Tag Archives: celiac disease jacksonville gluten free

May 23, 2013 · 5:05 pm

Epik Burger: Worth the Splurge

I would like to think I eat relatively healthy. A majority of my diet is made up of lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables. However, every now and then a girl needs to splurge. That is exactly what I did when I had lunch at Epik Burger.

Epik Burger is the first of its kind in Jacksonville. They offer gluten free burgers, buns, desserts, onion rings and fries. They are located on Atlantic Blvd right where Girvin runs into Atlantic. I have no idea what part of town that is considered, but it is about 5 minutes East of 2-95. It is not really close to a major area where they might get foot traffic or a lot of drive bys; it is definitely a place you have to know about.

They are super nice there! I asked a lot of questions and found out that all of their fryers are gluten-free (including those that they cook onion rings in). Their onion rings are beer battered with Redbridge beer and gluten free flour. They also have a separate toaster for the gluten free buns. The atmosphere reminded me of something we see in Chicago; clean and contemporary.

They offer a lot of different burger options, including vegetarian, chicken, tuna and the beef is all grass fed. You can order a fast food size or restaurant size burger depending on your hunger. I especially love how everything is marked vegan, vegetarian or gluten free. They have quite a menu. Prices are reasonable, however there is a $2.00 upcharge for a gluten-free bun.

We ordered

Restaurant size gluten-free Le Steakhouse Burger. It had sauteed onions, grass fed beef and cornichons (pickles). So tasty and flavorful, but a little greasy.

Restaurant size gluten- free Epik Burger. It had pancetta, brie, lettuce, tomato, onion, cornichons, and basalmic mayo. This is a beautiful burger. Full of color and flavor. My boyfriend ordered this and I was really envious. He loved it; he ate it all!

Ahh, gluten- free french fries. There are not many restaurants that serve fries that are TRULY gluten-free so I had to get these. I loved the large chunks of salt and pepper and it was a great portion to share, not too big, not too small.

Gluten- free Beer Battered Onion Rings. This was the highlight of my day. I was never a big onion ring person, however, since my diagnosis of Celiac disease I jump at the opportunity to indulge safely. They were awesome. They were flakey and not too chewy. While there was a tiny bit of oil residue, it was light and seasoned perfectly with salt and pepper. I never wanted these onion rings to end…

The food was amazing! However, I felt like I needed to go run a marathon to burn off the calories; but it was worth every second. While I didn’t order the Epik Burger I really wish I did. Some other things:
- They are environmentally friendly. They don’t have a lot of packaging and pretty much every container was recyclable or compostable.
- The wait for your burger is a little longer than I expected, but not too bad.
- The place seats only about 35 people.

I will definitely make this a place I go to as a treat, however I doubt I need to order fries AND onion rings. I highly recommend this place! Have you been? What do you think?

Epik Burger
12740 Atlantic Blvd Suite 105
Jacksonville, FL 32225

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Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, gluten free dining, eating gluten free, gluten free foods, gluten free jacksonville, gluten free beer, gluten free burgers, epik burger

May 6, 2013 · 2:11 pm

GlutenFreeJacksonville.com Helps Out a Local News Channel to Test EZ Gluten Test Strips

Recently Healther Crawford, a reporter for First Coast News, asked me to help identify some area chain restaurants that have gluten-free menus to test the EZ Gluten test strips’ ability to detect gluten in food. EZ Gluten test strips are created by Eliza Technologies. According to their website, these test strips are easy to use and help detect the presence of gluten in foods and beverages.

We went to three different restaurants- PF Chang’s at the Town Center, Chili’s in Jacksonville Beach and Mellow Mushroom in Jacksonville Beach to test multiple meals for gluten.

I had so much fun, it was like a progressive dinner with friends you just met.

Heather and the videographer, Ed, were so fun and I really enjoyed their company.

We ate:

Spicy chicken and beef and broccoli at PF Chang’s.
Loaded baked potato soup, spicy chicken and sausage soup, margarita chicken with rice and beans and mashed potatoes at Chili’s
Bards beer and gluten-free pepperoni pizza at Mellow Mushroom Jacksonville Beach.

The results: the mashed potatoes at Chili’s tested positive for gluten. To the credit of Chili’s, they do have a disclaimer on their gluten-free menu.

