Fall Harvest Time

#tealpumpkinproject

Hi everyone!  Boy, have I got a lot to share with you today.  The first thing I want to talk about is FARE's (Food Allergy Research & Education) Teal Pumpkin Project.  With Halloween fast approaching, this is an important topic to talk about.  Let me give you a little history about it first.

The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2014 by FARE to help raise awareness of food allergies and encourage people to provide safe items to hand out to Trick or Treaters at Halloween.  There are many other non-food items that you can pass out so that children with food allergies may safely participate in this yearly holiday tradition.  I was surprised this week to learn that this important campaign has only been around for 3 years.  It will be easy for me to remember, though, since my Celiac diagnosis occurred in 2014.  To learn much more about the #tealpumpkinproject and how to participate and let parents and kids know that you are participating click here.  This is such a wonderful idea as more and more children are being diagnosed with some sort of food allergy, Celiac Disease and more that are affected directly by the food they eat.  FARE is doing some amazing research and working hard to raise awareness.  As someone living with Celiac Disease, I know firsthand how isolating it can be to not be able to participate in an event, holiday or tradition simply because of the dangers of certain foods to me.  And I'm an adult!  Think about how much more isolating that is to a child.

I also have something to share with you that I am beyond excited about!!!  A friend of mine named Kallie Smirnov is starting a YouTube channel that is dedicated to spreading Celiac Disease Awareness, sharing fun and easy gluten free recipes as well as other important tips about how to navigate this gluten free life when you have Celiac Disease or Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity or Intolerance.  She is working on raising funds to finance this project and help get the word out through a gofundme campaign.  For more information about what Kallie is working on click here.  She is hoping to have her first video available in time for Halloween.  As a matter of fact, she actually began filming today for her first shows!  Check out her gofundme campaign and subscribe now to her Life Minus Gluten YouTube channel so you don't miss a single posting!  I've gotten to know Kallie over the past year and am so inspired by her positive, upbeat attitude and I love her sense of humor and the way she deals with everything life throws at her.  I'm very proud to support and promote what she is working on because I believe this is something that will be helpful to so many people.  

Siouxland Celiac Support Group

Next, I just HAVE to share with you about our most recent Siouxland Celiac Support Group meeting that took place this past week (Oct. 19th) at the Hamilton Blvd Hy-Vee Foodstore.  Hy-Vee Dietitian, Corrinna Lenort welcomed back Tina Meseck from Better For You Bakery who did a cupcake and sugar cookie demonstration for us as well as gave us tips (and her recipe which I shared in a recent blog post here) for making the perfect buttercream frosting!  

 Tina Meseck & Corrinna Lenort

 Tina preparing her special buttercream frosting

Tina brought un-decorated gluten free sugar cookies and chocolate cupcakes for us to decorate.  Everyone had a lot of fun with this - especially eating the finished products!!  Corrinna spoke to us about the Teal Pumpkin Project and about how we can participate.  For anyone in the Sioux City, Iowa area who is interested in attending the monthly Siouxland Celiac Support Group meetings, please contact Corrinna at 1610Dietitian1@hy-vee.com and she will be happy to give you more information about the group.  The next meeting will be Thursday, November 9, 2017 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm.  Location to be announced.  We will be celebrating "Friendsgiving" with a gluten free potluck.  Whether newly diagnosed, living with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance or sensitivity or a family member of someone who is gluten free due to health reasons, this group is perfect for you!  We hope to see you there!!  Here are a few photos from this last meeting to show you how much fun and how interactive this group is.

Happy Harvest and Halloween!

Un-decorated GF sugar cookie & GF chocolate cupcake by BFYB

Corrinna decorating her cookie

More decorating fun <3

My finished cookie and cupcake - and, yes, they were AWESOME!

My mom's finished cookie & cupcake

**The Siouxland Celiac Support Group is separate from and not affiliated with this Siouxland Celiac blog.  It is sponsored and facilitated by the Sioux City Hamilton Blvd Hy-Vee Dietitian.