Click on the video above to see the awesome brands we found at the GFAF Expo Chicagoland on April 7, 2018 in Schaumburg, IL.
 

In case you don’t know, I have the best husband on the planet.  He is so supportive of my dietary requirements and he drives me to the ends of the Earth to find the best gluten free foods and products. Last weekend, he drove almost nine hours from Mississippi to Schaumburg, IL so I could attend the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo-Chicagoland.  That’s true love, y’all.

As an official blogger for GFAF Expo, I gained early entry to meet other bloggers and enjoy breakfast from BFree, an amazing gluten-free company that offers a variety of breads that are free from top allergens.  BFree was so kind to provide each blogger with a great swag bag complete with some of their best-selling products! I was excited to learn that BFree products are now available at Costco!  Be sure to check out the store locator on their website to see where else these products can be purchased.

At 10:00am sharp, the doors opened and a crowd like I have never seen flooded the room. Nearly 7,000 people attended the two-day event for the opportunity to try new gluten free products, purchase items to take home, attend educational classes and meet others who also must eat gluten free.  Everyone in attendance received a teal Enjoy Life tote bag that perfectly matches the new product packaging that was recently launched.

Among the crowd was my husband, Thomas, and our 12-year-old son, Nathan, who made their first stop at Enjoy Life’s amazing booth. During their stroll through Enjoy Life Land, they made stops in the Allergy Friendly Forest, Cookie Canyon, Chocolate River and Freedom Mountain where they picked up samples of their favorite products that are free of the 14 top allergens to help fill their teal tote bags.  Nathan was thrilled to get chocolate bars and mini chips to bring home. Those are his favorites! 

Their next stop was the Sonoma Flatbreads booth.  Sonoma Flatbreads is Nathan’s favorite gluten free pizza and he visited the booth more times than I care to admit.  Let’s just say that the terrific people at Sonoma Flatbreads now know him by name and he wasn’t hungry when we left the event.  I was happy to pick up some coupons so we can buy more Sonoma Flatbreads pizza since it is sold in our local Kroger. 

After visiting those two booths, I’m not sure where they went next. I lost them in the crowd as I visited with representatives of companies that provide products and services that help the celiac and gluten free community.  There were local and national bakeries offering samples of their sweet treats, companies promoting nutritional supplements, health care providers answering questions and offering tests, and even gluten-free cosmetic companies helping attendees find safe products.

Since my dietary restrictions go much deeper than gluten (dairy, soy, nuts, corn, etc.), I was unable to try samples from most of the booths. I was excited to go for the education!  I took a break from the expo to attend Tiffany Hinton’s class, Mom’s Guide to Healing Gut Inflammation, where I learned so much to improve my health.  I also stopped by Tiffany’s booth where we discussed recipes in her latest book/program, Thrive Clean, which I have been using for the past seven weeks.  Tiffany, a functional medicine coach and best-selling author, has really helped me get my health back on track and I was happy to spend some time visiting with her at the event.

I finally bumped into Thomas and Nathan on the last row of exhibitors where I stocked up on Chebe Cinnamon Roll Mix and Pizza Crust Mix to fulfill our daughter’s special request.  Our tote bags were full and our feet were tired after visiting more than 100 booths. We said our goodbyes to old and new friends before we headed back to Mississippi in a car filled with teal tote bags and out-of-this-world memories of the largest gluten free event in the United States. 

If you missed GFAF Expo-Chicagoland, there are eight more opportunities across the country to attend. Check out GFAF Expo’s schedule here and make plans to attend the one nearest to your home—even it is nine hours away!  

​For the past three years, my family hasn’t dreamed of missing the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo.  We travel six hours every year from Mississippi to Atlanta, GA which is the closest GFAF Expo to our home.  It is an amazing event that we just don’t skip. 

Sadly, I won’t be able to make it to Atlanta this year due to a scheduling conflict.  The whole family, even my daughter and husband who aren’t gluten free, was disappointed that we wouldn’t be able to make it to Atlanta.  Then, I remembered the date for GFAF Expo-Chicagoland was quickly approaching so we had to quickly decide if we would make the nine-hour trek from Mississippi to Chicago (Schaumburg, IL) for the event. Hmmm...To go to GFAF Expo-Chicagoland, or not to go; that is the question.

