Date/Time: February 11th from 1-2 PM
Location: Gluten Free RN Office, 215 SW 4th St., Corvallis, OR
Cost: $25
RSVP: Please RSVP through Nadine’s contact information
If interested please RSVP at Nadine@GlutenFreeRN.com

The Affair of the Heart is a free evening for women that’s all about you, your health, your style, your grace, and your community! This will be a fun night with lots of great information, products, and events!

Tammy’s book is  NOT ANOTHER GLUTEN FREE BAKING BOOK, but a unique, gluten-free cookbook with everyday recipes that mix simple, home-style cooking with great taste and real whole food ingredients. Every recipe is not only gluten-free, but also egg free, dairy free, soy free, white rice flour free, and bean flour free.

This will be an exciting and fun filled event! We hope everyone can make it!

Saturday February 25th – 10 am to noon
First Presbyterian Church – Dennis Hall
In Corvallis at the Corner of 9th and Monroe

In this class you will learn:

• The top nutrient dense foods and a breakdown of the nutrients they provide.
• How to include nutrient dense foods in your diet.
• What brand and type of supplements to take, and how to include them in your gluten free diet.

 This Class is Free! Please RSVP with Country Vitamins:

Country Vitamins

919 NW Circle Blvd Suite #E,

Corvallis, OR 97330

541-757-3170 or

Cvemployee@aol.com

Facebook/CountryVitamins.com

What is Wheat Germ Oil?
Most frequently used in cosmetics due to its high vitamin E content, wheat germ oil is known scientifically as triticum vulgare. The only oil that is derived from a gluten containing source; wheat germ oil is a fatty acid found in very small quantities within the small embryo of the wheat plant.

Is Wheat Germ oil Gluten Free?
Typically, when wheat germ oil is used it has been refined. The refining process in theory removes all gluten proteins, and therefore would make wheat germ oil free of any gluten proteins. Although it is likely to be a small amount it is possible for refined oils to contain trace amounts of gluten. These trace amounts may be left over from a poor refining method or from cross contamination that may occur during the process. We essentially relate this to a product that is labeled “gluten free” yet made in a manufacturing plant that also process wheat. These are products that we believe should not be labeled gluten free and most often do contain gluten.

Can Wheat Germ oil be Labeled as Gluten Free? 
There are no gluten free labeling laws in the United States. There are a set of “proposed laws” that state products under 20ppm gluten may be labeled as gluten free. Due to the low amount of gluten, these proposed laws would make wheat germ oil a “gluten free” product in the United States. Furthermore, the FDA states, “highly refined oils and ingredients made from highly refined oils are exempt from allergen labeling.” The US Department of Agriculture states “A benefit of refining oils is that the refining process renders them virtually free of allergenic protein”. This would then imply that wheat germ oil is an allergen free product, and exempt from all labeling laws.

Is Wheat Germ oil Safe for Celiacs?
According to celiac centers in the United States and Canada wheat germ oil is not a safe product for celiacs and gluten intolerant individuals. Here at the Gluten Free RN we are in agreement that wheat germ oil is not a safe product to use. We believe that using a product derived from wheat is too big of a risk to take. It is still possible that this product may contain a small amount of gluten, and we believe that any amount of gluten is too much for a gluten free diet. It is also important to remember that there are subsets of people who are both intolerant to gluten and allergic to wheat. These individuals would have a definite reaction to any products containing wheat germ oil.

 Identifying Wheat Germ oil in Products: 
Wheat germ oil is often found in beauty products and may be labeled as tocopherol (vitamin E). Although the amount of wheat germ oil found in tocopheral may be low, it is important to always contact the manufacture to insure their vitamin E is derived from a different source. If the manufacture does not know where their tocopherol is derived from we recommend finding an alternative beauty product. Remember any amount of gluten is too much!

