On Saturday, a friend of mine sent me an article from the New York Times about gluten-free (another one, so soon?!).  It was about the recent growth of gluten-free focused businesses like bakeries and stores resulting from the owner’s dreams of a “plan B.”

It is fitting that I would read this article now.  Although I’ve revealed to my readers that I am getting married soon through posts about gluten-free cupcakes, menu tastings, and how to accommodate guests with food allergies and dietary restrictions, there are more big changes ahead in my life.  Alex and I are moving to Vienna, Austria in September.  Alex is a dual Austrian/American citizen and to keep his Austrian citizenship must complete civil service with the government for 9 months.  It’s a temporary move, and while necessary, is also about the experience: traveling, learning and hopefully speaking a foreign language, making friends, exploring a new city, and doing this all before we have to “settle down.”  I am incredibly excited and incredibly nervous.  But, it’s really happening now, we’ve bought our plane tickets.

Of course with this move, we’re leaving our jobs and leaving New York City (not to mention friends and family- but they’ve promised to visit).  I’ll be sad to leave the life I’ve made here, but I’m ready for a change.  I have been happily employed at my job for three years starting right out of college.  I’ve realized in those three years, that maybe, what I thought I wanted to do after college, isn’t playing out how I imagined.  While I do love my organization, and the people I work with, I’m not sure that the office-desk job is right for me.  So, I have a plan B.

Maybe I’m a little young for a plan B (did you figure out how old I am?).  Maybe, it’s really Plan A 2.0.  Whatever you want to call it, it’s a big change from what I’m doing now.  Going gluten-free had a huge impact on me: from learning how to adjust to the new diet to writing this blog, it’s a big part of my life and I think I’d like it to be even bigger.  You see, I’m just like those women in the New York Times article.  Even though gluten-free awareness has certainly grown, it’s not mainstream, and in a city a large and all encompassing as New York City, there are still only two dedicated gluten-free bakeries and dedicated gluten-free shop.  I don’t think it’s enough, and I’d like to do more for the gluten-free cause than just write this blog.  I want my own gluten-free business.

The most common question I get when I tell people I’m moving to Austria is, “What are you going to do when you’re there?”  Well, first I need to learn German.  Then, I’d like to travel.  And when I’m not doing either of those things, I’ll be working on my plan B.

News

The New York Times Features Gluten-Free Goodies

The NYT has occasionally had some pieces on being gluten-free, but they have been mostly health related like Q&A in the Wellness Blog.  Around November, they featured a gluten-free chef and her Thanksgiving recipes.  Yesterday’s article by Melissa Clark was different.  It was about food.  It wasn’t about nutrition or health-benefits, it was about baking and flavor.  It quoted Shauna James-Ahern, the Gluten-Free Girl and Erin McKenna of Babycakes, two well-known voices and bakers of gluten-free.  I am excited that this article ran, it means that gluten-free food really has come a long way.

NYT: Gluten-Free: Flavor Free No More

Gluten-Free Food Labeling Summit in Washington a Success

The 16-layer cake was baked and built, and participants met with lawmakers and the FDA.  Read more in Forbes.

Celiac Vaccine Passes Phase I of Trials

Read my post about this.

Upcoming Events

Walk for Celiac Disease: Sunday, June 5 in Whitestone.  Sign up here

Pasta Night at Cafe 82: Monday, June 6- RSVP hereDinner at Lilli and Loo-: Tuesday, June 7- get on the waiting list here

Columbia Celiac Disease Center Roundtable: Wednesday June 29 – pre-register here

Would you take weekly shots just to eat gluten again?

That’s the reality of the Nexvax2 vaccine, currently being tested in phase II.  Nexvax2 works like any vaccine, where you are actually injected with the virus, causing an immune response.  Since celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder, Nexvax actually contains the peptide that most celiacs (90%)  have already that responds to gluten like a virus or bacteria.  Apparently, in phase I testing, the gastrointenstinal stress that some participants endured after receiving injections was evidence that they had isolated the right peptide.

That’s the basic science.  One shot won’t do the job, however, for celiacs.  Instead, the Nexvax2 is much like allergy shots that people get regularly to control their environmental allergies.  However, unlike seasonal allergy sufferers, celiacs don’t have to become hermits to avoid their allergen.  All we have to do is avoid certain foods.

I’m not saying avoiding gluten is easy, but it’s certainly doable and eventually becomes part of life.  Gluten-free doesn’t mean flavor-free or nutrient-free, and for many has helped them become healthier in general.  I always tell people that if I could eat gluten, I would.  But would I endure regular injections to have the occasional slice of cake at a co-worker’s birthday party or late night pizza?  I don’t think so.

What about you?  What are your thoughts on the celiac vaccine?

Happily chowing down on Famiglia’s gluten-free pizza at Yankee Stadium- not bad for stadium pizza and for $8.50 a pie!

In 2007, we asked the FDA to standardize labeling for gluten-free foods.  It has yet to happen.  This year on May 4, in honor of Celiac Awareness Month, The American Celiac Disease Alliance and leaders in the gluten-free community will host the Gluten-Free Labeling Summit in Washington, DC to get this task moving forward and completed.  Even if you can’t make it to the summit, you can help in other ways, by writing a letter to the FDA, signing the petition, donating, or just spreading the word.

Find out more about celiac disease awareness at these sites:

American Celiac Disease Awareness

Celiac Disease Foundation

National Foundation for Celiac Awareness

GlutenFreeville

The New York City Celiac Disease Meetup Group

And remember that you can encourage your friends and family to take the gluten-free challenge May 21 and 22.

Read the rest of this entry »