​Obviously, we had to consider the extra drive time, but there were other things that we had to consider as well.  We decided to make a list of pros and cons…

​PROS
​​1. GFAF Expo-Chicagoland is the largest gluten free event in the entire United States! I had the opportunity to interview GFAF Expo Founder Jen Cafferty last year in Atlanta.  She told me the Chicagoland event was much larger.  Based on the enormous amount of goodies we brought home from Atlanta, I can’t even imagine a larger event!  Want to see how awesome GFAF Expo-Atlanta was last year?  Click on the GFree Genius video below to check it out!

2.  We’ll get to try lots of amazing gluten free food. Nathan has already made a list of his favorite brands and I’m excited to introduce him to new brands that he hasn’t tried yet.  I don’t have to worry about feeding him lunch because he will have plenty to eat at the GFAF Expo!

3. We can try before we buy.  There are hundreds of products to demo and we can try them all!  I have spent WAY too much money on bad gluten free foods that went straight into the trash.  I love that Nathan can sample donuts, pizza, cookies, bread and pasta before I spend my hard-earned grocery dollars on something he spits out.  Many exhibitors also offer special buys for expo attendees that make it worth the trip.  Last year we stocked up on pancake mix, bread, spices and even new pillows for the kids!
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4. FREE PRODUCTS and COUPONS!  Every attendee gets a tote bag upon entry that is already half full of gluten free goodies, coupons and resources.  Last year we brought home so much that we could barely fit the kids in the car.  We didn’t have to worry about what to put in Nathan’s lunch box for the rest of the school year!

5. It’s not only about food!  I love learning from the free classes that are offered.  I have learned so much from industry experts and look forward to taking a seat, giving my feet some rest and learning about resources to help me better manage my family’s health. There are also many exhibitors present that share information about their services and tons of resources.
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6. I get to see my gluten free friends and make new ones! This is my tribe, friends. I love to get to know other bloggers, authors, exhibitors, speakers and other gluten free people just like me!

7. As an official blogger for GFAF Expo-Chicagoland, I have been authorized to give away FREE TICKETS!!!  Keep reading for more information on how to win!

All of that sounds great, right?  Well, there are some Cons, too.

CONS

1. My tote bag will be very heavy by the end of the day. 
2. There’s so much gluten free food to eat that it will spoil Nathan’s dinner.
3. I’ll have to decide if I want to take a break from sampling and listen to an educational speaker that will help me improve my health.
4. My readers will have to buy a ticket if they don’t win FREE TICKETS that I’m giving away (but if you use the promo code below, you can save 20 percent off tickets).

 
So, after weighing the pros and cons, we have decided to take a road trip from Mississippi to Chicago so we don’t miss the fun…or the donuts!  We hope to see you there!  Keep reading for more information.
 
Here’s the important stuff:

GFAF Expo-Chicagoland

Location: Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL

Date: April 7-8, 2018
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Time: 10am-4pm both days

Promo code to save 20 % off tickets: ADVANCE

Free parking

Last night, my non-gluten free daughter, Lauren, called her grandfather to ask if he would make her some pumpkin bread.  His answer was yes, of course!  She is the only granddaughter and is rarely told no.

My dad’s pumpkin bread is delicious!  That is one of the things I’ve really missed since I had to start eating gluten free. I thought it was great that he was making a batch just for Lauren, but I didn’t get super excited since I knew my son, Nathan, and I couldn’t eat it—until I received a phone call from my mother this afternoon asking questions about gluten-free flour.  My dad wasn’t leaving his only grandson out!  He decided to make gluten free pumpkin bread, too!  It would be his first experience with gluten free baking which is a bit different, so I suggested he try making pumpkin muffins instead of a large loaf of pumpkin bread which is what he decided to do.  He used the recipe he’s used for decades only substituting gluten free flour for all-purpose wheat flour.
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Dad stopped by this evening to deliver the muffins with strict instructions: “If you don’t like these, bring them back.  Your mother loves them.”  That’s great news because she hasn’t always been thrilled about baking or eating gluten free baked goods. 

