A Woman's Story of a Gluten-Free Family-The Cook It Allergy Free Website

A Woman's Story of a Gluten-Free Family-The Cook It Allergy Free Website

As mother and wife of family members with Celiac Disease, Kim Maes is well qualified to share her knowledge of allergy-free recipes and cooking tips. With the recent development and publication of her new Cook it Allergy Free App, she agreed to chat with me:

WT: Kim, your son has Celiac Disease, something you discovered when he was 15 months old, can you talk about that?

KM: My son is currently 6 years old and I honestly think that he believes that having Celiac Disease is a privilege. He always tells me that his lunches look better than his friends and he never seems to notice when others are eating gluten products. He has been gluten-free for nearly his entire life. So truly, it is the only way of eating that he knows.

He is one of the healthiest little eaters since we really focus on whole foods and ingredients that are naturally gluten-free and allergy friendly. So many of the processed packaged foods are at risk for contamination and can have many hidden ingredients. Our focus on a natural healthier diet eliminates the need to spend time reading ingredient labels.

WT: Your husband was diagnosed with the disease at the same time. Is it easier for an adult to cope with dietary restrictions and all its challenges?

KM: Strangely enough, it is actually my husband who has had a more difficult time adjusting. While my son has been gluten free nearly his entire life, my husband had to say good-bye to nearly 35 years of old eating habits.

My son can watch someone eating something with gluten in it and it doesn't faze him. My husband, on the other hand, will stare longingly, even though he knows how horrible he would feel if he even had one bite.

My husband experienced some of the most dramatic improvements in his life after he finally went gluten free. He lost twenty pounds and gained an enormous amount of energy. Now he feels better, looks better, and hasa mental clarity that he doesn't ever remember having before.

WT: I can't imagine how challenging all these changes were for you. You went on to get a Master's degree in Nutrition then you started the Cook It Allergy Free website and now you've developed an App for the iPhone and iPad. Tell us a little about this journey.

KM: After my son, and then, subsequently my husband, were diagnosed with Celiac Disease, I decided that I was going to learn everything I could in order to make sure that I was feeding my family in the best way possible. This journey has taken me down the most amazing path. I have discovered a world full of healthy and naturally allergen friendly foods. Eating gluten free and allergen free is actually simpler than you think.

Strangely enough, I look at Celiac Disease as one of the better things that has happened to our family. It has changed the way that we look at food forever.

I designed the Cook It Allergy Free iPad App and the iPhone App to help others gain the confidence and enjoyment in the kitchen that may not always be associated with cooking to accommodate various food allergies. The Cook It Allergy Free App will customize any of the 200 gluten free recipes to work with your food allergies by providing safe replacement options for the most common food allergens. It also includes recommendations for the substitutions that will work best for a particular recipe to give delicious end results.

All of the 200+ recipes in the App are gluten-free. However, there are substitution options within each recipe for: eggs, butter, milk, yogurt, buttermilk, cream, sour cream, cream cheese, cheeses, nuts, nut butters, corn syrup, and soy.With a simple tap, trade out your Allergen(s) in any of the recipes with safe substitutions.

You can then save your recipes to your recipe box, create your Grocery List (by Aisle or by Recipe), and find endless tips on how to make your allergy friendly cooking successful and delicious.

WT: How hard was it to develop an App?Can you talk about the challenges and the positives.

KM: This project has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.

I get new emails every day from people telling me how much the App and my blog have helped them. The most heartwarming ones I receive are from families who are struggling with Autism and are navigating the Gluten Free/Casein Free diet. This App is perfect for them because it creates the recipes to their exact needs.

I cannot tell you how many times I've had a parent tell me how this App has saved them. Those comments make this worth it every single day.

The most challenging part of this project has been the fact that I don't have a technical background. When I initially started the work and the design to create the iPhone and iPad Applications, I never dreamed what would be involved in the development of it.

I knew exactly how I wanted the App to function, but trying to get it to work exactly as I envisioned involved much trial and error. I wanted it to be the most helpful tool possible for people who are dealing with the challenges of allergy- friendly cooking. I needed it to do exactly what I wanted in order for this to happen.

You can't imagine the dance I did when we finally got it right!

WT: Kim, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. Your story is such an inspiration. I have one last question- what are some of your favorite recipes?

KM: A few of my favorite glutenfree recipes, and also true favorites among my readers would be my:

Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Banana Cranberry Muffins

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chocolate Waffles

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Granola Oatmeal Cookie Bars (all located on my website)

I guess we'll have to visit the website to check em out. You can find more about Kim Maes and try her great gluten free and allergen free recipes at Cook It Allergy Free.

http://www.articlesbase.com/recipes-articles/a-womans-story-of-a-gluten-free-family-the-cook-it-allergy-free-website-4468122.html

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