After our testing, we made our way to my kitchen!

Ed and Heather actually came to my house, tested food in my pantry and took a look inside my fridge.

My thoughts on the night:

1. Each test takes 20 minutes. I seriously doubt many people will have the patience to wait 20 minutes to eat their food while they are waiting on the test results to come in. Their website states 10 minutes, but each kit we used took 20 minutes from start to finish.

2. The kits are quite expensive. You can purchase 2 for $25 or 5 for $60 off the website.

3. There may be some testing errors. This was the first time any of us have ever used the kits and we only sampled one part of the food. The kit allows for a small sample, so to test multiple parts of the food would take the use of multiple kits. For the purposes of the report it was not practical to use multiple kits to test more than one part of the food. However, every effort was made to include as much of the food in the small testing spoon that came with the kit.

4. If you are using these test strips in a public place, you will get some interesting looks. The kit has a few stages you have to complete that involves mixing and letting things sit for certain amounts of time.

5. There still may trace amounts of gluten that the kit doesn’t account for. It tests as low as 10ppm.

Read the Full Story Here

Have you ever used these kits before? What are your thoughts?

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Gluten-Free Guide to THE PLAYERS

One of my favorite weeks in Jacksonville is coming up: THE PLAYERS. I love the social aspect of this event, running into old friends and walking around to all the different areas is fun. I do make time for the golf too, I like to watch the rush of people following the leaders and celebrities and I enjoy watching the golfer’s attempts at 17. This year they have added new venues and healthy food options.

I was recently invited to participate in a tasting at TPC Sawgrass. They wanted to share some of their new menu items for THE PLAYERS coming up May 6-12th. Included in these offerings are gluten-free and vegan sandwiches and other food. They are trying to go beyond hot dogs and hamburgers by incorporating fresher foods and healthier options. THE PLAYERS has really tried to capitalize on the social aspect of the tournament as well as improving the fan experience. In addition, they have heard a lot of feedback that people want more options and healthier food.

DSCN1563

Upon arrival to The Patio, they offered us wine and beer. I was so excited to see that among the options was Omission gluten-free beer THE BEST gluten-free beer I have tried. During THE PLAYERS you can get Omission gluten-free beer at the PGA Tour Café.

DSCN1564

Prom Catering, the caterer for the PGA Tour, led the night by explaining some of the new dishes and their signature dish, Shrimp and Grits with a fried green tomato (not gluten-free).

The first item I tried was the Avocado Power Lunch on gluten-free bread. This sandwich Included avocado, tomato, sprouts, cucumber slices and a lemon aioli. This can be found at The PGA Tour Café. I really loved this. Not sure if this would fill me up at the tournament because there is no protein, however, I loved the flavors, the lemon aioli with sprouts and avocado was tasty.
Next up was the Chick’n salad sandwich on gluten-free bread. This can be found at the The PGA Tour Café. I really liked this. It is a vegan play on the chicken salad sandwich, made with chick peas instead of chicken. This was a little more filling than the Avocado Power Lunch.

Lastly, I tried the Bubba turkey burger on a gluten-free bun. This is served at the PGA Tour Café. I probably would have added some mustard or mayo to this but it was hearty and healthy and a great alternative to a regular burger.

Other gluten-free items served at The PGA Tour Caféat the Food Court:
- BLT with Turkey Bacon on gluten-free bread
- POP Chips (ooo I love these!)

Other gluten-free food and where to find it:
- Bubba burgers served on gluten-free bread can be found at public concessions behind Benefactor Tent at Nicklaus Gate, public concessions at the No. 5 green, The Patio at No. 10 tee and 18 green
- Gluten-free hot dogs (including the bun) can be found at public concessions behind Benefactor Tent at Nicklaus Gate and public concessions at the No. 5 green

Gluten-free food at Taste of Jax:
• Indochine – Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine from one of downtown Jacksonville’s most popular locales, plus gluten-free and healthy options;
• Metro Diner – Classic American fare with low-calorie and gluten-free options

Gluten-free food at Wine and Dine on 9:
- Enjoy Medure’s gourmet small plates in a beautiful garden setting also features the BERINGER® Wine Bar for a fine selection of reds, whites and rosés. Located left of 9 Fairway, there are also permanent restrooms next to Wine & Dine on 9.

