Archive for Food
Gluten-Free Treats and Snacks in the Classroom
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Earlier this month, I mentioned in my review of Mi-Del cookies that I give my kids’ teachers a small care package of gluten-free snacks at the beginning of the year for them to store in the classroom for my kids. These are not meant to be the snacks that my kids get to eat everyday. (I send my kids to school each day with gluten-free snacks and lunch.) The snacks in this care package are there for backup reasons because sometimes snacks and treats are offered in the classroom that aren’t gluten-free. And having these in the classroom makes sure that my kids are not left out of any last-minute activities involving gluten. For example:
- Probably the most common situation: A classmate brings in cupcakes, cookies, or treats to share with the class for their birthday. My son chooses a package of cookies out of his gluten-free package.
- The class earns a reward (popcorn) for good behavior or reaching a class goal, but the teacher isn’t sure if it’s gluten-free. My son gets a bag of popcorn or chips out of the gluten-free package.
- The teacher creates a project that involves building something with pretzels or crackers, but forgets to tell us in advance. My daughter gets out her gluten-free pretzels or crackers to use instead.
- My daughter’s snack or lunch didn’t make it to school and the cafeteria doesn’t offer anything gluten-free. My daughter can eat from her GF care package if I’m unable to bring it to school.
- It is perhaps unlikely, but should an emergency situation arise and the school is on lock-down, I know my kids will have something they can eat without getting sick.
What’s in a Gluten-Free Care Package? I like to choose self-contained, single-serve, small packages of gluten-free items that won’t spoil in the teacher’s cabinet or desk. I also try to present it to the teacher in a small container that is easy for them to store. A large zip-style bag, or medium size plastic container clearly labeled Gluten-Free for my son or daughter seems to work well. Here are some items that we have used for this purpose:
Sweet Treats:
- Midel, S’mores cookies
- Pamela’s 2-Count Cookie Packs: Chocolate Chunk Pecan Shortbread
and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
- Pebbles Treats Fruity Pebbles variety
and Cocoa Pebbles variety
- Schar Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
- Schar Sandwich Creme Cookies (2 cookies in each package) Vanilla Creme variety and Chocolate Creme variety
- Surf Sweets Gummy Bear Snack Packs
Salty Snacks:
- Ener-G Foods Pretzel Rings
- FoodShouldTasteGood Multigrain Tortilla Chips
- Glutino Pretzel Twists Snack Packs
- Pirate’s Booty
- Schar Gluten Free Snack Crackers
These come in a box of 6 individual packs. Each pack contains 8 crackers.
- Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn
(Be careful! We have not experienced any problems with this product, however it is not guaranteed gluten-free. According to Frito-Lay, there are no gluten ingredients in this product. Unfortunately, they do no currently test these for traces of gluten.)
Fruit Snacks:
- Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Fruit Snacks
- Ocean Spray Craisins 100-calorie Packs
- Simply Fruit Fruit Rollups
Rice, Granola, or Energy Bars:
- Bakery On Main Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
- Can Do Kid Bars
- EnviroKidz Peanut Choco Drizzle Crispy Rice Bars
Communicate with the teacher! It’s been my experience that most teachers are familiar and comfortable with this arrangement. However, I strongly suggest that you discuss it with the teacher before sending a small care package of food to school. This may not work in all classrooms or for all teachers. Along with the package of food that I provide to the teacher, I like to attach a brief note to remind the teacher what it is for, and to please let me know if at any time during the year it needs to be replenished.
Make it easy on yourself. Our family is fortunate to live in an area with gluten-free snack items available at our grocery stores. If this isn’t the case for you, you can order some items online. A single box of the Schar sandwich cookies with your student’s name clearly written on it would do the trick. Or, perhaps a small bag of your child’s favorite candy would work for you.
More occasions to use a gluten-free care package. All of these items would also be great gluten-free additions for a gluten-free lunch, a gift to send to college students, and for a travel pack.
