The internet has been a-twitter (literally and figuratively!) with news of the new Domino’s Gluten-free pizza.  In a nutshell, the pizza itself is made with gluten-free ingredients, however, it is made in the same ovens and cut with the same equipment on the same counters…and obviously there’s a huge potential for cross contamination, because crumbs are enough to cause damage for anyone with Celiac or gluten sensitivity.

Obviously Domino’s isn’t the first company to sell gluten-free products with significant cross-contamination issues.  The unusual part here is that the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness has given Domino’s an “Amber seal”.  As per Domino’s website:

The NFCA supports Domino’s efforts to provide a Gluten Free Crust to a national audience and has given Domino’s a “Gluten Free Ingredients” rating. The NFCA granted Domino’s this rating because of our verified ingredients, consumer education approach and customer service training. This means the NFCA and Domino’s do not recommend this pizza for people with celiac disease. However, because the risk for gluten exposure is low, this product may be an option for those with mild gluten sensitivities. While the Gluten Free Crust contains no gluten ingredients, a risk of gluten exposure can occur due to the handcrafted nature of the pizza and the variety of procedures in the kitchen.

University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research and the Gluten Intolerance Group have spoken out loud and clear, expressing that this pizza isn’t appropriate for people with Celiac NOR people with gluten-sensitivity, and as Dr. Alessio Fasano put it in an interview yesterday on Gluten-Free Voice Blog Radio, “I’m really am distressed about Domino’s.  It’s pretty obvious that they see the opportunity and they could care less about the needs of the Celiac community, the gluten-free community.  They just want to make money…They could have done a good job, and decided not to.” GIG, a celiac disease support group that also certifies restaurants, went further and called for complete discontinuation of the Amber, and 1in133 is now circulating a petition to make this Amber designation go away.

Obviously there are many articles on the web, but the one area I haven’t is possibly the most vital. Won’t this be illegal really soon? The FDA has a gluten-free rulemaking underway, and a final rule is expected to be issued in late 2012. Rhonda Kane, a Registered Dietitian at the FDA, has been hard at work on this project. According to Ms. Kane, “Restaurants would be expected to adhere to the same gluten-free standard established by FDA as packaged foods.” As of now, one of the criteria for FDA’s proposed gluten-free standard is that a food, whose labeling is regulated by FDA, cannot contain 20 parts per million or more gluten, regardless of its source, which includes the presence of gluten due to cross-contact situations.

So where does that exactly leave Domino’s and their “gluten-free” crust?

I asked Jules Shepard, gluten-free baker extraordinaire and one of the movers behind 1in133.  “Based upon my radio interview with Alice Bast, founder and president of the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness (NFCA), and upon others of her statements regarding the testing of these Domino’s “gluten-free” pizzas, the initial tests of these pizzas showed that some of the pizzas tested above 20 ppm and some tested to below 20 ppm.”  Somehow I’m doubting that some under 20ppm is good enough to be legit when the new rules are in place.

The biggest problem is the failure of communication. Yes, Domino’s includes a disclaimer on the gluten-free claim online and in stores, but not over the phone.  And, per reports from our local celiac chapter, people are assuming that the pizza is safe because Domino’s is big chain and NFCA is very literally backing it, and people are missing the fine print.  I’m not the only one hearing it.

Says Jules: “People are eating the pizzas and suffering ill effects, and people are giving the pizza to their celiac children because they saw an NFCA seal associated with the pizza and assumed that it must be safe. I am at a loss as to why a foundation which exists to protect celiacs (the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness) would put their name anywhere near this contaminated product. It will only serve to confuse the consumers they purport to protect, and will cause people to be sickened.”

IMHO, once the FDA rules are in place, this pizza is history anyhow.  I’m hoping there’s enough support to make it vanish early–or to convince Domino’s to do the right thing and gift the gluten-free community with a  TRULY gluten-free pizza.