For a detailed map and more detailed listing visit 2013 PLAYERS Course Map

Other cool stuff:

- Youth 18 and younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult – there is no limit. However, that policy does not apply to the tournament’s hospitality venues (The Benefactor, The Turn), where children ages 6 and older will need an upgraded ticket to gain admittance.
- The McKenzie Noelle Wilson Foundation Kid Zone, features a “GameTruck,” a putt-putt course, arts and crafts and more.
- THE PLAYERS will provide all active duty, Reserve, military retirees and dependents with complimentary admission to the tournament all week.
- Sunday is a PINK OUT, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness and mother’s day
- You can bring in your own food! They will allow (similar to Jaguar games) visitors to bring in food in a one Gallon zip lock bag per person- though no outside beverages are allowed
- Club 1791, named for the year in which Jacksonville was founded, offers fans a place to relax on comfortable seating, cool off while watching the broadcast on large, flat-screen TVs, and stay connected with cell phone charging stations and WiFi hot spots.
- Taste of Jax: restaurants include: Indochine, Metro Diner and Pele’s Wood Fire
- The Oasis – Located beteen 9 and 18 tee boxes, features the air-conditioned NOLET’S® Silver Lounge (for guests 21 and over), where signature cocktails, including THE PLAYERS Punch made with NOLET’S Silver, are available for purchase. This public venue also has food and drink for purchase. Features a rear deck for prime views of No. 9 tee.
- The Patio – adjacent to 16 tee and 18 green offers a larger shaded fan zone that includes open-air seating, a video board to keep up with the tournament and food and beverage available for purchase. The Patio features permanent restroom facilities.
- The Grove – Located in the area behind 17 tee and 16 green, is an outdoor, shaded area that is open to the public
- Food Court – Located behind No. 16 green – near The Grove – there are plenty of great, local restaurants to choose from in The Food Court. And there’s shaded seating close by at The Grove, so everyone can grab a bite to eat and meet up for a family picnic at THE PLAYERS. Restaurants featured in the Food Court include: PGA TOUR Café, Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q, Brucci’s Pizza, Firehouse Subs, MShack, and Tropical Smoothie Café.
- Two large-scale, permanent public restrooms located at The Patio and Wine & Dine on 9 (near No. 16 tee/No. 9 fairway)
- “Four for Free” Parking: Fans with four or more guests in a vehicle can park for free Thursday through Sunday with the “Four for Free” parking voucher. Fans can go online to http://www.PGATOUR.COM/theplayers to download the voucher, which allows free parking in the general lot off of CR210.

For more information about any of this see the 2013 PLAYERS Course Map

Or visit the official PLAYERS website

Do you enjoy going to THE PLAYERS? What is your favorite part?

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Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, eating gluten free, gluten free beer, gluten free hot dogs, gluten-free ponte vedra, gluten-free THE PLAYERS, gluten-free TPC

April 16, 2013 · 6:05 pm

Product Review: J. William Culinary Prepared Meals

I discovered J. William Culinary about two weeks ago when the Chef, Jay, commented on my Facebook post abut Ovinte. I went online to check them out and discovered they make meals in perfect portion sizes and specialize in fresh ingredients. They also have gluten free, dairy free and vegan offerings. I was intrigued and reached out to Jay to see if I could try some of their meals and share with my gluten-free friends. I was pleasantly surprised when they called saying they would deliver 5 meals for me to try. My boyfriend helped out with the tasting, however, he is the easiest person to cook for. He likes EVERYTHING!

After learning about J. William Culinary I reviewed their website and Facebook page; I seem to be living in the dark ages. They have been around for months and this is the first I have heard of them. Here is what I know of them from their website and Facebook page:

What They Offer: Wraps, protein bars, and meals for lunch or dinner (chicken, beef, fish, meatballs).

Nutrition: The wraps and protein bar are 240 calories, the fish entrees 300, chicken entrees 440, beef entrees and turkey meatballs 500, and the pork entrees are 480. They only use lean meats and don’t use dairy, so everything is low fat. Everything is gluten-free except the beef meatballs and wraps. They use no refined sugars, only honey, on occasion. And, there is no salt added to the meals. Everything is between 35-45 grams of protein, 25-40 grams for carbs, low fat and dairy-free.

