gluten-free
proud to be gluten-free!
Great news! All Enjoy Life foods are specially made to be gluten-free so they are perfect for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. They’re made in a dedicated gluten-free bakery and certified gluten-free by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO) so you can eat our foods with confidence and know that you are eating gluten free. Look for the GF symbol on all our products (see below)--it means they are certified to be free of gluten and possible cross-contamination from gluten.
gluten-free and casein-free too...
All Enjoy Life foods are compliant with the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet. Many parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) report seeing behavioral improvements in their children when they remove gluten and casein from their diets. While dietary intervention will not help every child, many parents report dramatic improvements. For more information on the GFCF diet and dietary intervention for the treatment of autism, visit the other resources area of our site for helpful links and support organizations.
what is gluten anyway?
Gluten is the protein commonly found in wheat, rye and barley. It's found in most mainstream bakery and prepared foods (like breads, pastas and snacks) but it also hides in other unexpected foods such as soy sauce, licorice, soups, salad dressings, Playdough® and some medicines. Oats are also considered by some to be a source of gluten since they are grown, processed and stored near wheat (that's why we choose not to use oats in our products).
It's important to remember that "wheat-free" does not necessarily mean "gluten-free" since the food might contain rye or barley.
how can I tell what foods include gluten?
A big part of following a gluten-free lifestyle is learning what you can and cannot eat. Read labels carefully! When reading food labels, be sure to avoid wheat, rye and barley. As for other "hidden" ingredients, the FDA does not currently require manufacturers to declare gluten on labels so it can be hard to identify gluten-containing foods. The good news is that the FDA will adopt a common definition for "gluten-free" in August 2008 which will make it easier than ever before to find gluten-free products. In the meantime we suggest that you read labels carefully and ask a lot of questions, either by checking the manufacturer's website or calling their 800# for answers.
We know it can be challenging to eat gluten-free and we're here to help. For a wallet-sized reference list of foods that always or may contain gluten, click here. You can also visit our tips & hints section for more helpful information on living gluten-free.
why go gluten-free?
People with celiac disease ("CD") and gluten intolerance need to avoid gluten-containing foods or else suffer from short- and long-term health complications. Others simply choose to follow a gluten-free (GF) diet for general health reasons.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by the intake of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The only treatment currently available for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet for life. The good news is that by eliminating gluten from their diets most celiac patients see improvement in their symptoms. For more information on celiac disease, click here.
People with gluten-intolerance may experience negative physical responses when they eat gluten—stomach upset, headaches, nausea, etc. For most of these folks, eliminating gluten from their diet also eliminates these problems.
we're gluten-free too!
Many of us at Enjoy Life follow special diets too, so we know how hard it can be to find foods that you like to eat. That's why we created a list of our favorite gluten-free and allergy-friendly foods...we hope you will discover some new treats that you can enjoy. As always, read the ingredient statements carefully to make sure the products meet your individual diet needs.
