One of the requests we've heard most often ever since opening is "Do you have gluten free options?" You bet we do! Every week we offer a selection of gluten free savories, sweets, desserts and pastries, with occasional limited seasonal offerings. It's easy to see what we'll have before visiting by viewing our weekly gluten-free menu. In addition to fresh baked and prepared goods, many of our packaged retail goods are also are no-gluten options. Packaged favorites such as Poppy Popcorn, Cooper's Cheese Straws, and *most King of Pops frozen popscicles are both no-gluten and delicious. If you've never tried baked goods without gluten, you'll be surprised to find they are just as tasty as our regular baked goods, and you'll find yourself saying "I'm glad I found a bakery offering gluten-free near me!"
*exceptions: Cookies n' Cream, Key Lime Pie, and Banana Puddin'
Our Weekly Gluten-Free Menu Favorites Include:
Gluten is a naturally occuring protein found in the wheat plant and some other grains. It acts as a binding agent which helps processed foods hold together and give them shape. In addition to wheat, gluten also comes from rye, barley and triticale (a cross between rye and barley).
There are a number of reasons why eating gluten-free foods has become a popula dietary choice. All of the reasons have to do with how the digestive system handles foods that contain gluten. Protease is the enzyme that helps our body process proteins, but it can’t completely break down gluten. This causes unduigested gluten to make it's way to the small intestine. Many people do not experience any issues when glutem gets to the small intestine, but some do. People who are most sensitive to gluten are often diagnosed with celiac disease. However, many people who have not been diagnosed with celiac disease still suffer symptoms such as inflammation, bloating, diarrhea, headaches, joint pain or skin rashes after eating foods that are not glutren-free. Additionally most gluten containing foods are not nutrient dense, and may actually restrict the absorbtion of nutrients into the body.
Fortunately it is totally possible to tailor your diet to not include gluten containing foods. In fact, with the recent focus on gluten allergy as health issue, there are now gluten-free versions of almost any type of prepared food. Even if you find it difficult to go completely gluten-free, reducing gluten intake may be beneficial to your digestive system and overall health.
Note: the symptons listed above may also be caused by a bad reaction to carbohydrates, an existing problem with the small intestine, or other digestive conditions. If you're not sure if you have a gluten allergy, it is recommended you check with your physician to confirm.
If you have any questions about our gluten free menu items or retail items, or would like to speak with us about what we can prepare for you that will not cause a specific food allergy, please contact us directly at 678.209.8598.