Price: Meals range from $4 (protein bars, snacks, wraps) to $10 (Mayport Shrimp). Most are $6.50. They have free delivery to all of Jacksonville within the Duval County Limits, Monday through Friday for orders of $100 or more. For orders of less than $100, there is a $5 delivery charge. The ingredients containing gluten (couscous, bread crumb, wraps) are stored separately from other materials.

Preparation: The meals are fully cooked and vacuum-sealed. They can be microwaved for 2 minutes or simmered in water for 10 minutes to reheat. The meals are typically delivered fresh (unfrozen), but because of the vacuum sealing, they freeze very well. They will remain good in your freezer for at least six months. J. William culinary can arrange for meals to be frozen and left in a cooler for you or they can deliver them to your work.

Menu: The menu changes weekly, typically on Friday. Here is a link to the most recent menu.

Location: If you want to pick up your meal at their store, the address is: 2103 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida. Their phone number is (904) 899-2062.

In the news: http://www.news4jax.com/news/Gourtmet-meals-on-the-go/-/475880/18561440/-/h8hpjuz/-/index.html

The meals I tried included:

Roasted Turkey Breast with Spiced Butternut Squash and Corn Black Bean Salsa

This meal was amazing. I am a salt addict, but, I held off on adding more salt so I could enjoy the freshness of this dish. I love squash and it was sweet but not too sweet. It came with two generous slices of turkey. It was so tender I didn’t even need a knife. The salsa added a nice touch and there were green beans for some extra added veggies. I cooked this for 2 minutes in the microwave after making a small hole at the top. It came out piping hot. I couldn’t believe how much food fit into the plastic packet.

This is how it came out of the bag. Seriously. I did nothing to move the food around. I cut the top off and I just slid the food out and it looked this good! This paired nicely with a glass of Vinho Verde, my new favorite spring wine!

Seared Chicken Breast with Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Spinach Cashew Pesto

The cashew pesto really stole the show. Normally pesto has cheese in it, however, since his meals are dairy-free this is a vegan alternative to a cheese pesto. The chicken and sweet potato flavors all worked together so nicely. I took a nice bite of the chicken, sweet potato and some green beans and the flavors took my breath away. This was my favorite dish out of the five.

Braised Chicken Thighs with Red Potatoes with Lime Garlic Sauce:

I was in a hurry when I needed these. I had these stored in the freezer and didn’t feel comfortable putting it straight in the microwave so I stuck it in boiling water for about 15 minutes. It came out great. This was probably my second favorite. I loved the chicken. The flavors were fantastic, I really thought there was going to be a problem with no salt added. The chicken and potatoes went so well together.

Sorry, I didn’t get a picture of the prepared dish. But believe me it looked good!!!

Seared Chicken Breast, Spiced Black Beans with Charred Tomato Salsa.

This one I boiled in water too. Black beans and salsa is my favorite combo. I eat it A LOT! I liked the chicken thighs a bit better; I just really liked the tenderness of the chicken thighs. I also felt like this was something I could throw together at home. But it was good, satisfying and a huge portion. I can’t believe these are 500 calories!

Slow Cooked Beef with Grilled Vegetables and Smokey Barbecue Sauce.

This is a meat lover and/or paleo dream. There were no potatoes or starch ingredients. Along with the huge chunks of beef there were huge onions, peppers and zucchini. You definitely need a knife and some floss on hand. I kinda wish there were a few more vegetables because I felt that it was A LOT of protein. But it was a very lean cut of beef, I didn’t see one bit of fat. The flavors were delicious. In the future I may dress it up with some hot sauce.

This meal was enjoyed during my lunch hour so excuse the disposable plate .

The thing I like best about these meals is they are easy, convenient and the type of meals I would spend an hour or so making at night. The packaging is not bulky and there is not a lot of waste after preparing these meals. They were super easy to heat up and you really can’t beat the price. The meals I tried, though not positive, should have fallen into the $6.50 range. For something that is made with fresh ingredients and healthy that is not bad at all.

The one major challenge with celiac disease and eating gluten-free is convenience. Chef Jay has made gluten-free/dairy-free food convenient. I especially like that the store is not too far from work so I can stop by for lunch or on the way home. I am really looking forward to some of their fish meals.