Many thanks to Ms. Rhonda Kane and Ms. Jules Shepard for allowing me to quote them.  If it’s not in quotes, the views reflected in this article are mine alone and do not reflect the views of the FDA, Ms. Kane, Ms. Shepard, organizational boards I serve on or any other entities.

News:

It’s been a fun month for me!

• I was named “Emerging Dietetics Leader of the Year for 2012” by the Virginia Dietetics Association

I was featured in a few articles from the Washingtonian Well Being Blog:

• Can Going Gluten-free Help You Lose Weight? See my response in the April 12th, 2012

• Is Shake Shack your guilty pleasure? Best and worst burgers and Hot dogs at Shake Shack
• Tastier than conditioner any day: Top foods to eat for healthy hair

Something Yummy in Season:

In some ways, it was a rude awakening, moving from sunny California for grad school to Northern Virginia.  One of the first things that struck me was the difference in fruits and vegetables.  The year-round gardens and Farmers’ Markets had me utterly spoiled.  I took my very first trip to a local grocery store and stared blankly at the veggies and a friendly employee asked if he could help me find something.  And before I could think clearly, I blurted out, “Sure!  Where are there Farmers’ Markets near here?”  I don’t think that was what he was anticipating, but he was kind enough to let me know of one up the road.

Fortunately, the number of markets has only grown for the last decade. We’ve got a bunch of markets nearby, and they’re about to open, so get ready!

Benefits of shopping at the Farmer’s Market

• Fresh produce and meat-most fruits and vegetables are picked that day
• Support for local farmers
• Few or fewer pesticides on fruits and vegetables. A plum shipped from Chile need a lot of pesticides to keep it lovely even after traveling thousands of miles.
• Better taste! There’s nothing that compares to the taste of a freshly picked tomato, peach, or apple.
• The “manufacturer” is usually right in front of you, so if you have questions about how something is made or grown, just ask!

Also, another great option are CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture)

Harris Whole Health offers individual sessions, family sessions and group classes to help people eat healthier and feel better! Whether you are dealing with a specific health concern, or if you just want to feel and look better, Cheryl can help you achieve your goals. For an appointment with Cheryl Harris, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, please click here or call 571-271-8742.

Gluten-free Passover foods:

Passover isn’t here until April 7th (or technically, the evening of April 6th), but many of the products are already starting to appear in grocery stores. Not all Passover foods are gluten-free, but many are, and there’s a much wider selection than usual at the grocery store. This can be a good time to stock up on GF cakes and mixes, cookies, macaroons, “bread” crumbs and supplies like potato starch. As an added bonus for people with multiple restrictions, most Kosher for Passover products contain no corn or soy products, either.

In a nutshell, the basic rule of foods for Passover is no leavened foods, which eliminates normal breads, cakes etc. Matzo, (an unleavened bread usually made from wheat) is eaten, and some products contain products Matzo and matzo meal, (also potentially listed as cake meal or farfel). However, many products don’t contain gluten. Or, if you find products labeled “non-gebrok or gebroktz or grebrochts” (or another spelling variation) they’re non-grain containing and therefore have no gluten-containing ingredients. Often Kosher for Passover products and cakes are made of potato flour or nut meals rather than wheat or glutinous grains.

As always in the gluten-free world, read labels carefully. “Kosher” and “Kosher for Passover” are two different things entirely. Kosher for Passover foods will be labeled “May be used for Passover” or have a symbol that says OUP. I have often seen “regular” Kosher foods in the Passover section at grocery stores, so please do check the labels very carefully.

Keep in mind that many Passover foods are imported from other countries, and imports should be, but often not labeled quite in the same way as the FALCPA U.S. labeling laws dictate (the flip side is that a claim of “gluten free” is more meaningful in Europe or Israel) So a label will still say matzo, but may not say “wheat” explicitly or have the disclaimer stating that it contains wheat.

