Category Archives: Gluten free
BD’s Mongolian Grill – The SAFE Restaurant
I had the pleasure of talking to Ken Leetch, the General Manager, at BD’s Mongolian Grill in Bolingbrook. He was nice enough to take the time out of his busy schedule to discuss their safety practices with me. This restaurant can be allergen free, gluten-free, Paleo, or Vegan. You pick, and they will try to accommodate. First off, BD’s Mongolian Grill is one of my favorite buffet type restaurant. Most buffet type restaurants are not very safe for Bean with her peanut allergy, due to cross contamination issues. I was comfortable taking her to BD’s before, but now that I know more about their safety practices I am confident that BD’s would be a safe place for her to eat.
If you have never been to BD’s Mongolian Grill, it is essentially a place where you pick the ingredients and then take it up to the grill. It’s amazing stir fry. You can purchase one bowl or unlimited bowls. With your bowl, you also get their soup and salad bar. Their soups recently changed to being 100% home-made in-house by BD’s. After you start off with the soup and salad, then you take your bowl and go up to the buffet and choose your ingredients. You have several choices of meat, vegetables, noodles, sauces, and spices. Once you have all your ingredients picked out, you can take your food up to a grill to be cooked.
Some of the safety practices they follow are:
- Temperatures are checked on the food lines every few hours to make sure everything stays cold and fresh
- The tongs are constantly changed to avoid any cross contamination
- If you are concerned about possible cross contamination due to a food restriction or allergy, they will make your bowl from fresh ingredients in the back that are kept segregated
- Also, they have an Allergy Friendly cooking station. It is a separate place to have your food cooked to avoid allergens in your food. The pans are used one time before being washed, and then they are heated up to 200 degrees to burn off any remaining allergens
- There is a MAC or MAM (Market Area Manager or Market Area Coordinator) walking around the food area, in a black chef coat. They can help create meals, give ideas, and also can provide you with a nutritional brochure.
They also have a .pdf file on their website that lists every single ingredient used in all of their items. If you are on the go, there is an Android and Iphone app called BD’s Go Mongo. The app lets you create-a-bowl, choose all your ingredients, and view all the ingredients in the bowl you made!
Disclaimer: I did this review, because this is one of my favorite restaurants. I was not given anything and did not receive any compensation in any way, in order to do this review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
Kemnitz Family Kitchen Labels & Flags
Kemnitz Family Kitchen has these great labels, stickers, and flags for foods that are gluten free and allergen free. They also have special labels that say “NO” in red if they are not safe. We went to my mom’s for a cookout yesterday, and my cousin has decided to try being gluten free to see if it makes her feel any better. We were able to put flags in the foods that were safe for her. My mom made the homemade salsa, and taco dip. Both were safe, so I was able to put a flag in them.
My cousin brought some Udi’s Gluten Free hamburger buns, which are not only gluten free, but nut free also! Had to put some cute flags and stickers on those too!
My cousin brought a cake she made gluten free, and it was REALLY good. However, my grandmother brought packaged donuts that were not safe for my cousin or my daughter’s peanut allergy, so I put the STOP sticker on them. It was great, because they were both able to see right off that they were not safe for either of them.
I am so excited about these flags and labels. Especially at larger family functions where different people have different food restrictions, and people bring home made foods. People can immediately see which items are safe and which are not.
My cousin said these were a great idea, especially if you are at a restaurant and they bring around desserts to view. They could have the little GF flag in them to show they are gluten free and safe. Another neat idea is if you order lunch from a restaurant and they have gluten free options. They could label your meal with a Gluten Free sticker. Kemnitz Family Kitchen has several little stickers and flags for every occasion and food restriction. These would be great for cookouts, family parties, and school treats.
You say it’s your birthday? Happy Gluten Free Birthday! Imagine getting a cupcake from a co-worker that is gluten free, with a little birthday sticker on it.
Is the food vegan? Is it an Easter, Christmas, Halloween, or Fourth of July? There are adorable labels to label your foods to bring to get togethers. There are even labels to make what items your food does NOT have! This is especially important for home made foods. The possibilities are endless!
Disclaimer: I was sent two packages of flags and labels in exchange for my honest opinion of the products. I was not compensated in any way, and all opinions are my own.
Review: Nonuttin’
Right off, I love the name!! Nonuttin’ says it all! Their products are free of ELEVEN allergens!! Yes, 11! Their products are dairy free (including all derivatives such as casein and whey), egg free, fish free, certified gluten free, mustard free, peanut free & tree nut free (including employees signing a contract that they do not eat peanuts/tree nuts before work or bring them into any area of the No Nuttin’ facility), sesame free, shellfish free, soy free (including soy lecithin), no sulfites, wheat free, AND since the USA lists coconut as a tree nut, no coconut either!