 Wheat germ oil can also be found in edible products including chocolate, and other processed products. Our office has found that these products are labeled gluten free but not wheat free and do include “wheat germ oil” on the ingredient list. Currently we recommend keeping these products out of your gluten free diet. The manufactures may insist that the gluten protein has been completely removed from their wheat germ oil but we believe that is too bold of a statement to make. There are just too many unknowns about wheat, gluten intolerance, and the affects of wheat germ oil on a gluten free diet to allow it to be part of our diets.When it comes to wheat germ oil we will use our golden rule; when in doubt, go with out!

February 2nd, 2012 from 7-8:30pm at the Corvallis Public

Corvallis Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Avenue.

Blogs:
http://balancedbites.com/
http://www.grassfedgirl.com/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ 
http://paleoonabudget.com/
http://robbwolf.com/
http://www.thelazycaveman.com/
http://whole9life.com/

Books:
Primal Body – Primal Mind – Nora Gedgaudas
The Paleo Solution – Robb Wolf
The Primal Blue Print – Mark Sisson

Magazines:
http://www.paleomagonline.com/

Recipe Websites:
http://www.chowstalker.com/
http://www.dessertstalker.com/
http://www.elanaspantry.com/
http://everydaypaleo.com/
http://jensgonepaleo.blogspot.com/
http://PaleoParents.com/
http://www.primal-palate.com/
http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/

Recipe Books:
Elana’s Pantry – Elana Amsterdam
Every Day Paleo – Sarah Fragoso
Paleo Comfort Foods – Julie and Charles Mayfield
The Food Lovers, Make it Paleo – Haley Mason and Bill Staley
Well Fed – Melissa Joulwan

Please join us January 28th from 10 am – Noon at the First Presbyterian Church in Dennis Hall.

We will start with a short presentation and then open the room up for discussion, our hope is to get all the gluten free individuals in the Corvallis/Albany area to attend. Topics will include; menu ideas, restaurant hours, other allergen concerns, and any other restaurant related topic.

Please spread the word! We hope to see you there!

From Abby’s Website:

Abby’s Table at 609 SE Ankeny is the home of our weekly family style dinners.On Wednesday and Thursday we feature Portland’s local produce in beautifully themed menus that are 100% gluten, dairy and soy free. Our accessible, family style 4 course format offers omnivore and vegan options to please any palate.

Abby’s Table dinners are by reservation only. Doors open at 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday.  On Saturdays we feature rotating chefs and wellness focused dinner events, as posted on the calendar.

Abby’s Table is an ideal spot for private events of all kinds: reserve our kitchen and dining area for a rehearsal dinner, birthday party, cocktail party, cooking class or staff appreciation event. We enjoy hosting events and can create custom menus to meet your taste and budget. Contact us at 503-828-7662 or at info@abbys-table.com

Nadine will be presenting on a range of topics related to celiac disease and gluten intolerance.

The group meets at the Lincoln City Library – 801 SW HWY 101 Suite #201

For more information about the Lincoln City Support Group please email Tina Good at tgood.2007@yahoo.com

Where: Create a memory – Paint your own pottery 270 Commercial St NE in Salem

Telephone: 503-375-3664

 Link: creatememory.org

 When: Sunday, December 11 from 2-4 PM

 RSVP: Please RSVP asap with how many people planning to attend

Pottery pieces start at around $6. Cost of piece includes paints, supplies, and firing.

We will now be meeting at the Corvallis First Presbyterian Church – 114 SW 8th St Corvallis, OR 97333 in Dennis Hall. Our first meeting here will be Wednesday, November 30th from 6:30-8:30 PM.

We look forward to seeing everyone – This week we will talk about getting through the holidays while gluten free and goals for the New Year.

This talk will take place November 17th at Country Vitamins in Corvallis from 6:30 – 8:00 and is a free lecture.

Pre-registration via email: Cvemployee@aol.com

McMinnville First Baptist Church

Please RSVP indicating side (stuffing, veggie, …), salad, or dessert you will bring!