Most Kosher for Passover products will have to adhere to strict standards for cross contamination from a religious perspective, but again, buyer beware and no guarantees. Voluntary allergen labeling (AKA “Made in a factory” claims) are still not regulated.

From a gluten-free perspective, possibly the best part of Passover is AFTER Passover, when all of the great gluten-free goodies are on sale! Passover ends April 14th, so mark your calendars, because the word has gotten out in gluten-free circles and the mad rush is on.

Back when you really couldn’t get GF prepared foods in the regular grocery store, this was a much bigger deal. But it’s still nicer to have an expanded selection, and nicest of all is AFTER Passover, when all of the products are on sale!

For people who DO celebrate the actual holiday of Passover, not just the gluten-free food, here are some great recipes and information:

• Elana’s Pantry has an extensive roundup: http://www.elanaspantry.com/passover-round-up/
• Kids with Food Allergies put out a booklet on Passover with food restrictions. http://tinyurl.com/3ser4k

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DC Area Metro Celiac Organization
Next Meeting Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 2:00–4:00 pm

SPEAKER: Dr. Sean Hurley of Digestive Disease Physicians

TOPIC: “I am gluten free but still have symptoms, what do I do now?”

Location: Bethesda Public Library
7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/branchinfo/be.asp

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Fun stuff from Feb:

• Delighted to be honored as one of Washingtonian’s 6 Best Gluten-Free Bloggers
• See my thoughts on Web MD on Seven Signs You’re Getting Bad Nutrition Advice

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist and Certified Wellness Coach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA. I work with people to feel and look their best with a range of specialties, including Celiac Disease, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals.  Email me or call 571-271-8742. 

In honor of Valentine’s day, here are some of the things I <heart> in the gluten-free and Celiac world!

• First things first: About.com’s Gluten-Free Valentine’s Day Candy List
• Hungry for a new gluten-free breakfast cereal?  Shelley Case has a great listing of nutritional values of different cereals.
• I profiled a variety of heart-and-Celiac friendly blogs in my Jan Newsletter.
• I rarely advertise products, but made an exception because I think this is one many people will enjoy.  I hear so many complaints of people who are looking for more variety and bored with the usual gluten-free suspects.

• I had the pleasure of reviewing quite a few books last year.  I was very surprised that the one that got the most use was “Gluten-Free in Five Minutes” by Roben Ryberg.  I’m a bit of a food snob and not a fan of microwaves.  That being said, I really appreciate being able to make a little g-free cake for my favorite husband in just a few minutes.
• Love to read everything you can on celiac disease?  My favorite book on the science along with Celiac is Real Life with Celiac disease by Melinda Dennis and David Leffler.

Celiac Webinars: New Project that makes my heart flutter:

I’m very excited about my new Celiac Webinar Series for Dietitians, nutritionists and health professionals.  They’re they’re research focused and aimed at health professionals, but anyone is welcome to take them, and CEUs available for RDs/DTRs.

Topics include:

• Celiac Disease: What every RD Should Know
• Gluten Free and Healthy
• Gluten Sensitivity
• A Happy, Healthy Pregnancy and Baby
• To sign up and for more info, see http://dietitiancentral.com/ceu/course_list.cfm

Love my newsletters?  You can now subscribe in a reader, too, and leave comments on my blog.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD is a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist and Certified Wellness Coach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA. I work with people to feel and look their best with a range of specialties, including Celiac Disease, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals.  Email me or call 571-271-8742. 

Many of us see the New Year as a great time to make changes and improve our health.  It’s a good time to look at your diet and lifestyle, and see what you can do to look and feel your best.

Going gluten-free can be a big turning point to eating healthier.  Many people are amazed to realize the impact that diet has on how they feel!  All of a sudden, people need to start reading labels, and many begin to wonder why there are all of these ingredients they can’t pronounce and why high fructose corn syrup and red dye # whatever seems to be in everything.  Or maybe after years of eating anything and staying slim, the pounds have started creeping upward.  No matter what your reason, let this be the year you improve your diet.

