Written by Emily Wagener. Emily is an Udi’s Campus Ambassador at Clemson University. She is currently a senior studying food science with an emphasis in product development and has been an avid fan of Udi’s products for years.

College, in short, is amazing. The ratio of freedom to responsibilities is optimal, there are new friends to be had everywhere, and drinking a pot of coffee at 9:00pm in preparation for an all-nighter is completely acceptable. This grandiose adventure can present a variety of challenges for those with gluten intolerance, however, from the ubiquitous presence of pizza at campus events to dealing with the management at dining halls.

My own gluten-free challenge at Clemson University was more intense than I was expecting. I had the option of going to schools where the dining halls would have catered to my every need, but Clemson offered me great scholarships that were hard to pass up. I strode into my first meeting with the campus nutritionist thinking I could easily persuade him into accommodating me, but I was unfortunately wrong. Although he was polite, he told me that Celiac disease “didn’t really exist” and that there “just wasn’t ever going to be a demand” for gluten-free products. Ouch.

Of course I wasn’t going to let this setback upset me too much. Since a meal plan was required for all freshmen, I chowed down on countless salads without complaint and armed myself with plenty of goodies in my dorm room. Living in such small spaces can be difficult with the lack of a kitchen, but the following five items are essentials for college students on a gluten-free diet:

1. Udi’s Gluten-Free Granola: Udi’s Granola is amazing, especially when you roll out of your lofted bed five minutes before class starts and need to pack a quick breakfast that can be eaten by the handful as you trod your way across campus to an 8:00am class. My personal favorite is the cranberry flavor!

• Thai Kitchen “Ramen” Noodles: There’s no denying it—ramen noodles are one of the staple items in any college kid’s diet. Luckily, Thai Kitchen makes an “instant rice noodle soup” that is an adequate substitute.
• Mixed Nuts: They’re shelf stable and essential sources of energy-providing nutrients. Mix ‘em up with Udi’s Granola for an even more flavorful snack for early mornings or late nights in the library!
• Glutenfreeda Frozen Burritos: Having a freezer the size of a shoebox in a dorm room can be difficult. Sharing it with a roommate who may not respect your need for space can be even more so! These burrito packets are relatively small and make delicious lunches in between classes.
• Udi’s Cookies: These are the perfect way to brighten your day after a long marathon of lectures, exams, lab, or some awful combination of all three. I also make sure to pack them in my bag when going to campus events laden with desserts like gluten-filled cookies and cupcakes.

How do/did you deal with eating gluten-free at college? What other foods are great to keep in a dorm room?

Written by Susannah Faulkner. Susannah serves as the University Outreach Specialist here at Udi’s Gluten Free Foods, and was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2005. She proudly lives her life both gluten and dairy free, and loves spreading awareness about celiac.

For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a time not only to enjoy the company of family and friends, but also to gorge on everything from stuffing to pecan pie. However, for those of us with a gluten intolerance or other dietary needs, Thanksgiving can be both a headache and even a nightmare.

Luckily, thanks to Udi’s and a plethora of recipes on the Internet, Thanksgiving no longer has to be an ominous occasion.  Here are five simple steps I take every year to ensure a seamless feast.

