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

The 12th annual Celiac Walk for Awareness will be held, Staurday, May 11, 2013
Click on the link above to get all the information you need to participate. Remember, we are

"Celiacs helping Celiacs"
 

Gluten Free Pizza and Chicken Finger Night

Jessica Masterson, RD, CDN

Monday, April 15, 6-8 pm Amherst    515-2000

$25 per person without insurance

$10 for all Independent health members

 Make a popular Friday night meal healthier and gluten free. Brown rice flour,
flaxseed, tapioca flour, garbanzo bean flour and all purpose gluten free flour
will be discussed. 
Garlic Rice Flour Biscuits

New York Style Gluten Free Veggie Pizza

Crispy Chicken Fingers with a Homemade Honey Mustard Dip 
Gluten Free and Dairy Free Spicy Mexican Chocolate Cup Cakes
with Cinnamon Frosting

Sat., April 20th • 10 AM at Mt. Mercy Academy

Guest speaker, Ann Klein, RD, CDE, will speak about the importance of good nutrition in following the Gluten Free diet; Support and small group counseling to follow.

Sunday, April 21, 2013 • “After Tax Day” G-F Dinner Buffet at Pizza Plant Italian Pub

Monday, April 22, 2013 . "Living Gluten Free: Easy Meals!"
Wegmans is offering a GF cooking class at the Sheridan Drive Store - from 6:30 - 7:30 PM - Cost: $15 check this link for more information

Did you miss the last meeting? Check out the minutes to find out what you missed. 

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.

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 that needs updating or has closed. 
email: Buffaloglutenfree@gmail.com

A Few Words About Area Gluten Free Pizzerias

There have been a growing number of pizzerias in the Western New York area offering Gluten Free pizza options. This is both good and bad news for those of us trying to manage the GF diet and safely eat a Buffalo favorite. Some restaurants use a pizza that has been prepared in a GF facility and baked in a way to avoid cross-contamination. Others use a GF crust and add their own ingredients. Some restaurants have very good GF kitchen protocols in place while others do not. We have had members tell us of positive and negative dining experiences at the same establishments! With such a large number of restaurants now offering GF pizza, it would be difficult to include them all on our website. Instead, check out your local pizzeria that has GF pizza options and ask how the pizza is made: Are GF toppings kept separate - Do kitchen staff change gloves - Do they bake the pies in a separate oven/pan - Do they use designated GF utensils?
Only you can determine if the pizza you eat is actually safe for you. Be your best advocate. Educate your local establishments. Many places would like to accommodate the GF diet but do not have a full understanding of it. Also, use the Facebook page to let others know what you've learned.
Mangia!

Donation Made to Food Bank of WNY

WNYGFDSG has made a donation of $1,231.00 to the Food Bank of WNY. “This money will be vital in supplying clients who have gluten free needs with the food they can eat. The money will be spent on gluten free food products that will be provided to select agencies within WNY,” says Sarah Simpson, Nutrition Resource Manager, of the Food Bank. The agencies have been educated on what the gluten free diet entails and have a need for these gluten free products for specific clients. Eleven agencies in the four counties served by the Food Bank will receive the gluten free food products. A listing of the 11 agencies is included below for our readers who may wish to secure some of the available G-F items. Income guidelines are used to determine eligibility for the program, but no one is turned away on their first visit to the agency. A big thanks to Elaine Rothfus for her efforts this past year in coordinating this program with the Food Bank of WNY.

Agencies in WNY that will be receiving G-F
Products, thanks to the generous donation
made by the WNYGFDSG (plus contact info.)

New Covenant Tabernacle
345 McConkey Dr. Buffalo, NY 14223
Kent & Tammy Arneth (716 )877-9882

Heart Love and Soul Food Pantry
939 Ontario St. Niagara Falls, NY 14305
Sister Elizabeth Brosmer (716)282-5681

Niagara Community Action Program
564 19th St. Niagara Falls, NY 14301
Carol Palumbo (716) 282-4375

NIA CAP Lockport Pantry
160 Washburn St. Lockport, NY 14094
Mary Ann Cox (716) 433-6632

NIA CAP North Tonawanda Pantry
316 Thompson St. North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Linda Harrington (716) 694-9727

Trading Post South
38 Franklin St.Springville, NY14141
Allison McCool (716) 592-4455

Cattaraugus Food Pantry
11 S. Washington St. Cattaraugus, NY 14719
Elizabeth O’Neil (716) 257-3077

Salvation Army Food Pantry
83 S. Main St. Jamestown, NY 14701
Jolene Holliday (716) 664-4108

AIDS Family Services
1092 Main St. Buffalo, NY 14209
Renee Law-Lewis (716) 852-1142

West Seneca Pantry
3951 Seneca St. West Seneca, NY 14224
Marylou Dietrich (716) 823-8376

Vin-Chet Pastry Shop/Gluten Free Baked Goods

 Where to get your gluten free baked good "fix"?
2178 Kensington Amherst, NY 14226

839-0871

 Vin-Chet has achieved 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

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.            

Heard about the newest Gluten Free bakery in Lockport?

By the Way Bakery-621 West Avenue, in Lockport

Check out their website at the link above. Thye also have a facebook page. Great to have a GF bakery in the northtowns!

"We are a bake shop with the mission of creating baked goods that taste great and, "by the way...", are also Gluten Free. We carry pizza and pizza crusts, rolls, muffins, cakes and cupcakes, cookies, corn dogs, pierogies, quick breads, pies and pie crusts. We keep adding menu items and take special orders as well."                      

 CELIAC NEWS - LOCAL AND AROUND THE WORLD

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.

Did you know that the Center for Celiac Research has moved from Maryland to Boston, Massachusets?  Check out the information here.

Love to bake/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.

Check out 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!