Celiac disease, abbreviated as CD, creates a serious dietary challenge for a growing number of people. Unable to digest the gluten in wheat, rye or barley, even a light dusting of flour from these grains can cause sensitive individuals to become ill. The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University reports that of the various autoimmune disorders, "CD remains one of the most common and under diagnosed." Fortunately, new gluten-free food products help to meet the growing demand. Many grocery stores and restaurants strive to meet the need for gluten-free menu options to satisfy their customers.
Cereal Products
According to an article in Medical News Today, "Enzyme technology, bio-processing as well as high-pressure processing technology has successfully improved the quality, safety and nutritional attributes of gluten-free cereal products." Made from an assortment of alternative food sources such as rice, sorghum, tapioca and green peas, cereal products remain some of the newest gluten-free foods available. Some of these food choices include DeBoles Rice Angel Hair Pasta with golden flax, DeBoles Multi-Grain Spaghetti, Aunt Gussie's Original English Muffins, Uti's Double Chocolate Muffins, Shabtai Gourmet Brownie Bites and Orgran Kid's Dinosaur Fruit Wild Berry Cookies for kids.
Prepared Meals
Italian favorites, cheese lasagna and cheese ravioli from Conti's Pasta, are two new gluten-free options available as prepared meals. For a taste of the orient, Spaa Pad Thai Noodles and SpaaThai Peanut Curry Rice meals are now offered gluten-free. Three new rice bowls from Gogo Rice featuring organic white, brown or wild rice are ready to eat after 90 seconds in the microwave.
Snacks
Arguably, the fastest growing segment of the gluten-free food industry, choices of gluten-free snack foods continue to multiply. Four exciting new snacks include Allergy-Free Breaded Chicken Wings made with brown and white rice flours, ground flax seeds and a blend of spices, among other all natural ingredients; three varieties of Mediterranean Baked Lentil Chips; Shabtai Gourmet Ring Tings Gluten-Free Snack Cakes in chocolate flavor; six different chocolate bars from Organic Nectars in both dark and white chocolate, including one with raspberry.
Restaurants
Keeping pace with the trend among restaurants of offering gluten-free foods, Carl's Jr. fast food restaurant chain now offers a hamburger wrapped in large leafs of lettuce instead of bread. Fellow fast food giant, Burger King officially listed their gluten-free menu in 2010, offering hamburger and chicken patties without the bun. The National Restaurant Association's annual survey for menu trends in 2010 showed that gluten-free meal options ranked in the top twenty among consumer concerns and restaurants have responded accordingly.
References
- Celiac Disease Center: About Celiac for Patients
- Medical News Today: New And Improved Gluten-Free Foods Developed For Patients With Celiac Disease
- Food Product Design: 2010Menu trends
- Udi's Gluten Free Foods: Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Muffins Available May 5th!
- The Gluten-Free Mall: New Gluten-Free Products
