Allie’s Gluten Free Goodness Is a Tasty Treat for Celiac Patients

Thirty years ago, food allergies and autoimmune diseases like celiac disease were relatively rare and less widespread than they are today. In fact, researchers estimated that about 15 million Americans live with food allergies, while celiac disease currently affects approximately 3 million Americans. Patients with food allergies and celiac disease are causing a major change in how restaurants, supermarkets and cafeterias create their menus.

These allergies and celiac disease are proving to be tremendously dangerous if not taken seriously. According to the Food Allergy Research and Education, every three minutes a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room. Annually, 200,000 people require emergency medical attention for allergic reactions to food and generally, hospitalizations of children with food allergies have tripled between the late 1990s and the mid 2000s. Roughly 40% of children who live with food allergies have lived through a severe allergic reaction, like anaphylaxis. In severe cases, the end result can be death.

Unlike food allergies, celiac is an autoimmune disease that affects the patient's digestive system. It can affect both men and women, no matter their age and race. Beyond Celiac estimates that 1 in 133 Americans has celiac disease, and that approximately 83% of cases are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This disease also requires patients to start a gluten-free diet immediately after their diagnosis. If they do not, patients can have severe complications that range from osteoporosis and infertility.

One of the most difficult challenges for those with celiac disease and food allergies is finding foods that fit their dietary restrictions. However, there are several people who are taking charge and making a change. One of these people is Alison Luckman.

Some refer to Alison Luckman as a “superhero” for people who have special dietary-needs. Why? Because Allie is single-handedly bringing back fun foods to individuals with dietary restrictions in Long Island, New York.

Allie’s GF Goodies Homemade Gluten Free Goodness (say that five times fast!) is a bakery that carries exclusively gluten-free, nut-free, legume-free, dairy-free, and kosher baked goods in Long Island. They aim to make food fun again for people who live with food allergies. There is a wide-range of food available to clientele, including cakes, brownies, cookies, bagels, Challah, baguettes, and wedding cakes. Allie’s GF Goodies Homemade Gluten Free Goodness cites “love” and “safety” as the primary ingredients in their products.

Allie didn’t follow the traditional road to be a baker. She wasn’t trained as a professional chef, nor had she long-harbored some dream of being in a convection kitchen. In fact, when she first started out, she was practically kitchen-illiterate, fumbling with simple kitchen tools.

So what made Allie go from a microwave-popcorn kind of cook to a full-on specialty baker? Read on to find out.

Photo source: Allies GF Goodies (Instagram)