Italy/ Evil Disney

I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow, and was VERY nervous about food until I found out these really awesome yet surprising facts.

1- Every kid gets tested for Celiac in kindergarten.
2- Pharmacies are REQUIRED to carry gluten free food.
3- The government gives you a little extra money every month to buy gluten free food.
4- Schools must have gluten free lunch options.

So, learning this, I am beginning to wonder what the Italians would think of Disney channel's Jessie episode when the little annoying boy Steward has Celiac disease and is laughed at ON THE SHOW. After many people got angry, Disney channel deleted some scenes and put it back. Though, some parts are borderline rude.
There is another blog that has more information on this episode, including the deleted scenes. I will include the link below:
http://glutendude.com/media/disney-thinks-bullying-a-gluten-free-child-is-funny/
Note: Read everything below, too.

Regular Smoothies

Today my mom and I went into a smoothie place to see if I could have one.

My mom asked if they were gluten free, and received a quizzical look from the lady at the counter as she said 'It's just regular."

We left.

Oh well.

Evil Article

Hi!
I decided to recently start this blog up again.
Recently there was an article in the Washington Post about gluten free. Normally, that would be good publicity, but, it wasn't a very positive article. They made fun of the gluten free dieters who think it is healthy. They said that companies are making gluten free options just to make a larger profit. (which might be SOME of what is going on, but, still). A lady made fun of gluten free foods on a show claiming they tasted "like cardboard". The lady also said that "If you are going to send a gift, let it be enjoyable." Well, ma'am, it's hard to make anything enjoyable with you on this earth.
Here's the link below:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/backlash-has-begun-against-gluten-free-dieters/2014/07/06/61953aba-f7be-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html\
Enjoy!

Just Because You Don't See it, Doesn't Mean It's Not There

Isn't it infuriating when people decide they want to eat something you can't and then STICK their hand into your bag of pretzels so you can't eat them anymore? I think so.

I'm in the New York City STEM science fair. This year, you have to solve a problem through an experiment and my experiment is to see the best way to clean off a surface with allergens so you don't have to worry about cross contamination. With this information, people will be able to know how to stay safe, and that just because you don't see something, doesn't mean it's not there. But it turns out, cleaning off all the allergens is harder than it seems. Using a napkin may clean some things, but not everything comes off with two swipes of a paper towel.

I expected it to be easier to get the allergens off, but it almost seems like they stick to the surface. Even hydrogen peroxide didn't loosen it.

The fair is in three weeks, and I will post images of my results.

Bye!

Eastwood Falafels

There is a restaurant called Eastwood that just opened in my neighborhood and is brand new. There, even though they aren't the main things they make there, Eastwood makes REALLY good falafels that are gluten free and vegetarian. The chef let me come watch her make everything we were getting for dinner. First, the chef took a mushy mixture that would become the falafel and shaped it with a scooper to make it into a patty shape. The patties were put in the fryer. about one and a half minutes later the fryer was put on a hook above the oil, and the patties, which were turned crispy and were ready, were put on a paper towel to soak up any remaining oil. Then they were put in the box. Here is  a photo I took while the chef was making the falafels and french fries:

TADA! There was also salad and french fries to complete the order. Dinner that night was VERY delicious.

Treat Heaven

I went to the Eloise Plaza Hotel and had tea there on New Year's Eve Day. It was kinda cool that I could walk into this place, especially as it's so popular and everything, and feel I could basically order everything I wanted without having to bother if it's "ausome" or not.

They were able to make food that I could eat specially. It was really pretty.

We went and sat down and there was a Kid's menu. But it turns out you didn't get to choose one thing. What you did, you ordered the desserts and ALL the desserts came on leveled trays. And all the sandwiches would come. I think it was the biggest meal I have ever eaten. Because I ate four sandwiches (even though they were kind of small) and ate two scones. Then for dessert I tried to choose the desserts I ate so I wouldn't get sick afterwards, but it was kind of hard because there were so many and they were all good. I ate all the bon-bons. They were cool and looked like literally works of art. I liked those the best.