Do you do something similar? Please feel free to add any other ideas in the comments.
MI-DEL Cookie Winners Chosen
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Thanks for entering the giveaway. Your MI-DEL cookie coupon is in the mail!
Mi-Del’s Gluten-Free Cookies and Giveaway
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We have a little more than three weeks before my kids head back to school this year. So, thoughts of packing snacks and lunches for my kids is on my mind. I’d like to tell you that I only make homemade gluten-free cookies and snacks for my kids. But the truth is I also purchase gluten-free snack products at the stores. Sometimes we just need something quick and easy.
Mi-Del sent me some coupons to review their gluten-free cookies. Mi-Del gluten-free cookies are not new to my family. In fact, Mi-Del’s Arrowroot Animal Cookies were the first gluten-free cookies I purchased when my son, a toddler at the time, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. With no gluten-free goldfish or graham crackers to eat, we used these arrowroot cookies for snacks on a regular basis. Then, after moving to a new state, we couldn’t find them in the stores near our house, and so we adjusted to other cookies and brands.
Last year, we found something new from Mi-Del: We found this cute little box of individual packs of S’mores Cookies. We love these! The box contains five individual 90-calorie packages of little bite-size cookies. They are chocolatey and crunchy with a little marshmallow flavor baked in, too. It’s really nice to have some snacks that you can just grab and go, but it’s even better for having shelf-stable treats that the kids’ teachers can store in their classrooms for unexpected needs. (Unexpected classmate birthday celebrations and class food projects that aren’t gluten-free do come up during the year.)
Since Mi-Del sent us some coupons, the kids and I went looking for some different Mi-Del cookies to try. We wanted to try the Chocolate Caramel and the Chocolate Sandwich cookie varieties listed on the Mi-Del website, but never found them in our local stores. We did, however, find the Pecan Flavored Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Ginger Snaps. And the kids were happy to be the taste testers. 
My son’s favorite was the Pecan flavored cookies. This was my first time trying Mi-Del’s Pecan flavored cookies, and my first thought about them was that they reminded me of vanilla wafers. They certainly aren’t the same as Nilla® Wafers (which aren’t gluten-free), but if you are looking for a gluten-free substitute, I suggest you give these a try. They are about the same size, but perhaps not as crisp, and a little darker in color with a mild taste of pecans and molasses. They make great cookie sandwiches. Just add some peanut butter, frosting, or ice cream between two of them.
I knew that my daughter’s favorite would be the Chocolate Chip Cookies. Like me, she is a lover of all that is chocolate. Honestly, these are not my favorite chocolate chip cookies, but we do buy them on occasion. I prefer to make my own chewy chocolate chip cookies.
And what about the Ginger Snaps? Well, Mi-Del makes really good ginger snaps. My nieces and sister-in-law (who don’t follow a gluten-free diet) love them. I think the flavor is a little too strong for my two cookie eaters’ sensitive taste buds. I personally think these, as well as their Cinnamon Snaps, are great for making crusts for pies, tarts, and cheesecakes. Just crush them up and use them in your favorite recipes.
Allergens and Ingredients. Mi-Del states that their “Gluten-Free products are routinely tested using the ELISA method to ensure gluten-free status as determined by the World Health Organization.” I know many Celiac Family readers are also sensitive to other grains and allergens, so you may be interested to know that the gluten-free flour used for these cookies is a mixture of corn flour, soy flour, potato flour, rice flour, corn starch, potato starch and xanthan gum. The Chocolate Chip and Pecan Flavored cookies also contain egg and milk. The Ginger Snaps contain egg, but have no dairy ingredients listed.
My final thoughts on the cookies. These small cookies are perfect for snacks. They aren’t chewy nor too crispy, but somewhere in between with a tender crumb. They don’t break too easily, so you can pack them in lunches without getting a lot of broken pieces. And the price is reasonable for purchasing gluten-free cookies in the stores. The S’mores bite-size cookies are a little more pricey because of the extra packaging. If you are not familiar with Mi-Del cookies, please be aware that Mi-Del does make cookies that are not gluten free. So, make sure you are purchasing the cookies that are clearly marked “Gluten-Free” on the packaging!
