Gluten Free Dunkin' Donuts Are Here!

Written by Leslie Morris of Triumph Dining

Dunkin’ Donuts fans unite – the company is readying to sell gluten-free cinnamon-sugar doughnuts and blueberry muffins in stores nationwide this year, positioning itself as the first in the fast food industry to offer gluten-free pastries.

The company was pleased with the results of its pilot in Massachusetts locations earlier this year and the gluten-free items are now available in the Hartford, Connecticut area.

Note that the new menu items are not necessarily lower in calories than other baked goods sold by Canton, Massachusetts-based Dunkin’ Brands. The wheat-free doughnut has 320 calories, while its glazed doughnut has 260 calories. The gluten-free blueberry muffin has 400 calories versus 460 for the standard version and 410 for a reduced-fat one. So, though the tasty eats will be better alternatives for those who are gluten intolerant, they will not necessarily be better for you. They are still doughnuts, after all.

The suggested prices are $1.89 for Dunkin’s gluten-free doughnuts and $2.39 for muffins. The Dunkin’ chain has more than 7,300 U.S. shops.

Afterglow Cosmetics Product Review by Triumph Dining

Written by Laura Mertens

When you’re on a strict gluten-free diet, it’s not only food and drink that you have to watch out for. Anything which goes in you mouth, such as toothpaste, mouthwash and lip products, must also be checked for gluten. 

Many lip-sticks contain wheat-based oils and proteins so watch out! You don’t want to be strictly gluten-free, just to be keep poisoning yourself with a little bit of lipstick every day. There are a few company on the market which offer gluten-free cosmetics but Afterglow Cosmetics are the first line of cosmetics to be certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).

CEO and Founder, Kristin Adams, set out to develop a safe line of gluten-free cosmetics since the company began in 2004. Both her mother and sister have celiac disease, so she understands cross contamination and the serious consequences when celiacs consume even the tinniest amount of gluten. 

As well as being completely gluten-free, Afterglow Cosmetics are also soy free, mercury free, paraben free, GMO free, synthetic dye free, fragrance free, carmine free and petrochemical free. They are also certified cruelty free by Leaping Free. That’s a lot of free!

NOTE:

I checked this website out and the products are definitely pricey!  $24.00 for a lipstick or mascara! Speaking as someone with Celiac disease, I do think it is important to use gluten-free cosmetics, but I think you can still use some of the products from Walgreens or Target - you may just have to call the company to ask about gluten.  Remember, everything you put on your skin goes into your bloodstream!  If money isn't an issue and you want to be sure that cross-contamination isn't an issue, Afterglow might be the right choice for you!

Shop wisely!
Kirsten

Pillsbury and Celiacs Welcome Three New Gluten-Free Products to Market

Written by Leslie Morris of Triumph Dining

Thank you Pillsbury! Your friends at Triumph Dining were thrilled to read your recent press release on your new offerings: pie and pastry crust, chocolate chip cookie dough, and thin crust pizza dough.

General Mills, who owns Pillsbury, has long been a friend of the gluten-free community. Its associated companies now offer more than 300 gluten-free products. Chex Cereal was its first mainstream product followed by Betty Crocker baking mixes. Today there are seven varieties of gluten-free Chex cereal.

The Pillsbury team developed at least a dozen different formulas to test. Wheat flour was eliminated. The cookie dough contains rice flour. The pie crusts have rice and sorghum flour. The thin pizza crust contains tapioca starch, rice, millet and sorghum flour.

In the summer of 2012, about 20 consumers handled the dough, tasted and critiqued it. At that time the company also created a 35-member Gluten-Free Advisory Board. Said Jill Haspert, associate marketing manager at Pillsbury, “It was eye opening to listen to gluten-free consumers, who told us they couldn’t find products their kids would eat. We found that moms with gluten-free kids were cooking two meals at ho me. One consumer even told us that a gluten-free cookie has to pass the ‘dunk-able’ test, meaning it wouldn’t crumble when her kids dunked it in milk.”

We’ll be looking for these new products in our local grocery store pronto.