Allergen Free Candy

Fall festivals on Monday and trick-or-treating; no one wants to search for information on each piece of candy.  Thankfully, there are trusted sources in the GF community who come up with lists for us.  Of course, each person must give the warning to please always check with manufacturers, but Alison of Sure Foods Living has given us a great start: Quick List 2011

Thanks Alison!

International Celiac Disease Symposium

Here is an excellent, brief overview of the discussion and findings that emerged from the preeminent gathering of celiac experts across the globe.  The 14th Annual International Coeliac [Celiac] Disease Symposium in Oslo, Norway was held in June.  Particularly rewarding for me to read is the long-overdue emphasis on the gluten sensitivity side of the spectrum.  You can read the synopsis here; thanks to Mike Duffy for the alert.

Thanks to Mary & John Ficzere

Many thanks to the Ficzeres for giving such an informative presentation at Thursday night’s meeting.  Mary developed a comprehensive report but fell ill earlier in the week, so John stepped up to deliver the information.  There were several handouts as well; we will try to run off more copies for future meetings if you missed it.  We have such knowledge and talent within our group and I look forward to hearing from more of you!

F.I.T. Center - Speaker on Gluten Intolerance

I received notification from the F.I.T. Center of Montgomery (7047 Halcyon Park Dr.) that Certified Nutritionist Camille Gallinger will be speaking on the title “Living Well Despite Gluten Intolerance” on Saturday, Oct. 29^th from 9-11:30 a.m. and again from 1-3:30 p.m.  The class is free with encouragement to donate a non-perishable item to the Montgomery Area Food Bank.  For questions or to register, contact Valerie James, RN at 334-273-0904.

Column by Local Physician

Wonderful to see another locally-based physician with celiac fully on his radar screen.  Dr. Jefferson Underwood III submitted a column to the Montgomery Advertiser, which ran on Tuesday, October 18, 2011.  Especially encouraging is the fact that he addresses the entire gluten sensitivity spectrum and not just celiac disease.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20111018/LIFESTYLE/110180318/-1/7daysarchives/Celiac-disease-more-common-than-you-d-imagine

Gluten Free Living Website

A tip from member Mike Duffy:

There is a great compilation of information about ingredients on the Gluten Free Living website: http://www.glutenfreeliving.com/ingredient.php

You can book mark that page for the next time you are wondering about whether something is safe to consume, like buckwheat.

Thanks Mike!

October Speaker Mary Ficzere, RN

We are excited to have one of our own members, registered nurse Mary Ficzere, as our speaker for the October meeting.  Mary has an extensive and varied background in the nursing profession, combined with the personal experience of living with celiac.  Mary has 37 years of nursing experience and is a licensed RN as well as Social Worker (LBSW) in the State of Alabama.  For the past 10 years she has worked in the Office of Home and Community Services of ADPH.

Mary plans to speak on several key areas, including vitamin supplementation needed for everyone and especially those with an immune response to gluten.  She will also cover essential lab tests that should be ordered post-diagnosis as well as the availability of at-home test kits.  Everyone will benefit from Mary’s experience and expertise; feel free to bring your questions!

At the Ballfield

Any members who would like to contact the Montgomery Biscuits?  A GF kiosk should not be difficult!

The next time you are in Seattle…see the post from "Gluten Free Mom."

Or in Colorado—the Rockies led the way: Link from MLB

According to Triumph Dining, Atlanta’s Turner Field also has GF options.