This giveaway is now closed.
FREE Cookies Giveaway. So, now that I’ve told you what my family thinks of them, what do you you think? Do you want to try them yourself? Mi-Del gave me some coupons to offer to Celiac Family readers. Each coupon is good for one FREE Mi-Del product. Mi-Del’s website also has a product locator that can tell you where to find their products near you.
- To enter, simply leave a comment below saying which product you would purchase with the coupon. Check out Mi-Del’s gluten-free products on their website to see all the varieties they make gluten free.
- You can receive bonus entries for letting your friends know about the giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog. Just be sure to come back and leave an additional comment below letting us know where you mentioned it.
- Make sure when you’re leaving a comment, that you put your email address in the appropriate box so that I can contact you if you win.
Three Winners will be chosen using a random generator. Each winner will receive one coupon to redeem at your local store for any Mi-Del product up to $4.00. All comments/entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm EDT, Friday Aug. 19. The winner should respond within 48 hours after being contacted by email. If I’m unable to contact a winner, another winner will be chosen. Good Luck!
Gluten-Free Rice Krispies
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Have you seen them yet? Kellogg’s® has finally taken the plunge into the gluten-free food market with their new gluten-free version of the classic Rice Krispies® cereal. We found it at our local grocery store this week. It was located in the regular breakfast cereal aisle, nestled right between the regular gluten-containing Rice Krispies cereals. We’ve been avoiding all Kellogg’s cereals since going gluten free because they all have malt flavoring made from barley in them. (I’m sure you already know that, but for anyone who may be new to the diet: Barley Malt is off-limits for anyone with celiac disease.)
I received a couple complimentary boxes of the new Rice Krispies Gluten Free to try this spring. I was excited to try it (partially because it’s always nice to get free gluten-free food in the mail), but I didn’t really think eating it would give me too much thrill. I mean it’s just a plain cereal, right? Well, I have to tell you when I heard the familiar “snap, crackle, and pop,” I did get a little excited. Maybe I was just being nostalgic, but it really did take me back to when I used to eat them as a child. You know…before the kids’ cereals all got added sweeteners, artificial colors, and a prize in the box. These were just how I remembered them. Including the fact that you have to eat them quickly or they will get mushy and soggy! So, I am enjoying them again — quickly, with almond milk and a little fruit.
Nutrition. My kids liked it, but weren’t as excited about it as I was. They probably thought it needed a little more sugar. I like the fact that it’s not so high in sugar! (Sugar is listed as less than 1 gram per 1-Cup serving.) More good news on the cereal box: simple ingredients and added vitamins and minerals. I’m not a dietitian or nutritionist, but look at the ingredients: “whole grain brown rice, sugar, contains 2% or less of salt, BHT for freshness.” And remember when the big cereal companies started using flours enriched with all kinds of vitamins and minerals? Well, they added those vitamins and minerals to this cereal, too. Check out the Nutrition Facts label on the Rice Krispies web page for the details. I was also happy to see that it says right on the box that it is produced in a gluten-free facility, so I didn’t have to worry about cross-contamination. (That was on the sample boxes I received. It did not have that statement on the box I purchased in the grocery store. A mistake by Kellogg’s, if you ask me.)
Rice Krispies® Gluten Free Treats®. Since they sent me two boxes, I decided to make Rice Krispies Treats, too. I used Kellogg’s classic recipe with a couple modifications. I’ve made crispy rice treats in the past with other brands of gluten-free crisped rice, but my kids never liked them. This time, they devoured them. I, personally, didn’t notice a big change in taste or texture, but my husband and the kids said they were crispier and better. If you are new to making Rice Krispies Treats, I offer a few tips:
- Always use fresh marshmallows. Old ones take longer to melt, and over-cooked marshmallows get really tough and difficult to stir.
