Be Free For Me Blog

Are the holiday’s quickly approaching and you are starting to feel a little glum thinking about all of the sweet and yummy desserts that you will miss due to your gluten-free or allergen-free diet?

Well, fear no more, my sweet tooth friends! Shabtai Gourmet has come to our rescue!

Shabtai Gourmet has earned a spot in this week’s Favorite Friday sine they have such a wide variety of cookies, cakes, danish, brownies, cupcakes and rolls to make any celiac or allergen-free squeal with joy!

These products are too yummy to be true – plus they are Gluten Free, Casein Free, Lactose Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free, Corn Free & Peanut Free!

A few of my favorites are the Ring-Ting Cupcakes (Yes- these are like Ring-Dings for the gluten and allergen-free), the Swiss Chocolate Roll (these are like Ho-Ho’s!), the Raspberry Roll (a favorite with a tea or coffee break) and, my all time favorite, the Lady Fingers, that I use to make a phenomenal Tiramisu – make sure you check out the recipe in the BeFreeForMe website!

I have recently been making my own coffee each day to save money …and time, since I don’t need to stop at the coffee shop.

Plus, there’s something nice about brewing your own pot of coffee and leisurely enjoying your morning, while sipping a cup of fresh joe.

But I have to admit I am no coffee-shop barista. Nor do I have the time each morning to even attempt to whip up my flavored, mocha, cappuccino, fancied-up brews that are effortlessly presented to me at my local coffee-shop.

That is why I reach for Coffee-mate liquid creamer.

Coffee-mate has come a long way. It’s almost as if the Coffee-mate of my past has undergone a glamorous make-over.

Not just a powdery mixture anymore, my favorite is the Coffee-mate Hazelnut liquid reduced-fat creamer. On the back of the bottle it is clearly marked gluten-free and lactose-free.

Plus, if you visit the Coffee-mate website, you can sign-up to get some great coupons.

Relaxing, easy, delicious, time-saving and money-saving. Ode to good cup of coffee!

I need my chocolate fix. But I don’t consider myself a true chocoholic since I only need “just a little bit” to get my fix.

That’s when I reach into the side pocket of my purse and grab what I call my “bit o’ fix” –  Sweetriot gluten and dairy free dark cacao “peaces” that are dunked in dark chocolate.

I also like that fact that they are packed in cute little recyclable and reusable tins that sport artwork by emerging artists.

And the taste! These tiny peaces truly amaze me. They are so very, very small – yet the all natural and healthy ingredients make popping one in your mouth seem as if you’ve had your chocolate bar fix… without the guilt.

I’m not sure how the Sweetriot gang does it. How they can make something so small, taste so big. And at only 1-2 calories per fix I get to peace-out all day.

Love, Peace and Chocolate!

And as always…

Be Free!

This weeks Friday favorite is yet another snack. Snack time is a fun time, but can often be challenging due to food allergies.

I discovered Yumpeez about one year ago, and have been a fan since. These roasted veggie snacks, are made of, you guessed it… Peas!

Crispy, crunchy and best eaten by the handful, these high protein peas, cleverly disguised as a snack, are an unexpected nut-free, peanut-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free and high fiber snack.

I also like that these snacks are low fat and low-cal.

Yumpeez are available in two flavors: Dill pickle and Barbeque. My favorite is the Dill Pickle; it has just enough pucker to pack a punch and make an everyday pea something super special.

Available in 1.1 ounce snacking-sized bags on Amazon.com.

Simple, tasty and tiny enough to be discreetly eaten, Smarties are small – but mighty. Billions of Smarties rolls are produced each year. Placed end to end, they would span over 85 thousand miles which is more than 3 times around the Earth!

Smarties are owned by the Ce De Candy Company that started in England in 1932. These sweet-making folks sure are smarties themselves. Over seven years ago they took the lead in labeling allergen statements on their packaging. This is now a law.

I like Smarties as my “little” indulgence when I need a little treat. At only 25 calories a roll, with no fat, it’s a smart sweet treat. Plus, the way I eat Smarties, one at a time, enjoying every white, yellow, green and orange piece, I am sure that I burn off more calories than I am consuming. =)  So why not have two… or three?

Smarties are just plain old smart for the allergen and gluten-free. That’s my friends, is why Smarties take this week’s Friday Favorites honor.

The allergen statement on the Smarties website is straightforward and charted for easy reading. As noted below:

See notes below from the Smarties website allergen statement:
Smarties® and our entire line of products are free from most the known allergens, and they do not appear anywhere in our manufacturing facilities. Our new item, Bubble Gum Smarties®, may contain minute traces of soy lecithin.
We sell our products to many different classifications of trade, including “re-baggers.” A “re-bagger” buys products from many different companies and re-bags them in their own packaging. We cannot verify whether their manufacturing plants are free of nuts, soy, etc. If the UPC number on the packaging begins with “0 11206”, you can be assured that it was manufactured in one of our facilities and that it is allergen free.
Gluten Statement
Smarties® and our entire line of products are gluten free. If the UPC number on the packaging begins with “0 11206”, you can be assured that it is manufactured in a facility that is gluten free and safe to eat if you have Celiac Disease.
All Ce De Candy, Inc. products contain no dairy, thereby eliminating the ingredient Melamine.

I love apples. But sometimes, it’s hard to carry around the real deal.

That’s why (as you have all have heard in the past) how I like to reach for dried apples, or other dried fruits, for those times when I need a quick and easy fruit snack.

Last month I found another favorite dried fruit at the Natural Products Expo is Boston. Yoga Chips. They are made from the highest quality USDA certified organic Fuji apples.