​I don’t think Nathan was expecting the muffins to be very good.  He was hesitant to eat them in front of his grandfather in case he didn’t like them, but after the first bite, he said, “These are delicious!  Are you sure they are gluten free?”  Since my parents’ kitchen is not gluten free, I used my Nima Sensor to test the muffins and was happy to see that no gluten was detected!
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Nathan was so excited about his treat that he ate two muffins and was unable to eat his dinner.  I had one for dessert and it was so good! It tasted just like the pumpkin bread I remember!  The texture was a little different with gluten free flour, but they held together nicely and were quite good!  Nathan said the muffins were “a little crunchy on the outside to hold them together and light and fluffy on the inside.”

I’m so glad that my dad made the effort to make gluten free pumpkin bread so everyone could enjoy it. What a nice treat on National Gluten Free Day!

Sincere apologies!!
Happy New Year!  I apologize for not having updates in months.  I've been dealing with personal health issues for the past year and had to take a break.  It's great to be back and I hope you'll join me on my gluten-free journey in 2018!  I have some exciting things in the works and I look forward to sharing them with you!  

Belinda
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​While I was enjoying my lunch during my visit in July, I met Ellen and Chase Boyles of Nashville, TN who had literally just said “I do” at their wedding that afternoon.  The first stop as husband and wife?  Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro!  Ellen cannot eat gluten, dairy or fish, so she searched online to find a safe place to eat during their honeymoon.  That search led her to the quaint, dedicated gluten-free eatery that offers breakfast, lunch, amazing cupcakes and a grab & go freezer with a variety of baked goods and paleo meals.  Oh, and flourless chocolate cake—my kids wouldn’t forgive me if I left that out!

Dr. Ashley and Taylor Ramirez, owners of Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro, started their business and built their customer base by selling gluten-free goodies at local farmers markets.  Just a few months later, they opened a storefront bakery in Huntsville, AL and in just two years, they expanded to include the bistro which now offers breakfast, lunch, paleo-go meals and catering.  They will open their second location in Birmingham later this month.  I need to pull out the calendar and plan a gluten-free road trip to enjoy the new brunch menu that will be featured at the Birmingham location.
 

I loved that I was able to maintain my paleo diet at Mason Dixon and that they could accommodate my additional food intollerances.  In fact, I was even able to enjoy dessert for a change and indulged in “The Stacey,” a chocolate and vanilla marbled paleo cupcake with decadent chocolate icing which was divine.  “The Stacey” came highly recommended from nine-year-old Paulo, a Mason Dixon regular who was seated at a nearby table on the back porch.  That kid knows his cupcakes and his current favorite is “The Stacey.”  Another guest told my husband that a visit isn’t complete without the Fat Elvis cupcake.  My dietary restrictions wouldn’t allow me to order that, but my husband enjoyed every bite of the rich brownie cupcake stuffed with a gluten free “Oreo” and peanut butter, topped with a whipped peanut butter frosting.  He said it was worth every delicious calorie.  We ordered cupcakes to take home to our kids who enjoyed them very much.  My non-gluten free daughter was upset that I didn’t buy more.  She is on board to make a road trip to Huntsville (or Birmingham) to restock.
 
Q&A
While I wasn’t able to meet Taylor and Ashley on the day of my visit (they were busy serving up sweet treats at a Birmingham farmers market), they did me the honor of answering a few questions that I thought you’d be interesting in reading their answers.  Check out my GFree Genius Q & A with Taylor Ramirez.
 
Q:  How was the name of the business selected?
               
A:  Mason Dixon is a line that signifies the convergence of the North and the South.  This fusion is an underlying driver for our business.  The North is best known for its progressiveness in culture and food while the South is best known for charm and traditions.  We try to blend these ideals to form forward thinking foods and service that we believe is reflective of our service, menu, and diversity.  Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro, where progression meets comfort.
 
Q:  What is the most rewarding part of owning Mason Dixon? 
A:  The most rewarding part is knowing the impact we have on our customers’ lives.  Every day we have new customers who just realized they have food sensitivities.  The smiles on their faces from young children to elderly when they realize they can have anything from the restaurant without concerns of being sick.  We have had mothers who cry on their first visit because their 10 year old has never eaten out or enjoyed a decorated birthday cake.  The daily joy we get for being there for those under-served customers—that joy makes everything worth it.
 
