A Blogger A Day: Gluten Free Betsy

Name: Betsy Thompson
Lives in: Chicago, IL

Blogs at: www.glutenfreebetsy.com
Tweets at: www.twitter.com/betsybetsybetsy
Like her at: www.facebook.com/glutenfreebetsy

Why we’re fans: Betsy is a sharer. She writes about local gluten-free events and online giveaways, but more importantly, she brings readers through her own gluten-free experiences, whether it’s attending a swanky gluten-free dinner or explaining why a certain product she tried is too good to pass up. Betsy proves that it takes one to know one, and she’s posting her knowledge for all gluten-free newbies (and not-so-newbies) to benefit from.

Betsy Thompson

Betsy’s Story: I was diagnosed with celiac disease in January 2000 and have been gluten-free ever since.  It’s been a world of difference.  I wrote why I started my blog in a post called “Starting from the Beginning…“

According to Betsy: The toughest part of going gluten-free trying to come up with alternatives.  When I went gluten-free, there weren’t nearly as many gluten-free alternatives as there are today.  I remember some terrible cookies and crumbly bread.  Luckily I’ve improved my baking skills a bit.

A taste of Gluten Free Betsy:

• Gluten Free Girl Scout Cookies – Samoas:  This one is from March of last year, but I still get many hits on it.  I decided to make my own “Girl Scout” cookies, since I couldn’t eat the ones from the Girl Scouts.  I found a similar recipe online and adapted it to make it gluten-free.  The comments really made my day, especially the one from Teresa whose daughter was a Girl Scout but never tasted their cookies.
• Gluten-Free Chicago Potluck: I’m part of the Gluten-Free Chicago group on Gluten-Free Faces. I loved meeting other gluten-free people in Chicago and having a potluck with them!  There’s very few options for me at potlucks, so being able to taste everyone’s dishes was great!  It was such a fun day.
• Oh Thank Heaven for 20-11: This was my first post of 2011 and where I announced a new feature on my blog, a gluten-free book club.  I love to read, and I read a lot of books on the celiac/gluten-free topic, everything from cookbooks to memoirs to educational pieces.  Since more and more people are being diagnosed with celiac or are going gluten-free, I thought it might be a great place to find the right book they are looking for.  Looking for facts?  Someone’s story to relate to?  Need a collection of great gluten-free recipes?  They’ll find it here, and I was so excited to start that new feature.

For more of NFCA’s Celiac Awareness Month celebration, visit www.CeliacCentral.org/awarenessmonth.

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