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 25 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.     If you would like to speak to someone from our group about Celiac disease or other related issues, check the contact names and numbers for more personalized support.Need/wish to write to us? Our address is: WNY Gluten Free Diet Support Group, P.O. BOX 1835, Williamsville, NY 14231     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.   Upcoming Events - Please  mark your calendars   SPRINGTIME =THE 11TH ANNUAL WALK FOR CELIAC AWARENESS HELD SATURDAY, MAY 12TH AT CLARENCE TOWN PARK Online regsitration is now available. If you wish to register online and collect donations through the National Walk Site, click here click on the Buffalo link,and follow the directions. Click here for more information and the registration brochure. (You can download and print it) HAPPY SPRING!!     Saturday, May 12, 2012 Registration - 9:30 AM - Walk - 10:00 AM Our 11th annual walk for celiac awareness and research will once again be held at the Clarence Town Park. Saturday, June 9, 2012 - Our annual business meeting and Pancake Breakfast. More information to follow.

BUFFALO AREA GLUTEN FREE RESTAURANTS MAP You're hungry - You want to eat out. So where are all the great gluten free restaurants in the Buffalo area & how do you get to them? Our group now has a quick and easy way to locate GF friendly restaurants & stores in our area. Try using our google map and let us know what you think. We have many new additions:   La Dolce Vita Restaurant at 1472 Hertel Avenue, in North Buffalo - is our newest restaurant find.  The food there is "outstanding" andthey are very accomodating to our GF needs. Please call ahead for reservations and let them know you will be needing gluten free preparaitons.  phone - 446-5690 Picasso's Pizza provided our group with fabulous samples of gluten free pizza and sub/style sandwiches at our October meeting! Check out their GF offerings at their vairous locations in the Buffalo area. Broadway Deli, Café and Catering -  5430 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 14086 Deli sandwiches and GF soups - mmm! They use Vin- Chet bread and Boar’s Head meats and cheeses.  Soups are all gluten free, too.   Traveling to Rochester? Try the new chain - Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, in the Eastview Mall. It offers an extensive gluten-free menu with selections that include classic dishes, such as Pasta Alfredo made with gluten free pasta, and gluten free pizza choices. Now that's Italian!! Pizza Plant on Transit had its grand opening of their new location. They will now have Wheat Free Wednesdays and the Main Street locaiton will offer Wheat Free Sundays. Fabulous!   How about getting a nice, fresh, hot pizza from Vin Chet! They are now baking their pizzas to-go during their regular business hours. Call 716-839-0871 and give them about twenty minutes notice. You cna order the cheese & pepperoni, plain cheese, or the white pizza for $15.95 and for a limited time,  four chocolate chip cookies come with it for free!   FrogHair Grille & Golf 7800 Transit Rd. Williamsville -  Enjoy one of several G-F items while watching play on simulated golf courses. Great outdoor patio for the warmer seasons. White Linen Teahouse, 6610 Shawnee Rd.Wheatfield, NY14122 Call a day or two ahead to assure reservations and  a wonderful - gluten-free high-tea experience. 731-1685 Our group recently had a dinner here and it was amazing. The Pomegrante, 4125 Transit Rd, Williamsville, NY, a great casual dining restaurant featuring  kabob/pita (Mediterranean) 631-0900 Jojo  Bistro and Wine Bar, 5493 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville, NY, gluten-free meatloaf is great; and a early lunch might get you g-f French fries; 204-8663 The Grapevine, 2545 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, NY14228, has an extensive g-f menu and view of spectacular aquariums of tropical fish; 691-7799 Thai House, 5246 Transit Road, Depew, NY14043; many, many dishes can be prepared g-f; 601-7865 Check out the locations on the google map & then treat yourself to a wonderful meal. Please note: The map will be updated as the group hears of more restaurants/food stores carrying gluten free options. Please email us if you have an addition for our map or know of a current listing tha needs updating or has closed.  email: buffaloglutenfree@gmail.com

