I had such positive response to the first article on this subject that was published in January that I am compelled to continue adding to the list! Campbell River and area have little "treasures" you may not be aware of when it comes to organic or healthy food choices. In my practice I often promote wheat free foods to assist in healing the body. 100% rye breads and crackers can get tiring so here are a few more tasty suggestions for those who are looking for alternatives to rye although do try the delicious 100% sourdough rye bread made by Cortes Island Bakery.

In the last six months there seems to be an explosion of "celiac" type foods available in Campbell River. These foods are gluten free to control the digestive problems of celiac disease but I find that these foods are also very helpful for those with any irritable bowel disease. The base of these foods are commonly rice or almond flour but can also contain other types of flour such as pea and potato flour. Getting these gluten free foods organic is very difficult, so I am mainly emphasizing gluten free in this article. Healthyway Vitamins Plus sells "Food for Life" brands of Brown Rice Tortillas, Rice Almond Bread and Brown Rice Bread. They are kept in the frozen section. "Blue Diamond" makes a very tasty rice and nut cracker in various flavours, a nice alternative to the "Hot Boy" and "Taipan" labels. (Watch for sugar as a significant ingredient in many rice crackers on the market these days). "Pamela's" gluten free flours come in various cake and cookie mixes. "Perky's" brand makes a cold rice cereal and Healthyway also sells bulk supplies of gluten free cooked cereals. "Glutino" is the brand that sells a gluten free pizza crust.

"Rizopia" brand of 100% rice pastas and "Annies" brands of 100%rice macaroni and cheese called Rice Pasta and Cheddar are both available at Quality Foods and Healthyway. "Tinkyada" brand makes rice lasagne noodles as well as great spaghetti noodles and they are both available at Thrifty Foods.

"Bob's Red Mill" supplies Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal and Creamy Rice Hot Cereal available at Healthyway. For a more complete list of gluten free flours including their All Purpose Gluten Free Baking Flour see their website www.bobsredmill.com They readily ship to Canada. See my website for a Ginger Molasses Gluten Free muffin recipe using this flour. "Celimix" makes a gluten free pancake and cake mix available at Healthyway and Superstore.

Organic rice milk by "Ryza" and "Yu" is now available in many stores including Healthyway, Quality Foods and Thrifty Foods.

Steiners Bakery also provides many oat, almond and rice based baked goods including: almond muffins, raisin rice cookies and organic brown rice bread in three flavours: chedder, sunflower seeds or plain brown. You will find these in their freezer. They will also do custom orders for hot cross buns or other requests given some notice.

Keep in mind that many of these 100%rice products many not be organic, may not be yeast or sugar free and may also contain some milk fat or milk protein. Please check the label carefully if you have sensitivities to these ingredients. Purchasing organic rice flour may be done through Barb at "Amped on Nutrition" on Quadra Island where she tries to get most things organic. She also sells a delicious gluten free hot cereal and wonderfully fresh goji berries! Barb has also provided me with a delicious recipe for rice bread that is easily made in a standard bread maker. This bread in NOT yeast free but it is gluten and milk free. Recipe is available on my website.

Rice chips by "Rice Works" are now available. There is a bit of sugar in these products but they are free of gluten, trans fats, preservatives and artificial colours and flavours and they have 33% less fat than potato chips, using non-GM sunflower oil.

Other treasures I have found include a beautiful organic Ceylon Rose Tea and Organic Green Tea with Bergamot made in the Bahamas available from Nesbitt's Island Coffee in the Campbell River Common. "Mighty Leaf Teas" are organic and available in some restaurants including White Spot and are for sale at Stonehouse Teas.

Other resources: "Cooking Gluten Free" by Karen Robertson; Yellow Dog Trading company on Quadra Island sells a Gluten free recipe collection. Firesign B&B run by Nanci Cook, cooks gluten free if needed. For those really sensitive to oats, Village Bulk Foods in Qualicum Beach, sells gluten free organic oats.

So there you have it, additional ammunition to make your diet more healthy yet very tasty too!