Survey Tidbits & Lots of Love!

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Food Allergy Friendly Shopping, Gluten Free, Healthy Eating, News, Uncategorized by Lucy

I thought you’d like to know what we’ve heard so far from fans who completed our survey.  If you haven’t responded yet and would like to share thoughts with us about gluten free and allergy friendly foods, follow this link.  You can qualify for a product coupon too. So far we’ve learned that about one-third of the folks who responded are the only person in their household who eats gluten free or allergy friendly foods.   Another one-third buy special foods for more than one person at home.  And, one-third of our respondents buy gluten free and allergy friendly for the whole family.  Most people shop at two to four stores per month.  Many would like to find more items in Target, coffee shops, and chain restaurants. Read more »

Survey Says: We’ve Come A Long Way! Where Next?

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Gluten Free, News, Uncategorized by Lucy

“Gluten free” and “food allergy friendly” are more plentiful, more available and taste better than ever!  Mintel, a leading international market researcher, says that the number of new gluten free products has grown from 633 in 2007, to 1559 in 2011 – and that’s just the new stuff!

Every few years Mintel conducts surveys about special diets, and in the latest round of research they found the following among internet users over 18 years of age who are gluten free or allergic/sensitive to at least one food: Read more »

Food Allergy Knowledge! Food Allergy Power!

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, News, Uncategorized by Lucy

They say that knowledge is power.  And I would say that for two reasons, the attached article from this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association provides both knowledge and power.  First, there is real hope and power in what is summarized there, and in a title like:  Treatment Rather Than Avoidance May Be Within Reach for Children With Food Allergies. Secondly, this article might answer some of the questions you hear from family and friends.  So read on, and get the knowledge and the power to respond – you just might encounter these topics at a Super Bowl party this Sunday.  I hope you’ll be munching on some Lucy’s cookies and sharing with friends!  Have fun.

Sweets and Treats

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Food Allergy Friendly Shopping, Gluten Free, Holiday Cookies, Holiday Traditions, Vegan, allergy friendly shopping by Lucy

Did you know that October is National Cookie Month? While there is no particular origin of this observance, it’s certainly a celebration that we believe in! There is no better month than October (think Halloween!) to enjoy a sweet treat! To honor this fun and delicious time, we will be giving away a Halloween gift pack to several lucky fans who correctly answer Halloween trivia questions posted on our Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/DrLucys, and Twitter page www.twitter.com/lucys_tweets. The fun happens on Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Happy Halloween!

Halloween is just a week away, and if you and your family are managing food allergies, you know that tricking and treating can be stressful. Here’s a link to my 2010 blog post about what happens at my house after a ghoulish tromp around that neighborhood. Also, check out FAAN’s tips for dealing with food allergies at Halloween.

Factory on Film!

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Food Allergy Friendly Shopping, Food Allergy Recipes, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes, Healthy Eating, Kosher Pareve, Vegan, allergy friendly shopping by Lucy

Well, you probably know our story already.  Yet, if you’d like to hear it again and also see our amazing cookie factory, check this video out!  I’ll tell you more about how we provide the highest quality in gluten free and allergy friendly cookies.

Check out our beautiful 320 quart mixer, “Mag”, that works like a dream.  See our awesome staff busily making cookies for you.  See our two roll-in rack ovens that together can bake 2000 delicious, crispy cookies in 15 minutes.

Remember, Lucy’s are certified vegan, kosher pareve and gluten free.  They’re all natural, contain many organic ingredients and have 0g trans fat and 0mg cholesterol.  Yummy.

Cookies are coming your way!  Enjoy!

Where Do Groceries Come From?

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Food Allergy Friendly Shopping, Gluten Free by Lucy

Or better said:  How does my grocery store learn about and choose new items?

One answer is that your grocery buyer probably attends the Natural Products Expo West, and/or other similar food industry trade shows.  This week I’m heading to California to exhibit Lucy’s there for the third year in a row.