Our very own WNYGFDSG member, Katie Chalmers has a website just for kids with celiac disease. Click here to check it out! Katie is also the author of a children's book about celiac disease Click the link for more information about Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease

Vin-Chet Pastry Shop 2178 KensingtonAmherst, NY 14226 839-0871 Did you see the recent article in the Buffalo News about Vin Chet Bakery? Many of us remember when the Manganos first worked on making gluten free bread. It took much trial and so much effort. Well, the effort has paid off and now Vin-Chet bakery is prospering by making gluten free baked goods!  Vin-Chet has also been given Gluten Free Certification from the National Celiac Sprue Association. Congratulations to them and a huge thank-you for all their efforts on our behalf!     Please Check out their website - Gluten Free Baked Goods Call in your order by Friday at noon for pick-up on Saturday (between 2-4 PM). Check out Vin Chet's wide variety of GF baked good selections and locations where there products are sold at our restaurants and and stores link (on the side of this page).     Heard about the newest Gluten Free bakery in our area? Bon Bon Gluten Free Bakery 1298 Orchard Park Road West Seneca, New York 14224 716-704-5993 Bon Bon's Bakery is a new baked good store that is 100%  gluten free, without the sacrifice of taste. They are open Wednesday - Friday, 3 - 7 PM & Saturday 9 - 3.  Bon Bon's has GF cookies, filled cupcakes, "twinkies", danishes, rolls and more.

CELIAC NEWS - LOCAL AND AROUND THE WORLD   Here is the link to Look Who's Going Gluten-Free? from an National Public Radio broadcast. Did you know that The University of Maryland (and Dr. Alessio Fasano) received an amazing donation for reserch of autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including celiac disease. Check out the  Youtube video to see/hear more Love to backe/cook GF?  Check out this great segment from the CBS Early Show, featuring GF recipes for biscuits, onion rings and pizza. The chef is the author of the wonderful cookbook, Gluten Free Every Day. We will soon have more links to articles. Check back with us and also let the webmaster know if you find an article of interest to this group (either local or national).   Check out our Facebook Page! Our group has a Facebook group page.This is a place to share and discuss everything about gluten free living in the Buffalo area. You can start discussion threads, ask questions, and share your gluten free ideas. Click here for the Facebook page.

Triumph Dining Cards and products - since 2005 Since 2005, Triumph Dining has helped over 40,000 people with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity enjoy delicious gluten-free foods. Whether you're staying local or traveling, their guides and cards will help you eat at home, go out, or do both! What's available?   Dining Cards: Order restaurant meals safely in 10 languages Restaurant Guide: Find gluten-free restaurants across the U.S. Grocery Guide: Shop gluten-free in any store nationwide       Check out the launch of GlutenFreeTravelSite.com Visitors to the site will 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 site is user-based and you are encouraged to submit a review sharing your experience from a hotel, resort, cruise, or favorite restaurant. Pass the word along to your friends & family. So...let's put Buffalo, New York on the map as a celiac friendly community by posting reviews to our restaurants.

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. Also, check out this website's list of GF recipes. Do you have a favorite recipe that you could share with us? Let the webmaster know! We LOVE to share!

General Mills Commitment to Gluten Free   General Mills has launched a special webpage, liveglutenfreely.com, to provide consumers with information on gluten-free products and gluten-free recipes. The site lists General Mills products labeled gluten-free and features kitchen-tested recipes for preparing an array of gluten-free foods. They have a newsletter & a blog. Check it out. Have you tried the new GF Bisquick or any of the other Betty Crocker GF baking mixes? They are found in our area stores in the REGULAR baking aisle.  General Mills has really stepped up to the plate to formulate many of their mainstream products free of gluten. They currently list over 300 products on their website. Check out the list, and then get cooking!   General Mills GF Product List         Information on Oats    *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.  Newly diagnosed should NOT add oats to their initial diet.   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  The oats are packaged in their new, 100% gluten free facility and tested for gluten before packaging to ensure their purity. They have old fashioned rolled, steel cut, and quick cooking oats. 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*). This company's products can be found at most Feel Rite stores in our area. 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*)