- I prefer to use the mini marshmallows because they melt faster and are easier to work with.
- Instead of buttering or spraying the 9×13 pan, use parchment paper to line the pan.
- If you are adding chocolate chips, freeze them for a couple hours first. They will be less likely to melt while you’re adding them in. Work quickly! I find it easiest to just press the chips on top of the treats after pressing them into the pan.
- You can make these dairy-free. The recipe says not to use any butter substitutes, but I did it anyway using Earth Balance Buttery Vegan Sticks. It worked great. I also used the Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
which are dairy-free.
Where Can You Buy Rice Krispies Gluten Free? There is a product locator on the Kellogg’s website, but it didn’t work for me. I kept checking to see where I could buy the gluten-free Rice Krispies, but it still says it isn’t in my area. However, I did indeed find it at our local Wegman’s. I suspect it’s available at other grocery stores in my area as well. So, check it out at your local grocery store in the regular cereal aisle. And let me know what you think. You can also buy a case of 4 boxes on Amazon
Gluten-Free Energy for Holiday Shopping
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I hope everyone (in the US) had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. I know we did. I may go out later this weekend to shop for holiday gifts, but for now I am avoiding Black Friday shopping. For those of you who have decided to brave the crowds at the shopping centers this weekend, you may want to try Orgain meal replacement drinks. I was sent some samples of the Creamy Chocolate Fudge and Sweet Vanilla Bean, and they were certainly filling enough to give me energy for shopping.
I don’t usually use these types of drinks. I really would rather eat a nutritious meal. But, I have to admit that this time of year is so busy, I will often go for the quick and easy meals or snacks just so I can fit more activities (like shopping) into my day. For me, this is great for lunches. I can eat breakfast with the kids and dinner with the whole family. But for lunch I’m often on my own, so it’s a perfect time to get things done. Grabbing one of these Orgain drinks and heading out the door is very convenient. It’s much better than grabbing a sugar-filled soda, and more filling than a bottle of water. Since it’s high in protein (16 grams) and low in sugar (13 grams), I know it’s going to keep me going longer, so that after shopping I still have the energy to come home, help the kids with homework, and get a nutritious, home-cooked dinner on the table.
What are these drinks? The Orgain website describes it best as an “organic, ready-to-drink nutritional shake.” They have 255 calories (60 fat calories) and are full of vitamins and minerals. It is comprised of a protein blend, complex carbohydrate blend, vitamin blend, vegetable blend, fruit blend, and an antioxidant blend. The protein blend relies heavily on whey and milk proteins, so this is not for those who have trouble with milk products. It uses brown rice components for the carbohydrate blend. And just look at all the fruits and vegetables that were combined for these drinks: blueberry, banana, acai, apple, raspberry, kale, beet, spinach, carrot, tomato. Pomegranate and green tea extracts were added for antioxidant benefits. I’m impressed by all the organic nutritious ingredients used in these drinks because it just tasted like a thick chocolate milk to me.
How did they taste? They were good. The Creamy Chocolate Fudge was my favorite (no surprise there). It has a nice smooth chocolate taste, with just a slight grainy texture at the end. (I guess I didn’t shake it up good enough.) The Sweet Vanilla Bean was even smoother, but my husband and I both agreed the flavor of the chocolate was better. (Oops! We drank up the Creamy Chocolate Fudge before I got a chance to take a picture.) They really were very filling. I have trouble finishing an 8 oz. glass of water in one sitting, so an 11 oz. energy shake was more than sufficient to fill me up.
Will I buy Orgain? Yes, on occasion. However, milk is not always my friend, so I would not drink these on a regular basis. My husband, on the other hand, enjoyed taking these to work. Perhaps the real drawback is the cost. You can buy a case of 12 of these online at Orgain for $42 or at Amazon