They didn't advertise and make it obvious they had things I could eat. They just made it, like it's not a big deal. And it's not. But lots of places treat it -- celiac -- like it is. So having a place where everyone goes, and not a place where people have to eat specially or be more conscious of what they eat, I could pretend for that whole tea that nothing was really wrong. I was one of the random people that would go and walk into Dominoes Pizza or something and not even have to ask. So that was cool.

Forgive and Forget

Hi! I feel like using a random color. I closed my eyes and picked, and it was purple. Anyway, here’s the point of this blog post. Today at school someone was passing out a piece of cookie and accidentally gave me some. I was about to say, “sorry, I can’t really eat that, but thanks,” (as everyone in that type of situation would) but then another person (I can’t name them, not that you would really care, considering you probably wouldn’t know them either way) reached over and grabbed it, and said very loudly, rubbing it in, (though I think they just meant to be funny, or something like that, I don’t know, I’m not a mind reader. But don’t get me wrong, they can be really fun, and hilarious, so they didn’t mean it to be rude or anything) “I’LL TAKE IT!” Ok maybe that’s too loud. More like this: “I’ll take it!” Yeah, that’s about as loud. Anyway, the person who gave it to me kept apologizing (another annoying thing, although it was nice to hear they sounded like they meant it). Oh well, forgive and forget. Tomorrow I won’t be mad anymore. Only one more thing left.

GOODBYE.

Being Full\ awesome vs ausome

Hi again! So, this is really annoying. You know how when you're full, your stomach slightly hurts? Well,  whenever I'm full, I can't help but think I'm having a stomach ache.   :|     I guess I just have to get used to the feeling. Anyway, you know how it's SUPER annoying when people ask you if this is GF, and that is GF, and you really want them to stop talking about it? {Of course you do} and so do I. So, I've decided that from now on, I don't say GF, {gluten free} I say ausome. It is pronounced exactly like awesome, but is totally different. If something is not gluten free, I say that it's not ausome. If it is gluten free, it is ausome. Just to make that clear. Anyway, I guess this is slightly short, but hey, there are  two things I said in it. And besides, I'm probably wasting your time right now, so, bye!

I'm Not Just A Computer

Hi! I have a feeling you know how it feels to have everyone saying, "Hey, can you eat this?" or "Hey is this gluten free?" or "I'm so sorry!" but knowing that they are really just saying that to say it, but they seriously don't care just to step into your shoes for a second and say to themselves "oh, actually, I am sorry."

Don't  you find it so annoying when one percent of the word's population, not even just plain being gluten free but one percent of the world has celiac disease and you cant seem to find anyone?! It's as though all the people who understand you are all crammed into one tiny space and you're all alone?!

I started this blog when I was six years old to find a friend. a kid, who would understand me completely. I never found such a kid, but I know how it feels to be different. to feel left out at birthday parties and class celebrations.

I want you to know that I'm not just a computer, telling you what's yummy. I'm a kid out there, a gluten free kid, and I may not be close to you but I'm out there, and I know how you feel. I'm not going to sit here and be sorry for myself, I'm going to remember what the two months after I went gluten free were like, and I'm going to help someone get over it. I don't even mind if I don't get anyone writing back to me, I want people to hear me say this.


I AM A CELIAC KID AND I AM PROUD OF IT!

Cupcake Wars (again)

Hi! A few nights ago I watched cupcake wars champions, and a gluten free lady ALMOST WON! She went out on the final round. But she made it to the champions, so thats good. Even more, actually. The final round on the champions! That's about as close as you can to winning without actually winning. My mom said that the recipes would go onto their new app, and gluten free is still considered different, (even though 1 out of 133 people have it) and they wouldn't want something "different" on the app. That is unfair.

SCHOOL

Sharing food at school can be SUPER tricky. So here are some tips:
First, let's say you want to give someone a piece of your gluten -free cookie. Don't let them break off a piece themselves, break it off for them and drop it in their hand. If they want to give something to you, ( for example a piece of fruit, )  then put your hand into the bag and make sure that no one who had touched gluten had put their hand into the bag before you did. If you need help with something ( for example you need help poking a hole in your juice box for your straw to fit in, ) then ask someone who had NOT  touched gluten to help you. Follow these tips, and you won't have to worry about sharing food at school.