What do you think? Have you been here before? What is your favorite convenient gluten-free food?

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March 28, 2013 · 6:00 pm

Ovinte: Gluten-Free Brunch

Recently I joined some of my friends for brunch at Ovinte Wine Lounge. Ovinte is the new wine bar at the Town Center. It is located in the same space as the old Original Pancake House. It in no way resembles the old space; it feels like a mixture of Napa Valley and New York City. I was excited to try it out because I knew they were gluten-free friendly.

They are known for their wine and tapas and only recently started serving brunch on Sundays from 11-4.

Their brunch menu consists of a varity of breakfast foods from omelets, cheese grits, pancakes, fritattas, platters and lots of yummy stuff. While they don’t have a separate menu, they do have all of their gluten-free items nicely marked on the menu. Some of the highlights included:chocolate bacon (not sure if this is gluten-free)

the salmon/lox platter, (gluten-free without crustini)

Frittata Giorno- (gluten-free). This is what I had. It was delicious. I was tempted to get the gluten-free pancake; it is on the menu as a throwback to the Original Pancake House.

Sunday Brunch also features $20 bottles of Prosecco with orange juice or cranberry juice. Perfect for sharing with your friends…

Everyone that was at our table loved their food. I was very envious of the Salmon platter, I think I am getting that next time without the crustinis. Ovinte has thought of every detail. I just love their glasses for wine and for water. The water glasses are actually the bottom of wine bottles. They are so cool!

They have an inside and outside space. Both include places to lounge on a couch with a glass of wine or sit at a table. Both have a totally different feel to them. We sat outside during brunch because the weather was so nice. The view is not much to be desired because you are looking at other buildings in the mall, however they have it designed really nicely; there are shrubs that give the feeling you aren’t in a big mall and they have a Bocce ball court. Kinda reminds me of lazy summer days on the beach. Their prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are under control. I definitely recommend this place for a gluten-free brunch. And though I have yet to try their tapas I have a feeling they are pretty good too.

Have you been here yet? If so what have you tried?

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Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, eating gluten free, gluten free breakfast, gluten free brunch, gluten free jacksonville, gluten-free ovinte, living gluten free, southside gluten-free

March 15, 2013 · 1:44 pm

Gluten-free Pizza in Jacksonville: Your Pie

There is a new gluten-free pizza place in Fleming Island, it is called Your Pie. Headquartered in Athens, GA this franchise is a cross between a fancy Subway and Mellow Mushroom. You actually stand in line and tell them what you want on your pizza and then they cook it in the brick oven pizza and have it out to you at your table within 10 minutes (give or take a few). Your Pie is based on the concept that we don’t all like the same toppings on our pizza so instead of compromising on toppings you can order your own. All of the pizzas are personal size,10 inches, and, according to founder Drew French, most are under 700 calories. For the indecisive diner, they also have some “favorites” on their menu you can choose from..

My favorite part about Your Pie is that they offer gluten-free and dairy-free options. Many of their sauces and toppings are gluten-free and they offer a gluten-free crust made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. They also take necessary precautions to avoid cross contamination. The concept of Your Pie was inspired by a trip founder Drew French took with his wife during their honeymoon to the island of Ischia in Italy.

Owner, Drew French shared the precautions they take for people with food allergies. They take 2 different approaches to gluten-free. If someone comes in without a severe gluten-free allergy they will just make it with gluten-free crust but process it on the same line with the other pizzas. If someone comes in and notifies them that they have a severe allergy (celiac, etc.) the staff will change their gloves and the pizza will be made in the back.. To avoid cross contamination in the brick oven they prepare the gluten-free pizzas in a special metal tin to avoid cross contamination (like in the photo above).

There is a $2.50 up charge on gluten-free pizza crust, however it still only comes out to around $10.

The atmosphere is lively and energetic and it is family friendly. But don’t fear- they still serve wine and beer in this family friendly environment. They also have free wifi- sweet! In addition to this location the franchise owner Mike Sims plans to open three other locations, one of which is scheduled to open in Tapestry Park in June.

