There have been some interesting articles about celiac and gluten-sensitivity in the news recently. I generally note my findings on my Happy Healthy Gluten-Free Facebook page, but I notice Facebook isn't showing the love and sharing my posts very widely lately. (If you follow my page, be sure to share, comment and like the posts if you are so moved. That way, Facebook will show the info to more of the people who follow my page too.) Facebook aside, here are a couple of recent headlines:

Bad news

People with celiac, gluten-sensitivity and inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to suffer from migraine headaches. Sadly I researched this because I had to leave work with a pounding headache and nausea about 30 minutes after arriving this past Thursday morning. I’ve only gotten migraines a handful of times, but according to the research, it looks like plenty of us get them. I don’t know what the trigger for my headache was – I don’t think I was glutened – but the statistics are interesting nevertheless. I was really fascinated to see that those with non-celiac gluten-sensitivity were at a much higher risk than those with celiac or IBD.

Celiacs are twice as likely to have heart disease. Darn it! It makes sense though – increased inflammation can’t be good for any major body system, which makes sticking to a strict gluten-free diet imperative for those of us who have to.

Good news

Celiacs are less likely to get colon cancer, especially if they are on a strict gluten-free diet. I love good news! Add this to other findings that celiacs are less likely to get breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer. I think that calls for some celebratory cauliflower crust pizza tartlets! (This recipe will be featured soon in the Reading Eagle newspaper – Awesome!)

Regardless of the medical studies, those of us with celiac or other gluten-related challenges do ourselves the biggest favor by being attentive to our overall health by eating a gluten-free diet, reducing inflammation, exercising regularly, and maximizing our happiness. 

And maybe these coupons I spotted will add to your happiness!

$1 off Udi’s products: http://shop.udisglutenfree.com/special-offers

Bob’s Red Mill $1 off coupon: http://www.bobsredmill.com/get-a-coupon.html

Enjoy!

Don't jump to any conclusions. I know this recipe may sound weird. I thought so too at first. I was motivated though to create an alternative breakfast option. A friend of a friend and I started exchanging Xocai chocolate recipes. I regularly drink the [insert flashing product placement alert here!] Xocai Extreme Chocolate High Antioxidant Shake for breakfast. Usually I have it naked. Sometimes I add kale. Sometimes I add strawberries or bananas. But sometimes I want to eat my breakfast with a spoon. I also like keeping things raw. This recipe combines speed, rawness, chocolate, and a spoon. Awesome, right? The oats soak up the liquid so they don't need to be cooked. The result is kind of like pudding, but it's under 250 calories. It's a great afternoon snack too.

Gluten-free Overnight Oats

1/3 cup Gluten-free rolled oats. I use Trader Joe's.
2/3 cup almond milk (or whatever you like to use as a milk thing)
1 Tablespoon powdered peanut butter (PB2 or Just Great Stuff both make it)
1 scoop (1/4 cup) Xocai Extreme Chocolate Protein Powder

Thoroughly combine all the ingredients in a cereal or other small bowl. Cover and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight, giving the oats enough time to soak in the almond milk and soften. Eat chilled for a fast breakfast or a delicious and healthful afternoon or evening snack. Makes one serving.

245 calories, 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber. Eat it. Love it.

The Philadelphia Flower Show is a Philadelphia institution, usually held the first week in March, and is a much-awaited herald-er of Spring. It has been an especially cold and snowy winter here, so I expect people are chomping at the bit to get there and see some beautiful and artistic floral offerings. (If you want to join the 2014 gluten-free Flower Show meet-up, check it out here: http://www.meetup.com/Gluten-free-in-Delaware-County/events/167490402/)

250,000 people come to the show. That means that, statistically speaking, thousands of people with celiac and thousands and thousands of people with gluten intolerance will be descending on the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and will, undoubtedly, want to eat something.

If you are like me, you don't want to spend your Flower Show viewing hours waiting in line to get something to eat that's not very entertaining. And you don't want to spend a ton of money. A couple of years ago, I put together this list of inexpensive places that are not too far away but which might be far enough to be free from the crush of Flower Show visitors.

That said, if you are staying in town and have time to be leisurely, check out any Center City Stephen Starr restaurant or Garces restaurant. I haven't met a Starr or a Garces that couldn't well-accommodate my gluten-free and vegetarian self. I've also heard wonderful things about chef Marcie Turney's places, and they are definitely on my must-eat list for 2014. I also want to try Zavino this year! I've heard many good things about their gluten-free pizza.

This post, however, is about where to eat if you want to stay REALLY close to the Convention Center, eat pretty cheap, and get back to the show. Almost guaranteed, if you go at normal mealtime hours, you will wait. And have a hard time finding a place to sit. So, pack a snack to tide you over and eat your meals at weird times to maximize happiness and success. Also know that the Flower Show is THE BUSIEST time of the year for all of these restaurateurs, and if you are super sensitive to gluten or worry about cross contamination, you should definitely pack your own food in and just know that you are there to see the Flower Show.

Reading Terminal Market: 

Beiler's Bakery is a Pennsylvania Dutch bakery that carries marvelous gluten-free sweet rolls and other pasteries that are separately wrapped and not prepared on site. Check their hours. Beilers is CLOSED on SUNDAYS and MONDAYS. Flying Monkey bakery also has gluten-free desserts that they make on-site. Their website notes the possibility of cross-contamination, so no guarantees for those of us with celiac. I have not eaten there and cannot vouch for their food handling techniques.

12th Street Cantina has been able to accommodate my gluten-free vegetarian requests quite well, though I usually get a black bean salad. It's tasty, filling and reasonably priced and has it's own seating, which is a big plus.

I ate at Nanee's Kitchen last year during the show. So nice to have some interesting food options! They have a number of gluten-free signs up but I was a little concerned about the proximity of the naan to the gluten-free chana masala. They've also been mentioned on Glutenfreephilly.com also, so definitely worth checking out.

You can find miscellaneous eats at the Fair Food Farmstand, which has awesome local offerings in produce and cheese that you really should go and appreciate. I've gotten amaranth bread there, plus my first paw paw. Iovine's Produce and OK Produce are also right there for fruit, veggies, nuts, and dried fruit on the run. I always stop in to one of these places daily during the show to get a load of produce to enjoy during my Flower Show shifts.

Across the Street:

Maggiano's Little Italy is at 12th and Filbert. I understand that they offer many gluten-free items, though I haven't eaten there personally.

Panera opened a location at the corner of 12th and Arch in this past year. I have eaten at a number of Panera's just fine -- mostly salad and/or the black bean soup, if they are offering it. The black bean soup has no gluten-containing ingredients (From their nutrition website today, though their allegen statement was clearly written by lawsuit-averse lawyers: water, black beans [may contain soy], onions, celery, vegetable base [cooked vegetables {carrot, celery, onion}, tomato paste, corn oil, yeast extract, potato flour, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, natural flavoring], red peppers, modified food starch, salt, spices, lemon juice, garlic powder). Make sure you tell them that you are gluten-free and that they should not put a roll anywhere near your food and give you the apple instead. I would definitely not go here during their busy times in order to give them a fighting chance of getting it right.

I hope this has given you some leads about where to eat when you come to the Convention Center. Have a healthy and happy trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show! We all need some spring! (Look for me at the Gardener's Studio, where I'll be stationed this week.)