Our Food Free Advent Calendar

Growing up, I remember having those cute little advent calendars that had a little window that opened for every day of the month, complete with a little chocolate. Unfortunately, most of those calendars don't have gluten free chocolates, so I had to think outside of the box. This is the first year my son has been old enough to really grasp the concept of counting down to Christmas, so I decided to do something different and come up with my own version.

Diabetes Awareness: What Diabetic Bloggers Want You To Know

I've talked before on my blog about the link between Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes, and although we have been fortunate in our family to not be touched by diabetes, some people very close to me have been. This incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in children with Celiac disease is higher than for children without, and I think it's important for all parents of children with Celiac Disease to be aware of this additional risk. I was approached by Dr. Mario Trucillo about sharing this infographic about Life with Diabetes to help bring awareness to diabetes, I couldn't refuse. Created using tips and information supplied by diabetic bloggers, it provides some insight into what those living with diabetes would like the general public to understand about their illness.

Gluten Free Buzz (23)

I hope all my American readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving and for those who are braving the Black Friday crowds, stay safe and be kind!  It's just stuff!

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, I imagine most of the gluten free buzz will be about how to stay safe over the holidays. Here's the latest in research, product development, and headlines about Celiac Disease and Gluten Free. Click the links to read the full articles.

Wordless Wednesday



Batman sweater over Iron Man t-shirt with Captain America socks. Says the Hulk ones make him too angry.

Recipe: Gluten Free Butter Chicken Pasta

I was in the mood for pasta this weekend, but felt like something different. I saw the jar of butter chicken sauce in the cupboard and decided to try something new. I'm glad I did, because I think we have a new family favourite. This pasta has all the rich flavour of butter chicken, but in a pasta! A great way to introduce butter chicken to someone who may not be familiar with it, and a delicious twist on a basic pasta dish. Plus, by using a jarred sauce, this meal comes together quickly.

UNICEF Survival Gifts

The holiday season is upon us, but for some children, gifts are the last thing on their minds. Children around the world are struggling to survive, particularly I areas hard hit by natural disasters, war, poverty, or drought. UNICEF Canada works to help children by providing gifts of survival that can help improve the living conditions of children worldwide. As a parent of two young children, I feel that it's important to teach them about the importance of giving to those in need.

UNICEF has helped make this a little bit easier by coming up with a short 50 second video to explain how we can give gifts even to those we don't know. I've included the video below. I showed it to my 4 year old son and it helped open up a great discussion about how we can help others even from far away. We also spoke about the children in need in our own community, and what we can do to help close to home.

Gluten Free Weekly Menu Plan

This week's menu plan has some new takes on old recipes, but they're all delicious and easy to prepare. I'll be posting some recipes this week. Enjoy!





Monday: Butter Chicken Pasta

Gluten Free Buzz (22)

Welcome to this week's edition of the Gluten Free Buzz! Catch up on the headlines on research into Celiac Disease, new product announcements, controversies, and more. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some weekend reading!







The announcement that the Celiac Sprue Association recognized Omission Beer as being safe for Celiac sufferers caused quite a stir in the GF community this week. Read about the details at CNBC. What do you think?

Shop Local at the Vaughan Shopaganza!

I always like to support local events and small businesses, so when I was offered the chance to write a post to bring some attention to an event in my area, I jumped at the chance. Just for full disclosure, I am not getting paid or receiving any type of compensation for this. I just think it's a great event for a good cause.

Vaughan Shopaganza is an event that showcases local vendors, with 100% of admission fees going to Hospice Vaughan. Hospice care can be extremely important to those who are terminally ill.

American Medical ID Bracelets & A Contest to Win 1 of 2 $50 Gift Cards

Everyone who visits this site knows that my son can't eat gluten. His school bag, lunch box, and personal items are labelled Gluten Free. Still, I always worried about what might happen when all those labelled items weren't in plain site in an emergency situation?

In addition to my son being gluten free, my husband has a life threatening shellfish allergy, and I am allergic to Penicillin. As adults, we sometimes feel that we can advocate for ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes there are times when you can't advocate for yourself. A person in anaphylactic shock can't tell others that they're having an allergic reaction,  just as someone who may be unconscious can't let a doctor know that they are allergic to a specific medication. Having a prominent visual reminder can alert someone else to a specific condition or allergy, which can be lifesaving.