Celeberty Apprentice/Schwans come up with GF meal!

jodibelle352 · Post by **jodibelle352** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:53 pm

FYI!!!!
If anyone ever watches "Celeberty Apprentice" with Donald Trump, tonights episode was AMAZING for a NEW product they are trying to see how it is accepted.
One of the teams came up with a GF Meatballs w/ GF noodles. There was also a vegetable and I think it was Green Beans as well as a dessert which was an Apple Crisp. The team who put this meal together is the team who WON tonights challenge.
I found this pretty important for those of us who do are very best to go GF. The CEO of Schwans was very excited and anxious when the team came up with the GF concept for them to try. They used Celiac Disease as part of their sales promotion but I was very excited when the CEO of Schwans was so open to possibly starting a line of GF meals.
To make a long story short. They are asking people to log on the www.schwans.com to check out this new meal or the other meal the other team came up with which was a Chickenbreast with a Soysauce w/ Orange juice as the sauce on the chickenbreast.
I just thought I would pass this information on to everyone to go and check out what this meal is. I do know that the meat balls are made from ground turkey and held together with a combination of vegetables.
So if anyone is interested check out the Schwans site. Maybe if enough show an interest they will start concentrating on making a selection of GF meals for us Special People.

Love and God Bless:
Jodi

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:03 am

That's great and I do hope it catches on but the dish (turkey meatball) does contain soy, milk & eggs. It takes a while for manufacturers to "catch on" to the whole idea, I'm sure, so I do hope they persist.

Love, Shirley

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:29 am

Jodi,

Wahoo! Gluten sensitivity is finally becoming mainstream. That's great news.

Shirley,

Spoken like a true cavewomen!

Love,

Polly

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:19 pm

I watched it and the only negative thing that I picked up on was when they told the CEO from Schwan's that it was going to be a gluten free meatball & noodle dish, he replied with, I don't want to put something out there that tastes like crap!!!! I thought, EXCUSE ME!!!!!!!
I may have to post on the website....
They aren't going to dedicate a facility specifically for gluten free meals due to the expense it would take to get it up & running.
Have you seen their delivery trucks????? They are in need of new ones, for sure..
They just shake, rattle and roll down the road!!! LOL!!!

Love
Dee~~~

Post by **tex** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:24 pm

Dee,

I didn't see that show, so I may be just talking through my hat here, but that statement, (by Schwan's CEO), could be taken more than one way. He wasn't kidding, of course, everything that I've ever tried from them, tasted great - top of the line. That being the case, you can be sure that if they add it to their product line, it will indeed taste great.

As for the trucks, bear in mind that new freezer trucks cost lotsa money, and they add a lot to the cost of doing business, which must be tacked on to the price of their products. It's pretty hard to justify buying new trucks in today's economy, because you sure can't raise prices now, (unless you're a hospital, doctor, or pharmaceutical company.

). Their products are already pretty expensive, because of the quality, (and the delivery). That said, down here, they seem to be driving a lot of relatively new trucks, and none of them appear to be very old. Maybe things like that are managed on a regional basis, based on what they can justify, relative to the sales volume, condition of the trucks, taxes, etc.

Love,
Tex

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:38 pm

Tex, I'll take your word on the quality of their foods.
I've never tried any of their products.

Love
Dee~~~

jodibelle352 · Post by **jodibelle352** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:45 pm

Hi!

My main reason for posting this was because even though it's only 1 meal that was presented I felt it was a positive effort towards so many who need a company to be our beginning on specialty meals catering to our medical issues.

I also hoped the you (Dee), Tex, Polly and so many others would at least go to the site and check out what the ingredients were that may or may not be posted and if they need to change something then those members who have way more experience in these matters could possibly help by e-mailing them and making suggestions that were not touched last night.

I myself am not a Donald Trump activist nor do I agree with everything said last night but I was excited to have the one team decided to stick their necks out to try to make available a GF meal.

I am sure that many of your meals Dee, would be a wonderful contribution to their company (for a price of course). It's just a suggestion. You have done so much research and so many on these boards have done so much research that putting in our 2 cents so to speak just may be an advantage.

Love and God Bless:
Jodi

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:29 pm

It would be wonderful if they would be one of the companies to be able to cater to people with food intolerances other than just gluten.
I think we all would agree that if we had to be intolerant to gluten only, it would sure be helpful and not so darn frustrating, having to always double check labels for gluten dairy, soy, corn, and all the others that some have to deal with.
There have been times when I have been envious of celiacs that only have to be concerned with gluten.
For example, I was so hungry for a graham cracker, so while I was at the HFS, I started looking to see if they had any. Every gluten free one, contained dairy.. Sigh!!!! I think that since rarely do I ever purchase anything that is premade from the HFS and cook & bake so much, there have been times where a treat that I don't have to make would be nice for a change...
I'll have to check out the website that you posted as far as the 1 gluten free meal.
I would be curious as to why the one poker player decided on making a gluten free meal....