Are you getting the nutrients you need?

Nutrition is important for everyone, but particularly for people who have food restrictions.  Years ago, the Food and Drug Administration realized that many people weren’t getting enough vitamins like folate, several other B vitamins, iron and calcium.  So they added a variety of nutrients to the foods supply in every day foods like flour, bread, pasta, cereal, etc.  However, gluten-free breads and cereals are considered specialty products, and very few are enriched with these vitamins.  Not only that, but many gluten-free breads are filled with things like tapioca, potato and cornstarch to give a light texture, and these foods have very few nutrients.  So when people switch from eating regular packaged foods to eating gluten-free processed foods, they don’t realize that they’re actually eating a lot fewer vitamins and minerals, a lot less fiber and usually more calories, too.  Not only that, but many people with Celiac disease may be deficient in many vitamins, such as B vitamins, vitamin D, Calcium and iron because they have not been absorbing foods well for years, and may need more than the average person while they are healing.

And, as we well know, gluten-free does not automatically mean good for you!  Often in the beginning, people want to try anything that’s gluten-free, and are just focusing on getting by.  The focus is on finding replacements for old favorites and learning all of the new rules.  That is definitely a great short-term strategy but it’s only the first step!  The good news is that that many healthy foods are naturally gluten-free, like fruits, veggies, beans, many whole grains, nuts, seeds, and plain fish and poultry.

Here are some suggestions to make your diet healthier:

• Add beans back to your diet.  They’re a great source of fiber, calcium, and iron, and super yummy in a winter soup.
• Have fruit or vegetable with every meal—5-9 a day.  That can be as easy as an orange with breakfast, a salad with lunch, dried fruit for snack and 2 servings of veggies along with dinner.
• Make sure you’re getting your omega 3s. Salmon, trout, flounder, sole, etc. are great options, and flax, chia, walnuts and hemp are vegetarian options.
• Choose whole grains, rather than refined. Wild rice, quinoa, teff, etc. are more nutrient dense than white rice.  Try a whole grain hot cereal, wild rice with dinner, or even quinoa pasta.
• Drink your water!  6-8 glasses a day are important to stay hydrated.
• Find a way to reduce stress: acupuncture, meditation, deep breathing, talking to a friend, dancing, playing with the dog, whatever works for you.  I’ve listed this under nutrition because most people don’t reach for Brussels sprouts when they get stressed.

Healthy Websites:

Here are some websites with many gluten-free recipes featuring simple, good, real food!  Whether you’re “just” gluten-free or you’re dairy-free, grain-free, vegan or whatever other way of eating has worked for you and your family, the list blow should have you covered

