The next Annual Blood Screening at the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center will take place on Saturday, October 18.  If you or a loved one suspects you may have this disease and you are in the Chicago area, call to make a reservation at: 773-702-7593. The center typically screens up to 400 people each year and uses the most reliable testing available to detect Celiac Disease.

PRE-REGISTRATION is required and begins August 15th. Participants must be on a gluten diet prior to testing.

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More free samples than you can shake a stick at!

Whole Foods Market FlavorFest, Presented by Horizon Organic, is a two-day festival that entertains and tempts taste buds the Whole Foods Market way — with delicious, all-natural foods and products. And of course, lots of free samples! Saturday & Sunday, August 23rd & 24th (11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday; 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday) Wrightwood Park (Wrightwood & Ashland in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood). (more…)

The most prestigious and exciting Natural Health Expo returns to Illinois to bring the finest health care products, information, and experts. The Chicago Health Freedom Expo - June 27-29, 2008 - features more than 75 prominent speakers introducing cutting-edge discoveries in natural health. Browse Expo Hall with over 200 exhibitors displaying the latest innovative technology and products in alternative medicine. (more…)

The 2nd annual International Babywearing Conference is coming up! It will be held June 25-28, 2008 at DePaul University in Chicago, IL, USA. The Babywearing Conference includes not just terrific shopping opportunities for all types of baby carriers, but also workshops on how to use different carriers, holds, and workshops on the business of making and or selling carriers.

There will be a keynote speech by Jeni Norton, the founder of the largest babywearing online community, thebabywearer.com. Organizers have also put together a fashion show and a panel discussion on the history of baby wearing. There is a raffle scheduled for interested participants. Check out the conference website and their long list of exhibitors for more information visit: Babywearing Conference.

Chicago, IL (May 2008) - Green Festival, the nation’s largest green living event, will make its second trip to America’s heartland when it visits Chicago May 17 and 18, at the city’s historic Navy Pier. (more…)

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago announced a first-of-its-kind exhibit - Smart Home: Green + Wired - to showcase the latest trends in “green” living. The exhibit, sponsored by ComEd, will be a functioning, three-story modular and sustainable “green” home in its own backyard to showcase the ways, big and small, that people can make eco-friendly living a part of their lives - and to highlight unique home technologies for the 21st century. A 2,500 square-foot modular house on MSI’s campus will be open to the public for guided tours from May 8, 2008, to Jan. 4, 2009. (more…)

The World’s Most Innovative, Trend-Setting Food & Lifestyle Products…All In One Show! Combined, these three events (All Things Organic Conference and Trade Show, The Spring Fancy Food Show and U.S. Food Export Showcase) offer more than 56,000 products from over 1000 exhibitors leading the fastest growing segments of the food industry. The event will be held at McCormick Place (Chicago, Illinois). Conference: April 26-29; Tradeshow: April 27-29, 2008. (more…)

If you are tired of being bound to the kitchen and need a break, there is a new place to dine in the Chicago area. The Balanced Kitchen, a gluten-free vegan restaurant located at 6263 North McCormick Road in Lincolnwood, is now open for business. They feature a state-of-the art dining experience, offering a wide range of main course foods, sides, and appetizers, and they even include a gluten, dairy, and egg-free baked goods case.

The restaurant was the dream-child of New York Culinary Institute graduate and pastry chef, Betty Alper. Shortly after graduation Betty became ill and was subsequently diagnosed with Celiac disease. This spurred her into developing gluten free flour combinations that mimic the fluffy texture of wheat. Over time her dreams and talents became reality and now her dream child, The Balanced Kitchen, is open for lunch, carryout, and weekend brunch by reservation only. (more…)

The Historic Chicago Bungalow and Green Home Expo will return to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart (8th Floor, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago) for its 2007 show. This year’s Expo will take place on Saturday, October 27th, 2007 from 10am-4pm. (more…)

Families looking for creative ways to raise their children naturally in an artificial and chemically laden world may find some terrific resources at the Naturally Healthy Children’s Expo. The expo runs Friday through Sunday on the first weekend in October (5-7) at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Naturally Healthy Children’s Expo will feature renowned experts and interesting exhibits. Natural product vendors and service providers will host demonstrations on the exhibit floor. Visitors will also get the chance to watch live cooking shows performed by famous celebrity chefs. (more…)