Two-Day Gluten-Free Challenge

Chances are you know someone who suffers from gluten intolerance, or even more serious, celiac disease, a digestive condition that can lead to malnutrition and autoimmune diseases if not treated. Data shows that celiac disease affects 1 in 100 Americans, while the overall prevalence of gluten-sensitive disorders is unknown but is possibly two to three times as high as that. The only cure is to adhere to a gluten-free diet.

The good news is that there are more gluten-free specialty foods than ever, and they taste good. To support the cause, Pamela’s Products, award-winning leader in gluten-free baking mixes and ready-made goods, and the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) launched a Gluten-Free Challenge Weekend from May 22 - 23, 2010. They encouraged everyone to spend one weekend living completely gluten-free. The Challenge’s aim was to show that eating a gluten-free diet doesn’t have to be a bland experience and also to empower people to learn more about this disease. Participants received a newsletter with recipes, tips and product giveaways, and information on how to share their experiences and read about others.

You can learn more at gogfchallenge.com. Plus, here is a list of gluten-free products.—Denise Shoukas

Denise Shoukas is a regular foodspring.com contributor and is the author of foodspring’s food forager blog.