•  Bob’s Red Mill features many gluten-free and whole grain recipes.  Search under “gluten-free” http://www.bobsredmill.com/recipe/
• Dr. Weil has great healthy recipes listed.  Most (not all) are GF http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/common/recipe.html
• Diet, Dessert and Dogs: Gluten-free? (check!) dairy-free? (check!) vegan (check!) delicious (check!) Ricki’s recipes are wonderful , no matter your food restrictions, and many are grain-free as well.  She also has a variety of e-books on her website.
• Elana’s Pantry: Curious about almond flour?  Elana’s pantry should be your first stop!  She also has a lot of wonderful veggie recipes and tips for children, too. http://www.elanaspantry.com/
• Ginger Lemon Girl: Most of the newer recipes are paleo friendly, most of the older ones are decadent, but all are gluten-free http://gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com/
• Gluten-free Goodness: my blog, which is gluten, dairy, egg, corn, soy and usually sugar free.  Most of the time the recipes are healthy. http://gfgoodness.com/
• Gluten-free For Good. Great gluten-free and healthy recipes and information on healthy foods, too.  http://www.glutenfreeforgood.com/blog/
•  Health-e-Recipes from AICR (American Institute for Cancer Research). You can sign up for newsletters on their site, and you get weekly recipes in your inbox. Many (not all) are gluten-free and dairy free. Many are quick and simple, use seasonal ingredients, and feature a lot of veggies.
• Kalyn’s Kitchen: Perfect if you’re on South Beach, but wonderful if you’re not, too!  Many food recipes (not just desserts) and many, but not all are gluten-free.  http://www.kalynskitchen.com/
• Simply Sugar and Gluten Free—Amy’s website and cookbook have a lot of wonderful options. http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/
• The Spunky Coconut: Kelly’s recipes often include beans and veggies in unusual, but tasty ways.  Many are grain-free and allergen friendly, all are gluten-free. http://www.thespunkycoconut.com/
• The W.H.O.L.E Gang—Allergen friendly recipes for the family (all gluten free) http://www.thewholegang.org/blog/
• Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen http://www.nourishingmeals.com/ Gluten-free, healthy whole food based meals
•  World’s Healthiest Foods: Good, basic healthy recipes.  Most are gluten-free, but you can check off the foods you want to avoid for a recipe search.  http://whfoods.com/
• 101 Cookbooks: Some are GF, some aren’t. There are many great soup and vegetarian recipes, and many feature veggies and whole grains. http://www.101cookbooks.com/

I have other recipe & sites listed at http://www.harriswholehealth.com/recipes/  And, of course, there are more websites and resources popping up every day! Do you have a favorite healthy recipe site that isn’t listed?  Email me and let me know.

Meetings:

DC Celiacs:

Next Meeting Date: Saturday, January 7, 2012, 2:00–4:00 pm

Meeting Topic: A panel discussion on “Eating Healthy While Being Gluten-Free.”

Location: Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library (DC)
4450 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. (at Albemarle St), across the street from Tenley metro stop.

Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist and Certified Wellness Coach in Fairfax & Alexandria, VA. Cheryl works with people to feel and look their best with a range of specialties, including Celiac Disease, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals.  Email her or call 571-271-8742. 

Gluten in Medications:

We know that most packaged foods on the grocery shelf in the U.S. will follow FDA labeling, at least for ingredients containing wheat. However, this is not the case for medications, and finding accurate and timely information is much more challenging.

Standard prescription labels include only the active ingredients. So if your doctor writes you a prescription for penicillin, the bottle would say x mg of penicillin. It won’t say what anything about any fillers, binders, coatings, excipients, etc. although these substances are a part of most medications. These can, of course, include wheat and barley.

The PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference) often has a list of ingredients but these are tremendously hard to decipher, and most don’t give a source for ingredients. This information requires calling the manufacturer, and waiting an answer from companies. Ideally, get support from a doctor’s office or pharmacist. Many drug companies will not answer consumer inquiries directly. Generally name-brand drugs do have a consistent list of ingredients, but with generics, different fillers are used at different times, depending on cost at a particular moment in time. So one batch may have cornstarch, the next may have wheat starch, and so on. And, of course, a the name-brand may be gluten-free, but that does not necessarily mean anything about the generic drug.

As a dietitian and someone who has had to make those calls for myself and others, I feel like this is a potentially dangerous and unfair system. People who need medications immediately often do not have the time, energy or mental clarity to make a variety of phone calls and wait for answers. It’s important that steps be taken for longer term changes in policy to ensure the safety of people who need to strictly avoid gluten.

For the meanwhile,

• Check into all of the medications and supplements you take.
• When possible have a knowledgeable doctor or pharmacist call and make inquiries, as this may be a faster route to get information.
• As with any inquiries, do probe further because even health professionals vary in their knowledge and understanding of Celiac Disease and gluten. (I have had pharmacists say to me that they don’t see “gluten” listed as an ingredient, so it must be safe).
• It may also be necessary for your doctor to specifically order name-brand drugs in certain cases to ensure they are safe for people with Celiac Disease.
• If you have other food sensitivities/allergies and cannot get answers or safe medications, a compounding pharmacy may be a great option, as they make medications from scratch. In the DC metro area, that includes the Alexandria Medical Arts Pharmacy in VA and Village Green in DC.

