Generation GF Phoenix

This will be great news if it passes

BIG NEWS: U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking action on food labeling that seeks to improve transparency in disclosures of ingredients that impact certain health conditions, such as gluten for those with celiac disease, and other established food allergens.

🎃 Navigating a Gluten-Free Halloween Doesn’t Have to Be Spooky! 👻

Halloween is right around the corner — and for first-time Celiac parents, it can feel a little scarier than usual. 🍬
You might be wondering:
💭 What candy is safe?
💭 How do I keep my child included?
💭 Can we still make it magical?

The answer is a big YES — with a little planning and creativity, your gluten-free kiddo can enjoy a fun (and safe!) Halloween experience! 🧡

Here are some tried-and-true ideas from our family:

🎨 Spot the Teal Pumpkins!
Homes with teal pumpkins on their porch are part of the Teal Pumpkin Project, which means they offer allergy-friendly goodies like stickers, small toys, or top allergen–free treats. Keep an eye out — those teal pumpkins are your new best friend!

🍭 Candy Trading 101
If you have kids who aren’t gluten-free, let them sort and trade candy with their GF sibling. This was a favorite in our house — and wow, do those negotiation skills come out! (Mini “Candy Exchange Market” for the win! 😂)

💬 Empower Your Kids to Speak Up
Encourage your child to proudly explain they’re gluten-free and ask if they can pick their candy. We’ve done this for years and have always had kind, understanding responses — most people are happy to help!

🏠 Create Your Own Safe Candy Exchange
Keep a stash of safe, gluten-free treats or fun prizes at home and let your child trade in their haul for those. You can even donate the leftover candy to organizations that send it to troops — spreading kindness and keeping things safe.

✨ Bonus Tip:
Print a list of GF-safe candies (or check with trusted Celiac foundations for updated lists) before trick-or-treating night. It takes the guesswork out and helps you relax and enjoy the fun!

With a little prep, Halloween can still be filled with giggles, costumes, and sweet memories — no gluten required. 💚

What are some things you have done to make your GF Kiddo safe during trick or treating?

List of Gluten Free safe candy

https://celiac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Halloween-Candy-List.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawNfVplleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFlRDRaOURpREhMMG9UVTJEAR5WfSHI6uRYLQUXtRYOkFuT9qFPABhfqXqPH6fDU-qTBhvrQfdA1frUPDlHEg_aem_HY3JfOSR0GAjldB1UDYEfg

Sign up to join us at the 5th annual AZ Celiac 5K on Sunday, November 2nd at 2pm at Chaparral Park - 5401 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale at the Central Ramada. This year, we are encouraging attendees to come dressed in Halloween costumes since it's Halloween weekend!

RSVP: bit.ly/2025Celiac5K

To officially register on the Celiac Disease Foundation website, which includes a Turkey Trot 5K T-shirt, and/or make a donation, please visit:

bit.ly/DonateCeliac5K

Raise awareness and have fun! Together, we'll go the distance for a cure! Hope to see you there!

Join us at the 5th annual AZ Celiac 5K on Sunday, November 2nd at 2pm at Chaparral Park - 5401 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale at the Central Ramada.
This year, we are encouraging attendees to come dressed in Halloween costumes since it's Halloween weekend!

RSVP: bit.ly/2025Celiac5K

To officially register on the Celiac Disease Foundation website, which includes a Turkey Trot 5K T-shirt, and/or make a donation, please visit:

bit.ly/DonateCeliac5K

Raise awareness! Take action! Change lives! Have fun! Together, we'll go the distance for a cure!

Celiac disease isn’t just digestive. 🚨

Symptoms may include:
Anemia
Migraines
Brain fog
Infertility
Skin rash (Dermatitis Herpetiformis)

Understanding the full spectrum speeds up diagnosis.

