Gluten-Free Baked Yumminess in the GTA

Avoiding gluten is different from avoiding wheat, although wheat is one of the “don’t consume” items on the gluten-free diet list. It’s a big issue in our family, especially for me.

Something to be aware of when reading labels on gluten-free products is that other allergens, such as corn or dairy products or eggs or even beans (including soy), are frequently used as substitutes for wheat gluten. If you or anyone you know has issues with any of those other ingredients, make sure to be careful with gluten-free labeling.

Glutino is a widely-distributed (both online and offline) maker of gluten-free foods based out of the province of Quebec in Canada– I’ve found it in most supermarkets and health food stores. However, they do tend to use dairy products and corn in most of their products, so it’s not a great option for me personally.

One of my personal favourites is Kinnikinnick based out of Alberta, Canada. Always read the labels though — some (but not all) of their baked goods can contain dairy. I’m particularly fond of their brown rice and tapioca bread. Like Glutino, they seem to have a pretty extensive distribution network and can be found in most supermarket chains as well as health food stores.

In terms of consistent safety, I have to say that Whole Foods — while the most expensive of the various product options — is also one of the cleanest from a gluten-free perspective. The down-side is that Whole Foods baked products are only available at their stores, and unless you live close to one — in no way a given in Canada — these are just not an option for you.

El Peto is widely available in Loblaws, Great Canadian Superstore and many health food stores. Accessibility is a good thing. On the down side, they frequently use corn starch (which can be an allergy issue, at least for me) as well as some multi-syllabic ingredients which I can’t pronounce and have to actually work hard to figure out what they are.

For a treat in and around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), falling under the OMG-it-tastes-sooooo-good variety of foods, check out:

1. I Can’t Believe It’s Gluten-Free! (available at health food stores across the GTA, but they don’t seem to have a web site) — great baked goods, but be careful to watch for dairy and sometimes bean flours. Their frozen baked goods are defrosted squares of heaven. I’ve found them at Evergreen Natural Foods (St. Clair Avenue at Bathurst) and Planet Organic Market (Bathurst south of Center Street) and Ambrosia Natural Foods (on Doncaster, east off of Yonge and north of Steeles).
   
2. Mollie B . Their pecan tarts are unbelievable. Up side is that they are gluten free. Down side is that they are definitively NOT dairy free. I’ve seen them for sale at Whole Foods (Avenue Road/Hazelton Lanes location) and The Big Carrot (Danforth Avenue a few blocks east of Broadview).
   

I’ll post more options here soon.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for ingredients which are not safe for a gluten-free diet, please take a look here at my sister site Feed My Kid!

Enjoy!

Product Recommendation: Lafe’s Natural & Organic Deodorant Spray

I stink.

I admit it.

At least, I generally smell if I don’t use deodorant. I’ve had lousy luck with most conventional deodorants and — up to this point — ALL of the alternative and less toxic options found in the health food store.

Until now.

Lafe’s Natural and Organic Deodorant Spray (with aloe vera) has no scent. It’s not an aerosol. What it is is a pump that sprays (5-6 times, as directed on the label) a very cool and non-sticky mist under your arms. I suggest that you hang out in front of a fan for a minute or so to let it dry. But once it’s dry … it works. In the summer. It’s even reasonably effective into day 2 without a shower (if you were so inclined) but you might want to do something with a scent in your pits by then (a.k.a. wouldn’t recommend it for public consumption. LOL)

Even the ingredients are mind-relieving:
= purified water
= naturally occurring mineral salts
= aloe vera
= potassium alum

The only question I really had was about the potassium alum, so I looked it up on Skin Deep as an ingredient report. SD gave it a “1″ on the toxic scale, which is almost as good as it gets (other than 0 of course!).

I bought it at Tutti Frutti in Kensington Market, but you can also order it online if you’re not able to find it in the stores by going to Lafe’s site directly.

My rating: @@@@@