There are a few free resources out there that can help, like www.glutenfreedrugs.com.  However, ingredients in medications can always change, so these lists can best be seen as a starting point.

Also, NFCA is dong a survey on gluten in medications through Feb 28, 2012

Harris Whole Health offers individual sessions, family sessions and group classes to help people eat healthier and feel better! Cheryl works with people to feel and look their best with a range of specialties, including Celiac Disease, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals. For an appointment with Cheryl Harris, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, please click here, email or call 571-271-8742.

Holiday Tips

Recipes

Fun Stuff

Holiday Tips:

Let’s face it. We’re smack in the middle of eating (and shopping) season. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy the spirit of the season and favorite holiday foods, while staying reasonably healthy, too.

Get Prepared: It’s not fun to sit in a room full of people eating delicious (off-limits) foods while you sit quietly drinking your water and nibbling a carrot stick. It’s also a recipe for a rebound binge at home. Have a 2 pack of gluten-free cookies, Clementines, or your favorite chocolate stashed away work, or bring an apple crisp, chocolate covered strawberries, meringues along with you to a party. Check out this list of naturally gluten-free and seriously delicious options. Make sure your children have treats at school so they don’t feel left out, either.

Savor: Bottom line, you’re going to eat some treats this holiday season, so you might as well truly enjoy them. Be choice-ful and target things you enjoy most (i.e. no filling up on chips or every day foods unless those are the only options) When you eat, really eat! Take time to fill your senses and really enjoy. When we are really tasting our food (rather than inhaling something while talking and multitasking) food tastes much better, we’re more satisfied and full quicker.

Balance: if you are going to a holiday party in the evening, make an extra effort to eat well on other days. Add in more vegetables, fruits, beans, gluten-free whole grains, etc. and move more, too! A piece of chocolate cake one day won’t make or break a diet, but treats every day will add up.

Move the goodies out of sight: One of the biggest challenges of the season is a see-food diet, otherwise known as “if I see it, I eat it”. Studies show that when people keep food out of sight, they eat less. Avoid the constant temptation. Instead, put fruits on the counter or in your refrigerator where they are easy to grab. Seasonal fruits in the winter months include Clementines, oranges, pineapples, grapefruits, grapes, pomegranates, persimmons, mangos, and more.

Fill your table with fruit and veggie dishes: Have your holiday meals feature seasonal vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, collards or other greens. Make roasted chestnuts as a snack. Have a fruit inspired dessert, like baked apples, poached pears, sautéed bananas, etc.

Soups: as long as they’re not cream based, most soups are a healthy snack or part of a filling meal. Chicken and turkey soup with brown or wild rice, butternut squash soup, lentil soups and other beans soups are a great way to stay warm and enjoy seasonal flavors.

Get moving! Exercise is a great way to improve mood, reduce stress levels, and burn calories, too. Head out at lunchtime for a short walk, start a new family tradition and do something active at family events, dance at party functions, or make a habit of hitting the gym. You don’t have to wait until January for healthy resolutions

 

Fun Stuff:

• Washington Post did a great article on gluten and who benefits from a gluten-free diet, which features some of my thoughts and comments.

• I’ve been nominated as Emerging RD Leader for VA by the Northern VA Dietetics Association!  I’m quite flattered.

Harris Whole Health offers individual sessions, family sessions and group classes to help people eat healthier and feel better! Cheryl works with people to feel and look their best with a range of specialties, including Celiac Disease, food allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding, vegetarian and vegan diets, preventing diseases and “whole foods” eating. Let’s get you on your way to achieving your goals. For an appointment with Cheryl Harris, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, please click here, email or call 571-271-8742.