These snacks are also 100% fat-free and bursting with real apple flavor. My favorite is the Apple Cinnamon; but they also come in Original, Caramel, Peach and Strawberry.

These are perfect for snacks on the go, and in essence put a little bit of calmness in my hectic days!

The chill is in the air here in New England, and, as I write this blog, I am enjoying my mid-day cup of tea which is nestled in my hands between thoughts as I type away at my keyboard.

Every once in awhile I like to enjoy what I call a “fun cup of tea”, something flavored… whether it be sweet, spicy or flowery. But if you are gluten-free it is important to know if barley malt or other flavorings that contain gluten have been added.  

This is where Bigelow Tea comes in… they’ve made it super easy for all us on a gluten-free diet by offering up a whole gluten-free product page on their website. The teas can be found in most grocery stores, or purchased directly on-line through their website.

Besides the stand-by Earl Grey and Green Tea, my favorite “fun” flavors are the Ginger Snappish, Sweetheart Cinnamon, and the Spiced Apple Cider Herb Tea.

Grab a cup, relax, sit back , take a sip and enjoy… Gluten-free!

One of the best ways to keep germs at bay, especially during flu and cold season, is to wash your hands – a lot! But sometimes good old soap and water is not around to do the job.

This is when I reach for a hand sanitizer. I was using the regular alcohol based version, found at most grocery and department stores, but then I found an alcohol-free sanitizer at the Natural Product Expo that really caught my eye. I like it so much I wanted to spread the word!

Found in travel sizes for your purse or backpacks, or regular sizes for home and office, The Dragonfly Organix Alcohol-free Hand Sanitizer is not only environmentally friendly, but free of alcohol, petroleum, fragrance and fragrance oils – which can often cause allergic reactions.

I really liked this hand sanitizer because it offers an extended germ protector, which alcohol based sanitizers do not. Plus the Dragonfly Hand Sanitizer makes my skin feel soft and smooth – not dried out and rough, like they do after using the alcohol based sanitizers. The way I look at it, if I’m going to use a hand sanitizer numerous times throughout the day, I want one that is going to give me extra protection, while moisturizing and conditioning my skin at the same time. 

Want to try the Dragonfly Hand Sanitizer? Check out the Garden Guys website to purchase the Dragonfly Hand Sanitizer in all sizes (8-ounce Foaming Pumps, 100-wipe canister and travel sizes).

Be Well and Be Free!

At the Natural Product Expo East, that took place in Boston from September 23 – 26th, I discovered many, many new products that the BeFreeForMe member’s just need to hear about!

I was pleasantly surprised at how many “fun” gluten and allergen-free products I found at the show that catered to kids. The marketing and the packaging of these products are outstanding, and for the most part, make gluten and allergen-free products for kid’s mainstream. Following are a few of the phenomenal kid’s products I found:

Ian’s Maple Sausage & Egg Waffle Sandwich: (Wheat, Gluten, Milk, Casein & Nut Free): Although this product is made for the kids – it is delicious and substantial enough for a big kid like me! Ian’s, as always, hit yet another homerun with this product. Quick, easy and microwavable – this delicious & nutritious sandwich quickly becomes a “solution” during those hectic mornings! (P.S. Ian’s has some other awesome products coming up in the near future – I will share more once these new products are available). Get Ian’s coupons here.

Revolution Foods Mashups Squeezable Fruit: This 100% organic unsweetened fruit puree is gluten free and has no trans fats or high fructose syrup. Basically this is squeezable, eatable fruit – that is ideal for the lunchbox or on the go snacking. Cool to eat, and good for you too. At 50-60 calories per pouch – these may be the hippest snacks for the Moms too.

Organic B.R.A.T. Tummy-Soother: (Gluten, Lactose, Soy, Corn and Casein free) This product, which was voted the Most Innovative Product at Natural Product Expo East, is designed to naturally promote electrolyte balance to aid in childrens re-hydration. Packed with calcium and vitamins it helps build strength and promote health. The four flavors are all gluten, corn, soy and preservative free. Although the B.R.A.T. (banana, rice, apples, toast) diet has traditionally been used for when people get sick, this product taste so good, and is nutritious enough to be enjoyed on a regular basis. I think this product would be perfect for those kids that are recently diagnosed with celiac, and have a hard time finding foods that make their tummies feel well.

Peas of Mind: (Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Soy free – plus vegan) These baked crispy French fries made from real vegetables are delicious! The baked carrot fries, cauliflower fries, baked apple fries and the baked broccoli fries are a wonderfully sneaky way to get veggies onto your little ones tummies. Containing all organic ingredients,  these fries are packed with vitamins and nutrients – not oil and sodium like regular French fries. Can I super-size that?

Tasty Baby Frozen Organic Foods for Babies & Kids: These gluten free baby foods, and perfect for the gluten-intolerant. Although they are packaged for babies these products also are great for the whole family in smoothies, recipes and snacks.

Breakfast can be tough on a gluten-free diet. We all know that you just can’t reach for the basic breakfast items that everyone else in the world is eating. Sometimes it’s hard just to keep up.

On the days that I make myself a bigger breakfast, I reach for Jones’ Canadian Bacon slices. Whether I am fixing gluten-free pancakes, waffles or eggs, the Canadian Bacon is gluten-free, delicious, and a perfect side.

My favorite breakfast special though is a McGluten-Free Muffin: A toasted Joan’s gluten-free English muffin, a fried egg and Cabot cheese, all topped with a slice of the Jones’ Canadian Bacon.

Now that’s what I call keeping up with the Jones’.