Are you allergic to latex? No latex gloves are used on any Nonuttin’ production line either! Avoiding refined sugar? They only use evaporated cane sugar! So their products must taste like cardboard right? It can’t be free of all these things, and actually taste good, right? WRONG! Their products are delicious! Nonuttin sent Lizzie and I a bunch of their products to try and they were all delicious! Our kids loved them all!
The first thing we tried was their Nonuttin’ All Natural Granola. The girls loved putting it in their yogurt or just eating it plain. Bean loved the Vanilla Cinnamon, and Bubbles favorite fruit is blueberry, so she really loved the Blueberry Maple.
The next thing we tried was their granola bars. YES, they have granola bars! AND they are peanut free granola bars! Can you tell how excited I am about this? If your child has a peanut allergy, you understand my excitement. I have not found ANY safe granola bars for Bean at any of the stores around here. They are always “made on the same equipment” or “may contain”. Well these contain No Nuttin! Their granola bars come in four varieties – Apple Cinnamon, Raisin (both pictured below), Chocolate Chip, and Double Chocolate Chunk. Their granola bars are soft and chewy, and you can actually see the apple and raisins in them! Definitely a favorite here!
Next we tried their oatmeal! They come in these great little cups, with lids. Just add boiling water (I just used really hot water), pour it up to the line in the cup, put the cover back on for a couple minutes and TADA, the perfect cup of oatmeal! I was really leery of these at first. I really thought they would be soupy, and I really dislike soupy oatmeal, but they seriously turned out perfect! There are four varieties – Daily Hug (apples and cinnamon), Morning Mojo (apples, blueberries, apples, raw sunflower seeds, and cinnamon), Pacific Coast Morning (blueberries and cranberries), and Sunny Start (cranberries, raisins, and raw sunflower seeds). We tried the Morning Mojo and Daily Hug. Bean had the Morning Hug and loved it. Bubbles tried the Morning Mojo, but was not thrilled about the sunflower seeds. I like it though and finished it off for her!
Lizzie came over for a cookout, and we had to figure something for the kids to have for dessert. The dessert had to be gluten free for Lizzie’s kids, peanut free for Bean, and dairy free for Bubbles. It is always so very difficult finding a snack that all the kids can enjoy. Often, we find a product that is allergen free OR gluten free, however these are the best of both worlds, and allowed all of our children to enjoy them! They loved them, and even the dog wanted some! LOL Lots of smiling faces, and no one was left out!
Nonuttin is a great treat for field trips, on the go, as a quick snack, also they are great for kids to bring in as a safe treat for school for birthdays or for snack day. All the kids could have these! They are soft and chewy and sooo good, especially the Double Chocolate Chunk, and all the kids will love them!
Disclaimer: Nonuttin’ sent us the products pictured above to review, in exchange for our honest opinions of their products. We were not compensated in any way, and all of the opinions were our own and not influenced in any way.
Making the Switch to Paleo!!
As you know, we are gluten free. We have been for awhile now, due to necessity. However, we still have not seen the health improvements that we were hoping. Bear still had an enlarged lymph node in his neck that he has had for years, and Bee was still very moody and bloated. No matter what we did, we could not get the weight off of Bee and onto Bear.
So, I started doing more research. About health, about nutrition, about our history as humans, and about how our eating practices have evolved over time. All of this information, lead me to the Paleo diet.
For those of you that do not know, the Paleo diet mimics the way our ancestors ate thousands of years ago. The diet is simple really. Its all whole foods, fresh, not processed. There are no grains, no corn ( its actually a grain!), no peanuts or other legumes, no processed sugars or added sugars, no dairy ( with the exception of the grass fed butter). Its a diet high in proteins and good fats. For those of you that would like to know more, please let me know. I can get you pointed in the right direction
While it is not hard to follow, as far as knowing what is okay to eat and not okay to eat, there are some more challenging aspects of this type of lifestyle. There is a lot more time put into meal planning and preparation. This is because everything we eat is fresh. Nothing comes out of a package. So, this means making sure that we have enough veggies, seeds, and nuts. This means taking the time to make extra portions at dinner so that we can use them as a base for our lunches the next day. And, because our local farmers market does not open until June, this means lots of regular trips to the grocery store.
However, all of the new challenges that we have faced have been nothing compared to all of the benefits we are already seeing, and it has not even been a full 30 days yet! Bear’s lymph node has almost completely gone back down to normal. None of us are bloated anymore. Bee is visibly thinner. Our skin and hair is noticeably healthier. The kids both have much better moods and sleep much better. I’ve lost 6 pounds. Not to mention all of the fun we have preparing the food we eat. For me, cooking had previously become a chore, and we were stuck in so many ruts, eating the same types of things over and over and over. But with Paleo, we all get involved. We chose foods together at the store, and have a great time discovering new foods at small local stores. We have had a great time experimenting with new flavors and textures ( one of the latest was masked sweet potatoes with toasted coconut…try them, you will NOT be disappointed!). We do not have to fight as much to get Bear to eat. We all just FEEL better. Not to mention that it has really helped my husband and I become even closer.