Making healthy eating easier:

It’s now officially the start of eating and shopping season! Some days, it seems like our main form of exercise is usually moving the fork from the plate to our mouths. Here are some ways to enjoy the spirit of the season and favorite holiday foods, while staying healthy, too.

Enjoy seasonal healthy foods.  Clementines, pomegranates, pineapples, mangoes, oranges, grapefruits and apples are wonderful this time of year.  Keep them on the counter or in the front of the fridge where you can see them!

Move the goodies out of sight:  One of the biggest challenges of the season is a see-food diet, otherwise known as “if I see it, I eat it”. Studies show that when people keep food out of sight, they eat smaller amounts. Put the candy dish in a cupboard and move the cookies where you won’t have constant temptation.

Balance: if you are going to a holiday party in the evening, make an extra effort to eat well on other days.  Add in more vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, etc. and move more, too!  A piece of chocolate cake one day or one big holiday meal won’t make or break a diet, but treats every day will add up.

Savor your favorites:  Bottom line, you’re going to eat some treats this holiday season, so you might as well truly enjoy them.   Target things you enjoy most (i.e. no filling up on chips or every day foods) When you eat, really eat!   When we are really tasting our food (rather than inhaling something while talking and multitasking) food tastes much better, we’re more satisfied and full quicker.

Fill your table with fruit and veggie dishes: Have your holiday meals feature seasonal vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, collards or bean or veggie soups.  Make roasted chestnuts as a snack. Have a fruit inspired dessert, like baked apples, poached pears, sautéed bananas, etc.

Skip the alcohol, or limit it to a drink or two.   Not only does it have a lot of calories, but once you’ve had a few, it’s easier to indulge on other foods.

Get moving! Exercise is a great way to improve mood, reduce stress levels, and burn calories, too.  Head out at lunchtime for a short walk, check out the holiday lights in the evening, start a new family tradition and do something active at family events, dance at party functions, or make a habit of hitting the gym.  You don’t have to wait until January for healthy resolutions.

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News:

It’s been a busy and fun month for me!  I was quoted in the Washington Post on a gluten free diet and the Northern Virginia Dietetics Association has nominated me as Emerging Dietetics Leader of the Year for the state of VA.

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Have a wonderful holiday season, from my family to yours!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please see www.harriswholehealth.com

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It takes a little planning ahead to guarantee a great Thanksgiving. In many ways, it’s easier if you’re hosting, because you know what you can and can’t have. Most people hate to impose on their hosts, but it’s easier on you AND your host to ask beforehand than sit through a four-hour meal and watch others eat. Remember, nothing is more important that staying safe!

Turkey:
Though it’s always good to check, the good news is that all plain fresh turkey is naturally gluten free. However, self-basting turkeys usually contain gluten. Most gravy packets are a problem, too.  Check out my gluten-free turkey list for 2011

If you’re not hosting Thanksgiving at your house, talk to your host as soon as you can. If they haven’t already bought a turkey, they may be open to buying a different brand. In addition to the brand of turkey, you’ll need to talk about:
* Broth used for basting
* Seasonings
* Stuffing in the turkey
* Cross contamination

This is obviously more of a challenge. You can go the nontraditional route and do a wild rice, buckwheat or quinoa stuffing. You could use a GF cornbread or pre-made bread crumbs.

Gravy

Almost all canned gravy and gravy packets are not GF.  Trader Joe’s sells some now.   Also, it’s pretty easy to make a simple gravy with GF broth and cornstarch instead of wheat (and if corn is a problem for you, arrowroot can be substituted 1:1 instead). See this link for recipes

Stop the presses! SOME Butterball gravy packets are now GF.  Read labels carefully!

Side dishes

There are lots of good options here. Green bean casserole, baked yams, cranberry relish, gelatin salads, butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, applesauce…all of these things are easy to adapt to food restrictions, and they’re healthy and delicious to boot.

