Translate

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Wheat Free Grocery Finds - Sovereign Supermarket

While we were at Sovereign Centre in Liguanea, St. Andrew, we decided to take a look at the wheat free and gluten free grocery offerings in Sovereign Supermarket. Kudos to the Purchasing Team - there is a variety of wheat free and gluten free products, including several from lines which have certified gluten free facilities. Sovereign Supermarket is yet another place in Jamaica where the wheat free or gluten free consumer may one stop shop with some ease. It is located at Sovereign Centre at 106 Hope Road, Kingston 6, St. Andrew. 

The products shown below are only a very few of the products available. There are many naturally wheat free products as well as wheat free alternative products. 

Friday, June 13, 2014

Wheat Free Grocery Finds - Lee's

Grocery Shopping in St. Andrew


This week we did a grocery run at Lee's Food Fair at Boulevard Super Centre in St. Andrew. Both branches of Lee's Food Fair are good stores for the wheat allergic to visit as there are several wheat free food finds, including both naturally wheat free foods and wheat free alternative foods. Though slowly, they continue to expand their wheat free alternative offerings.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Tying The Knot in Jamaica: Suit Up!

In Jamaica, the typical male wedding attire of choice is a suit or a variation of it. Getting the fit right is critical and something many men only realise when the pictures are released, or even earlier, when the person whose opinion they value sees them and is less than impressed. An ill-fitting suit does wonderful work at highlighting and showcasing body imperfections, whereas a well fitted suit flatters the body and the wearer has a certain dignified air about him or her.

JJ's Tailoring, located in St. Andrew, offers tailoring services for both men and women. Clients may take their own material or choose from the stock in house. Suits are custom made and fitted before completion.

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Those Udi's Gluten Free Cookies

Gone wheat free and have the munchies for some yummy cookies? Look no further than Udi's Gluten Free, the brand that is "full of taste and free of gluten". 

Cravings for soft and simply delectable cookies may be answered by snacking on Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Chewy Cookies. The name is very fitting as these cookies are indeed very soft and have a chewy quality to them. The cookies come in a convenient firm and resealable plastic container and are available in the flavours of Oatmeal Raisin, Snicker Doodle, Chocolate Chip and Ginger. These Udi's Gluten Free Soft & Chewy Cookies are all soy and nut free. They contain milk and eggs. 


Tuesday, May 06, 2014

Toothpaste Matters in the Gluten Free Life




Crest and Aquafresh are two brands of toothpaste found in many stores throughout Jamaica. The good thing to know about these two brands are that they have both indicated that their toothpaste products do not contain gluten. 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Milk Please, Hold the Dairy

Here a fart, there a fart, everywhere a fart, fart. For so many people, having a glass of cow's milk doesn't go well at all. For some, the flatulence and sudden need for TP is consistent, especially those with lactose intolerance, while for others it's a gamble - will the tummy rumble this time?

Being allergic to milk, lactose intolerant, a non dairy consumer, wary of the effects consuming cow's milk has on you or desirous of variety, milk substitutes are great. There are several grain milks and plant milks.


Soy milk, almond milk, rice milk and hemp milk are milk substitutes found in several supermarkets across Kingston, St. Andrew, Portmore and other towns in Jamaica. Prices tend to range from JM$200 to JM$500 for one quart. These non-dairy beverage are often consumed as they are or used, in the place of cow's milk, in food preparation.

Brownies made using Bob's Red Mill Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free Brownie Mix and Rice Milk


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Tying The Knot In Jamaica: Wedding Song

Down the aisle she walked, to the story of their love.  The song retold the story of how love got them here.  Every line, ever word, every verse was true.  A unique song to reflect their beautiful love story.