The Lineage Pizza. This one can be ordered from their favorites menu. It includes traditional marinara sauce, mozzarella, green bell peppers, black and green olives, onions, mushrooms, pepperoni and sausage. There were a TON of ingredients on this pizza.
My favorite is the BBQ Chicken gluten-free and dairy free pizza. It was tangy with a nice flavor boost of fresh cilantro. I am a HUGE cilantro fan. In addition to chicken, BBQ sauce and cilantro they also added red onions. I really don’t have much to compare this pizza to besides Mellow Mushroom, since there are not many gluten-free and dairy-free pizza places. I really liked the fact that Your Pie makes all of their own sauces. The flavors of the sauce and gluten-free crust blended well together. I didn’t need to add salt or any other seasonings. The crust is thin and chewy and I loved it!

Even though I failed to get a picture of it The Nat is one of their most popular favorites. The ingredients include fresh basil pesto sauce, mozzarella, feta, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and grilled chicken.

My only concern is cross contamination with-in the facility. Even though they prepare the pizza in the back, those with severe allergies should proceed with caution and make sure to notify the staff of your severe allergy. I didn’t have an immediate reaction, however everyone responds differently.

Almost all of their sauces and ingredients are gluten-free. However the meatballs contain bread crumbs so they are not gluten-free. They have a full link on their site dedicated to their allergy information. Check it out.

gluten free pizza your pie fleming island

In addition to pizzas they also serve paninis, salads, sorbet and gelato. The sorbet is gluten-free and dairy free and when I was there the favors were lemon, raspberry, and blood orange. From what I have heard the sea salt caramel gelato is pretty amazing. Other flavors of gelato they usually have include Tiramisu and Butterfinger. The gelato is made with milk instead of cream so it has less fat and more flavor than ice cream..

gluten free pizza your pie fleming island
I tried the raspberry sorbet. It was AWESOME.

I am excited that Jacksonville is getting another gluten-free pizza place that really cares about providing a safe product for those of us with gluten issues. Is this some place you would try with your family?

Your Pie- Fleming Island
1545 County Road 220, Suite #125
Fleming Island, FL 32003
(904) 375-9771

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Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, eating gluten free, gluten free foods, gluten free jacksonville, gluten free pizza jacksonville, gluten free tastings, gluten-free desserts, living gluten free

March 6, 2013 · 7:00 pm

Gluten-Free Running

Last month I ran the Donna Breast Cancer Half Marathon. I have run half marathons before, however, I had not run one since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. I started noticing a difference in my energy levels about 1 year before my diagnosis while running. I would just feel so tired during and after running. Now that I have my Celiac disease under control (some-what) I have started running again and it feels great. Whenever I am feeling sluggish or moody from being glutenated, a run almost always helps me feel better.

I felt amazing after the Donna. Ok, I felt sore on Monday and Tuesday afterwards but nothing out of the ordinary. I really tried hard to prep correctly the week of. I took some steps prior to the race that helped me so I thought I would share with the hopes that you will share some with me!

Find a training program that fits you. I cannot run more than 3 times a week. I am 5 feet 11 and my body just can’t take running two days in a row. There are a ton of resources online to help you come up with a training program. I like programs that include a little speed work one day and cross training on other days. I like to do Yoga once a week while I am training for a long race, it helps strengthen and stretch muscles that get overused during long runs.
Avoid eating at new restaurants up to 2 weeks before the race. Try to make as many meals at home so that your body is healthy and stores up energy prior to the race. I can always tell when I have had gluten from cross contamination, the run is extremely hard and I feel terrible afterwards
Hydrate with water and sports drinks 2-4 days before the race.
The Day Before: No alcohol; drink plenty of water and sports drinks; Carbo-load (gluten-free of course) early in the day; layout your outfit; set out your race number and put the safety pins already on the number to make pinning it on easy; make a music playlist that keeps you motivated while running
Day of: Get up no less than 3 hours before race time; drink 16 ounces of water right when you wake up; eat foods you are familiar with (I like a banana and peanut butter toast). I think the goal is around 300 calories 2 hours before race time. Try to eat and drink with plenty of time to use the restroom (#1 and #2) before you leave and leave with plenty of time to get to the race – traffic is almost always an issue arriving at races.
During the run: Have fun- talk to people cheering; give high fives to spectators; take pictures of your surroundings; take water breaks at every single water station to help you stay hydrated and give yourself a little break; listen to your body and walk if you want to; set a goal for you not someone else; and start slow- real slow.
After the run: Stretch and cool down- ice bath optional; Enjoy the free beer (I have never seen gluten-free beer) or champagne at the end of the run
Don’t forget: Congratulate yourself! You did it! Smile! There is no better feeling than finishing a race you trained months for. No one can take away the fact you set a goal and achieved it.
A few site links that have offered me help:
a. Jeff Galloway
b. Healthy Tipping Point
c. Runners world

