What is wrong with society?

When did we just give up on what we put into our bodies? When did we, as a nation, decide it is just okay to advertise, solicit, promote, and push crappy food? I just saw an advertisement on the boob tube for Wendy's. I watched in complete disbelief and disgust that they are now offering a "VALUE" meal for the low low price of $2.99. This comes complete with a fat loaded burger on a wheat filled bun, a medium sugary drink, and an order of fries! WOW...thank you so much Wendy's for offering a crap meal for such a value. What would we possibly do without you offering all of us food that has made our nation fat, unhealthy, and full of food issues.
I know I sound like a complete preacher here, and I admit that at one point in my past life, I used to be one of those people that would've seen this deal as a VALUE! Amazing to me how my view has changed. I now see this deal as the worst thing any fast food restaurant could ever offer it's patrons.
Instead of charging less for your unhealthy food, you should do all of us a favor and raise your prices so only the elite consumers can afford your product. This way, when their arteries fill up with you fat, when they stroke out, and when they gain an obscene amount of weight and dependency on your crap food, they'll be able to afford the doctor and hospital bills to cure their ailments. Spare the rest of us your "VALUE" meals and call them what they actually are..."High sugar, high fat, high calorie, gluten filled slop"!
Back to my complaint...I can drive my car through the drive-thru window at Wendy's twice a day, and spend less then I do on healthy food. I am on a budget, and it's difficult to buy fresh fruit and veggies for my family, but I do. I find it insulting that buying the food I NEED to buy for my family is so expensive, and Wendy’s can offer slop food at deep discounted prices. What is wrong with this picture? It's not like I'm out buying crazy food. I'm buying healthy choices for my family, which should be the norm! It's like our society sees fresh fruit/veggies, lean meat, natural choices as being the "Alternative" way to eat. Again, I'm buying the food that my kids need to grow and be healthy. I'm doing the responsible thing by watching my children's fat intake. Watching the snacks and calories on a daily basis. Yet, I end up paying out the nose for being responsible. I just don't get it.

It's official that I am now that crazy activist Mother on a mission to keep her kids healthy!

That's it for now...Have a great gluten free and HEALTHY night!

Susan :)
The Celiac Shack ~ Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

Bone Problems in Kids With Celiac Disease may be Reduced by Gluten-free Diet

A new study has said that gluten-free diet can affect recovery of children with celiac disease (CD), an inherited intestinal disorder characterized by life-long intolerance to the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley.

Although CD can be diagnosed at any age, it commonly occurs during early childhood (between 9 and 24 months). Reduced bone mineral density is often found in individuals with CD.

Now, the new article in the journal Nutrition Reviews examines the literature on the topic.

Metabolic bone disease remains a significant and common complication of CD. Reduced bone mineral density can lead to the inability to develop optimal bone mass in children and the loss of bone in adults, both of which increase the risk of osteoporosis. There also exists an additional risk of fracture in people with CD.

However, evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet (GFD) promotes a rapid increase in bone mineral density that leads to complete recovery of bone mineralization in children.

A GFD improves, although rarely normalizes, bone mineral density in adults. Children may attain normal peak bone mass if the diagnosis is made and treatment is given before puberty, thereby preventing osteoporosis in later life.

Also, nutritional supplements consisting of calcium and vitamin D seem to increase the bone mineral density of children and adolescents with CD.

"Our findings reinforce the importance of a strict gluten-free diet, which remains the only scientific proven treatment for celiac disease to date," the authors conclude.

"Early diagnosis and therapy are critical in preventing celiac disease complications, like reduced bone mineral density," they added.

(Source-ANIRAS)

Regards,
The Celiac Shack
"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!"

Travel & Leisure

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth

Have you ever heard of Little Bavaria and Zehnder's? If you have, then you know how cool Frankenmuth can be for a day or weekend visit. If not, you have to start combing your calendar for a date that you can pay a visit. It's a semi-annual visit for "The Jones Gang" because it is in our home state of Michigan and they have a rocking restaurant that has a Gluten-Free/Celiac menu.

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth is the heart of Midwestern hospitality. In its ten dining rooms, which can seat more than 1,500 guests, Zehnder's offers a full-service menu that features all-you-can-eat family-style chicken dinners, seafood, steaks, fresh baked goods and European desserts. Each year, Zehnder's serves nearly a million guests with the superb hospitality that has made it a world-wide attraction.