Q:  What is the most challenging part of owning Mason Dixon?
A: The most challenging is definitely the management of all of the constantly evolving parts of owning a restaurant and bakery.  Most restaurants aren’t true scratch bakeries and vice versa.  We bake hundreds of items from scratch with our own proprietary flour blends and constantly maintaining quality with those items can be challenging.  On the other side, we have the restaurant and catering business which functions off the bakery, using only house-made baked goods.  Everything we sell we make in-house to ensure quality and ingredient control.  Managing so many different people with varying backgrounds can make the business challenging, as well.  Any time you have a tangible product you have to keep a tight control from production to deliver to the customer, because customers are very responsive to food.
 
Q:  What percentage of Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro's client base is NOT gluten free (they eat there because the love the food, not necessarily because they have to eat gluten free)?
A:  Actually, the majority of our customer base are not celiac.  They love our food because they enjoy the quality of our products.  They love that we purchase grass fed/finished beef and pastured pork and chicken. We consistently source local meats and produce.  They trust our belief in knowing exactly what you are putting into your body.  Food is a fuel, and you are only as good as the fuel you consume.
 
Q:  What would you like GFree Genius readers to know about your new location in Birmingham?
A:  Our new location will be offering Sunday Brunch!  This location is our first expansion store, with more to come.  The hours will be earlier with a greater focus on breakfast and coffee.
 
Q:  What else would you like GFree Genius readers to know about Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro?
A:  We have been named one of the top gluten free bakeries in the U.S.  We also have an online ordering site and we ship across the country.  We only use ingredients that you can hunt and grow for everything we make.  We are also much more than gluten free.  We also have a large vegan, paleo and dairy-free menu in both the bakery and the bistro.  We believe in providing for all those with dietary restrictions.

Nathan received the July box the day before we left for gluten-free camp in Michigan, so he decided to pack the box in his carry-on bag to ensure safe snacks on the plane and at airports.  I’m so glad he had it because gluten-free snacks were really hard to find at MEM, MDW and GRR airports.

The Pop Chips, Made Good Granola Minis and Schar Honeygrams were perfect airplane snacks.  He wasn’t upset at all when I declined the airline’s pretzels and peanuts (yes, the peanuts contain wheat) from the flight attendant because he had his own new snacks.

 He was especially excited about the King Authur Gluten Free Brownie Mix, but I just didn’t have time to bake before the trip.  We left that at home and baked brownies when we returned.  He loved the brownies!  I would definitely purchase that mix again.

 Nathan’s dad may or may not have eaten most of the JJ’s Sweets Original Cocomels—even though the box said “for kids only…PARENTS KEEP OUT!”  I think Nathan was too distracted by the aroma of the fresh-baked brownies to notice that something was missing from his box. 

The American Gluten Free Kids Club Box changes each month and is filled with new products to try. Be sure to check out the website to see what will be in next month’s box.  It is great to have a selection of new snacks to try each month.  It encourages Nathan to try new things and lets me know which ones he really likes or doesn’t like so I know what to purchase.​

With their new recipes, the couple opened the doors of Delta Blues Hot Tamales in December 2015 offering flavors of the Deep South without the gluten in their hometown of Birmingham, AL.  The restaurant’s front entrance has a gated courtyard that has a New Orleans feel and diners are greeted with the soulful sounds of Delta blues music.

“We didn’t tell anyone it was gluten free in the beginning,” Freis confessed after explaining there is sometimes a stigma that goes along with the words ‘gluten free.’  “We wanted this to be a place for everyone to enjoy great food that just so happens to be gluten free.”  They do have a sign at the entrance stating the whole menu is gluten free.  She also advertises on gluten free apps so customers can find them.
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We were like kids in a candy store at the Gluten Free & Allergy Friendly Expo-Atlanta--except it wasn't just candy!  There were cookies, cupcakes, bread, donuts, pizza, pasta, and even cosmetics--just to name a few!  My family had a blast sampling new products and we left the expo with both our bellies and our GFAF Expo tote bags full! This was the third year that we have attended this event and we can't wait to go back next year!

