Dear Leah,

I have recently been diagnosed as having Celiac Disease and am feeling really overwhelmed. I really don’t know what to eat or how to make sure my diet is balanced. Can you recommend any help?  ~ Bernice

Dear Bernice,

There are many resources here in the Asheville area. There is a support group that meets regularly called Asheville GIG (Gluten Intolerance Group, online at www.ashevilleGIG.org) that will be a big help to you. Many restaurants in town offer gluten-free options, but probably the best is Posana Café, right downtown. It is a totally gluten-free restaurant.

As for grocery shopping, you will find that Ingles has a large selection of gluten-free items from cereals and breads to salad dressings and frozen meals. We have a list on our website (www.ingles-markets.com/ask_leah). In our larger stores we have a gluten-free section in the baking aisle, and we also tag most gluten-free items with a special green and white tag.

Another valuable resource for you is Shelley Case’s book, The Gluten-Free Diet, that you should be able to find at major bookstores or online at www.amazon.com. Shelley is a registered dietitian and does an excellent job explaining the gluten-free diet as well as providing recipes and helpful information.

Dear Leah,

Why is it that Ingles was carrying a certain sliced cheese that I like but it has recently disappeared?  ~ Jeri

Dear Jeri,

There could be several reasons for the disappearance of the cheese:

1. The manufacturer has stopped making it or has temporarily removed it from distribution to reformulate it.
2. The store manager has not ordered the product.
3. We have discontinued the product because of poor sales.
In order to figure out which it is you can/should do the following:
1. Visit your Ingles store and let the manager know you are looking for the product. The manager will tell you if it is still available in our warehouse.
2. Check online to see if the manufacturer is still making the product.
3. Call the customer service number at the bottom of your Ingles receipt.
Remember, the more information you have about the product the easier it is for us to track it down for you!

Dear Leah,

My doctor has said my potassium is too low and I need to improve my diet. What foods will provide me with potassium?  ~ Ted

Dear Ted,

The best sources of potassium are fruits and vegetables. Some of the fruits and vegetables with the highest amounts of potassium are: swiss chard,  cooked lima beans, pinto beans and lentils, winter squash, papaya, soybeans and avocado. You should try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Dear Leah,

I am part of a community group that has a monthly meeting. We would love to have you come in and talk to our group about nutrition! Is there a charge for you to come and talk?  ~ Denise

Dear Denise,

There is no charge for me to speak to nonprofit or community groups, but my schedule is pretty full so I do often need a month or more of notice. I also have a minimum group size that I will speak to, usually 50 persons. You can find a list of my speaking topics online at www.ingles-markets.com/ask_leah

Leah McGrath, RD, LDN
Corporate Dietitian - Ingles Supermarkets
Phone: 800-334-4936
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