🌾✨ Today is National Celiac Awareness Day! ✨🌾

Celiac Disease is more than just “gluten sensitivity” — it’s an autoimmune disorder where even a crumb of gluten can cause serious health issues. 💚

Today, let’s take a moment to:
✔️ Support friends and family living gluten-free 🥖🚫
✔️ Learn more about safe food choices 🌱
✔️ Raise awareness so dining out, traveling, and everyday life can be easier for those with Celiac 💪

Whether you’re personally affected or simply want to be an ally, your understanding makes a BIG difference. 💚💙

Let’s spread awareness and kindness today and every day. 💫

🌟 Calling All Gluten-Free Friends in Phoenix! 🌟

Hi everyone! My name is Lisa Winiarski, and I’m the leader of our Generation GF Phoenix Support Group. I'm reaching out to our amazing community because we’re currently looking for a space to host occasional meetings and events throughout the year.

In the past, we’ve held gatherings at school cafeterias, churches with enclosed picnic areas, and gluten-free friendly spots like BEG and Knead Luv. Since we are a nonprofit group that operates solely on donations, we are specifically looking for locations that are free to use.

🔹 We typically plan 3–4 events per year (excluding the summer due to the Arizona heat), and attendance can vary.
🔹 Events are low-key, family-friendly, and welcoming to all ages.
🔹 We’re also looking for additional volunteer leaders to help plan and support events!

Here are just a few examples of the fun and educational events we've hosted in the past:

🎒 Back-to-School Info Night (504 plans, classroom tips, and lunchroom strategies)

🐣 Easter Egg Hunt

🎃 Halloween Trunk or Treat

🍪 Cookie & Cupcake Decorating Days

🍕 California Pizza Kitchen Tours

☕ Coffee with the Leaders

🩺 Doctor Q&A Night at PCH..and more!

✨ These events are also a great way for preteens and teens to earn community service hours or simply mentor younger gluten-free kids who are just starting their journey.

If you have a location—a school, church, business, or community space—that might be open to us for a few dates each year, I would love to connect. Any leads, suggestions, or support are greatly appreciated!

I know I have spoke to some people at events regarding planning more activities but again at this time we just have not had a location to hold events at.

Feel free to message me directly
Let’s keep this supportive and uplifting community going strong! 💛

✨ Gluten-Free Eats in Austin, TX 🇺🇸🍴

Emma and I spent the 4th of July weekend in Austin, TX and made it our mission to check out some of the city’s gluten-free friendly spots—here’s a quick recap!

🌮 De Nada Cantina – Super cute vibe with tasty tacos, but definitely make a reservation before you go! It was packed when we arrived.
👉 https://denadacantina.com

🥗 Picnik – We stopped here for lunch and loved it! Great GF options and a bright, fresh menu.
👉 https://www.picnikrestaurants.com

🍕 Via 313 – Emma’s longtime favorite and now I know why! They offer gluten-free deep dish pizza (yes, really!) and take cross-contamination seriously. So good—just wish I remembered to take more pics than our appetizer. 😅
👉 https://www.via313.com

Have any Austin GF recs we should try next time? Drop them below! 💬⬇️

🥖👩‍🍳 It’s World Baking Day! 👨‍🍳🧁

There’s nothing like the smell of something warm and delicious coming out of the oven — especially when it’s gluten-free and safe for everyone to enjoy! 💛

In our house, we’ve learned that gluten-free doesn’t have to mean flavor-free. Whether it's chewy chocolate chip cookies, fluffy banana muffins, or that one recipe you've perfected over the years... today’s the day to celebrate it! 🎉

💬 What’s your all-time favorite gluten-free baked good?
Drop the name (or recipe!) in the comments — I’d love to see what you’re baking today or your go-to treat for celebrations. 🎂🍪

Join us for Celiac Awareness Night at the Arizona Diamondbacks game on May 30th! Come out for a night of fun, baseball, and community as we raise awareness for celiac disease. Each ticket includes a gluten-free hot dog and an opportunity to network with the GF community in a private hospitality space. Plus, a portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Celiac Disease Foundation to support research, education, and advocacy efforts aimed at improving the lives of those affected by celiac. Buy your tickets now @ dbacks.com/celiac

May is Celiac Awareness Month- a time to shine a light on the serious autoimmune disorder that affects 1 in 100 people worldwide. Let's raise awareness, support those living gluten-free, and advocate for better diagnosis and education.