1.  Communicate.
   The first time I was invited to my friend’s house for Thanksgiving, I was terrified. I figured I would just eat beforehand, and have a few veggies while at the dinner. But let’s be honest, that’s no fun! A few weeks before Thanksgiving, I decided to call my friend to talk over the menu, and which options would be safe for me. She had no problem using Udi’s bread for a stuffing (check out this great recipe here), and using almond milk for the mashed potatoes. I was able to eat like a queen, thanks to just a simple phone conversation.
2. Know the secret culprits.
   Spice blends? Gravy packets? Salad dressings? Bring your own! It’s not worth it to risk adding gravy to your dish if there is a high possibility that it will make you ill! Make sure to double check all spice blends, as they can often use flours or other mysterious “natural flavors.” My best advice is to bring your own gravy and salad dressing to the dinner for added flavor. Check out this super easy gf gravy recipe here!
3. Create a plan.
   Thanksgiving Day can be a little manic between balancing family and friends. Make sure you have a clear plan of where you are eating and when. This will help the hosts make sure they can accommodate you, most importantly to avoid cross contamination (a random uncle may just dip into your special gf stuffing without knowing that it’s just for you!).  Also, this will help to make certain that you don’t miss any meals or have to submit to another protein bar to hold you through the evening.
4. Start cooking!
   One of the easiest way to guarantee a flawless and plentiful Thanksgiving is to bring a dish or two that you create. I recommend bringing something that is normally full of gluten, such as a sweet bread or pie. Every year, I bring a vegan and gluten free pumpkin pie to each dinner I attend, and it seems to be a hit every year! I use this incredibly simple pie recipe, and people cannot believe that it is gluten free year after year!
   (Photo by roboppy on Flickr)
5. Lastly, and most importantly, take time to educate!
   While you are blissfully enjoying your gluten friendly meal, make sure to talk to others about your dietary needs, especially if you are in a new environment. This is a perfect opportunity to raise awareness and to advocate for your cause. The more people you can educate, the easier the lives of those with dietary needs will be!

Now that you are geared with these five easy steps, it’s time to start putting them in action. Don’t forget, the big day is only two weeks away! I hope you enjoy your day filled with the merriment of loved ones and a delicious gluten free meal!

Even though Halloween is technically one calendar day, it’s those preceding weeks filled with festivities that are the real treat! From haunted houses and corn mazes to pumpkin carving and costume making (or shopping), the days of October are never short of excitement. Halloween is also a great time to enjoy Fall-specific meals/goodies and while it might seem like options are limited within gluten-free perimeters, this is certainly not the case! From party treats to candy, below are some ideas to have a spookily delicious gluten-free Halloween!

Halloween Muffin Cupcakes
(Photo by tawest64 on Flickr)

Use our decadent Double Chocolate Muffins to create Muffin Cupcakes. Simply add gluten-free (orange!) frosting to the muffins and share with the whole family! 

Jack-O-Lantern Snickerdoodle Cookies

Our Snickerdoodle Cookies provide the perfect base for Jack-O-Lantern cookies. Using gluten-free icing to create your own Jack-O-Lantern face, be it scary or goofy! 

Sweet Apple Pizza

Go bobbing for apples and use them to create a deliciously different pizza. Slice or dice the apples and then mix them with butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and Udi’s Gluten Free Granola. Spread over Udi’s Pizza Crust and bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes.  Voila! Instant smiles on everybody!

And, of course, candy!

For gluten-free candy options, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has a great and comprehensive guide. It thoroughly explains which candies are gluten free (and which of the options are made in a plant that contains wheat) and provides the contact information for the company that manufactures each item. As always, it should be used as a guide and you should still check the ingredient list.

How about you? What are your favorite Halloween gluten-free foods?

After a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is make an elaborate dinner. Like many other women out there, I am constantly balancing three full-time jobs – being a wife, mom, and maintaining my 8 to 5 job at the office. Eating dinner as a family has always been a priority for us and with all that I have on my plate, I have to rely on quick, easy gluten-free dinner options.

The crock pot is the best friend of those with Celiac Sprue. The best thing about preparing your dinner in a crock pot or a slow cooker is that you put all your ingredients in together, turn it on, leave it, and the pot does the job for you. You come home to a great homemade dinner and a wonderfully smelling house. And, you can prepare just about anything in a crock pot.

My favorite crock pot meal is the classic pork roast with carrots, potatoes, onions and a little salt and pepper. You simply put the ingredients into the crock pot, cover with water, and set the timer on low for 8-9 hours.  Your roast and veggies will come out tender. The awesome thing about making a roast is you can eat it the next day for lunch, either as is or with the meat on a sandwich made with Udi’s GF bread or on an Udi’s GF hamburger bun and the veggies on the side! Using the same technique, you can make chicken or beef as well.

