How to Live Gluten-Free...and Have a Life Too

TORONTO, ON, March 09, 2011 (Press-News.org) You used to be a social butterfly, but ever since your naturopath dropped the bomb that you can no longer eat wheat and gluten, you haven't been able to leave your house. Sound familiar?

While many Canadians are finding relief from chronic complaints such as headaches, fatigue and irritable bowels by following a gluten-free diet, most (if not all) soon discover that some health benefits come with pitfalls as well.

Following a gluten-free diet can be difficult at first - but what seems to trouble people most of all, is the social isolation such a diet often entails. Going to restaurants can become a thesis research topic in itself, and sometimes it seems easier to make up an excuse to get out of dinner at a friend's than to try to explain the finer details a gluten-free diet.

"When I first went on a gluten-free diet, I thought I would never manage to keep it up in the long run," said Victoria Yeh, author and owner of GlutenFreeLiving.ca. "But as soon as I stopped looking at it as a matter of shopping for different food, and started treating it as a new way of life - everything changed."

Yeh experimented in her kitchen until she developed simple substitution rules to convert any recipe into a gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free version, all without sacrificing the flavour or texture of the foods she loved. Most importantly, though, learning how to make successful substitutions allowed Yeh to avoid often nutrient poor and highly refined gluten-free products that dominate many shelves today.

This month, Yeh has teamed up with fellow Canadian business owner, Stephanie Bonetta, owner of Girlnola gluten-free gourmet foods, to bring smiles back to the faces of Celiacs and gluten sensitive individuals in Ottawa. Girlnola offers a line of healthy and organic gluten-free granolas, trail mixes and raw vegan truffles (energy bites) that are naturally sweetened and nutritionally dense.

"Girlnola.com and GlutenFreeLiving.ca teamed up on a mission we like to call Yummy for Every Tummy(TM), because finding and making healthy and delicious gluten-free foods should be a fun and easy way to get your creative juices flowing, not a chore," said Bonetta. "Most of all, we want to make life gluten-free just a little bit easier and healthier because food isn't just about necessity - it's about sharing those precious moments with our friends and family."

Yeh and Bonetta will be hosting booth #525 at the Green Expo in Ottawa's Landsdowne park the weekend of March 19-20, and are sure to be seen throughout the province on their mission to deliver great gluten-free food and information to everyone.

For more tips on healthy eating, visit http://www.GlutenFreeLiving.ca and http://www.Girlnola.com.

About Victoria Yeh, Author
Victoria Yeh is Toronto based author of Where Do I Start? Your Essential Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Sugar-Free Food Allergy Cookbook and owner of Gluten-Free Toronto. For over eight years, she has lived with multiple food intolerances to wheat, gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, corn and yeast. With the launch of her new book and seminars, Victoria is setting out to help educate others on how to adapt to their specific dietary needs and achieve greater health. Her book can be purchased directly from http://www.glutenfreeliving.ca or at select health food stores and holistic clinics.

About Stephanie Bonetta, Owner, Girlnola Inc.
Stephanie Bonetta is a former Ontario high school French and Coop teacher, cosmetologist, world traveller and avid fitness and health practitioner. After following a clean and healthy, gluten-free diet for 4 years, and having overcome personal issues, she switched gears and started a gluten-free, organic, naturally sweetened line of granola and snacks. Girlnola (www.girlnola.com) offers those interested in living a healthier life the benefits of healthy, natural snacks that taste delicious and are infused with superfoods, so you don't have to compromise health for taste! Girlnola gluten-free gourmet goodness snacks can be purchased on-line or in over 35 health food stores, gourmet grocery stores, hotels, yoga studios and gyms in Southern Ontario and this month launching in Ottawa. Stephanie plans to have her delicious and nutritious snacks all over Ontario and Canada by year end.

For further information or interview requests, please contact:

Victoria Yeh
416-799-0737
victoria@glutenfreetoronto.com

Or

Stephanie Bonetta
647-393-3372
info@girlnola.com