Cooking Gluten & Dairy-Free Around the World. Here's How!

Do you suffer from a food sensitivity? Or maybe you have troublesome symptoms that may be food-related and are trying to avoid gluten?

More and more people are discovering that they have a problem with gluten. Local chef and educator Lauren Hoover–West is here to help. She specializes in food allergies and health issues and is offering a 6-session, hands-on cooking class entitled, Cooking Gluten & Dairy-Free Around the World starting Thursday, March 14 at the Westside New Leaf Community Markets.

Gluten sensitivity is a spectrum of disorders, including celiac disease and wheat allergy. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal discomfort or pain, diarrhea, muscular disturbances and bone, joint pain or allergic reactions ranging from hives to anaphylaxis.  Some experts estimate that 1 in 20 Americans may have some form of it, but there is no test or defined set of symptoms.  

The incidence of celiac disease, which causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the body's own tissue, is rapidly increasing, and now as many as 1 in 133 people may be affected.

Dairy sensitivities are very common - the inability to fully digest milk products affects more than 70% of all people.

Cooking class to help you live a healthier and happier life!

At Lauren’s 6-week cooking class series, Cooking Gluten & Dairy-Free Around the World, you’ll cook and eat your way through a different ethnic cuisine each week:  Italian, French, Greek, Asian, Latin and Spanish. Learn to make a delightful variety of world-class meals at home that are delicious and customized to your dietary needs and desires. 

This class which costs $225 will take place on six Thursdays, March 14 – April 18 from 6 pm – 8:30 pm at New Leaf Community Markets, 1101 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz. Preregistration is required. To register, visit www.newleaf.com or call 426-1306 ext. 0.

More about Chef Lauren's expertise

Lauren Hoover–West was classically trained at The California Culinary Academy as a Chef/Educator/Consultant specializing in food allergies and health issues, including Diabetes, Autism, Celicac’s Disease, Autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions. Lauren has appeared and cooked on ABC Live in Chicago and Sacramento as well as cooked for four United States Presidents and a United States Senator. She has created a revolutionary way to cook delicious food that is gluten-free, dairy-free, low glycemic index and healthy. Author of No Wheat No Dairy No Problem cookbook and a blog site, she has 20 years of cooking and teaching experience at La Folie, Fairmont, Hyatt Resorts, Bally’s, and the Marriott. She is also the owner of Lauren’s Kitchen Biscotti Company.

Patti Bond of Bond Marketing Communications is a freelance writer, publicist and marketing consultant, and publicity consultant for New Leaf Community Markets, a company she holds in the highest regard.