This weekend I am running the Gate River Run. Are you? Do you do any of these things to prepare? What are some of your tricks and tips?

Congratulations to Lindsay for winning the Tuttorosso Giveaway!

Product Review and Giveaway: Carbo-loading Tuttorosso Style

I love tomatoes. One of my staples when grocery store shopping is always canned tomatoes. I love them to make salsa, add to black beans, or add to rice with mojo sauce for a Cuban side dish. So when Tuttorosso asked me to try some of their products I obliged. Not only did they send me 3 large cans of tomatoes, they sent me a really cute apron. Call me a nerd, but I love aprons!

With the tomatoes they also sent some recipe cards. I decided to try the Italian Tomato Pasta Bake. It seemed very easy yet sounded delicious and I needed to carbo load for a run I was going to do the next day. This recipe called for their Crushed Tomatoes with Basil.

Recipe Overview:
Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

3 cups (8 ounces) penne pasta
1 pound lean ground beef (I used ground turkey breast)
1 small green bell pepper, chopped (I had a red pepper instead)
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 (28 ounce) cans Tuttorosso® Crushed Tomatoes In Thick Puree With Basil or 2 (28 ounce) cans Tuttorosso® Crushed Tomatoes With Basil

Salt and black pepper to taste
2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese (I did not include cheese in mine)

In addition to the ingredients the recipe called for, I decided to add some of the veggies I had around the house.

I just added them to the sauce and let them simmer with the meat and basil seasoning.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare a 13x9x2 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook penne pasta according to package directions. Drain well; cover and keep warm. In a prepared baking dish, brown ground round in microwave oven; drain well.
2. Add green bell pepper, mushrooms, TUTTOROSSO® CRUSHED TOMATOES in thick puree with basil and salt; mix well. Return to microwave and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from microwave and add pasta; mix well.
(Note: our microwave was broken, so I just cooked everything in a pan on the stove. It caused a delay in cooking time and dirtied an extra dish, but it did not impact flavor).

3. Cover and bake in oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

The finished product was delicious! My only suggestion is that you really should pay attention to the salt to taste. Mine needed a little more than I originally thought. This is one dish I will most likely be trying again.

Product Give Away!!!

One lucky Gluten Free Jacksonville reader will win a prize pack that includes: the cute apron I am wearing and an assortment of Tuttorosso’s canned tomatoes.

To enter the drawing comment on this blog post. The winner will be announced next week.

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Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, eating gluten free, gluten free foods, gluten free sauces, gluten-free cooking, living gluten free

February 5, 2013 · 9:10 am

Jason’s Deli Gluten-Free? Not For Everyone

jasons deli gluten free sandwich gluten free jacksonville I am a little concerned about what is going on at Jason’s Deli. I have been going there for a while now (frequently making my cover photo a picture of the gluten-free BLT with avocado) and am just now finding out that their gluten free sandwiches are not truly gluten-free.

jasons deli gluten free sandwich gluten free jacksonville

They have HUGE signs at the counter promoting their gluten-free offerings. Each time I go I ask if they are taking proper precautions while prepping the food and they usually change out their gloves and prepare my sandwich on a separate surface like wax paper or something. Last week was a day like any other, I ordered my usual gluten-free BLT with avocado and even noticed they now sell loaves of Udi’s gluten-free bread for around $12 or something. However, when I got my meal it came with this lovely “legal” notice.

What? AFTER I have purchased my sandwich is the time to spring this legalese on me? I just don’t understand. Didn’t we learn anything from the Domino‘s Pizza and California Pizza Kitchen debacles? Why even offer gluten-free at all if you are not taking precautions to make it available for everyone who is gluten-free. I just don’t understand why you would have something that is gluten-free when the people who need it most can’t even have it. On top of that, tell me on my sandwich that I already paid for!