I’m currently on the autoimmune protocol (no gluten, dairy, soy or refined sugar) so I didn’t sample many products at the event, but my kids sampled everything—some things more than once.  One of their favorite booths was the Smart Flour booth. They offered samples of their new Snack Bites (think pizza rolls) which were a huge hit with my son.  He said they were really good and he ate enough Snack Bites to call it lunch.
 
My kids are big fans of good gluten-free pizza.  They enjoyed sampling several varieties of Sonoma Flatbreads including the new dairy-free pizza. They were also big fans of the pizza at the Against the Grain booth. We have purchased so many pizzas over the years that they did not like, so it is really nice for them to try them all at the expo and know which ones they really enjoy so I know what to buy at my local grocery store. We also were able to get some money-saving coupons to use at our local grocery store.

The kids enjoyed tasty treats from Glutino, Udi’s, Namaste, Aleia’s, Marilyn’s Gluten Free Gourmet, Kinnikinnick, Sugar & Spice Market, and Brazi Bites.  They also loved visiting the Ronzoni booth where they could take pictures with props and leave with a full size box of pasta of their choice.  The Mahatma and Success booths were other fun stops for the kids.  They were able to spin a wheel to get free full-size boxes or bags of rice.​

I was really impressed with Create Your Cupcake, a cupcake bakery in the Atlanta area with a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, which offers custom cupcakes.  The customer selects the flavor of the hollow, hexagon-shaped cake, mousse-like Cremache® filling, frosting and toppings. These can be ordered and shipped almost anywhere east of the Mississippi and in some parts of Texas. It was such a unique and fun idea and my husband and son said the cupcake was delicious.  They really liked the Cremache® filling.

Road trips can be the most fun ever, but without careful planning they can quickly turn into disasters.  Remember the Griswold family (National Lampoon’s Vacation-1983)?  Even though Clark W. Griswold planned every detail of the entire trip down to the minute, things got complicated.  No matter how well-planned the trip, things can still go terribly wrong. Sound familiar?  I recall a road trip to Branson, MO where a chicken truck flipped over and we were stuck in middle-of-nowhere-Arkansas for hours waiting for the highway to reopen!  Luckily, I had lots of safe snacks and a travel-sized Connect Four game, so were fine, but I’ve also been on road trips and vacations where I was not prepared and my dream trips became nightmares.
 
Packing for my first gluten-free road trip was a chore and I learned a lesson.  I wasn’t prepared for a lengthy traffic snarl and didn’t think to pre-plan meals on the road.  I tried eating what I thought was safe at a fast food restaurant and paid the price with many unexpected potty breaks. That’s something I never want to do again. Gluten cross contamination is even worse than Aunt Edna’s dog urinating on the Griswold's sandwiches!
 
So what does a gluten free family do to ensure a successful road trip?  Plan carefully.  Check out these GFree Genius road trip hacks to help you plan your next epic adventure!
 
Plan pit stops
If you’re traveling with children, I recommend planning a pit stop every couple of hours.  I look for rest areas or parks with clean restrooms to allow everyone a chance to stretch their legs and burn some energy.  We’ve even been known to stop at grocery stores if we need snacks or supplies and park in the back of the parking lot where we have space to run and play.  We always take a ball or Frisbee for my husband and kids to throw while I get snacks out of the cooler.   I recommend skipping convenience stores (except for stopping for fuel) because drinks and snacks are expensive—and it is highly likely that gluten-free snacks will not be available.

Plan meals
The easiest option is to check out the Find Me Gluten Free app and do some research to see if there are any dedicated gluten-free restaurants along your route.  I always try to visit those places, but they are few and far between in the South.  When I know there are no safe options or that my schedule won’t allow us to dine at a dedicated gf eatery, I take meals to eat on the go.  For example, I pre-cooked taco meat and put it in the cooler and reheated it in my HotLogic Mini Oven while we were driving and assembled tacos with pre-cut lettuce, tomatoes and cheese from our cooler when we stopped. I also took pre-cooked hamburgers and ordered takeaway from the dedicated gluten free restaurant when we stopped for lunch to keep in the cooler for meals down the road.