Dessert!

For many people (myself included!) dessert is the highlight of the Thanksgiving route.  If you’d like to use your standard recipes, you can easily make a crustless pumpkin or sweet potato pie or check out Whole Foods’ crusts.  Or, you can easily make a crust from crushed up cookies, shredded coconut or almond meal. Apple crisps are also simple, too. And, of course, now with the new GF Betty Crocker mixes, a cake or brownies are pretty simple, even if they’re not traditional.

T Day Recipes:
It’s dangerous when someone asks about food while I’m hungry.  When I was asked for Thanksgiving favorites, of course I started thinking (and drooling) about all the wonderful things that would make for an absolutely amazing gluten-free feast!  Here are a bunch from some of my favorite GF bloggers.

Main Dish/stuffing
Balsamic Roasted Turkey from Elana's Pantry
The WHOLE Gang's recipe for Spatchcocked turkey
Cornbread stuffing with roasted acorn squash from the Gluten-Free Goddess
Tortiere (Vegan faux Meat Pie) from Diet, Dessert and Dogs

Breads
Sweet potato cornbread from the Gluten-Free Goddess

Gravy:
Herb Gravy From Elana's Pantry
Gravy using Cornstarch from Simply Recipes

Sides:
Crockpot Applesauce by Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free
My Cranberry Fresh Fruit Relish
Green Bean Casserole from Ginger Lemon Girl
Simply Tasty Asparagus from Celiac Family
Roasted butternut squash soup from Jules Gluten-Free

Beverage:
My hot mulled cider

Dessert
The Best Pecan Pie (one of my very favorites)
Easy, Crustless Apple Pie from Gluten Free Easily
Ginger Lemon Girl's Pecan Pumpkin Pie bars

Here are round ups for gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes from around the web.  There are more and more sites with great tips, too.

• Gluten free Girl has an amazing roundup of recipes
• Celiac Family has a Thanksgiving Roundup from a variety of bloggers
• Simply Gluten and Sugar Free Healthy Holiday
• Gluten-free Goddess
• Celiac Princess
• A list of 40 recipes
• About.com

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Looking ahead…it’s almost cookie season!  (I know, I know, maybe not what a nutritionist is supposed to say, but baking can be a beautiful and fun holiday tradition–it’s all about finding balance).  Jules Shepherd is hosting a GF Cookie Swap Contest, and I’m sure that will be a great place for inspiration.

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Local Events:
DC Celiacs
Next Meeting Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011, 2:00–4:00 pm
Speaker: Erin Hartigan, DC editor for the Tasting Table
http://tastingtable.com/header/dc/about.htm
Speaker: Stephen Minton, MD, Principal Investigator and Gigi Guerrero Willis, CCRP, Clinical Research Coordinator, Alexandria Clinical Research, LLC. They are working with Alba Therapeutics which has successfully completed a Phase I clinical trial for celiac disease and Phase II has already begun.
www.alexandriaclinicalresearch.com/

Location: Bethesda Central Library 7400 Arlington Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/branchinfo/be.asp

The Enchanted Forest 2011– Westin Tysons Corner November 19 – 20 is the 11th anniversary of Junior League of Northern Virginia’s (JLNV) largest fund-raising event! The Enchanted Forest 2011 will be held November 19 – 20 at the Westin Tysons Corner. There will be GF options. More information regarding JLNV and The Enchanted Forest, including ticket sales, can be found at www.jlnv.org.

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As always, wishing you and yours a joyful, peaceful and yummy holiday season.

Harris Whole Health offers individual sessions, family sessions and classes in Fairfax and Alexandria, VA to help people eat healthier and feel better! Whether you are dealing with Celiac Disease, food allergies, picky eaters, chronic illness, or if you just want to improve your diet, Cheryl can help you achieve your goals. For an appointment with Cheryl Harris, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, click here or call 571-271-8742.