Pre-prepared Gluten Free School Lunches - Perfect for Families on the Go!

With kids back to school it means you need to prepare the right kind of lunch.  Pre-prepared meals make it convenient and safe to eat a healthy meal at school. Why think about meals when you have to concentrate on school work and activities.

Save time. Eat Healthy! Gluten free lunches are the way to go for school lunches for kids with Celiac Disease or food allergies.

Following a Gluten free diet presents challanges for Celiacs and their caregivers. I know because I have CD and a couple of my children are gluten intolerant.  I am pleased to be able to meet Celiacs from all over and they are very happy when they find a reliable source of quality gluten free food and know that they do not have to worry because our facility is  completly gluten free!

According to Business Week, prepackaged lunches are a $750 million-a-year industry, and the category is dominated by Kraft's Oscar Mayer Lunchables, whose 44 varieties (at last count) command 85 percent of the "lunch kit" market. Despite some efforts to make them healthier, most of these meals are high in fat, sodium, and harmful additives.  That is a lot of unhealthy stuff being consumed by children.

The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese. Any wonder why?

Healthy gluten free foods for lunch....fight fat too. How to get kids to embrace super-nutritious school lunches is a key to healthier diets that will combat the increase in obesity rates.    Even children without food allergies could benefit from healthy gluten free pre prepared lunches.

Sweet Christine’s offers store-made lunchboxes, featuring items like all-organic sandwiches, pizza, salads and much more!

Published 30 August 2009 - 0 comments (View/Post Comments)   

Published 18 August 2009 - 3 comments (View/Post Comments)   

If you itemize your tax return and your total medical expenses for the year exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you can write off certain expenses associated with celiac disease. You can deduct the excess cost of a gluten-free product over a comparable gluten-containing product. NY Times

Ok that is good news - so here is an example of how it would work. Let’s say you spend $6.50 on a loaf of gluten-free bread, and a regular loaf costs $4; you can deduct $2.50. In addition, you can deduct the cost of products necessary to maintain a gluten-free diet, like xanthan gum for baking. If you mail order gluten-free products, the shipping costs may be deductible, too. If you have to travel extra miles to buy gluten-free goods, the mileage is also deductible. You’ll need a doctor’s letter to confirm your diagnosis and your need for a gluten-free diet, and you should save receipts in case of a tax audit. NY Times

Bad News - Insurance companies reluctant to offer coverage of gluten free diets.

Patients inclure an extra cost of a special diet and the cost is not usually reimbursed by health care plans.Trips to a dietitian to receive nutritional guidance are also rarely covered.

Ok that is good news - so here is an example of how it would work.

 Raising Celiac Awareness Online

 There are many online resources that provide current, comprehensive, science-based information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of celiac disease. Please visit my site for helpful links and reources.

Published 18 August 2009 - 0 comments (View/Post Comments)