Step by Step Guide to Help You Give Up Dairy by Heather McClees

June is National Dairy Alternative Month. There are certainly some fabulous dairy alternatives out there and we at SensitiviTees are celebrating this month by offering up some special editorials and articles and sharing them with you!

There are millions of reasons to give up dairy, many of which you’re probably already aware of. From conventional farming and animal cruelty to toxic nutrients and chemicals in dairy, there’s never a better time to take up the healthy habit of going dairy-free. Plus, it’s easier now than ever and totally painless!

To get you started on going dairy-free, I’ve shared some of my personal favorite tips, along with resources that can help you out. The best part is, going dairy-free isn’t expensive or hard to do. The dairy-free industry is booming right now, so take advantage of it and hop on board! You won’t only be doing your body good, but also help the animals and planet with every single step.

1. Make a List

The first tip I give to others who want to go dairy-free is to make a complete list of all the foods you like that are dairy-based or that contain dairy. The purpose of this is to allow you to get familiar with exactly what’s in your food. For instance, many people aren’t even aware the salad dressing they eat contains dairy or the box of granola bars they love may contain milk. Dairy hides in everything (along with sugar)!  So take a look at the ingredient list of all the foods you have at home and write down any on the list that say “Contains Milk” under the ingredient list. Include all shelf items, items in your fridge, and anything in your freezer such as frozen desserts or frozen meals. Cow’s milk, mayonnaise, most dressings, eggs, whipped cream, ice cream, frozen yogurt, pudding, milk-based dips, any form of cheese (except for goat), kefir, yogurt, quark, and sour cream all count as dairy unless they say they are dairy-free on the package.

2. Go to the Store

Now, it’s time to go to the store and don’t forget your list when you go! For each item, I promise there is a vegan replacement for that item. Then, it’s up to you to decide what items you want to start off replacing. The easiest thing to replace when you go dairy-free is milk. There are many vegan milks out there, but in my opinion, the option that resembles the creamy and thick texture of milk the best is unsweetened almond milk. You can buy sweetened varieties but they are very high in sugar; however, select the option that’s best for you. Other non-dairy milks include soy, rice, hemp, flax, and coconut milk. You can also find some specialty mixes as well. If you’re looking for vegan packaged foods, most of the time those items will say they are vegan on the front or back. If you’re not sure, read the ingredient label and see if it says “Contains Milk” under the ingredient tab. This will let you know if it’s dairy-free or not.

3. Keep an Open Mind

It’s important to keep an open mind when you go dairy-free. For instance, coconut yogurt may not taste exactly like Greek yogurt, but it’s actually very good and completely dairy-free. Vegan cheese is actually very similar in taste to real cheese and within a few times of eating it, you’ll likely never go back to eating real cheese. Keeping an open mind will keep you motivated and help ensure you don’t give up in the early stages.

4. Reward Yourself

Next, don’t forget to reward yourself for making a healthy choice!  The best way to do that is by making decadent, delicious vegan, and dairy-free recipes, such as dairy-free ice cream, vegan fudge,vegan pizza, or even vegan cake! This won’t only satisfy your taste buds, but also keep you excited about your new journey. Going dairy-free isn’t about deprivation, so have fun with it!

5. Keep Up the Motivation

The most important tip to go dairy-free is to stay motivated! Share your new healthy lifestyle change, any tips you have, and your eats with everyone you know. You could even start a blog where you detail your dairy-free journal and share recipes with readers. I also suggest watching some incredibly interesting films about the truth of the dairy industry, which is likely the only motivation you’ll ever need. If you get a chance, you can also visit Farm Sanctuary to meet real animals rescued from conventional farms. Plus, here are 10 Great Reasons to Ditch Dairy if you need further motivation.

Going dairy-free truly is so easy. For every dairy item in your life, I promise there’s a delicious vegan replacement – butter, mayonnaise, you name it! If you went dairy-free, what’s your best tip for newbies taking this healthy step?

Image source: Vegan Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

Courtesy of One Green Planet 

The New Gluten-Free Must-Have in our House! PLUS-Gluten-Free Goodies Giveaway

Our son has celiac disease and is on a very strict gluten-free diet. We keep a strictly gluten-free household as well so we’re always on the lookout for new products we can all enjoy. In fact, we are passionate about the hunt for delicious gluten-free foods that not only are delicious but nutritious as well. We just bagged another great find with Brothers-All-Natural fruit crisps.