Born Kerri-Anne Walker, Kei Dubb grew up in the Caribbean. There she learned the French language and went on to live and study in France for a while before returning to the Caribbean.  Her voice range is 3 1/2 octaves and her singing style is a unique fusion of jazz, soul and reggae. There are singers and then there is Kei Dubb. Kei Dubb, known not only for her beautiful voice, Kei is a vibrant yet relaxed personality - a pint-sized vocal powerhouse who has wowed audiences both in the old world and the new. Her abilities are quite impressive as she is not simply a singer but a songwriter as well. Her bilingual ability lends itself wonderfully to her writing and performances which go back and forth between English and French.  As a talented songwriter, Kei has an ability to speak directly to couples and write love songs that tell their special story as lovers. Working with Kei Dubb on your own love story will make walking down the aisle, the entrance to the reception and that first dance as a married couple much more personal, intimate and special.

Sunday, February 09, 2014

Gluten Free and Wheat Free Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day falls on the 2nd Friday in February this year. Love is the theme; chocolate and wine are Queen and King. While most Valentine's Day advertisements target couples and promote the romantic side of love, token and gifts are often given to parents, offspring, relatives, friends, classmates, customers, business partners and even strangers.

From pebbles collected outside to diamond encrusted purses worth millions, there is a Valentine's Day gift for every budget. While giving physical gifts is one manifestation of expressing love, there are other love languages. Love may be expressed by spending quality time, acts of service and so on.  You often find that Valentine's Day gifts  may be a combination of different love languages. Though there's a very wide variety of gifts, it is quite common to find persons completely clueless about what to give, especially on a limited budget or with short notice. 

If your valentine has only recently become a wheat free or gluten free eater and is now down about their limited food choices, giving the gift of delicious food is a very sweet and thoughtful gesture.

There is a variety of food you may give. 


Essence of Hazel


Thursday, February 06, 2014

Honey On My Skin

Food good for the body.
Food good for the skin.
Eat up, dab on.
Love the skin you are in.

Honey, when topically applied, most benefits our skin when it is in its raw, organic, unheated state and, as such, the benefits listed below are related to raw, organic, unheated honey.


Beneficial Properties of Honey
  • anti-irritant; suitable for sensitive skin
  • humectant (absorbs and retain moisture) which is good for maintaining skin's softness, suppleness and elasticity; great for dry skin as retains moisture without drying out
  • antibacterial and antimicrobial properties draw out impurities from the skin, reduces redness, calms inflammation and speeds up healing of wounds and infections, including acne.



DIY Honey Skin Care
Good for: persons seeking a more directly natural skin care regimen, especially persons with sensitive skin or contact allergy to soy or wheat (often commonly used but not listed due to non-existent allergen labeling regulation for skin care items).
Bad for: persons with contact allergy to honey.
*It is easier to remove honey masks with warm water


Avocado and Honey Face Mask for soft, glowing skin
  • Blend a slice of avocado and 1 tablespoon of honey till texture is creamy, put in fridge for 10 minutes, apply to clean face, leave for an hour, then wash face clean.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Peace of Chocolate

Image source: http://papalanigelato.com/is-chocolate-really-good-for-you/
Image source: http://chaddsfordchiropractor.com/amazing-benefits-of-raw-chocolate/
Image source: http://andifajar.com/benefits-of-chocolate-for-health.html

For most, there is no rival to chocolate among food. It stands in a category by itself, in whichever form it takes; liquid rushing like a flood, against the taste buds of our tongues, powder - intoxicating us with its rich aroma, or solid, a savoury treat. Not everyone loves chocolate, nonetheless, it is one of the most widely loved foods.

As internationally renowned as chocolate is, just over five centuries ago the plant it is made from (cacao) was only present in parts of the Americas and was used by the Mayans, Aztecs and some of the other natives of the Americas to make chocolate beverages, known then by some as "xocolātl". The Europeans who traveled to the Americas brought it back to Europe and added sweeteners such as sugar and milk to the beverage. Chocolate grew in popularity as a beverage and due to recipe experimentation over the centuries, chocolate of various forms came into being (click here to read more on the History of Chocolate). Chocolate is now available worldwide for consumption in many forms.

Pure chocolate itself does not contain wheat or gluten. Based on added ingredients to make certain products or being processed on machinery on which processed wheat and gluten ingredients, a product may not be free from wheat or gluten.  However, a non wheat and/or non-gluten eater need not dismay, there are many safe to consume chocolate brands and products out there.


