You either know what gluten is or you don’t. For the estimated 1 in every 120 Americans that have celiac disease and cannot eat gluten (or face dire, unmentionable consequences if they do), just eating, much less eating out in a restaurant, can be a nightmare. Since one of my best friends was diagnosed with celiac disease three years ago, it seems every week there is a new gluten-free blog, gluten-free product on my grocery store shelf, or new gluten-free recipe to try (gluten-free croissants, anyone?).
Even with all this media attention, 97 percent of celiac sufferers have not been diagnosed, mainly because it typically takes TEN YEARS to be diagnosed in the US! Celiac sufferers are usually diagnosed with IBS, depression, chronic fatigue, Crohn’s disease, and many other diseases before a proper diagnosis.
If you have or suspect that you or someone you love has celiac, here is a round-up of some of the best gluten-free blogs on the web:
For the latest gluten-free news (with an NYC bias) and product reviews, Celiac Chicks is it hands-down.
The Gluten-Free Girl’s blog muses on her love of food (with gorgeous pictures), going gluten-free, gluten-free life news and issues, her life with her husband (a chef who went gluten-free at his restaurant in Seattle), and their newest project, a baby! She is also on a book tour to promote her new book, Gluten-Free Girl.
Gluten-Free Goddess is another blog that combines amazing photographs, yummy recipes, and a very personal look at living a gluten-free life. And, to be honest, I so envy her life in a casita in the middle of the stunning New Mexican desert.
In addition to the increasing number of children diagnosed with celiac disease every year, many parents of autistic children are going gluten and casein-free (GF/CF) with much success, like Jenny McCarthy. On a personal note, I have a book club friend with a four-year-old autistic, non-verbal son that started speaking after four months on a GF/CF diet. Obviously, this isn’t the case for everyone, but the change in his behavior and speech was miraculous, to say the least. GFCF Mommy is a good place to start for celiac/autistic parents.
And for the international crowd, Gluten-Free South Africa has amazing recipes and product recommendations for gluten-free Europeans and Africans, including Bia Nua, a site that provides downloadable gluten-free/dairy-free recipes at a minimal cost. I’m still trying to find a gluten-free Italian blog as I am planning a trip to Italy next year, and I’m worried about what I will eat if pasta is a no-go. Any recommendations?













5 users commented in " Top 5: Gluten-Free Blogs "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackHello,
For your trip to Italy, I would recommend taking a look at the Italy Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide on the Celiac Handbook Website:
http://www.celiachandbook.com/italy.html
The restaurants here have been recommended by the Websites readers. Some are listed as “Ask for assistance” which means they don’t necessarily have a GF menu but are willing to work with you. Others are listed as “Gluten-free menu available” which speaks for itself.
Anyhow, good luck on your trip. Please feel free to submit any feedback to the Celiac Handbook Website.
All the best,
Chris James
Celiac Handbook
http://www.celiachandbook.com
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the recommendation! I will check it out. I’m still not sure how I’m going to handle the no-gluten thing while in the Land of Pasta, but I’m sure the guide will help…
Another great resource in Italy is a telephone # to call that will give you advice on celiac safe restaurants in Italy:
http://www.celiachia.it/ristoratori/892424en.asp
Hi! Thanks for the props! I hope that you saw our recent guest blogger article about eating gluten-free in Italy! Maria is an Italian professor and put together a guidebook for eating gluten-free in Italy.
Glad you found my croissant recipe and photo.
Have you tried to make them?
Good luck on your trip - Italy is an easy place to be gluten free!
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