Our Candy List has been updated just in time for Halloween!
You can view the list on-line or download a PDF to carry with you. We have also included the contact information for the candy companies which will enable you to reach out and ask your own questions.
We hope you find this list helpful.
Ensuring your child receives safe gluten-free (GF) meals at school can be a challenge. However, taking advantage of the school's meal program can significantly reduce your daily stress and grocery bills.
Massachusetts schools (and 7 other states) offer free breakfast and lunch to all public school students, including safe GF options to those requiring a GF diet. In the remaining 42 states, school meals are often a cost-effective choice.
We have prepared a list of tips to follow to make sure your family doesn’t miss out on this valuable benefit.
Join the Harvard Medical School Celiac Education & Research Program and NCA for the next installment of the “Ask the Experts” series.
Learn the latest in celiac disease scientific and clinical findings from experts attending the 20th International Celiac Disease Symposium in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Daniel Leffler, MD, MS, AGAF, will summarize key takeaways from clinical and research areas for adults. Jocelyn Silvester, MD, PhD, will present clinical and research news along with Nan Du, MD, MPH, who will present pediatric news. Edwin Liu, MD will present on predicting celiac disease. A Q&A session will follow the presentations.
By Jordan Min, Teen Board Member
I was fortunate to spend part of the summer traveling with my family in South Korea. Like most people traveling gluten-free, we spent the evening before we left filling our suitcases with as many gluten-free snacks and foods as possible – we were uncertain what kinds of food would be available to us in South Korea. From our first week, however, we came to find that there are many options for those living with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, and maintaining a gluten-free diet was incredibly manageable!
First, day-to-day resources on your phone can make all the difference. Although I am Korean, I used a translation app almost every day to help me communicate with locals, whether it be to find a bathroom or a certain store. I used Google Translate but any similar app would work. Fortunately, Seoul (the capital of South Korea) is very English-friendly and if you stay in touristy areas such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, or Itaewon, you’ll find that a majority of people can speak English and an app isn’t even necessary. Another app that I used is Find Me Gluten Free, a map resource that helps you locate gluten-free restaurants and cafés. Other restaurant review apps allow you to search for and read reviews of restaurants with GF options, however I prefer Find Me Gluten Free because it is dedicated to GF dining. One of my favorite features of the app was the review section, as many dedicated users left a variety of comments from which specific things were gluten-free to the availability of gluten-free menus. It is definitely worth the investment and these apps will help ease your journey in Korea.
Through Find Me Gluten Free, I discovered that South Korea is filled with a plethora of gluten-free cafés! One such was called 단밋쌀디저트 (mahn mee saal dessert), which translates to Sweet Rice Dessert (quick tip: 쌀, or saal, roughly translates to “rice flour” which usually means that it is gluten-free, but still do ask). This bakery, like many others, uses rice flour and sold a variety of pastries and tarts which were very delicious and filling. Cross contact is also often not an issue, as a decent majority of the goods they bake use this rice flour instead of regular flour. These gluten-free bakeries and cafés can be found all over Seoul!
Alongside these gluten-free cafés, there are also many restaurants that have gluten-free options. Korean BBQ, for example, can be found nearly on every single street throughout Seoul. These places are particularly convenient for those with celiac or gluten intolerance as you order and grill the meat yourself, preventing cross contact and eliminating any worries about where your food is coming from or how it is cooked.
In addition to this, I recommend checking out Myeongdong, where you can find numerous stores, restaurants, and especially street food vendors. Shopping in this area is a lot of fun and very cheap, and a lot of the street food is actually gluten-free. From kebabs to garlic butter shrimp, you’ll surely find something you like! And to end the day, check out some of the many dessert stands such as tanghulu (fresh fruit covered in a crunchy-sugary coating) and marshmallow ice cream which is very filling and delicious.
I could continue forever about the gluten-free options in South Korea, but I’ll just talk about one last interesting place that I found: a gluten-free fried chicken restaurant called 쌀통닭 (saal tohng dahk). This chain uses rice flour in most of their products and has a variety of options ranging from their signature crunchy rice chicken to their french fries. Pairing this fried chicken with a cold bottle of Soju (a traditional Korean alcohol) or beer is an amazingly delicious combination for adults! Overall, if you put in the time to research Seoul, you’ll find that there is actually a plethora of gluten-free restaurants such as this one. And for one last measure of safety, I found it always handy to carry around (or show a picture) of an allergy card. Keeping an allergen card was very helpful for me and there are many you can find online.
Aside from food, there are so many cool things to do in South Korea. From exploring the culture to shopping in large malls, you’ll have so much fun while also staying full and nutritious with the many food options. I have no doubt that anyone can navigate and manage a gluten-free diet in Korea!
And lastly, here are a few resources to look to see more information on gluten-free traveling in Korea:
Visit our booth.
We will have a booth at the Boston area expo. You will be able to talk to us, join our group and learn more about Celiac Kids Connection at this gluten-free expo. We are excited to see you.
You can learn more about the expo on their website.
Visit us at the community table.
The mission of the market is to bring together local farmers and artisans. Like most farmer’s markets the array of fresh produce and locally sourced meats, seafood and dairy items are naturally gluten-free (GF). Plus there are often specialty GF vendors at the market.
You can learn more about the market on their website.
Join us for our annual Back-to-School session. We will review everything you need to know for a safe school year with celiac disease.
During this session we will discuss:
Join us to kick off summer. We will meet at Kings at 12 noon for bowling and camaraderie.
Bowling will be followed by gluten-free treats at Twist Bakery & Café – right across the parking lot. We will have an area at Twist to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Food and drinks at Twist are purchased individually and not included in the bowling fee.
There is a fee of $20 per person for bowling. You can register for free if you are a parent attending with your child and not bowling.
We hope to see you there!
Ticket Sales End:
In order to confirm with Kings the last day to purchase tickets is May 31, 2024.
Are you a teen between the ages of 13-17 with celiac disease living the gluten-free life? Join our vibrant community and be part of the Celiac Teen Talk.
Forge connections with like-minded teens who understand the ins and outs of navigating the gluten-free world. Share your experiences, tips, and hacks! Each month engage in fun and interactive virtual meetups where we dive into the latest and greatest in the gluten-free world. From taste tests to sharing recipes, every month is a new adventure!
Each month engage in fun and interactive virtual meetups where we dive into the latest and greatest in the gluten-free world, with host influencer Gabrielle Hemond of “No Gluten Gabby” and special guests each session.
Join the combined Harvard Medical School Celiac Research & Education Program and the National Celiac Association for an “Ask the Experts” webinar. Speakers will present for 60 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.
The panel will be moderated by Vanessa Weisbrod, Chief Education and Community Engagement Officer for the Celiac Disease Foundation and includes Lauren Feichtner, MD MPh from Mass General for Children, Soran R. Bozorg, MD, from the Karolinske Institutet in Sweden, and Carla Carter, OTR/L, Director of Outreach and Programming with the National Celiac Association.
Our panel will discuss the increased risk of food insecurity, how this presents in celiac disease, the high cost of the gluten-free diet, and how individuals can cleverly adapt to a gluten-free diet in cost-effective ways.