When I brought home a box of the apple fruit crisps last month, wow—did that ever make our son’s day. He loves them!

We love them, too (please tell us they are not just for kids) because the Fruit Crisps are very allergy-friendly and our son does have some food allergies we have to be mindful of as well. Brothers-All-Natural fruit crisps now occupy a permanent place on our weekly shopping list. We’re planning to try some of the other varieties and look forward to adding them to desserts or salads or with dips.

Our son brings them to school and can snack away without a care. The crunch makes them kid-friendly (unlike dried fruit that says “grownup food”) and of course, we don’t have to worry that he’s eating something that will aggravate his condition since they’re simply all fruit. Since dealing with his food and health issues, we’ve become so much more aware of what’s in the public food supply (much of it is not so good) so we are delighted that Brothers-All-Natural’s fruit crisps are certified to be gluten, peanut, tree nut, soy, and GMO free.

Even if we were not dealing with his celiac disease and food allergies, we’d be so happy to know our son is simply eating healthy snacks instead of all the junk that’s out there. He’s always been so good about his dietary restrictions and it’s so satisfying for all of us that we found something that takes no convincing to eat.

Visit http://blog.brothersallnatural.com to learn more about Brothers-All-Natural fruit crisps and more!!!

We like Brothers-All-Natural so much that SensitiviTees has teamed up for a great gluten-free goodies giveaway in May, in honor of National Celiac Awareness month. The winner will receive a 24-pack of Disney Variety Fruit Crisps and a free SensitiviTee with the gluten-free or allergy awareness design of your choice.

Click on this link to enter the Giveaway

May is Celiac Awareness Month--brought to you by National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA)

Heroes Within Us

This Celiac Awareness Month, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is recognizing the Heroes Within Us - community members who are out there making a difference in the lives of those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity ('gluten sensitivity').  Stick with us throughout May 2014 to hear from our featured community members and to learn about what makes them heroes.

2014 Celiac Awareness Month Toolkit

Back by popular demand, the 2014 Celiac Awareness Month Toolkit has everything you need to raise awareness and educate yourself and others about celiac disease, gluten sensitivity and the gluten-free diet.

As a bonus this year, you'll also get access to delicious gluten-free recipes from our sponsors.

Download the free toolkit here. 

Gluten-Free Product of the Day

We’re featuring a different gluten-free product every day this month.  Check the Gluten-Free Product of the Day page daily for product ideas to change up your gluten-free food routine.

Upcoming Events

Free Webinar: Best Practices in Celiac Disease Diagnosis 
Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 2 p.m. EST/11 a.m. PST

We couldn't think of a better time to share the most up-to-date and accurate information about celiac disease testing for both kids and adults.  We'll be joined by our expert panelists: NFCA's Scientific/Medical Advisory Council members Dr. Daniel Leffler of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dr. Ritu Verma of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Register now! 

Other Celiac Disease Awareness Events:

• Twitter Chat on Celiac Disease Diagnosis: #NFCAchat
  Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST
• Celiac Awareness Day with the Philadelphia Phillies
  Sunday, May 18 at 1:35 p.m. EST
• Twitter Chat on Celiac Disease Awareness: #NFCAchat
  Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST

Community Photos

Back in April, NFCA asked the community to share their photos for our "secret project."  We put them in our logo to show that you all are heroes within our community.  The pictures were so great, we couldn't keep them to ourselves.  Check out our Heroes Within Us Pinterest board to get a better look at the heroes who are part of our community.

Want to be on our Pinterest board?  Send your photo to awareness@celiaccentral.org.

Celiac Awareness Month Recipe Box

Introducing NFCA's first-ever Celiac Awareness Month Recipe Box featuring recipes from our sponsors.

Grab the recipes.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.  An estimated 1 in 133 Americans has celiac disease, yet 83% remain either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.  Currently, the only treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.

Learn more:
Celiac Disease Symptoms
Celiac Disease Symptoms Checklist
Testing & Diagnosis

What is Gluten Sensitivity?

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity ('gluten sensitivity') is a non-specific immune response to gluten that presents with symptoms similar to celiac disease.  According to preliminary research, gluten sensitivity does not result in damage to the intestine.  Research is conflicting, but it has been estimated that up to 6% of the American population has this condition.  Researchers don’t fully understand the long-term effects of gluten sensitivity, but a gluten-free diet is the current recommended treatment.

