If you're one of millions of people who have food allergies or intolerances, you get the struggle to find good food that won't make you sick. My daughter and I happen to be two of those people and until 2009, I didn't know that I needed to eat gluten free because I was so used to feeling subpar; it was my normal. About a year after I found out we needed to go gluten free, one of the best things ever happened. I discovered the gluten free expos. Initially I went because trying free samples of products before throwing out another $8 loaf of bread was appealing. There were vendors both form the food side and the wellness side. The wellness vendors are in a follow up blog post.
Back to the gluten free journey, there were many lessons learned those first three years, like the importance of understanding cross contamination, educating others on this, and that just because it's gluten free, that doesn't mean that it's healthy. I actually gained about thirty pounds between 2010-2012 between a divorce, a move, and discovering that bigger towns meant easier access to premade gluten free options for my daughter and me. While I learned the hard way that it's important to learn how to cook and minimize these treats due to triggering other inflammation, I absolutely love when we find some yummy treats to indulge. And the Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event in Charlotte was the perfect place to find options.
The most exciting thing for many of us is what are the new things coming out and what cool new stuff is there that we aren't yet aware of. I was able to sample many items and also bring home some for my daughter to sample. I had my friend and teammate Traci along with me to try to out the choices, and as a personal trainer, she wanted to learn more about issues her clients may be having. You can check out her facebook page at Be Phat and Fit to learn more about her.
I might have taken a few pictures to try to capture the information for you guys. First up is the restaurants and food delivery options. In attendance were Burtons Grill, Southern Olive, Project Lean Nation, Passanante's Home Food Services, and City Barbeque. Burtons is apparently a chain with which I am not familiar. They have dedicated kitchen space and go above and beyond when it comes to precautions for safety. They sampled crab bisque, slaw, crab cakes, and beet salad. The slaw and beet salad aren't items that would normally interest me, but I committed to trying for others and I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed both. The goat cheese definitely helped compliment and mask the beet taste. The crab cakes and bisque however are what kept me coming back for extra samples. Thanks guys working the table that pretended not to notice. Souther Olive had a variety of options to try, but I must say the bread they have there is hands down some of the best around. In their store, they carry a variety of pastas, coffees, teas, and desserts. Project Lean Nation did not have samples, but they are a convenient meal delivery service that happens to be great for those with limited time. Passanante's had a couple of meats to sample that were good, but nothing breathtaking. They offer a convenient healthy food delivery service, specializing in meats, veggies, desserts, and as one might guess, Italian. I am unable to determine if anything beyond the meat is gluten free. This service seems to be bulk focused and is best suited for larger families based on my discussion with them. City Barbeque because hey we're in the south. I have to be honest and say that although I was raised in the south, this is an area where my northern roots shine brightly. In general, I'm just not a fan of southern barbecue. So to say that I actually enjoyed their barbecue speaks volumes! The green beans are where I stick to my usual preference of wanting them more firm.
The usual vendors were there to support: Enjoy Life, Kind bars (who came out with 2 new yummy flavors of chocolate and fruit bars), Wowbutter, Garden Lites, and even Grabbagreen.
Onto the highlight for many, the dessert options. The Gluten & Grain Free Gourmet both had products for sale and presented as one of the speakers. For those wanting to eat healthier, but don't like to cook, she has a great variety. I was thrilled that Swerve Sweetener was there. Since I began baking healthier alternatives, they have been one of my go to sweeteners of choice and they are showing up now in even more grocery stores, which makes it easier to find. As I mentioned above, one of the biggest challenges with eating gluten free desserts is that they are frequently higher in sugar and carbs when they taste good, so it can be very easy to pack on the pounds. I love their replacements for sugar and confectioners sugar. They give the sweetness without the gastro issues many other healthy alternatives can trigger. When the representative at the booth informed me that they will be coming out with an alternative for brown sugar, as well as some baked goods, I was thrilled and can't wait to learn more!
And now for the sugar high...JPs Pastry had an amazing variety of samples to try and absolutely everything was amazing. For the gluten free peeps that have been missing Hawaiian Bread, they have it! The rolls can be ordered online and they list who carries their products on their website. Whole Foods as always was well represented with a variety of bread, rolls, muffins, and cakes. All of which are fantastic easy to find options. I have to give the biggest shout out though to the cupcakes and brownies that produced the above pure delight faces on my daughter when she tried these samples, Dolci di Maria has once again nailed it. We are able to purchase her products from Earth Fare in NC and while we have loved her products, meeting Mary was a game changer. This is someone who has her heart and soul in what she does. She also happens to have her dedicated gluten free facility close by in Black Mountain, NC. Items that I had never tried before were the pear fudge cake, brownie mix, and mint chocolate brownie mix. They were amazing. They maintain their moisture and satisfy without feeling loaded down. As for what elicited the above pure look of joy from my daughter, it could've been the carrot cake or any of the new items I just mentioned. She basically had that look on her face with all Dolci di Maria items. Did I mention she previously didn't like carrot cake? This brand comes in a close second to Erin McKenna's Bakery in Disney Springs, where we stop every time now. This day trip was definitely worth it. I hope this helps you when it comes to trying some new gluten free options.
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