It feels so good to know that we our nourishing ourselves and our children with healthy, whole, fresh foods. We are also much more adept at handling our stress. We now participate in exercise as a family, and have the ability to give ourselves alone time without feeling guilty. This has been the most positive lifestyle change that we have ever made, and my only regret is that we did not do it sooner.
I am going to be starting to experiment with some new Paleo recipes soon. Look for new ideas coming soon. And please, if there is something that you would like to see Paleofied, let me know and I will do my best to make it happen!
Bonus: The right kind of bacon (uncured, minimally processed, nitrate free, etc) is totally okay with this lifestyle!! Now, what can be better than that??
Review & Giveaway – Two Fat Guys Gourmet Barbecue Sauce!
While at the GFAF Expo, we tried Two Fat Guys Gourmet Barbecue Sauce. Lizzie and I agreed that it was so delicious! We were thrilled about doing this review. Two Fat Guys Gourmet Barbecue Sauce is made with all natural products like tomatoes, garlic, brown sugar, honey, and other good ingredients that I know and can pronounce! There is nothing artificial, and is free of nuts, eggs, and dairy. It is also gluten-free and contains no high fructose corn syrup! We avoid high fructose corn syrup, so I was really happy about that. Two Fat Guys Gourmet Barbecue Sauce comes in four varieties – Mild, Smoky, Spicy, and Lava Hot. It is also made right here in our home state of Illinois!
So Lizzie and I planned a date, and we sure did have perfect weather for a barbecue! We decided to make chicken breasts, shish kabobs, pulled pork, and corn on the cob. Everyone wanted to try different flavors of the sauce, so we decided to grill everything and then put the sauce on ourselves afterward.
I am not a big fan of spicy food, but I loved the Mild and Smoky flavored sauce. The kids preferred them also, with the Mild being their favorite.
However some like it hot, and Lizzie, her hubby, and my hubby preferred the Spicy and especially the Lava Hot! All of it was so very tasty on the kabobs, and the shredded pork. It has to be some of the best barbecue sauce we have tried. We were all so full after the kabobs and pulled pork, that we only tried a small piece of chicken in the sauce, but that was delicious too!
Two Fat Guys Gourmet Barbecue Sauce is available at many stores. You can find out if it’s available at one near you by clicking here and selecting your state or clicking purchasing it online!
HOWEVER, we just can’t keep Two Fat Guys Gourmet Barbecue Sauce to ourselves though, so we are doing a giveaway, so you can try it too! With Father’s Day right around the corner, this is the perfect gift for the man who loves to grill! The giveaway includes the following items:
You can enter the giveaway by clicking on this link a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: We were provided with the sauces and mugs shown in the first picture of this review, in exchange for our honest opinion of their barbecue sauces. We were not compensated in any way, and all opinions are our own.
Review: Surf Sweets Organic & Natural Candy!
My girls love fruit flavored candy and fruit snacks, but they typically tend to contain “crap” ingredients, and I am not overly thrilled about allowing them to have them. They are made with high fructose corn syrup, and other ingredients that I cannot pronounce and have never heard of before. I was thrilled to see that Surf Sweets are natural and organic candy. All the candy, none of the bad ingredients! YAY! They are made with organic fruit juices and sweeteners, natural colors and flavors, 100% RDA of Vitamin C, are free of corn syrup and GMO’s, plus they are made in a nut free facility, are gluten free, dairy free, casein free, and are made right here in the good ole US of A! They make Gummy Worms, Gummy Bears, Gummy Swirls, Fruity Bears, Jelly Beans, Sour Worms, and Sour Berry Bears.
My family all has very different tastes and favorites when it comes to candy, but we all agree that these were some of the best tasting candy we have tried. I am not sure if it’s because of the real fruit juices, or the natural ingredients they use, but they tasted more like real fruit! They are candy that I feel good about giving my girls. I have never been a big fan of sour candy, but my oldest daughter, Bean, loves them. I did try some of the sour gummy worms, and they were actually good. They were a great blend of sweet and sour, and not that make your mouth pucker and gag type of sour. My absolute favorites were the Gummy Swirls. My younger daughter Bubbles loved the plain gummy worms, and my older daughter loved the sour gummy worms! Of course the jelly beans, gummy bears, and fruity bears were a big hit with everyone.
I was thrilled to find that you can buy Surf Sweets at Whole Foods, Buy Buy Baby, and other stores selling healthy foods and products. You can also buy Surf Sweets online at places like Amazon.com.
