Charlotte Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event

Hey guys! On March 24th I attended the Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event. I've always felt at home at gluten-free events I've attended in the past, and this event was no different.

The event was held at Lenny Boy Brewing Co. here in Charlotte, NC and I was amazed by the turnout. This was my first time attending a gluten-free event in Charlotte and it was really nice seeing such a diverse crowd getting together to learn more about gluten-free products and local initiatives.

There were about 50 vendors as well as a full schedule of speakers. All of the vendors were very friendly and knowledgeable. Some of my favorite brands, such as Kind, Dolci, and Enjoy Life, all had booths. I also discovered a few new vendors I've never tried before. Lundberg Family Farms, Mayacamas, and JP's Pastry were all new brands that I really enjoyed.

Lundberg's Santa Fe Barbeque Rice Chips are a great snack that I recommend trying. You can visit this page to find out where to purchase these chips and their other products locally.

Out of all the vendors, JP's Pastry was my absolute favorite. Located in Benson, North Carolina, they're a certified gluten-free bakery providing cakes, bagels, bread loaves, and much more. Tashawn tried the hamburger bun while I had a slice of their loaf of bread and we were both left speechless. We couldn’t believe the bread was actually gluten-free! It was very sweet, moist, and best of all it doesn’t break into a million pieces when I tried to eat it. By far it's the best gluten-free bread I've tried since learning about my allergy. They offer bundle packaging if you’re not local and are interested in buying online.

There were also vendors offering gluten-free healthcare products and home care needs. Doterra offered information about all of their line of essential oil products.

Another vendor I had the opportunity to talk with was Pop Up Produce, a Charlotte-based non-profit that was created to teach others how to grow their own food as well as tackle various socio-economic issues like food disparity, food insecurity, and food deserts. At their booth, they were selling a product called Fresh Start Kits. For every kit purchased, Pop Up Produce donates resources to families in food deserts. I really loved what they stood for and am planning on volunteering for them soon.

My husband and I really enjoyed our time at the Gluten & Allergen Free Wellness Event. Though it was a smaller event, we are looking forward to attending more events held by them in the future!