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Grain your freedom!
Cheerful Giving
Our story began during several natural disasters and the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when finding safe gluten-free food for our daughter became incredibly difficult. We couldn’t simply stop at any restaurant or drive-thru when grocery shelves were empty. We paid for grocery delivery services, drove to other cities searching for meat and fresh produce, and even traded food with neighbors to ensure our daughter had safe meals. Scared would be an understatement.
That experience opened our eyes to how vulnerable families living with Celiac disease, food allergies, intolerances, Diabetes, and other medically necessary diets can be during times of crisis.
And making matters worse, safe food often comes at a much higher price. Gluten-free and allergy-friendly foods are significantly more expensive, creating an added burden for families already facing financial hardship.
In Houston, finding a food bank that consistently provides gluten-free and top-nine allergy-friendly foods is incredibly difficult. Across the United States, many food banks offer limited options for individuals with dietary restrictions, forcing families to make impossible choices about what they can safely eat.
These conditions do not discriminate, and they are on the rise.
In Harris County, 1 in 4 preschool-aged children may not know where their next meal is coming from. Harris County has one of the highest child food insecurity rates in the nation, meaning many children have limited access to safe, affordable, nutritious food.
That’s why Grain Freedom works to provide gluten-free and allergy-friendly essentials to local food banks, including shelf-stable fruit, juice boxes, allergy-friendly bread, soups, canned proteins, and other safe pantry staples.
And because summer donations often decline while need remains high, we encourage everyone to become a cheerful giver.
Places we give to in Houston!
Christian Community Service Center
Houston Methodist Underwood Center for Digestive Disorders
Places we give to in Texas!
Camp Gilmont- The Great Gluten-Free Escape!
Places we give to in the USA!
Food Equality
Families with food allergies, intolerances, diabetes, or celiac disease spend much MUCH more than families without these diseases. We believe in food equity for medically necessary diets.
Check out the Food Equality Initiative. It is a great place that fights for food/nutrition security and health equity for all. They believe food is medicine to treat medical conditions such as food allergies, celiac disease, Crohn’s Disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, hypertension, etc.
Tips For Low- Income Families Managing Food Allergies
Our goal is to create food equality for children. With funds raised, we donate to organizations and camps that do a great job of providing safe food!
Encourage Your Congressman!
Congressional Legislation
Advocacy for Food Equity
Living with Celiac disease means navigating far more than simply avoiding gluten. Families face unclear food labels, hidden gluten in medications, limited insurance coverage for nutrition therapy, and a lack of federal recognition for the seriousness of medically necessary diets. At Grain Freedom, we believe safe food is a health equity issue and policy change matters.
Support Better Food Labeling
Support the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2023.
Current U.S. labeling laws require manufacturers to disclose wheat, but that does not fully protect individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Consumers also need clear labeling for other gluten-containing grains such as barley and rye, along with hidden ingredients that may contain gluten.
For example, a rice cereal may appear safe but contain malt, a barley derivative that makes it unsafe for someone with Celiac disease. Families should not have to rely solely on expensive testing devices, certified products, or endless ingredient research just to eat safely. Contact your elected officials and urge them to support stronger food labeling laws.
Join the Bipartisan Congressional Celiac Disease Caucus
Encourage your House members to join the Congressional Celiac Disease Caucus.
This bipartisan caucus helps:
- Raise awareness of Celiac disease
- Support federal research funding
- Advocate for legislation that improves quality of life for patients
The celiac community deserves a stronger voice in Washington.
Expand Access to Medical Nutrition Therapy
Support the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act.
Medical nutrition therapy is one of the most effective tools for managing celiac disease and many other chronic health conditions.
This legislation would expand Medicare Part B coverage for nutrition therapy services related to:
- Celiac disease
- pre-diabetes
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- malnutrition
- eating disorders
- cancer
Nutrition support should not be financially out of reach.
Support the Gluten in Medicine Disclosure Act
Many medications may contain hidden gluten, and determining whether a prescription is safe can be extremely difficult. Families often have to contact doctors, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical companies, only to receive unclear answers. No one should risk getting sick from medication intended to help them heal.We need clear disclosure requirements for prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Support Federal Hunger & Health Initiatives
The White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health recognizes that diet-related diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
We support:
- Increased federal funding for Celiac disease research
- Greater recognition of medically necessary diets as a health equity issue
- Improved food access for vulnerable families
- Continued conversations around broader allergen protections
Because no family should struggle to access safe food, safe medicine, or the resources they need to thrive.
Restaurants
Safe Gluten-Free Options While Dining Out
Gluten-free is a treatment, not a trend.
People living with Celiac disease aren’t eating gluten-free to be trendy or to inconvenience anyone at a restaurant. For those with celiac disease, gluten-free food is medically necessary.
Food is deeply personal. It connects us to our families, traditions, culture, and communities. Some of life’s most meaningful moments happen around a table, birthday dinners, weddings, holidays, date nights, celebrations, and everyday meals with loved ones.
Food is social. Food is connection.
That’s why dining out matters.
For many individuals living with celiac disease, food allergies, and intolerances, eating at restaurants can feel stressful and isolating. Many people are forced to eat before attending events, bring their own meals, or skip gatherings altogether because safe food options are unavailable.
Too often, restaurants market items as “gluten-friendly” without understanding cross-contamination or what makes food truly safe for someone with Celiac disease. Others offer limited options that feel like an afterthought, often leaving people excluded from the full dining experience.
Meanwhile, demand for safe, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly dining continues to grow.
We believe restaurants, schools, camps, and food companies can do better.
You can help by:
- Supporting restaurants that prioritize safe gluten-free practices
- Thanking chefs, managers, and staff who take dietary restrictions seriously
- Writing positive reviews for businesses that provide safe dining experiences
- Encouraging local restaurants and schools to pursue programs like Beyond Celiac GREAT Kitchens and school training initiatives
- Advocating for safer and more inclusive dining options in your community
Everyone deserves the dignity of eating safely and fully participating in life’s most meaningful moments.
Because important things happen around a table, and no one should be excluded.
Break gluten-free bread with glad and generous hearts, y’all.