I wonder if this is in response to dietary discrimination investigations going on around the country that are being spearheaded by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

I am very disappointed and feel like Jason’s Deli is taking the easy way out, when all they have to do is implement a few procedures to avoid cross contamination. Heck, they could even limit the number of sandwiches that are gluten-free. I am also sad that my list of places that are safe for me is getting shorter and shorter. Good bye Jason’s Deli...

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Filed under Dining, Naughty list

Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, gluten free dining, gluten free jacksonville, living gluten free

January 23, 2013 · 7:03 pm

Sweet Theory Baking Co.

Today, after being told over and over to check this place out, I finally made my way to Sweet Theory Baking Company. Sweet Theory Baking Company is a bakery near the heart of the Park and King District near Little Five Points/Riverside area. It is located between Park and Post on King not far from where you can get a gluten-free beer at Kickbacks or Beer:30.

I was greeted by the cutest little store front on a chilly yet sunny day. I went during my lunch hour so I did not have time to linger long. I quickly found the items designated with a (GF) on them and was overwhelmed with the options.

I asked the manager what she thought the most popular items were and she pointed me in the direction of doughnuts, cupcakes, cookie sandwiches and whoopee pies. All of these items came gluten-free except the doughnuts. I was a little sad, I have heard so much about these doughnuts but my mind was put to ease when the manager explained that the owner (and head baker) was still working on the right recipe. Good enough for me.

sweet theory baking company gluten free jacksonville In addition to the cakes and cookies and such, I noticed that they had some gluten-free savory garlic and herb biscuits. I can’t tell you the last time I had a biscuit. I decided to try that and a cookie sandwich.

The place was a bit quiet, it was a Wednesday during lunch time. I decided to enjoy my gluten-free garlic and herb biscuit in a cozy spot near the front windows and just chill. They had warmed the biscuit up for me and put on some soy free earth balance vegan butter. The biscuit was so satisfying. The consistency was different than a real biscuit, but the taste was awesome. It was flaky and at times crumbly, but not dry (definitely a mess to eat if you are on the go.) This southern girl was happy (can we get a gf/df biscuits and gravy?:)).

sweet theory baking company gluten free jacksonville

So I guess I should have eaten a real lunch before my visit, because after the biscuit I was wanting more. So I dug into the chocolate chip sandwich and before I knew it had eaten almost half. Very moist, chewy and HUGE.

While the biscuit was not a regular on the menu, the cookie sandwich is along with numerous gluten-free cupcake flavors from peach to root beer. In addition they had blueberry and raspberry flavored muffins as well.

As I was finishing up my biscuit and half of the cookie sandwich the manager explained that they also make ice cream (they only have vanilla for now, more flavors to come as the weather warms up) and they make a special treat called a Brooklyn Egg Cream which she described as a chocolaty and unique cold beverage.

Everything at Sweet Theory Baking Company is egg, dairy, soy and peanut free. They have some items (a lot actually) that are gluten-free and made in a designated gluten-free area with designated utensils. There is absolutely no dairy in this store. Even when ordering coffee (which is local-Bold Bean), your coffee creamer options were almond or rice milk.

Sweet Theory Baking Company’s sweets were delicious. I like them as much as Cookie Momsters. However, Sweet Theory Baking Company offers what I have suggested to Cookie Momsters numerous times, a place to linger. Sweet Theory is a place I could meet up with friends for an afternoon coffee and have a snack. I felt at home and as if I belonged. Sometimes when I leave Cookie Momsters I feel like I am doing something in secret because I go in, order and leave (usually enjoying my treat at the next red light as I drive back to work or home). I still love you Cookie Momsters but it is nice to have options in different parts of town. Now my wish is for a gluten-free/dairy-free bakery at the beach…

I will be back Sweet Theory Baking Company. Thank you for a lovely dessert lunch J

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Filed under Dining, Indulging

Tagged as celiac disease jacksonville gluten free, cookie momsters, eating gluten free, gluten free bakery in jacksonville, gluten free blogs, gluten free jacksonville, gluten-free desserts, happy gluten free, living gluten free, sweet theory baking company

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