As a sufferer of celiac disease, Ty Svejkovsky was about to give up eating altogether.

People with celiac disease are unable to tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley that can sicken those allergic to it. Ty was diagnosed with the disease five years ago.

Since then he and his wife, Lindsey, have been searching for good-tasting, gluten-free foods in Casper.

It's been quite a challenge, they said.

They said Alpenglow Natural Foods on Second Street has a lot of gluten-free products, but the couple said the items they want aren't always in stock. Ty Svejkovsky said he would have to be there the day the store's shipment of gluten-free products came in or else he "would be out of luck."

He also said he buys some food at Wal-Mart because it stocks some gluten-free products, but he said choices and availability were also limited there.

"It just sucked," Ty Svejkovsky said. "I was eating the same stuff over and over again."

Ty and Lindsey, who also follows a gluten-free diet, realized they weren't unique. Lindsey Svejkovsky said she talked with members of the Casper Celiac Society and others in the community about the need for more gluten-free products.

They decided they would take it upon themselves to do something about it and opened Everything Gluten Free, LLC three weeks ago.

For now, the couple runs the business out of their home. Eventually, they hope to buy a storefront. They order the gluten-free food from Deby's Bakery and Cafe in Denver and another gluten-free food company in Canada. All the food is kept in four freezers in their garage.

"We are trying to be more of a convenience," Ty Svejkovsky said. "We want to make it so people don't have to go into the store and sit there and read labels."

Ty Svejkovsky said he used to simply guess with some foods and would wait to see if it made him sick.

The Svejkovskys sell entirely gluten-free products, including frozen pizzas, bread, cookies, waffle mix and additional items at Everything Gluten Free.

Being a celiac, "you don't have the convenience of ordering out a pizza," Lindsey Svejkovsky said. "But now we have pre-made meals. We can have a pizza in 15 minutes and it tastes good."

The Svejkovskys have sampled almost everything in their store, and have assured celiacs they would not sell something they did not think was tasty.

The food stays fresh as long as it is kept frozen, Lindsey Svejkovsky said.

Lindsey Svejkovsky attends the monthly Casper Celiac Society and Casper Autism Society meetings to let people know about their service. Many people with autism are also on gluten-free diets.

She brings some of her food with her to purchase at the meetings.

Everything Gluten Free will pre-order and deliver gluten-free birthday cakes or other special foods to a customer's home. It's a formula that apparently been met with success.

In the three short weeks Everything Gluten Free has been open, Lindsey Svejkovsky said they have already had to order more products.

"We talked to a lot of people in the community and took a leap of faith," Lindsey Svejkovsky said. "They said the quantity (of gluten-free food) is so low here. We just took a chance and hope it goes well."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@casperstartribune.net.

To contact Everything Gluten Free, please call (307) 232-8376.