LOTS TO SHARE from the GFAF EXPO Chicago 2013

 

  I Went, I Saw, I Sampled, I Blogged! 

As you know from my tweets and my posts, I attended the Premier Gluten & Allergen Free Expo in Chicago this past weekend and it was AWESOME! Sooo many vendors - so many new products to try and on top of that, I met some wonderful new friends!

The EXPO was PACKED!

From Schar, Udi's, Glutino, Enjoy Life, Pamela's Products, Freedom Foods, Gluten-Free Mama, Go Picnic, Crave Bake Shop and Smart Flour to name only a few - the place was hoppin'! Everywhere you turned there were people lined up to try new samples or old favorites.

TONS of Samples!

SO, WHAT PRODUCTS DID I TRY:

Schar - huge fan of their Honeygram crackers!

Udi's - new granola bars and tortillas 

Glutino - Pretzels, pretzels, pretzels!

Enjoy Life - Plentils chips!

Pamela's Products - Cookies, Whenever Bars, New Baking Mixes!

Freedom Foods - Awesome Cereals!

Gluten-Free Mama - Almond Flour and Cocunut Flour!

Go Picnic - 8 gluten-free boxes to choose from!

Crave Bake Shop - Baking Mixes from Cupcake Wars!

Smart Flour - Pizzas (coming soon) - YUM!

Kyra, Owner of Crave Bake Shop

Seriously, so many vendors, I couldn't list them all, but I'm so thankful for the opportunity to try samples and bring some home to Jack!

Ok, ok, so it wasn't just an awesome taste-fest, I also met some FABulous peeps!         Let me introduce them to ya: 

Keeley and Me! She's the best!

Keeley Mcguire: Keeley is a Gluten-Free and Nut-Free Lunchbox Extraordinaire - packing lunchboxes for her "Little Miss" on a daily basis. Keeley's blog will come in very handy with Jack starting Kindergarten in the Fall. Making lunches fun, makes it more enjoyable for Jack and makes momma feel good too!  http://keeleymcguire.blogspot.com/

Vegetarian Mamma: Cindy Gordon, is raising her two kiddos vegetarian as well as vegan due to her youngest son's allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, soy, gluten and dairy. Check out her Gluten-Free Fridays! She's so fun - love her! :) http://vegetarianmamma.com/

It's Pam - I'm a Celiac!

I'm a Celiac: Pam Jordan is a Celiac and a busy momma of three, living gluten-free! She has an easy to follow cookbook of family approved gluten-free dishes that you will surely love! Head over to her site and take a look!  http://www.imaceliac.com/

Our Life as an epi Family: Meet Lauren Kossack, a momma raising two cutie patootie little boys with severe food allergies. Hearing her stories of her son's reactions were scary, I couldn't imagine seeing a child having trouble breathing due to a food allergy so severe! Visit Lauren and find out more about her family's story at: http://www.epifamily.com/ 

It's Erica - Celiac and the Beast!

Celiac and the Beast: Erica Dermer is one cool chica! She was diagnosed in 2009 with celiac disease and has a fun, sassy site filled with reviews on gluten-free products and some super cute tshirts for adults and kiddos (see Jack and his Sis below in their new tees). Visit her at: http://celiacandthebeast.com/

It was a blast meeting these lovely ladies and I look forward to crossing paths again soon!

New Tees for Jack & his Sis

Last but not least, I would like to say thank you to Jen Cafferty! She brought the Gluten & Allergen Free Expo to life! It's a FABULOUS, well orchestrated event! Thumbs up Jen! Keep up the good work! You and your staff are doing amazing things for the gluten and allergen free community!

Didn't make it to Chicago?? No problem! Check out Secaucus, NJ and Dallas, TX coming in September and October!