Cupcake Wars

Have you ever seen a show called Cupcake Wars? It is a show about a bunch of cupcake bakers that compete to win $10,000 and have a display full of their cupcakes shown at a festival, party, or whatever but it's always a surprise. Anyway, I watched one that was all vegan and they chose all vegan bakers to compete because the winner's cupcakes would be shown at the spring festival. But one of the competitors was vegan and gluten free! Her name was Liela, and she almost won. She went out in the 2nd round and a girl named Stephanie won. But Leila came very close, so I am still happy. If you would like to watch this show, it is on the Food Network.

Arriety + Nasty Muffins

Today I went to see "The Secret World of Arriety" and I think it was really good because it was seeing the world from another point of view. It's about a girl who is really really small and her parents who live under a family's house in a pile of bricks that might look hollow but secretly isn't. The little people under there take only the things that we wouldn't really miss. Like a tissue or a sugar cube or a leaf. But they would only take the things they need. However when someone sees a Borrower, one of them, they have to leave. Because they cannot be seen. They think it is a dangerous. So when a boy who is staying his aunt's house spots Arriety, even though they make friends, they are forced to leave.

I've always wanted to be tiny. But now I don't want to because it seems scary. It reminded me of "Totoro and "Ponyo" because both those movies all look like they were drawn the same way. All of the animals in those movies are both cute and somewhat scary at the same time. It sort of makes me think if something not up close really looks like that in real life. Because animals are usually really cute and you don't think of them as scary because you're bigger than them. But if they're bigger than you would it be that scary?

After the movie, my mom went to the green market and got a gluten-free and vegan muffin, and we tried it after we got home. I literally spit it out into the garbage which I don't usually do because I usually eat any muffin I get chance to because, well, it's a muffin, and I like muffins. But this one was absolutely terrible. It reminded me of iron pills I take every other night. It also reminded me of sand. I think it's sort of funny because every treat I tried so far that's gluten free and vegan I haven't really liked. I don't think people who make muffins like that should sell them. If they think it tastes good they should get someone else's opinion before selling it. I wonder how many people feel like their $7 have been wasted. I bet we're not the only ones. That is why I think you should not get any muffins that are gluten-free and vegan from the greenmarket.

The Delicious Restaurant

Sorry I haven't written in a while. But recently I went to the Pan American which is a restaurant in Manhattan in Nolita, and it serves gluten free food that is delicious! We sat in a booth in the back that was squishy. When we sat down we ordered our things and the chef came out to meet us. When we got our food, I tried the mac and cheese that I ordered and I think that it was the best in the world! It looked very cheesy.

After that we went to Pinkberry which is another gluten free place that sells frozen yogurt across the street from the Pan American. They had a delicious flavor which was peppermint, and it sort of tastes like snow with cream and mint. But they only had it in December! Other flavors are chocolate, peanut butter, mango, pomegranate and plain, [which I don't recommend.] And that is all I can remember. But there might be more. After that we went to the playground, which is across the street from Pinkberry. I thought it was really really fun. And that is why I recommend Pinkberry and Pan American.

Ice Cream Truck Part 2

I just found out that there are more things on the ice cream truck that can be gluten free. There are Scribblers and Rainbow Pops. They're really good. And now I don't have to be jealous when I see a humongous line in front of the ice cream truck. I just don't like it when my mom says the line is too long. I feel like the popsicles are gluten-free for no reason. I wonder where else we could get them and if there is another place we could get them.

Next I would like to tell the ice cream man as there is actually such thing as gluten free popsicles and gluten free ice cream cones. Maybe that would work. Maybe they could also start selling Haagen Daz bars.

I wish everything in the world were gluten free. That would be totally freaking awesome.

I remember what the ice cream on the ice cream truck tasted like. It was yummy. But at other stores you can get ice cream that tastes just as good. You can get the ice cream at Fine Fare. Or Whole Foods. Speaking of Whole Foods they make the best cupcakes ever, besides Tu-lu's and my mom.