I received a HotLogic Mini Oven as a Christmas gift and it has quickly proven to be our most valuable travel asset! This lunch box-sized personal portable oven can be plugged into the power inverter that the kids use to charge their electronics. It takes approximately an hour to reheat food, so plan accordingly to make sure your meal is hot when you’re ready for it. ​

Could your mystery health problems be caused by celiac disease? 
 
May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month and I want to raise awareness to help people who are going through what I have already experienced. Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 133 people in the U.S., is the root cause of nearly 300 different symptoms ranging from digestive problems, headaches, skin rashes, anxiety and depression just to name a few.  It actually took 15 years of treating symptoms before I found the underlying cause of my misery.  Migraines, chronic diarrhea, premature osteoporosis, miscarriage and very difficult pregnancies with preterm labor were the main symptoms that doctors kept treating with pills.  I think I developed every side effect of every drug ever prescribed and my symptoms only got worse until I learned about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.  It was truly life changing. 
 
It was also lifestyle changing.  No longer could I run through a fast food drive-thru to pick up dinner on the way home from work or grab a snack cake out of the pantry for a quick snack.  I actually had to learn what was safe to eat and what wasn’t. I had to have a plan.  This change also affected my family in a big way.
 
Gluten, a tiny protein found in wheat, barley and rye, was making me deathly ill and I was willing to do anything to learn where it was hiding and completely eliminate it from my diet. After a lot of research and help from the celiac community (and a few mistakes along the way), I got the hang of it pretty quickly and I was able to convert many of my family’s favorite recipes to make them safe for me to eat. I declared my kitchen to be dedicated gluten free and made every effort to get rid of gluten.  New cutting boards, strainers and stone bakeware were a few of the first steps I took to rid my kitchen of this protein that is my kryptonite. In just a couple of weeks, my symptoms started disappearing.  No more migraines, aches and pains, or diarrhea made the effort totally worth it.
 
My husband was (and still is) very supportive and chose to eat what I ate, but the kids were not so willing.  My pro-gluten daughter actually refused to eat anything that didn’t contain gluten.  I’m glad that phase didn’t last long.  Fortunately for me (or unfortunately for her), I’m the one who pays and shops for groceries, so she didn’t have the much choice in what she ate at home. She still had the option of eating whatever she wanted at school and when she visited grandparents, but at home, she had to eat what I bought and prepared—and she actually prefers it now and can tell that she feels bad when she consumes gluten.
 
My son, on the other hand, was suffering from his own growing list of symptoms and we figured out that gluten was his enemy, too.  He was born at 35 weeks and was ALWAYS sick.  At three weeks of age, he was hospitalized with a respiratory illness that doctors never diagnosed.  My newborn was on IV antibiotics and had severe constipation.  He started having migraines, behavioral issues, chronic ear infections and speech delays. Doctors only wanted to treat him with prescription medication and I knew that wasn’t the answer.  It turns out that I was right.  Just two weeks after changing his diet, his symptoms subsided.  His teacher even texted to tell me whatever I had changed with my son was working and to not stop.  His behavior chart quickly changed from red to green, his ear infection went away and he started meeting his speech therapy goals.  By the end of that semester, he was released from speech therapy and never had another ear infection.  The headaches also subsided. 
 
Know the Symptoms
There are approximately 3oo symptoms associated with celiac disease.  Click here to see if you have symptoms.  Also, if you have a family member that has been diagnosed, it is recommended that you also be tested.  Some people actually have celiac disease and have no symptoms.  It is a hereditary condition, so if someone in your family has celiac disease, there’s a good chance that you could also have it.
 
Proper testing
If you have symptoms or a diagnosed family member, ask your doctor to screen you for celiac disease.  The doctor will order a simple blood test.  If the results are positive, the doctor will order an endoscope to get a small intestine biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.  It is essential that you be consuming gluten for the test to be accurate.  If you have already stopped eating gluten, your doctor will ask you to start eating it again for several weeks or months before testing can be done.  If you are not willing to eat gluten again, there is a genetic test that can be done to see if you carry the gene for celiac disease, but this test is expensive and is usually not covered by insurance. 
 
