Faves from the Fest- Gluten Free and Allergy-Friendly Finds at the GFFA Fest

Once again the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest, hosted by Gluten Free and More, proved to be an amazing event that provided connections, information and so much food!  I look forward to this event every year as it provides an opportunity for the gluten-free and food allergy community to come together and enjoy two days filled with support and ideas for thriving on with food restrictions.  Companies from far and wide who get life with food restrictions share their products and knowledge, speakers provide informative sessions and the cooking demos detail great recipes you can recreate for delicious and safe foods at home.

One of my favorite parts of the GFFA Fest is finding new products and resources that I can eat with my family and share with my clients.  Here is my round up of some of my favorite finds at the Columbus GFFA Fest this year.

Fronana

When you have food allergies finding a safe ice cream can be challenging.  From allergen containing pints to the risk of cross contact, some folks choose to forego ice cream altogether.  At the GFFA Fest I met the men behind Fronana, the “Ice Cream for Everyone”.  It is made from bananas and free from the top 8 plus coconut, sesame and corn.  I sampled the Rich Dark Chocolate- it was so refreshing and tasty- hello safe ice cream!

Colette and Franks’s Gluten Free Goodness

I bake a lot from scratch because often times pre-packaged mixes are not safe.  One of my favorite finds at the Fest was Colette and Frank’s mixes.  Free of gluten, dairy, nut, soy and egg their variety of mixes including pancake and bread offer a great solution.  They also offered recipes to make with each mix- my fave was the banana bread made from the pancake mix- so moist and delicious!  While some of the mixes do require egg you can easily use an egg substitution to enjoy these delicious free-from mixes.

Delighted By Dessert Hummus

I read about Delighted By prior to the GFFA Fest and couldn’t wait to try this gluten free and vegan twist on hummus.  A young entrepreneur with a commitment to offering a healthy dessert option is using chickpeas in delightful way.  She has created dessert hummus in a variety of flavors- brownie batter, snickerdoodle, orange-ginger and chocolate chip.  My favorite was the chocolate chip and hope this brand, which is primarily available in the Northeast, finds its way to the Mid-West market soon.

I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter

My family has eaten I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter for years now, but at the Fest I learned that that offer single serve cups that you can purchase online.  You can get both the original creamy and the chocolate soynut butter in the individual cups- perfect for on the go snacks, travel and stocking your car with safe snacks for those just-in-case moments.

Speaking of travel, I had the privilege of presenting at the GFFA Fest on traveling with food allergies and Celiac disease.  It was so wonderful to connect with and talk to so many great people during my presentation.  And, I learned some new things from participants as well!  Love when we all come together to share and Thrive On!

Hope to see you at the next GFFA Fest!



Product Disclaimer:
Thrive On Consulting does not sponsor or endorse the products listed.  Nor has Thrive On Consulting been paid to include these products.  Products mentioned here are provided as ideas and suggestions to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Why You Should Attend the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest in Columbus, OH

In just a few days an amazing event is coming to Columbus, OH-  The Gluten Free Food AllergyFest.  The GFFA Fest, which will be held on April 30^th and May 1^st, is a must do if you are managing food allergies or Celiac Disease.   

I attended the GFFA Fest, hosted by Gluten Free and More, for the first time in 2015.  I learned so much and found so many great products- all catered towards those with food allergies and Celiac- I knew I would be adding it to my list of events to attend each year. 

Here are three great reasons you should plan to attend this weekend:

Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly Products Galore!

As you walk into the GFFA Fest, you will see aisle after aisle of products, vendors and companies all focused on helping those with Celiac and food allergies.  Get ready to sample great foods, discover new products and talk with companies that get it.  Some companies sample their foods and products and some even sell things.  Be sure to grab your complimentary sample bag when you enter the GFFA Fest and be prepared to leave with more than came with!

Education Sessions and Cooking Demos Throughout the Day

In between sampling tasty foods and finding your new favorite gluten-free products you can attend one of the many lectures or cooking demos offered at the Fest.  All day long chefs are cooking up allergy-friendly and gluten free bites in the demo kitchen.  You can attend a live cooking demo and then head to the lecture area to hear from medical, Celiac and food allergy experts on how to manage and thrive with food restrictions.

This year, I am honored to be representing my company, Thrive On Consulting and speaking on Traveling with Food Allergies and Celiac Disease.  My session will be the first of the day on both Saturday and Sunday.  I will be sharing tips and advice for traveling safely with food restrictions.  Come join me for an informative session just in time for planning that summer vacation!  And, one lucky attendee at each of my presentations will win a prize bag with great accessories for traveling with food allergies or Celiac generously donated by my partners at AllerMates, Allergy Apparel and I.C.O.E. Bracelets.  You don’t want to miss the chance to win these great prizes!