Image source: http://rishikajain.com/2012/06/22/good-morninghealth-tips-for-the-dayinspirational-pictures/
Image source: http://www.purelifenutrimedics.com/blog/health-benefits-of-chocolate-info-graphic

Monday, January 20, 2014

Tying the Knot in Jamaica: Capturing the Moment

A photograph offers snapshot of a single moment... but that snapshot captures the essence of a moment in time and preserves the visual representation and memory of it. It is a powerful visual holder of a moment and tells a story, though sometimes it may be misleading, of what was taking place in that instant; powerful enough as it gathers information that might have missed the human eye. Throughout time, moments have been captured in various forms; the visual side of moments have been captured in descriptive writing, sketches and paintings. However, the reigning King of capturing a moment is the camera. Unlike a painting, the capturing of a photograph is instant and does not rely on the capturer's memory.

"What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce." 
― Karl Lagerfeld

"A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away." 
― Eudora Welty

"If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it’s already a lot. The instrument is not the camera but the photographer." – Eve Arnold


Cellphone cameras and digital cameras are numerous and used or available to many persons around the world. Photographs are no longer expensive to take and need no longer be limited to special moments. The age of digital photography has birthed the premise "take a pic anytime, anywhere" and also that the selfie is king. 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Tying the Knot in Jamaica: The Golden Effect

A piece of jewellery
...an artistic expression
...a token, a gift
...a message
...fashion accessory
...an ornament
...an economic investment (wealth storage)
...currency
...a symbol of status
...an indicator of societal affiliation
...a marker of personal status

Jewellery sometimes finds itself being a feature of an event, such as a crowning ceremony, a medal ceremony and, more frequently, a wedding. In many cultures, rings are exchanged by the couple as a part of the ceremony; while some couples, seeking an alternative to the typical, might exchange other items of jewellery such as cuffs, bangles, bracelets, pins, nose rings, necklaces, pendants, lockets and so on. For many, this is a marker of their personal status, and one of the more treasured and sentimental items of jewellery they own.

The wedding ring or the alternative is often not the only item of jewellery worn by the marrying couple, and the couple are usually not the only persons in attendance who are adorned in jewellery. Brides, grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers and guests usually dress up for weddings and will at times go to great lengths to ensure they look great. Brides and grooms might source new items of jewellery that complement their rings, outfits or colour theme. Likewise, other members of the bridal party might need to get matching pieces or pieces that meet the requirements of their dress code. Guests may want new pieces of jewellery for various reasons. As such, jewellery shopping or finding a jeweller will be on the 'to do' list.

Power Mood Tags - PurpleJade

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Wedding Dresses by Clay

By her dress you shall know her,
The Queen of the Wedding.


For some women, the visual definition of their bridal state is summed up by their wedding dress. It is their identifier, their regal attire, a special dress for a very special day.

Wedding dresses take different shapes and forms, vary by culture and fashion preference. Some dresses are bought new from a store, rented from another, passed down from generation to generation, shared between sisters or made to order by a dressmaker. The acquisition of a wedding dress can be a challenge, and this challenge has forced many women to choose a dress they only tolerate (not love), rent though they didn't want to, travel near and far, among other things. The bride in Jamaica has found her wedding dress creating fairy godmother in Clay. 



Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Wedding Decor Photography


The photographer behind the lens of the camera that took the current Wheat Less in Jamaica profile picture (see above) is Robert L. Henry, a St. Andrew resident who has shot several engagement shoots and weddings across beautiful Jamrock (i.e Jamaica).


Monday, December 23, 2013

Tying the Knot in Jamaica - Make Up by Shelly-Ann Chung

The Caribbean isles are beautiful gems adorning the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica, with its beautiful white sand, lush green landscape and beautiful mountain backdrops, is a preferred location for weddings. The locals appreciate the scenic advantage they have, to the point that many emigrants return to the island to have their weddings here. Jamaica has grown to be a popular destination wedding site, as well. Foreigners are drawn to the island's beauty and laid back feel, not to mention the amazing wedding services available to them. It is quite common for destination weddings to be held in the resort regions of Jamaica. However, what about Kingston or Portmore - two of the most populated and urban areas in Jamaica. What do they have to offer? Plenty and if you want a truly Jamaican wedding, all the better reason to have top notch, truly Jamaican wedding vendors.

