<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Miscellaneous Notes: -------------------- Boston Chicken: The following items are gluten free, according to information from Boston Chicken dated January 3rd, 1995: buttered corn creamed spinach chicken soup butternut squash fruit salad rotisserie chicken cinnamon apples garden fresh cole slaw steamed vegetables cranberry relish mashed potatoes (no gravy) zucchini marinara Medicine Absorption<1>: Absorption of antibiotics or any medicine in adult celiacs is an item that can be overlooked. Celiacs report various responses to gluten. These reactions can occur within hours, days, or for some no symptoms may appear. If a biopsy were taken, it is likely that damage would be seen in all. The area of damaged villi may also vary between celiacs. "It is known that persons with damage to the first (proximal) part of their small intestine tend to absorb larger molecules and malabsorb smaller molecules, while the reverse is true in persons without damage to this section."<2> If medication is not giving the expected results, the status of the diet and absorption may be a factor to consider. An old screening test of normal subjects and celiacs with no indication of cardiovascular, liver, or kidney disease showed the following results for drugs excreted in the urine: an increased absorption of: cephalexin, clindamycin, fucidin, sulphamethoxazole, and trimethoprim an impaired absorption of: amoxycillin and pivampicillin a delayed absorption of: rifampicin normal absorption of: ampicillin, erthromycin, ethyl succinate, erthromycim sterate, and lincomycin.<3> (Note from Dr. Alexander: The significance of these differences in actual clinical settings is not well established, particularly for those celiacs whose disease is under good control.) To jazz up your rice, try substituting orange juice for half of the water. You may also stir in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of shredded orange peel. Play Clay: Arm & Hammer has a brochure showing how to make and use play clay from a few simple, gluten-free ingredients. To get a copy of the brochure, call 1-800-575-2925. To keep your rice pizza crust crispy, try placing the cheese on the crust before the sauce. Did you know...<4> * ...you can use fructose as a substitute for sugar? If replacing molasses or honey, use 1 tablespoon less water than what the recipe calls for. * ...tofu may be used as a substitute for ricotta cheese? * ...1/3 cup of soy-free and lactose-free baby formula powder can be substituted for 1/2 cup dry powdered milk? From John & Nancy Britten: -------------------------- Are you hungry for delicious, gluten-free pancakes and waffles? Try Van's Gluten Free Microwave Pancakes and Toaster Waffles. They are available at Vital Foods-GNC, at Orchard Lake & Maple, 810/851-4740. (Ask for Jill, the buyer.) They sell out fast, so call ahead to order some. They are fast, convenient, delicious, gluten-free, yeast-free, egg-free, dairy-free, and available in the Detroit area--what more could you ask for! Adam recommends them highly for other celiac kids. He says, "They are really DEEEEElicious!" (Editor's note: That last word left my spell-checker whimpering behind an icon.) A Jello Pudding Alert: Our current shopping guide does not include items from Kraft, since they no longer provide a gluten-free listing to consumers. An older shopping guide listed Jello Instant Puddings as gluten free. Be aware that when I recently purchased Jello Instant Pudding, vanilla flavor, I found wheat starch in the ingredients list. Apparently the ingredients have changed; wheat starch was not previously used. I have not investigated other flavors, but I recommend that you look carefully at the labels or call Kraft at 1-800-431-1001 before using Jello puddings. (Editor's note: Kraft will answer question about a few specific products over the phone; but will not send you anything in writing.)