eating out gluten free

I used to believe that if i just didn't eat wheat, I was gluten free. Then I found out i needed to avoid oats, barley and rye. Anyhow a lot of breads that say "rye" are wheat plus rye. Then I started finding out how many places wheat and gluten are hidden- soy sauce, shampoo (!), envelope glue, sauces, whipped cream, oy! Here I was having given up so many foods I love (pizza, pasta, cake, sandwiches) and I was still eating gluten and not even knowing it. That made me really mad! Then, of course I adjusted.

Eating out has been challenging, but I have found a few places near me that have great salad bars (stick to oil and vinegar dressing to be sure you're not getting hidden gluten), no croutons, no crackers. One chain I have found that is extremely gluten-free friendly is Uno's. They have a gluten-free menu that includes, among other things, PIZZA! It still has cheese, and people, we shouldn't be eating tons of cheese, but as an occasional treat, once every couple months, it keeps me from falling off the wagon after watching everyone around me eat whatever they please all day long.

I think if you join their page on facebook you can get some coupons, sometimes really good ones like buy one get one free entree.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/UnoChicagoGrill

Gluten free book

Recently got a copy of G-free Diet by Elizabeth Hasselbeck. I'm not a big fan of her in particular, but it's a great book, really explaining what gluten is, the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and all the places it hides (including the glue on envelopes! Maybe that's what poisoned George Castanza's fiancee on that episode of Seinfeld...).

If you've got an autoimmune disease, it's worth trying a gluten free diet for a few weeks to see if your symptoms subside. I've been gluten free for over 2 years and I'm doing well. I'm not on any immune suppressants, my kidneys are back to normal, no pleurisy (water on lungs), no joint pain or fevers. Gluten free is only one of the things i'm doing, but it is the one that takes the most vigilance.

This is a great book, easy to read and thorough.

Enter today to win a copy of my book!

Oopsy! i should have posted this sooner, so I hope you see this today!
Enter today to win a copy of my upcoming book, How Can You *Not* Laugh at a Time Like This?

1 more day to enter! Win a copy of How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This? http://bit.ly/fNo2RB

Are you a big diet soda drinker?

Great article on the dangers of nutrasweet (a.k.a. Equal, aminosweet, aspartame):
http://www.libertynewsonline.com/article_301_29757.php