Love
Dee~~~~

jodibelle352 · Post by **jodibelle352** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:02 pm

I agree with you Dee on Annie Duke the poker player coming up with that particular idea. I was actually very surprised when she came up with it. It was like.............ahhhhhhhhhhh???????????? Did I hear her right?????????????? But for so many of us I was excited that for whatever her reason was that she brought GF front and center in front of Millions of viewers.
Maybe with some e-mails and suggestions Schwan's would be willing to put some of our idea's into their food selections.
So many of us when we first were introduced to the GF diet it was like OMG what in heck can I eat so I can at least put on some weight? Now that I am 10months into being part of the PP I've grown in knowledge but am still NO EXPERT and feel those here who could help influence Schwan's Orginization would be such a BLESSING for so many of us.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi

Post by **tex** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:18 pm

Okay Jodi,

I took your advice, and sent this to Schwan's, a few minutes ago.

Hi,

I have an internet support and discussion board for Microscopic Colitis, (MC), and related issues, (other autoimmune issues). Most people with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease, (IBD), such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and MC, have various food intolerances, primarily gluten and dairy, and about half of us are also intolerant of the protein in soy, (soya). A few are also intolerant of the ovalbumin in egg whites, and a few are sensitive to other food proteins. This is also true for many celiacs, of course, though only a few GI doctors are just now beginning to realize that there is a connection with these additional food intolerances for celiacs, and most GI docs are not even aware that most IBD patients are gluten sensitive, let alone sensitive to dairy and soy, and sometimes other items. Many members of my discussion board, (including myself), control our MC symptoms by diet alone, typically by avoiding all traces of gluten, dairy, and soy, and many others find that the medications that their GI doctors prescribe, are not enough to control their symptoms - they have to restrict their diets, also, in order to achieve remission.

Being familiar with the high quality of the products that you sell, my reason for writing is to applaud you for taking this step to offer an additional food choice for so many people who desperately need additional menu choices, namely, your Triple Play Turkey Meatballs and Pasta Dinner. My hope, of course, is that as you continue to fine-tune this product, (and hopefully others), you will find a way to also eliminate dairy ingredients, (it is the casein that we are intolerant of, but all dairy products contain it, of course), and soy. Of course the people who are also intolerant of egg ovalbumin, would love to see you remove that also, but I can understand that you might not be able to justify that, since only a relatively small percentage of people are sensitive to the protein in egg whites, and it is so commonly used as a binder, for making things such as meatballs, meatloaf, etc. Perhaps you might get some ideas from the suggestions for egg substitutes offered by our resident chef, (on our site):

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8480

There are also hundreds of tasty recipes available on our site, that are free of gluten, dairy, and soy, that might offer some inspiration for modifying additional products, to suit the needs of people with multiple food intolerances:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=7

Thank you for your kind efforts to help to meet the needs of so many people in this world who have food intolerances, and who are constantly searching for additional food products that they can safely eat. We will be eagerly watching your development of this product, (and hopefully, additional products), and it is our sincere hope that it/they will meet with great success in the marketplace. If there is anything that we can do to help with the development of any of these products, (such as opinions on ingredients, substitutions, etc.), please feel free to call on us, (free of charge, of course). "Safe" food products don't have to take a back seat to conventional food products, when it comes to taste, and palatability. They can taste just as good, and even better, than mainstream offerings. We definitely appreciate your efforts.

Sincerely,

Wayne Persky Site Administrator
my e-mail address
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/index.php

my address

We'll see what they think of this.

Love,
Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:24 pm

I'll be awaiting their answer.

Love, Shirley

jodibelle352 · Post by **jodibelle352** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:20 pm

YEAH............

TEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was amazing! You put into words something that I never could have said and made it make sense. I love your ability to put things simply, practical and understandable by us who are still GF diet students.

It would be so GREAT if they would consider contacting us and using some of Dee's recipes. She deserves some recognition for all her hard work that she's done for all of us and has shared and given these recipes to us to try unselfishly with so much love.

I would be 1st in line doing the :party:

HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! If Schwan's would give a jingle ask for our help and advice.

THANK YOU..............THANK YOU...................THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

It's so great to have a "happy dream" that could change so many lives.

Your the Best!
Love and God Bless:
Jodi

:tigerpoobearhug:

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:40 pm

I will anxiously wait to see if they reply to your email Wayne....
I'd be so happy to help them, if needed.

Love
Dee~~

Post by **tex** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:58 pm

Nothing so far. They may not be prepared to respond to an e-mail that doesn't contain a complaint.

Love,
Tex

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Sat May 02, 2009 6:46 am

Hey All,

I just wanted to know if Tex heard from Schwans. I did purchase the Turkey Meatball Dinner and my DH ate it last night. He said it was very good, but as Tex indicated it does contain Milk, Soy and Eggs. I know that it smelled yummy. The pasta is made from Quinia flour (which I did not think he would like), but he gave the dish a thumbs up.

Love,

Rose