Dinners range from $15.25 to $21.50, with children's portions and special event menus available. The luncheon menu is available Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm. Zehnder's is open seven days a week. They are only closed on Christmas Eve, and for our annual employee Christmas party in early January.

It's a tradition the began 150 years ago when The Exchange Hotel opened its doors in 1856. The Zehnder family purchased the hotel in 1927 and the tradition of good food and hospitality continues today at Zehnder's of Frankemuth.

Zehnder's of Frankenmuth History

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten-free fun one day at a time!"

Kids Corner

Gluten-Free Kid

I recently stumbled across an awesome blog page written by a 12 year old girl named Alex. If you have any children in your home that have gluten issues, I strongly urge you to allow them access to this page. It would be a great way for them to relate to someone of their own age with the same problems they have. Her page is no hack job, it's slick, well written and has great information from recipes to personnel stories. I could learn a thing or two from her for my own page. Below is the introduction from her "Getting to know me" section.

"Hi, my name is Alex and I am a 12 year old girl. I live in Woodinville, Washington. I was really sick in third grade and missed 36 days of school. After a bunch of tests I found out I had celiac disease. It was very hard at first to have celiac but now it has gotten a lot better. My friends are great about this and have helped me through this disease. My family has also helped me a lot. Once you get used to having celiac disease and your friends start to know more about it this disease will be more like a little problem instead a huge one. Other kids who have celiac disease might think that this is really hard and might think that this is the end of the world, I used to think that but now that I have gotten used to it is just normal. I created this website so that I could share with other kids fun recipes, places to eat, great places to go on vacation, and to help out other kids with celiac disease."

Click on the link below to check out her whole page and make sure to tell her what a wonderful job she is doing.

Gluten-Free Kid

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

"Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

Pediatric Celiac Disease ~ What You Need To Know

If you are anything like me, you probably went through, or are going through a difficult time not understanding why your child is irritable, has problems eating, has increased crankiness, isn't growing like they should, and the list goes on.  I went through a period when I thought that I was just not doing something right as a Mother.  Why couldn't I figure out what was wrong with my child.  I should be able to determine what is wrong with my own child!  Well, the reality is that my child has a gluten intolerance, and there was nothing I could've done differently at that time because you just don't know what you don't know! 

I am well informed now on the issue of gluten intolerances and celiac disease, and I can tell you that making the change to eliminate gluten from our diets has changed our lives.  My son is a completely different little boy now, and I know I am doing the right thing for him so he will be able to have a happy and normal life. 

Listed below is a link that contains information about Pediatric Celiac Disease Symptoms that I think you may find helpful if you're contemplating what is going on with your child, or if you're trying to decide if you should attempt the gluten free lifestyle. 

Celiac Disease & Kids

I am a Mother, first and foremost, and my concerns are for the well being and safety of my children, and we have a lot of hands on experience that we'd love to share with you if you do need help or have questions.  Please feel free to contact us so we can help you, and if we don't have the answers, I'll do my best to see that we find them together!

Regards,

The Celiac Shack

Making gluten free fun one day at a time!

Health & Wellness

Funding For Gluten Free School Lunches!

The need for increased reimbursement for medically prescribed diets is particularly important. While schools are required accommodate such diets, they receive no additional funding to purchase the necessary foods.

Students with celiac disease are routinely denied access to their medically prescribed gluten-free (GF) diet because schools can't afford GF foods. Many products contain wheat as an ingredient or filler which can remove lunch staples as options for celiac students.

The only way to guarantee that children with medically prescribed diets receive proper nutrition and their medical diet is to reimburse schools for the actual cost of those meals.

A recent survey by the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) found in almost every state, students with celiac disease have requested but were denied GF meals. Cost was cited as the main reason schools did not accommodate the diet.

Please support students with medically prescribed diets and ensure funding to meet their needs when Congress considers the legislation to reauthorize the child nutrition programs.

Listed below is a link for you to personally help support this cause and to help our Celiac and gluten intolerant children!

School lunch funding

Regards,

The Celiac Shack
Making gluten free fun one dat at a time!