RSVP to susan.chambers@linfield.edu

When you RSVP, Susan will send you a form to fill out so people can do a quick check of ingredients! We want to respect folks with  multiple food intolerances!

Turkey, ham, bread and drinks provided!

Sunday October 30th 11am - 4pm

Bring the Family to Midway Farms for Fresh Apple Cider. Come out to the Farm and press cider with our wonderful organic apples. Just bring containers to fill & turn apples to Yummy cider with our apple press. It is sure to be a memorable experience.

For more information contact us at info@midwayfarmsoregon.com

Midway Farms is located at 6980 NW Highway 20 midway between Albany and Corvallis.

Walking into my first dining hall, still feeling wary, I was met by the Universities Registered Dietitian Tara Sanders. After explaining why I was snapping pictures of her beautiful eating area, she welcomed me with excitement and enthusiasm. Explaining that she knew the importance of gluten free options, she was excited to share all that was available on campus. Although we were unable to spend much time together she did point me in the direction to my first stop: Tomassito’s Italian Café.

Pizza!
Finding safe gluten free pizza can be an uphill battle for gluten free diners – Many pizzerias are now claiming to have “gluten free” pizza but not taking into consideration all of the cross contamination risks.

So at first glance this sign did not mean much to me:

However, after talking to the staff and management at Tomassito’s Italian Café it was clear to me that this café took its gluten free pizza seriously. They informed me that every time they made a gluten free pizza they cleaned their hands, the counters, and any area that they would use to prepare the food. They also assured me that there was no airborne gluten, they used clean utensils, and that all of the pizza toppings were safe from cross contamination. Furthermore the cook explained to me that all gluten free pizzas were wrapped in clean tinfoil and placed into a safe cooking area.

Above is a picture of their gluten free crust – If I hadn’t already brought my lunch I might have tried a pizza. Hopefully our office will be back soon to test the pizza for gluten and taste!

Sandwiches!
It is not a common occurrence to find gluten free sandwiches at delis. However, here at OSU I was excited to find several different café’s and delis throughout campus that offer gluten free sandwiches.

To my surprise almost all of the delis on campus offered gluten free snacks and carried Blue Monkey bread for sandwiches. Blue Monkey is a local dedicated gluten free bakery here in Corvallis,Oregon. For more information on their bakery please see our blog: http://glutenfreern.com/blue-monkey-bakery. I visited almost all of the delis on campus and they were all very accommodating.  They assured me that they would clean all surfaces, use safe utensils and do the best that they could to make a 100% gluten free sandwich. However, one concern that did present itself was the safeness of their vegetables, meat, and cheese. It was unclear if these items could be free from all gluten exposure, and cross contamination seemed to be a definite concern.  When ordering a sandwich my advice would by to ask for new products for your sandwich and make sure to explain how important it is that no gluten is exposed to your food.

Hamburgers!
I found gluten free burgers at a Calabaloo’s Gourmet Burgers. Calabaloo’s has two locations on campus (Market Place West and McNary Central Dining Center) and both locations offer gluten free hamburgers, cheeseburgers, turkey burgers, and grilled chicken sandwiches on gluten free hamburger buns. The gluten free buns are also from Blue Monkey Bakery and are of course delicious! To prepare the burgers Calabaloo’s has a grill that is dedicated strictly for the patties. However it is important to make sure that the staff washes their hands before preparing your burger and that all the condiments and fixings are free from gluten before they go onto your bun. Unfortunately, Calabaloo’s only offers gluten free burgers. Be aware that they DO NOT have a clean dedicated place to make gluten free French fries.

Grocery Shopping!

OSU just added a new beautiful building to campus on Western and 17^th. This building is now the International Living Learning Center that holds 312 residents, a study area, and Cascadia Market.