Learn more:
Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness Press

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) has experts on staff available to speak with the press about celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and the gluten-free lifestyle.

Media Contact:
Angela Salerno-Robin
Edelman
312-233-1243
angela.salerno@edelman.com

Topic areas include, but are not limited to:

• Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity and gluten-free diet overview
• Barriers to diagnosis
• Personal experiences with celiac disease
• Gluten-free dining and food safety
• Growth of the gluten-free market
• Gluten-free food labeling
• Gluten-free fad diet vs. a medical necessity

© 2014 National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. All rights reserved. 

Gluten Free Goodies Giveaway

We like Brothers-All-Natural so much that SensitiviTees has teamed up for a great gluten-free goodies giveaway in May, in honor of National Celiac Awareness month. The winner will receive a 24-pack of Disney Variety Fruit Crisps and a free SensitiviTee with the gluten-free or allergy awareness design of your choice.

Click on this link to enter the Giveaway

Preventing Food Allergies: Finding the why behind the when by Julianne Wyrick

Nearly four out of every 100 children in the U.S. have a food allergy, according to CDC data from 2007. Avoiding common food allergens, such as peanuts, eggs, tree nuts and fish, for the first few years of life was the prescription for prevention for many years, but in 2008 the American Academy of Pediatrics reversed these guidelines, noting little evidence existed to say the avoidance was preventing food allergies. Newer expert recommendations have even suggested introducing these foods early could play a role in preventing allergies. An idea known as the “dual-allergen exposure hypothesis,” which has to do with when and how children are exposed to allergens, could be a reason why.

Last month, I had the chance to listen to allergy expert Gideon Lack speak on the hypothesis at an allergy panel discussion during the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) annual conference.

The dual-allergen exposure hypothesis is the theory that exposure to food allergens through the skin can lead to allergy, while consumption of these foods at an early age may actually result in tolerance, as Lack explains in a 2012 article. Depending on the balance of these exposures, either tolerance or allergy will “win.” Children with eczema, for example, have a disrupted skin barrier that could allow exposure to food proteins in the environment – such as peanut oil in creams or peanut residue on tables. Under the hypothesis, if these children avoid peanuts but are still exposed to them in the environment, they might be more likely to develop peanut allergy.

Lack told the audience about two studies that could shed some light on researchers’ understanding of the hypothesis and the development of food allergy.  One study is the LEAP Study, which involves a group of children assigned to avoid peanut-based foods until three years old and another group assigned to eat a peanut snack three times a week. The other is the EAT study, which is comparing breast-feeding plus feeding of allergenic foods with breast-feeding alone. However, Lack noted that very few evidence-based recommendations currently exist about when children should start eating allergenic foods, as health reporter Sandra Jordan explains in her blog on the AHCJ panel. With the prevalence of food allergy today, it will be interesting (and useful) to see where the future evidence from these studies falls.

Courtesy of Scientific American

SensitiviTees' Recipe for Gluten Free French Toast...yum!

We love to make French toast w Udi's gluten free white bread. 

Here are the ingredients you will need:

One egg beaten

Cinnamon and sugar mixed together 

3 slices of Udi's bread

Here are the simple to follow directions to make:

Melt butter or a dairy free substitute like Earth Balance in frying pan. 

Dip bread in beaten egg, sprinkle one side with cinnamon/sugar mixture and place in pan with the sugar side down.

Sprinkle second side of bread with sugar mixture. 

Repeat for other slices. 

Brown both sides, eat, smile. 

Don't forget to stop by our online t-shirt store to support your Gluten Free Lifestyle!

www.SensitiviTees.com 

Here are some of our designs (below)

May is Celiac Awareness Month and we have lots of shirt selections with special emphasis on Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diets

SensitiviTees Graphic Apparel Company Unveils Updated Website Featuring New Gluten-Free Designs in Time for National Celiac Awareness Month. E-Commerce Site Sells T-Shirts with Messages about Common Food Allergies, with Special Emphasis on Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diets

May is Celiac Awareness Month. To help support celiac sufferers and to bring more awareness of celiac disease to the public, SensitiviTees, “the sharing caring clothing company” has launched a new e-commerce website, SensitiviTees.com. Consumers can purchase t-shirts for children and adults that bear messages about celiac disease and food allergies “to help others be more sensitive.” The company was started in July 2010 by two mothers whose son suffers from food allergies and celiac; they developed a novel approach to remind family, friends, and teachers about their son’s food restrictions, with a specialty t-shirt line that delivers the message.