I love this show because so many new and delicious products are available – and it’s fun to be part of a dynamic and growing industry that puts delicious, healthy food on your table and mine.

This year in addition to meeting grocery buyers at our booth, I will be speaking to show attendees about health and food manufacturing related to gluten free and food allergies.  I’ll be on the agenda for two one-hour sessions on Friday.

I’ll be talking about the differences and similarities between celiac disease, gluten intolerance, food allergies and food intolerances.  This will include a review of recent research and news articles so grocery buyers throughout the country will have a chance to fine tune their knowledge of these issues.

This is one of my favorite things to do.  Food allergies and celiac disease are pretty complex issues.  I love talking with buyers and grocery managers so we can work to make life better for people with special diets.

Let me know of any messages you’d like me to relay about your diet and health.  And, any stores or chains I should be looking out for.  Send your grocery manager my way!  I’ll be at the Anaheim Convention Center in Booth #5425 most of the time except on Friday, March 11th during two presentations at 9:30am and 2:45pm in Room 207A.  I hope something good lands on your grocery shelves as a result!

New Year, New Stores!

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Food Allergy Friendly Shopping, Gluten Free, Vegan by Lucy

Our delicious cookies were recently selected for new gluten free and allergy friendly sections in the following chains throughout the U.S.  Look for us on these shelves starting now.  Some deliveries will not occur until late February 2011, so keep watching.

With these additions, we are providing cookies in more than 6000 North American locations!   I hope this makes life easy for you.  And tasty too!

I received a message today from a Facebook fan who found them in Safeway!  Let me know where you find Lucys.

• Acme
• Albertson’s
• Carrs
• Cub
• Dominick’s
• Genuardi’s
• Hy-Vee
• Jewel
• Randalls
• Safeway
• Shaws
• Tom Thumb
• Vons

If you are looking for Lucy’s at your local store and don’t find them, please let your store manager know.  We are eager to work with new stores and distributors.  Send them to our website and this direct link to our email.

I hope you’re having a happy new year.  Stay warm and enjoy a few treats!

‘Tis the Cookie Season

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Gluten Free, Healthy Eating, Holiday Cookies, Holiday Traditions, Vegan by Lucy

Some of my best memories involve cookies.  My mother is a fantastic baker.  Over the years she collected and fine-tuned a wonderful set of cookie recipes she specially selected for the holiday season.  Every December she would designate days during the month for making each of these delights.

As we grew up all our family members became part of the process, first my sisters and I, and later nieces and nephews.  The littlest ones always had the job of sprinkling sugar on the delicious, buttery sugar cookies.  As we grew into adolescence we might even get a turn at rolling out dough, though it took years for anyone to gain the skill and style of Mom.

In fact, I remember the first time I made Mother’s cookies in my own kitchen.  I was newly married and living far away from my parents.  It was the first year that I would not be with them for the holidays.  Though they might have shipped these special treats to me okay, it seemed like the right time for me to make the cookies on my own.

I remember feeling nervous over rolling out the dough.  The texture and thickness had to be just right for the best cookie result.  Amazingly, my dough and rolling were just fine.  It happened as if Mom was right there doing it herself.

This year we plan to have a gluten free and allergy friendly family cookie-making day.  We’ll be celebrating Mother’s 90^th birthday.  She’s still amazing, and still making her amazing cookies.  And I am happy to say that she loves mine too!

While there are many ways to show your love during the holidays, I personally think cookies are a great way to share friendship and joy.  Happy holidays to everyone!

Thanksgiving — More Matters

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Gluten Free, Healthy Eating, Kosher Pareve, News, Vegan by Lucy

Most of us allow ourselves to indulge a little over the holidays and come New Year’s Day, we’re looking for ways to maintain healthy weight and help our children develop good eating habits.