I was beyond excited to venture into this new edition of OSU and see Cascadia Market. This new marketplace was filled with all kinds of various gluten free treats. This small grocery store not only had great snacks, they had an excellent selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, gluten free cake mixes, and even some frozen dinner options.

*Please visit us on Facebook for more pictures of Cascadia Market*

Snacks!

Around campus there are several places to find gluten free snacks. From fresh fruit and vegetables to chips and Larabars there are great options available for snacks and treats. Some of the locations I found gluten free items include; Cascadia Market, Arnold Bistro, Bing’s Café, The Garden Deli, Boardwalk Café, Dixon Cafe and Clubhouse Deli.

Some gluten free snacks that I found around campus included; LaraBars, Food Should Taste Good Chips, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, Kind Bars, Blue Monkey Bakery Cookies, NuGo Bars, Kettle Chips, and other various items.

*For more pictures of my visit to OSU please visit our Facebook page*

Overall I believe the OSU has made an excellent attempt to accommodate gluten free consumers.  I only highlighted some of options that OSU offers – Here is a link to all of the dining halls that have gluten free food available: http://oregonstate.edu/uhds/dining/menus/gluten_free.php Although Oregon State has done an excellent job of putting together gluten free options, I do believe that their biggest battle will be educating staff.  With high turn over and few resources it will be difficult to assure that every staff member understands the importance of cross contamination, and what it truly means to serve gluten free food. However, I do believe that Oregon State has made huge strides in their dining services and that they are doing a fantastic job of accommodating allergies and intolerances. To make the dining out process on campus a little smoother here are a few quick tips – Happy Eating!

 Quick Tips:

• Talk with Tara Sanders, OSU’s Registered Dietitian. She is extremely knowledgeable and can help point you in the right direction.

• Remember that different staff could affect how your food is prepared and handled. Cross contamination is always a risk when dining out – If the wait staff seems confused or unsure about anything ask for management.

• When in doubt, go without. This is one of my favorite sayings, if you are not sure if it is safe then it is always best to go with a different option. I always pack extra bars in my purse just in case.

• We did not test the gluten free options here on campus, these are only recommendations and unfortunately we cannot guarantee any of these options.

• Good luck! Please let us know if you dine out on campus and how your experience was!

Go to the website to see what’s available and where you can get it locally or forward the link to a friend or family member who lives in a non-Living Earth Bakery part of the world. From now until the end of October if you use the coupon code “GFRN” you will receive 10% off your online order!

About the book
Warning, this is NOT ANOTHER GLUTEN FREE BAKING BOOK! It’s a unique, gluten-free cookbook with everyday recipes that mix simple, home-style cooking with great taste and real whole food ingredients. Every recipe is not only gluten-free, but also egg free, dairy free, soy free, white rice flour free, and bean flour free. Feel free to cheer!

In The Healthy Gluten Free Life, Tammy Credicott shows you just how easy and budget-friendly living a healthy, gluten-free life can be. By giving detailed instructions and a host of tips on everything from choosing quality ingredients to techniques on make-ahead meals to save you time down the road, Tammy will inspire you to step back into the kitchen and enjoy cooking again.

The Healthy Gluten Free Life is filled with over 200 mouth watering recipes for every meal of the day, including breakfasts, snacks, dinners, side dishes, desserts, and more. In addition, each delicious recipe is accompanied by captivating color photographs to help entice you to the final tasty dish. Beyond the recipes, The Healthy Gluten Free Life guides you on how to:

• Choose flours that work best for you & the recipe you’re working with
• Replace dairy & eggs in your recipes easily and without fail
• Differentiate between the multiple gluten-free flours and starches on the market, giving you the confidence to modify any gluten-free recipe you choose
• Create a week’s worth of school lunches that your kids will love and not be embarrassed by

Get the taste & texture you remember from your pre-gluten free days with the added health benefits of whole grain flours, limited starches, lower sugar, & real, whole foods! The Healthy Gluten-Free Life helps bring your family back to the table, food allergies and all!