

Clams (3 Cans)

Cocoa, Baking

Coffee (Folgers, 3 Regular, 2 Decaf)

Coffee Mate (Variety – 5 Large)
Corn Bread Mix GLUTEN-FREE (King Arthur)

Corn, Creamed (3 cans)

Corn, Frozen
Corn Starch

Cornmeal

Crackers (GLUTEN-FREE, Regular)

Cupcake Papers

Dried Fruit (Craisins, Raisins, Apricots)

Eggs (9 dozen)

Fish (Tilapia, Cod, Flounder)

Flour

Garlic, Fresh

Ginger, Fresh

Green Beans, Fresh/Frozen

Half & Half (6 Large)

Honey
Hot-Dogs (Nathan's – 3 packages)

Ice Cream (1 Each – Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry)

Italian Seasoning (McCormick’s – 1 bottle)

Jelly, Jam (Smuckers, Variety – 5 Jars)

Juice, Orange, Apple, Grape (2 each)

Ketchup (Heinz – 1 large)

Lemons

Lettuce

Limes

Maple Syrup (Maple Grove, Variety – 5 Bottles)

Mayonnaise (Kraft, Olive Oil)

Milk, Low-Fat

Molasses (1 bottle)

Mushrooms, Fresh

Mustard, Dijon (Heinz – 1 Large)

Napkins (2 large family packs)

Nuts, Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds

Oatmeal, (Mc Cann's Quick Cook) 

Oil (1 each – Olive, Coconut)

Olives, Kalamata, Green, Black

Onions

Oranges

Pancake Mix (Maple Grove)

Pancake Mix GLUTEN-FREE (Maple Grove)

Paper Towels (6 rolls)

Parchment Paper

Pasta (Elbows, Bowties - Barilla GF & Regular)

Peanut Butter (Simply Jiff – 1 large jar)

Pears, Fresh

Peas, Frozen
Pepper, White

Peppers (Red/Green/Yellow – 6 of each)

Pickles (Sweet, Dill – 1 large each)

Pork, Ground (10 lbs)

Potatoes (Sweet 10 Lbs, White 5 Lbs)

Relish (1 Large)

Rice (Jasmine, Brown)

Salad Dressing (Maple Grove, Variety – 5 Bottles)

Salmon (10 lbs)

Salsa (Pace – 1 large bottle)

Salt, Sea/Pink

Saran Wrap

Sausage (Breakfast, Italian)

Scallions, Fresh

Shortening (Crisco, Sticks – 3 Pkgs)

Shrimp (Peeled/Deveined – 5 lbs)
Soap (Liquid – Dish, Hand, Laundry)

Soda (Pepsi/Mountain Dew – 3 large bottles each)

Sour Cream

Soy Sauce (San-J – 1 bottle)

Spinach

Sriracha (Texas Pete – 1 bottle)

Storage Containers (Glad, Variety – 5 Pkgs)

Strawberries, Fresh

Sugar (White 10 lbs, Brown 5 lbs)

Sugar (Confectioners – 5 large)

Tea, Green

Toilet Paper (Scott – 24 rolls)

Tomato Paste

Tomatoes (Cherry, Roma, Beefsteak)

Tortillas (Mission, soft/crunchy)

Vanilla Extract (Clear – 1 Bottle)

Vinegar (Apple Cider)

Water (4 cases)

Worcestershire Sauce (Lea & Perrins)

Yogurt, Greek (Cabot – 1 large)

Ziploc Bags, Freezer (3 Boxes, Variety)

Zucchini, Fresh

CarolAnne Le Blanc

Gluten-Free Naturally: https://glutenfreeforlife1.blogspot.com

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