Disclaimer: Surf Sweets provided us with all of the products pictured above in exchange for our honest reviews. We were not compensated in any way for this, and all opinions are our own and were not influenced in any way.
Need A Quick Breakfast?? Look to these awesome muffins from Udi’s!
**Disclaimer: Udi’s provided me with these muffins free of charge in exchange for providing you with ideas on how to use their products. All ideas are my own and I have not been financially compensated**
So I know I’m not the only one with kids. And I also know I’m not the only one who has hectic mornings with those kids. Half the time we are lucky to get out the door on time with a quick snack, let alone have a decent breakfast. So I’m always on the lookout for something that will help us out in the morning.
That’s where these great muffins from Udi’s come in.
Now, they are pretty awesome on their own but…
I always need to feel like I participated in putting meals together so I do this…
Take that can of cranberries and toss it in a saucepan over low heat and stir. Let it break down and cook down a bit until it becomes warm and thick. I promise this doesn’t take long! Right before its ready, wrap those muffins in a damp paper towel and pop in the microwave for a few seconds. Definitely helps you get that fresh homemade feel. Then break the muffin in half if you have littles like I do (or keep it whole for yourself!). Drizzle a bit of that warm cranberry amazingness over those nice warm muffins and watch everyone happily dig in.
There’s one morning crisis solved! Now on to the next….getting them to dress in clothes that match! Wish me luck!
Review: So Excited about Sun Cups! (Nut free, Gluten Free, Certified Kosher)
Annie’s Allergy Review:
I was standing in line at my local grocery store, waiting to check out. I looked over and saw a package of Sun Cups. It said they were made with Sunflower Butter and Milk Chocolate. I got so excited that a product that was safe for my daughter was actually available at my local grocery store. I looked all over the candy section that lines the checkout, but it was the only package. I actually loaded my groceries back into my cart and went in search of them in the store. I asked someone working in the grocery department where I could find them. I was told in the gluten free section. I found the box and decided to purchase two packages. Each package comes as a two pack of cups. When I got home, I was thrilled to tell my family about my find! We opened them right up, and all tried them. My severely peanut allergic daughter and the rest of our family loved them! They were really good and JUST like real peanut butter cups.
Other than tasting fantastic, I was thrilled to see on the packaging that these are nut-free, gluten-free, Certified Kosher, AND made with all natural chocolate, using cacao from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. That means the chocolate in Sun Cups comes from farms that look out for their workers and the planet! I was also happy to see that they are made right in Boulder Colorado, AND their packaging has been created from home-compostable film, certified to OK Compost’s Home Composting Standard. I had to know more, so I went to Sun Cup’s website.
I was thrilled to find they had more varieties like Sunflower Butter and Dark Chocolate, Caramel Cups, and Mint Cups too! I emailed them telling them I was thrilled to find their product in my local grocery store, but that they only carried one variety. They were so very nice and sent us two of each of each flavor for Lizzie and I to review!
Every one of these were fantastic and are just like a real peanut butter cup. The shape, the packaging, even the taste, except they are SAFE! The caramel cups were a HUGE hit, and was Bubble’s favorite. Lots of gooey caramel in the middle of the chocolate. Sooo good. I love dark chocolate, so the Sunbutter and Dark Chocolate ones are my favorite. The Sunbutter and Milk Chocolate, and the Mint were Bean’s favorite. The mint Sun Cups taste just like a peppermint patty, but a little more gooey! Mmmmm! Can you tell, I loved them all? I cannot wait for my store to start carrying more varieties, and will be putting in a special request for them. In the meantime, they can be purchased online at Sun Cup’s online store.
Lizzie’s Gluten Free Review:
Oh my gosh!!! We could not say enough about how amazing these were. Annie sent over a sample of each flavor and we cannot wait to buy more. We were not very happy about sharing! The mint are a great minty gooey amazing concoction of goodness. Bear and Bee decided that the caramel was the best. Nice and gooey and a very generous amount of caramel. The milk chocolate ones were pretty good as well. But, my favorite by far was the dark chocolate sun cup. Amazingly rich dark chocolate combined with that slightly salty roasted sunflower seed flavor of the sun butter. Just. The. Best. These are definitely going to be a staple in the mommy treat drawer. I’m usually not stingy but the dark chocolates are gunna be mama’s only! We love that they are organic and compostable as well. It makes it even better that they are not only gluten free but also nut free! My kids have quite a few friends with nut allergies and its so nice to have something that I can serve everyone. Thanks for an amazing product!
Disclaimer: Sun Cups sent us all of the products pictures above in exchange for our honest reviews. We were not compensated in any way for this, and all opinions are our own and were not influenced in any way.
Allergy Warriors & Gluten Free Living 