Positive test results.  What next?
If your doctor diagnoses you with celiac disease, the only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet.  Gluten is in a lot of food, but there’s still plenty you can eat!  Trust me—gluten free is not the end of the world!  There are lots of foods that are naturally gluten free (fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish and poultry to name a few) that we should be eating for optimal health. I’m a self-proclaimed chocoholic and love a good brownie or cake. There are lots of really bad gluten free products on the market and I have spent an obscene amount of money buying gluten free bread, crackers and snacks that ultimately ended up in the trash. I learned so much from doing my own research, seeking out gluten-free bloggers, and attending amazing events like the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo. These events offer product samples from more than 100 companies, money saving coupons, discounted products, educational sessions taught by healthcare professionals, chefs and cookbook authors, and the opportunity to meet people who “get it.”  GFAF Expo holds several events across the country, so check out their website for details and schedule.

GFAF Expo
Click here to read more about my family’s experience at GFAF Expo. 

​I have been selected to serve as an official blogger at the GFAF Expo-Atlanta and would encourage everyone who lives within driving distance (I’m driving six hours) to attend.  Tickets are available by clicking HERE and you can save 20 percent off each ticket by using the promo code: ADVANCE.  Beat the crowd and skip the line by purchasing your tickets in advance. The best part about this event is watching my son eat anything he wants.  He feels like a regular kid at GFAF Expo.
 
Celiac disease is not a death sentence.  While I do have frustrations with the fear of cross contact at restaurants and watching other people eat things that I used to love, gluten free feels so good.  I don’t even consider cheating.  I don’t want to damage my body with gluten.
 
Follow GFree Genius on Instagram and Facebook for meal and snack ideas and learn about products my family loves.  I also post giveaways on social media, so you don’t want to miss out!

 ​Have you ever dreamed of going to a place where everything is gluten free?  Just imagine table after table of pizza, cookies, chocolates, cereals, pastries, bread, donuts, pasta, waffles and more--and every bite is safe to eat!  This dream is a reality at the Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo-Atlanta  (GFAF Expo) scheduled for May 20-21, 2017 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA. 

This will be the third year that my family will travel nearly six hours to attend the GFAF Expo-Atlanta!  Last year we had a blast sampling new products and we left the expo with both our bellies and our tote bags full! This year I have been selected as an Official GFAF Blogger, so be sure to follow me on Instagram/GFreeGenius as I share more information leading up to the event, as well as an opportunity to win FREE TICKETS!!!

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My whole family, including the non-gluten free members, looks forward to this annual event.  I know it may seem like six hours is a long way to drive for some gluten-free samples, but this event is so much more than that to us. It is an amazing feeling to be surrounded by people that have the same struggles with food and "get it." I've exchanged meal ideas with people I meet in line and have made some great gluten-free friends. 

My 11-year-old son thinks this is the best place in the world because he knows he can eat anything he wants and he doesn't have to read labels or ask my permission.  I love that he can try gluten-free products from more than 100 vendors and let me know his favorites so I know what to buy.  I have wasted more money than I care to admit on really bad gluten-free foods over the past few years, so getting to try before we buy is fantastic.  There are also vendors selling gluten-free cosmetics, essential oils and other products and services that promote a healthy lifestyle. Many vendors offer special pricing on products available for purchase so we try to stock up on our favorites that we can't find in Mississippi.  I also love all of the gluten-free product coupons that vendors give away at this event!  Coupons for gluten-free products are coveted by families who know how expensive some of these products are! 
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In addition to all of the great product samples, sales and coupons, GFAF Expo also offers educational sessions.  In past years, there have been classes taught by chefs, gluten-free authors, medical professionals  and cooking instructors.  Ticket holders can attend as many or as few classes as they'd like at no additional charge.

I am thankful for GFAF Expo's mission of meeting the needs of the celiac community, as well as those with gluten and food sensitivities, auto-immune/inflammatory disease and autism.  I hope to see you at the GFAF Expo-Atlanta on May 20-21.  

​Continue reading to see discount codes and purchase tickets!