The Western New York Gluten Free Diet Support Group, Inc. (hence WNYGFDSG) is a member-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports individuals and families  living with Celiac Disease (CD), Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and gluten intolerance.  The WNYGFDSG has been in existence for 16 years and is a growing and dynamic organization, drawing from a very large geographic area in Western New York.  We have over 250 current members. This website lists our monthly meeting schedule, group dinners and social functions, as well as information about the upcoming events important to celiacs and their supporters.   Additionally, you can find information about Celiac Disease , Celiac testing, and Celiac Follow-up care.     Perhaps you would like to speak to someone in the area about Celiac disease or other related issues. Check the contact names and numbers for more personalized support.        Welcome to the Homepage of the Western NY Gluten-Free Diet Support Group, Inc. Check out the many useful links on our site to help you enjoy living a healthy, Gluten-Free life.

Gluten-Free Rice Chex? Coming Soon To A Store Near You!   Here's a shocker: Rice Chex is going to be gluten-free! General Mills has changed the recipe, and instead of barley malt (the offending ingredient in the past), Rice Chex will be flavored with molasses. On the front of the new cartons, the "Gluten Free" label appears just below and to the left of the big red "Chex." Be very careful, because store shelves are still full of the old product. It may take several months for the new gluten-free Rice Chex to reach your neighborhood.       Check out the launch of GlutenFreeTravelSite.com a website focused exclusively on user-submitted gluten-free travel reviews. Visitors to the site will soon be able to quickly and easily access travel reviews organized by geographic region and read about others’ personal experiences traveling and dining out in any part of the world. The website hopes that having access to all these helpful reviews will open up a world of travel options for people with celiac diesease and help cut down on the amount of time consuming research that must be done before taking any trip; allowing people to take a true “Vacation From Worry.” The site is user-based and you are encouraged to submit a review sharing your experience from a hotel, resort, cruise, or favorite restaurant. The site is offering four useful bilingual Dining Cards to the first 100 people to submit reviews. Pass the word along to your friends & family. Also, let's put Buffalo, New York on the map as a celiac friendly community by posting reviews to our restaurants.

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendars! April 26 - Our next special event will be held at Mangia's restaurant in Orchard Park. Visit the special events page for the details and menu. May 17 – The 7th Annual Walk for Celiac Awareness will be held at Clarence Town Park. It is not too early to begin collecting donations or to volunteer to be on the walk committee. May 22 - Tops Cooking School, 3980 Maple Road, Amherst,has announced a series of gluten-free, allergy free, celiac cooking classes. Lisa Lundy will be the instructor. The first class in this series takes place on  Thursday, May 22 from 6 - 8 PM. Learn to make a versatile recipe that can be used to make delicious rolls, pizza crust, danish, coffe rolls, bread sticks, and waffles. The most important tips for gluten-free baking success will be discussed. Please call Grace Hanusin, 525-3000, to register for thei class.    June 7 Check our dinners/special events page for details about our last dining experience of the season, when we celebrate at Wegmans Sheridan Drive store. You won't want to miss it! June 14 - Join us for a GF pancake breakfast and final meeting of the year. More details to follow.                Here are the newest additions to our ever-growing list of local GF friendly restaurants!  The Melting Pot - A Fondue Restaurant - In the Galleria Mall The proprietor, Jim Materese, is able to accomodate individuals with food sensitivities, including the gluten-free diet. The restaurant will change recipes and/or make substitutions for those guests who explain their needs. You can get a coupon for a free chocolate fondue for two if you join "Club Fondue" found on the main page of their website.  Adam's Rib - 4517 Main Street, Snyder, NY 14226 Adam’s Rib has started a “Gluten-Free Monday” program that offers several g-f entrée items, including a pasta dish. The owners and chef are doing their homework regarding the content and preparation. Give them a try. They’re at 4517 Main Street, Snyder and offer a few “early birds” that are priced more moderately than the full dinner entrees.

7th Annual Walk/Run for Celiac Research Staurday, May 17 - Clarence Town Park Registration: 9:00         Walk: 10:00 Check out the link to the walk for details and registration information.  You can now register and collect donations online. Let's make this the most succesful walk ever!             Gluten-Free Beer News Anheuser Busch has come out with a Gluten Free Beer called REDBRIDGE. You can now find it at area Wegmans and Tops supermarkets. Many area Consumer Beverages, including Transit Road in Williamsville, carry the beer. Try-It Dristributers also sells six packs & cases at its Walden Avenue location. Redbridge is available when you dine at the Transit Road Pizza Plant, The Buffalo Brew Pub, Curley's, Carrabba's & Outback Steakhouses on Niagara Falls Blvd, and in Hamburg. If you hear of other restaurants, please let the webmaster know & she will update this info. Also, Bard's Tale Gluten-Free beer is available in our area. You can enjoy this delicious beer while dining at The Outback Steakhouse (Hamburg location, only),  The Pizza Plant Restaurant (Transit Road location, only) and Dacc's Restaurant (in Amherst). The Dragon's Ale is also available at many Consumer Beverage Centers and at Premier Gourmet (Delaware Ave., Tonawanda -  only).      Did you know there is a local bakery that carries gluten free items? Vin-Chet Pastry Shop 2178 Kensington Amherst, NY 14226 839-0871 This is now the ONLY location for getting a variety of gluten-free baked goods. Call in your order by Friday at noon for pick-up on Saturday. Vin-Chet's offers the following great tasting, gluten-free products:     Savory bread Sandwich bread Cottage bread Banana nut bread Chocolate chip cookies--with real butter and certified gluten-free Ghirardelli chocolate Double-chocolate fudge brownies--chocolate chips, walnuts, and fudge icing Chocolate ganache cake pizza crust hamburger rolls

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Did you know that there are new studies linking celiac disease and dental problems in children? Check out the  Celiac Articles/News section of the webpage.  The latest in a string of national articles featuring the GF lyfestyle can be found.  Check out the informative article about Celiac and other food allergies, written by Lisa Lundy, in the current issue of Western New York Health. CELIAC FEATURED ON CBS - Celiac Disease was featured in a segment on CBS news last Fall, including an interview with Dr. Peter Green. Click on the link above to see the text and video. Here is a link to information on the Food Labeling Act. Click here for a link to the National Celiac Spru Association - It lists U.S. government links regarding GF labeling anf food allergies in general.

Do you like to cook and bake? Our group has a number of copies of  Pleasing the Gluten-Free Palate, a wonderful resource for Gluten-Free cooking, ready for you to purchase. Also, our library has a number of wonderful Gluten-Free cookbooks for you to borrow (when you become a member) and create to your heart's (and stomach's) content.

UPDATE ON SAFE OATS!! The mission of each of the following companies is to provide the purest oats available for people with celiac disease and wheat allergies. Inspected by celiacs from planting to packaging, these companies understand the importance of avoiding cross-contamination from wheat, rye or barley.   Bob's Red Mill  now brings you GF oats! The oats are packaged in their new, 100% gluten free facility and tested for gluten again to ensure their purity. Now available locally. Cream Hill Estates in Quebec, Canada. They have an order form on the website for purchasing rolled oats (called oat flakes) and oat flour.  (The oats have been ELISA tested at below 3 ppm*) Gluten Free Oats® (This IS the name of the company), based in Wyoming has an order form on their website for rolled oats in a 2 pound 9 oz. size. (These oats have tested at below 3 ppm*) *Please be advised that a small percentage of people with celiac disease may not tolerate even the purest of oats. If you are unsure whether oats are suitable for your diet, please check first with your health advisor before eating them.