This holiday season, instead of focusing on what we should be eating less of, perhaps we’re better off shifting the focus to what we should be eating more of.  Fill up on veggies and you’ll be set to consume just the right amount of dessert.  No more, no less.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that last year about one-third of U.S. adults consumed fruit or fruit juice at least twice a day, down slightly from more than 34 percent in 2000.  About 26 percent of Americans ate vegetables three or more times a day, the same results as reported in 2000.  So, only one quarter to one third of us are eating anywhere close to enough of these amazing plants.  To help us all eat more of these great foods the CDC established the Fruits and Veggies – More Matters! Program. It’s based on a simple premise—more fruits and vegetables matter.  They are:

• Low in calories
• High in fiber
• May reduce risk of many diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers
• Rich in vitamins and minerals that help you feel healthy and energized
• Probably ease the effects of aging
• Can be a helpful part of maintaining a healthy weight and managing or avoiding development of diabetes and other diseases that result from being overweight.

Our family is going to start this holiday season off with healthy habits that include less worry about enjoying a few treats and instead focus on including more fruits and veggies.   We’re adding a veggie appetizer, two more vegetable side dishes and a fruit desert to our Thanksgiving menu.  If we start now, when the New Year comes around, our resolutions might have nothing to do with improving our diet.  Here are some recipe ideas:  green beans, roasted vegetables, salad.

Of note, if you’re managing a special diet, fruits and veggies can provide a rich, nutritious and tasty alternative to many common challenges.  If cheese and crackers should be avoided, try roasted eggplant instead.

Want to join in the Fruits and Veggies—More Matters Program?  Visit the CDC’s site for lots of health and nutrition information, including a fruits and veggie serving calculator.

Hallowed Tricks & Treats in Our Neighborhood

Posted in Posted in Food Allergies, Gluten Free, News, Uncategorized by Lucy

My son is six and therefore at the age where picking the perfect Halloween costume means the difference between being cool and uncool.  This also means his desired costume has been changing weekly.  We’ve gone from Frankenstein, to Chewbacca to Mummy to Clown.  My favorite costume is still the little puppy dog with the floppy ears and spots that he wore at age three.  Of course it would barely accommodate one of his legs now, much less his whole body, but I like to hold onto this memory as a reminder of his innocence.

Costume importance aside, Colin’s allergies to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and wheat require a heightened awareness this time of year.  But just as important, my husband and I want Colin to feel like any other little boy on his night of hallowed haunting.  Because of that we’ve always approached the trick or treating event on Halloween in an open way.  We grab his candy container of choice, a flashlight and EpiPens; then we join the troops of grandly dressed kids and adults in our neighborhood.  The big rule is that we don’t eat candy while on the trail.  And frankly, this is not very dramatic.  It’s just like all food rules for us.  The great thing is that the rest of our romp through the neighborhood is just like everyone else’s.  Colin has a great time.  And so do we as parents; watching him stand side by side at each door with his friends just being a carefree kid.

Once at home we sort the candy into three piles—OK, Not OK and Not Sure.  This is part of the fun.  And, it turns out to be a great confidence builder.  Colin knows he will be able to sort for himself as he becomes more independent, even on Halloween night.   He is free to take from the “OK” pile.  The “Not OK” pile goes off to Dad’s work and the “Not Sure” pile becomes my sleuthing project.    I spend the next couple of weeks reviewing ingredients online, calling candy companies, etc.  It takes a little time, but it’s worth it.  Colin checks in on the status of my work and through this he is building lifelong skills for living with food allergies.  Colin is learning how to determine what is safe or not.

Our unrestricted trick or treating tradition isn’t necessarily for everyone with food allergies of course, but it works for us and we look forward to Halloween night and thereafter each fall.

These days, Halloween celebrations aren’t limited to the one night though.  It’s a candy-fest for the entire month.  For other October days we try to focus our celebrations around activities that are less food oriented and schedule them after a nice, healthy meal at home.   This is not just healthy for us, it’s good for everyone!   In fact, many other families find this the best way to celebrate fall.  After all, we are what we eat.