The "Tying the Knot in Jamaica" Series will feature several wedding vendors who are primarily based in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine and also answer the call to work all over the island, the Caribbean and the world as per requests by their clientele.

The first article of the series puts the spotlight on Shelly-Ann Chung.


Make Up Artist Shelly-Ann Chung

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Dairy Free and Egg Free Breakfast


Selamat Hari Natal

Joyeux Noël

Feliz Navidad

Buon Natale

Froehliche Weihnachten

Feliz Natal

С Рождеством

Merry Christmas




As discussed in So what's on the Breakfast Menu the holidays are upon us and for many of us that means we will be a house guest or are expecting house guests. A wheat free breakfast is one thing but a dairy free, egg free and wheat free breakfast? Oh honey, it can definitely be done.

Friday, December 13, 2013

So what's on the Breakfast Menu?


"Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la"

It's Christmas! The holidays are upon us and for many of us that means we will be a house guest or are expecting house guests.



As a host, one of your primary concerns is what to feed your guests, especially if (a) they can't or won't eat certain things and (b) you are on a tight budget.


As a guest, you hope there will be enough food that you will enjoy, especially if you are going to an area or country you are unfamiliar with.  If you are on a restricted diet for health reasons (such as diabetes, food allergy and so on), you might be anxious about being both properly and sufficiently facilitated by your host.  If you have a true food allergy, you will be very concerned about if your host will have food items safe for you to consume, as well as foods you will enjoy eating.

Saturday, December 07, 2013

The Christmas Class Party

And just like that 2013 is almost over...and with it, the first school term (semester). For some kids and high schoolers this means it's Christmas Class Party time.

With so many children being diagnosed with coeliac (celiac) disease, wheat allergy, gluten sensitivity as well as those voluntarily opting for a gluten free or wheat free diet, sometimes the usual menu has to be scrapped. There are many options available - whether on a shoestring budget or planning for a royal feast. 

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Have a Sandwich, it's Gluten Free




Some shoppers don't mind going to several stores at a time, on the hunt for bargains and for those hard to find items. There are other shoppers who simply want to find it all in one location. They want to be in one store, comparing different brands, rather than going from store to store and then back to some. For the wheat free and gluten free one stop shopper, CPJ Market at 71 Lady Musgrave Road is the store for you. In fact, it is also the store for the dairy free, soy free and nut free shopper, as it offers many options for persons afflicted by some of the more common food allergies. 

For the wheat free and the gluten free shopper there's:
  • bread 
  • waffles 
  • bagels
  • cake mixes
  • brownie mixes
  • pancake mixes
  • frozen pizzas
  • cookies
  • ladyfingers
  • soft pretzels
  • coated pretzels
  • soy sauce
  • muffins
  • spaghetti
  • tortillas
  • penne alfredo
  • macaroni and cheese
  • french baguettes
  • granola
  • hot dog buns
  • and many other products.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Going on Dates with a Gluten Free/Wheat Free Partner

Dating someone who adheres to a gluten free/wheat free diet doesn't have to be scary. The mind is a powerful thing and you find that if you simply re-condition your mind to adjust to a new experience, it can actually be fun and selecting gluten free/wheat free foods may soon become second nature to you.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Wheat Free Birthday Party for the Kids


Children want successful birthday parties.  They want every guest to have such a good time that their party has to be deemed cool and fun.  No one wants the party that “sucked!”  They want the party that will be called “one of the best I have been to” by their peers.  Most parents are aware of this and for them, the pressure is on to facilitate a good party for the kids.

Keeping it Wheat-free, Alternative Product Finds

"Where do you get all your wheat free products from?"

Lately, this has been a question I get regularly asked, as colleagues and acquaintances take in the view of my pantry or lunch bag.  

Cookies, waffles, bagels, pastries galore

Wraps, crackers, baking flour and counter flour
Nom Nom and there’s still much more

"In the supermarkets" I reply.

"Here??"