“We wanted to come up with a fun way to convey a serious issue regarding our son’s condition and that of other children,” said co-founder, Stacy Tankel. “After doing some research, we realized that many people are in this position of always having to warn others about dietary restrictions and issues around certain foods. Out of that research and the experience of parental concern, we came up with the idea for SensitiviTees.” The company sells short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts with whimsical, colorful designs to help make others aware of gluten-free restrictions and wheat allergy, dairy and milk allergy, fish and seafood allergy, and nut and peanut allergy.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the small intestine when the individual ingests gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. This inflammation, which affects the villi, can lead to malabsorption of nutrients which, in addition to digestive problems can lead to complications such as anemia, bone loss, increased risk of other autoimmune disorders, infertility and neurological problems. It is difficult to diagnose but symptoms can be reversed and managed by adopting a completely gluten-free diet. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (www.celiaccentral.org) notes that about 1 percent of the population has celiac disease; of that number, an estimated 83 percent of Americans with celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.  

As a reminder, our blog is frequently updated with helpful information about celiac, gluten-free foods and recipes, common food allergies and tips for healthful living. There is also a resource page with links to organizations that offer education and information on celiac disease and gluten-free foods.

In addition to consumer sales, SensitiviTees offers a reseller program. For more information or to shop the line of graphic tees, visit www.SensitiviTees.com or contact us at info@sensitivitees.com .

Passover Is Becoming the First (Mostly) Gluten-Free Holiday by Michael Antonoff

Something magical happens this time of year for people with celiac disease: It's called Passover.

An important holiday for the observant, it's also becoming a great time for anyone to find gluten-free products in special Passover aisles. It's time marketers took notice.

Celiacs need to avoid certain Passover foods, of course. Most matzo, for example, is made from wheat, which they cannot eat. Regular matzo ball soup doesn't turn into gluten-free chicken soup by removing the matzo balls after they've leached into the broth, and a gefilte fish will be gut-wrenching if made with conventional matzo meal.

But finding gluten-free matzo ball mix or boxes of gluten-free matzo isn't difficult in early spring. And the holiday's dietary restrictions, which include avoiding leavened bread, have led manufacturers to offer numerous gluten-free options.

Shortly after Lent, my wife, Jackie, who isn't Jewish but is seriously celiac, begins to salivate over what the local Stop & Shop will be stocking for Passover. She says she dreams about a Jelly Roll Cake from the Oberlander Bakery Co., a Classic Seven-Layer Cake from Zemer Cookies & Cakes or a Gluten Free Swiss Chocolate Roll from Shabtai Gourmet.

There are potato pancake mixes, brownie mixes and several flavors of macaroons. A company called Yehuda Matzos not only makes gluten-free matzos but offers them in "Toasted Onion," "Cracked Pepper Crackers," and "High-Fiber" varieties.

But she knows from experience that her window of opportunity lasts only a couple of weeks.

Mintel, a market research company, estimates that the gluten-free food and beverage industry is now a $10.5 billion business. By 2016, it will produce more than $15 billion in annual sales. According to Mintel, "some 24% of consumers currently eat, or have someone in their household who eats, gluten-free foods. Perceptions of gluten-free foods have moved from being bland, boring substitutes for gluten-containing products to everyday items that appeal to those with and without a gluten allergy. Three quarters (75%) of consumers who do not have celiac disease or sensitivity to gluten eat these foods because they believe they are healthier, despite the lack of any scientific research confirming the validity of this theory."

All this attention to Passover and gluten-free by people who don't even celebrate Passover seems to have been lost on marketers. It's time for the grocery industry to subtly brand Passover as the first gluten-free holiday.

Presidents' Day has been branded a national sales holiday, Thanksgiving as the start of Christmas shopping, and St. Patrick's Day as a time for all-day partying. So, while recognizing that many people uphold Passover traditions for religious reasons, why not also brand Passover as the season of the gluten-free?

Courtesy of Crain Communicfations