My Thumb Sucks

The orthodontist suggested this gross liquid for my mouth. Why can't it have gluten in it? Even thought it's true that I really don't want this jail in my mouth that would keep me from eating popcorn and gum (can you imagine no popcorn or gum?), I just wish that I magic wand to make all of it go away.

When my orthodontist suggested it to me, I crossed my fingers that it wasn't gluten free. I usually do that when I want something to come true. But it never really works. I need a new something to do when I want something to come true. Have any ideas?

This is only my first day on the liquid, and it tastes really bitter. It reminds me of nail polish. Sour, and it spreads in your mouth. It's 5:43 pm and I still can't get it off. I'm going to try to get it off the way you get nail polish off. I really hope that works.

letter from Tu-lu's

Awhile ago I sent a letter to tu-lu's tell them how good their bakery is. Tu-lu's is my favorite gluten-free bakery I've ever been to. One of my good friends had given a card to me and we went there. That's how we found out about it.

It's a small bakery with trees, cupcakes, pink dots and an owl sticker on the wall. When I walk in, it makes me feel like I'm in a bright forest but there are all these treats around me. When I sent the letter I didn't get a response for a long time. Then, I went to the bakery again and we figured out that they did write me back but it got sent back in the mail.

That's how we met Tully. She opened tu-lu's because she has celiac disease too. I also sent her stickers and she sent me a tu-lu's bakery card. I"m going to bring it next time I go there. Their foods taste just like regular treats with wheat and things in them. But they're gluten-free. Even treats that I don't really like, like oatmeal raison cookies, I still like at tu-lu's. Last time we went we got four mint chocolate chip cupcakes. They're delicious! And I think they're my favorite ones yet. Would you like to try it yourself? If you do, tell them Gluten Free Rocks sent you!

celiac levels down!

Hi! guess what. my celiac levels went down! first they were at 37. now they are at 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  only 6 away until having  normal celiac levels! but it took a long time to figure it out. first I had a blooId test. then some dumb people sent it to the wrong lab so I needed a nother blood test! after that the people said my celiac levels went up which made my mom upset because she thought that she was doing a bad job of keeping me safe. then we had to ANOTHER blood test to make sure I did not have anemia. my mommy thought there was enough blood tests going on so she decided they would do a finger prick. my doctor was so excited he decided he would do it himself. after the finger prick they decided my levels wen down. the whole family was happy. and that is the story of how they figured the levels went down to 16.Some times i wish there was a robot that could scan me and automaticaly know what would be happening in my body.

Trick or treat

Yeah it's Halloween! You're so excited to go trick or treating. But when you get home you find out that most of your candy has gluten.

But what me and my mom do, is look through the candies and see if it's gluten free or not. There are different apps on your iPhone that you can download and you can look it up. If it's not gluten free you can give it to a friend because that would make your friend happy. Then if you were giving out candy on Halloween too, or your parents were, then if you have left-overs, you can get have that type of gluten free candy instead. That way you'll still get lots of candy BUT the only difference is it'll all be gluten free.

After Halloween night, you'll probably feel very tempted to eat all the candy in your basket because it's right there in front of you. What I do to keep myself away from the candy is that I pretend the candy has gluten in it. Because I do not want to eat candy with gluten in it. I do not want to hurt my body.

One time I was at a friend's house and they had lots of non-gluten free candy. They brought up one of their pieces of candy to me and said a statement of how good the candy was. That made me feel upset, angry, disappointed and sad all at the same time. But what I would do is take a deep breath and tell them that it is really yummy, but you don't have to mention that it's not gluten-free but that might make them feel a little embarrassed. Then they'll probably talk about something else.

Mama Mondays: Can someone explain THIS?

Quick post:

Last night we had some friends over for dinner and with the pork and hominy stew (so good! gluten free!) I decided to whip up some homemade cornbread. I used the recipe on the back of Bob's Red Mill gluten-free Cornmeal and this is what happened:

Thoughts on why I produced a sponge with some corn meal on top? The Prince pronounced it delicious as well as my thoughtful (THOUGHTFUL) friends. I however understand that it's unacceptable and vile. And can't tell you how frustrated I still am with all this gluten-free baking. Sigh.....