Gluten-Free Demos and Classes Celebrate October’s Celiac Awareness Month
ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT CELIAC DISEASE IS?
Statistics have shown that celiac disease is a mystery to many people. According to the Celiac Sprue Association, the largest celiac support group in America, 1 in 133 people have the condition. However, only about 3% of these people are diagnosed.
Education is starting to change this. Since 1987, October has been celebrated as Celiac Awareness Month in the U.S. and Canada. Despite years of misdiagnosis, the medical profession has the answer to this eluding illness…a gluten-free diet! Gluten is a common protein found in wheat, barely and rye, and to a lesser extent, oats.
Valley Natural Foods also wants to educate the community on how it can effectively cook and live gluten-free. As part of our Education at the Co-op classes, we are offering a special gluten-free class series. The instructors, Sandra Calcutt and Shawn Binkowski, have collectively cooked gluten-free for the past 18 years and have perfected many recipes. Their ’Gluten-Free for the Holidays’ class from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m on November 3rd and December 8th shows participants that they don’t have to give up their favorite holiday food traditions. Gluten-free holidays can be fun and tasty! The class is $32 for non-members and $27 for members; call 952-891-1212 to register or stop by our customer service counter.
October 21st and November 18th are also Gluten-Free Days at Valley Natural Foods! Join Sandra and Shawn from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the demo kiosk on both days to sample food from their ’Gluten-Free for the Holidays’ class. Stay at the demo kiosk throughout the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. as the Valley Natural Foods staff demo “What to do with Amaranth” on October 21st and “Gluten-Free Sides for Your Thanksgiving Dinner” on November 18th. Valley Natural Foods’ Gluten Free Day is on the third Thursday of each month.
The gluten-free class series doesn’t stop with the holidays. Shawn and Sandra offer a wide variety of class options to meet the needs of those just starting out on a gluten-free diet, to those who just want to know how to cook their favorite foods like pizza and cake! To find a full listing of the classes, visit the Valley Natural Foods News and Events page.
Also, don’t forget to take a shopping trip at Valley Natural Foods while you visit Shawn and Sandra at the demo kiosk. A trip to Valley Natural Foods will show anyone that there is a wide variety of gluten-free choices, including a gluten-free bakery!
As a part of Celiac Awareness Month, Mambo Sprouts, a marketing program that offers consumers promotions on health, natural and organic products , is distributing some great gluten-free coupons….click here to print them out!
Tags: celiac disease, Gluten-free classes, Gluten-free coupons
October 20th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Thank you so much for offering gluten free classes. I have learned so much from the gluten-free demos at the kiosk. When I first learned that I had a gluten sensitivity I though I would only be eating very bland food. I was very surprised at some of the very flavorful ways you can cook gluten-free. I’m looking forward to sampling more great gluten-free recipes at the demo kiosk.
The gluten-free cake you served at the Valley Natural Annual Meeting was the best gluten-free cake I have ever tasted! Thank you, thank you!