Market for gluten-free products expanding

By Amanda Monahan

How does black bean brownies sound?

It may not sound appetizing but actually black bean brownies are just as moist and delicious as regular brownies. They are just made for those who suffer from Celiac disease but you can’t tell the difference between these flour free brownies, says Jason Stevens.

They are a new addition to the gluten free menu at Sinful Treats Bakery in the Durham Region, said Stevens.

“We decided to expand it into the gluten free market for the customers with Celiac and really try to give them a tasteful treat something that is very difficult to find, especially out in Durham Region. So our focus has been a lot on the gluten free and the gluten free customer who can go get that treat now and enjoy the things that may not be able to anywhere else.”

For those worried about these baked goods taking different there is little to no taste difference.

“Certain products you will notice maybe a little bit of a texture difference because of the different flours, starches that are used but for the most part no you shouldn’t notice to much of a difference if any at all.”

Food for humans wasn’t the only booth on display at the Family Health and Wellness Expo in Cobourg last weekend. Theresa Rickerby from All Creatures Great and Small brought along treats and food for furry friends.

“Like anyone else you are what you eat and if you really want to have a long and healthy vital life then you need to look at what you’re taking in on a daily basis. “

“Our pet foods use all human grade ingredients, that’s fit for human consumption and no artificial preservatives or colouring agents.”

Rickerby said the reason behind pet owners hesitation in switching to natural pet food is advertising.

“Marketing. 100% marketing,” she said.

“I find the people who are really educating themselves and advocating on behalf of their animals and are purchasing products of higher quality ingredients. They’re researching the companies to make sure that they are ethically based and the people who have done the most research are making their own pet food and or purchasing fresh frozen raw pet food product.”

When it comes to a pet’s age and size, Rickerby said it’s just another marketing gimmick.

“The marketing has just gone wild, I mean you can buy food for an indoor, small dog under seven pounds. It’s silly. Dogs and cats are made the same, dogs over the years have changed in terms of their domestication but physically they haven’t changed, so yes a Chihuahua can eat the same foods as a Great Dane.”

Jacqui Maybee of Rocia, a natural make up and skin care line, believes people just aren’t educated when it comes to what is actually in those products.

“Some of it is peer pressure but the bottom line is just lack of education because once you become educated once you really truly understand what you’re putting on your skin and how it affects you long term you’re probably going to change, you’re probably going to do something about it.”

“The biggest thing is we are trying to educate people on the difference between naturals versus synthetics. Not putting those petroleum tar based products on and putting something on your skin because your skin eats 60% of what you put on it. To make sure you are doing that so that you are going to end up with healthy looking skin.”

Cost can be a major factor into what turning people away from more natural based products, said Zohol Janamian of TNS Health Food.

“A lot of people think that I can’t afford it and I can’t keep doing it on a regular basis.”

However, Valerie Smith sells stone to help relieve stress and its cost is just pocket change.

“To carry a stone with you can be as cheap as $2 or $1 and carry it in your pocket and hold onto it. Just pull it out of your pocket and hold onto it and it just helps you to feel better because it’s a piece of nature and you know you can’t carry a plant, that’s a little hard but a stone just has that relaxing energy around it because it doesn’t have the emotions that we do.”

But despite the costs Janamian see’s it as a growing industry.

“If you take a look around there’s a lot more stores going up.”

“You see a lot of new customers coming in wanting to learn about the products, they want to have higher energy, they want to be able to get about their day without having to worry about sugar, caffeine, that mid day snack, eat better, live better, be there for their kids everything like that.”

Helen McCrea said natural products are healthy and is real important to her and allows her to live life to the fullest. She doesn’t let the costs factor into how she lives her life.

“Money isn’t worth anything unless you are healthy to enjoy your money, quality over quantity.”