Based on my previous posts, I’m sure you can conclude that I LOVE Udi’s GF bread and prefer it over the other GF options out there. The flavor and texture of this bread is the closest I’ve had to "regular" non-gluten-free bread. Unlike other GF breads, this bread does not need to be kept in the refrigerator or the freezer to stay fresh, making it ready to eat as soon as you need it – this is really convenient when you need a quick meal!

In light of that, a quick option for your GF kid (or even yourself) is a grilled cheese sandwich. Most people don’t think of a grilled cheese sandwich as a healthy option, but if you use Udi’s GF whole grain bread and low-fat cheese and pair it with a side of carrots and apples dipped in peanut butter for dessert, it is a well-rounded meal full of lots of essential nutrients and it’s quick and easy too! 

Another easy option is pasta with chicken. First, cut your chicken into 1 inch cubes and cook in a sauce pan on medium until done – flipping regularly. While your cooking your chicken, you can also be boiling your noodles. When it comes to GF pasta, I prefer corn-based noodles. They seem to be the closest to non-gluten-free noodles (some people who don’t eat a gluten free diet don’t even notice the difference) in texture and taste – I actually like them better now. And, as far as sauce goes, I prefer to use the Ragu brand. I have found that most of the tomato-based Ragu pasta sauces are naturally gluten-free. I usually get the Chunky Garden Combination kind because it has 2 servings of vegetables in every half cup of sauce! Once your chicken and noodles are cooked thoroughly, add your noodles and sauce to the chicken in the pan and simmer on low until sauce is warmed. Quick, easy and wholesome!

And there you have it, a few quick, easy, gluten-free dinner ideas! Enjoy!

Written by Emily Pease. Emily is the Ambassador Coordinator here at Udi’s Gluten Free. She has been with the company for over 1 year and adores our gluten free cookies.

Every year, as the warm summer months come to an end and you can feel the crisp weather of fall creeping in, there is one thing that always has me looking forward to the autumn season. Yes, the changing leaves are beautiful and the changing wardrobe is refreshing, but that is not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the return of football season!
I realize we are several games into the season and my beloved, hometown team is having a very rough go so far. I suppose that will happen when your star quarterback is injured for, what looks like, the entire season. Even so, I love the return of hosting football parties, drafting fantasy teams, hearing about the amazing comeback games and listening to the school fight song after a victory.
One downfall of such gatherings is they are not generally gluten-free friendly. Fried foods, pre-made dips, chips, gluten-filled adult beverages, etc. You get the picture and I’m sure you’ve come up with your own ways of managing such social gatherings. To help with this, I’ve done some digging for some fantastic gluten-free recipes that are sure to please all your guests, including your fellow gluten-free football fans!

1. Chili Cheese Pita Chips With Udi’s Gluten free Pizza Crusts
These zesty little pita chips came from the Udi’s Gluten Free website and are sure to be the perfect munching snack while cheering on your favorite team. Delicious plain or dipped in your favorite hummus.


2. Guacamole Turkey Burgers from What’s Gaby Cooking
Gaby posted these irresistible burgers on her blog What’s Gaby Cooking?. Place these patties on Udi’s Gluten Free hamburger buns, of course! Fire up that grill and have these burgers ready to refuel your guests at half-time.

3. Big easy Chili Recipe
If you are looking for something easy to make ahead of time (helpful if you want to watch you team’s every play) try this Big Easy Chili Recipe, courtesy of Karina on her blog Gluten Free Goddess. Simply throw the ingredients together and simmer in a crock pot. Guests can help themselves at any time!

I’m sure you have your own favorite party snacks and meals. Feel free to share them in a comment below! Go Team Udi’s!