Connections, Community and Advice

When you have food allergies and Celiac Disease often times you feel like the outsider at an event- making special meal requests, brining your own safe foods, feeling unsure sometimes if the situation will be safe.  This is one event where you will feel at home and be surrounded by others who also have the same concerns and take the same precautions.  You will talk to people throughout the day- company representatives, chefs, fellow attendees- that all get it.  You will be part of the gluten free and food allergy community, and you will fit right in. 

There will also be people there to provide advice and support.  There is an authors booth where you can meet and talk to leading authors – and buy some of their wonderful books and cookbooks.   After my talk, I will be in the author booth to discuss any questions you may have about managing food allergies.  My friend, and fellow AllerCoach, Tiffany Monroe, who owns Ingredients for You,will also be at the GFFA Fest to talk all things food allergy- you can find her at the booth with Soodles Bake Shop, an allergy-friendly and gluten free bakery who will be serving up some delicious and safe samples.

Cannot wait to connect with you the GFFA Fest!

Safety Note: As a food allergy coach, a little advice to help you Thrive On at the Fest- if you are managing food allergies do still bring your emergency medications.  No matter how safe or comfortable you may feel, you should never leave home without your emergency medications.  Be sure to read labels and inquire about ingredients before sampling products as your allergens may be present in some of the products.   

Tami owns Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals managing food allergies.  You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Great Finds at the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest

When you have food allergies, trips to the grocery store can sometimes be frustrating as many foods you see contain allergens or are processed in a facility where cross-contact can occur.  Often times, I pick up a new package intrigued by what I see only to quickly replace it on the shelf after reading the ingredient list and realizing that it is unsafe for our family.  I had a totally different experience at the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest hosted by Living Without’s Gluten Free and More- it was like an amazing trip to the food allergy friendly grocery store!

The Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest, held in multiple locations throughout the year, is a public show that brings together vendors, speakers, chefs and members of the gluten-free and food allergy community for two days of sharing, learning and tasting!  I was at the show in Indianapolis on October 24^th and 25^th.  Aisles of vendors touting gluten free and allergy friendly items filled the Indiana State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.  I talked to so many great vendors dedicated to making safe and tasty products.  Here are a few of my favorite finds from the Fest to help you Thrive On with food allergies.

I.M. Healthy Granola

We love granola at our house and I often make it from scratch since what I find at the store is unsafe for us.  I was so excited to see a nut-free granola option! We use I.M. Healthy Soy Butter as our go-to peanut butter alternative so I was intrigued when I saw other products at their table.  They now have granola and it comes in four different varieties: Original, Blueberry, Apple, and Raisin Cranberry.  In addition to granola, they are also making variety of gluten free cornflake crumbs- just like bread crumbs but gluten free!

I brought some of the granola home and after only a few days were out!  My daughters have been adding it to yogurt and eating it plain.  It is great to know we have a safe and yummy option for granola!

Living Now Mixes and Pasta

Now Foods offers a number of food products under a series of four different names and their Living Now line is gluten free and free of the top 8 allergens.  They offer boxed mixes, grains, flours and a new line of quinoa pasta.  I spoke to the rep and he said that while they do offer other products that contain allergens their Living Now line is produced in a dedicated allergy friendly facility, and their products are non-GMO.

I got to try the new quinoa pasta and it was delicious!

Freedom Foods Cereal and Granola Bars

I knew about Freedom Foods before I attended the GFFAFest in Columbus, OH earlier this year as they sell their free-from top 8 products at our grocery store.  While in Columbus, I fell even more in love with these products as I learned that they test multiple times throughout the manufacturing process for the presence of allergens and that they source locally for ingredients.  So in Indy, I was thrilled to see new cereal options – including All Round Goodness (think safe maple syrup flavored cheerios) and Fruity Rainbow Rocks (think a healthy and safe version of Fruity Pebbles).  Freedom Foods is now also offering granola bars- a great safe option for grab and go snacking.  All of their products are free from: gluten, wheat, nuts, dairy, eggs, soy and sesame.

Brooke’s Mixes

Brooke’s is an Indiana based candy company that offers a line of cake, cookie and brownie mixes.  All of their mixes are gluten and rice free.  I was intrigued by this brand because so many people I have met that cannot eat rice often have an issue finding safe options as a lot of allergy friendly options use rice flour as an alternative.   These mixes tout a small ingredient list and are so tasty!  If you are dealing with other allergens be sure to read labels as the mixes are produced in a facility where other allergens are present. 

I had such a great time in Indy finding new products and meeting others in the food allergy and gluten free community!  I also had the opportunity to speak at the Fest on how to celebrate the holidays safely with food allergies and Celiac disease.  I loved sharing tips and tricks for safely navigating the holiday season.  If you missed it, don’t worry!  I am offering a special session this holiday season on how to keep the holidays safe.  You get a 30-minute education session on staying safe during the holidays, a holiday allergy action plan template, and 2 allergy friendly recipes.  Contact me today to schedule your session and be ready to safely navigate the holidays!

If you find this post helpful learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which helps families and individuals dealing with food allergies at www.thriveonconsulting.net and follow her on Facebook and Twitter