Coeliac Awareness Week 2015

This year Coeliac Awareness Week is 11 to 17 May.

Coeliac Awareness Week is taking place from 11 to 17 May. For more information check out the Coeliac UK website and the Awareness Week page over the coming months.

Last year I was Minigolfing gluten free in Margate during Coeliac Awareness Week.

Minigolfer, blogger and (unfortunately) a coeliac. Last year I was playing in a national minigolf tournament at Strokes Adventure Golf course in Margate during Coeliac Awareness Week

Coeliac Disease is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten and the only treatment is to adhere to a strict lifelong gluten free diet.

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition.

I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in May 2008 and have been living on a strict, lifelong gluten free diet ever since

It's important to know and remember that Celiac/Coeliac is NOT an allergy, it's NOT a preference, it's NOT a fad, it's NOT a diet, it's NOT an intolerance, it's NOT a choice - it's an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

Check out the blog posts and links below for more information on Coeliac Disease and Gluten Free.

Related blog posts:
- Celiac Awareness Day 2014
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Minigolfing gluten free in Margate
- What a Day, Week and Month! (2013)

- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free

- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac
- Read my Gluten Free Journey blog on the Udi's gluten free website

Links:
- Coeliac UK
- Coeliac Awareness Week 2015
- National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) / Celiac Central

Dinner time - a gluten free mystery meal

When you're a Coeliac what do you have at dinner (or tea) time?

Udi's gluten free asked on Facebook "Is your evening meal Dinner or Tea where you are? And more importantly....what are you making?"

Well, here in Leagrave (the sunny part of Luton) we call it dinner. When Udi's asked I didn't have a clue what we'd be having, but Emily obliged with the answer "It's turkey meatballs with tomato and basil sauce. All gluten free. Obviously."

And it was very good indeed. Absolutely delicious.

The rustic gluten free turkey meatballs with tomato & basil sauce, served with Gallo gluten free spaghetti 

As someone with Coeliac Disease every day can be a struggle to eat and drink safely. It can also be pretty stressful and annoying, so it's brilliant that Emily cooks up some brilliant gluten & wheat free meals for us to enjoy.

Check out the Facebook thread that started the discussion and have a look at the blog posts and links below for more information on the range of gluten free food from Udi's. They do some really great products.

My current favourite breakfast/brunch/lunch/snack/pudding is an Udi's gluten free Chocolate Chip Bagel, toasted and topped with a sliced banana.

Related blog posts:
- New products from Udi's Gluten Free
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Emily's cooking

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Facebook
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Twitter
- Riso Gallo
- Udi's Gluten Free USA
- Coeliac UK

GFree Radio - gluten free drinks special

A discussion of gluten free drinks on GFree Radio.

Listen to the latest episode of GFree Radio, with an appearance from me discussing gluten free drinks, suitability for coeliacs, pub snacks, and dreaded cross-contamination.



GFree Radio is the world's only weekly free podcast for people with coeliac (celiac) disease and the gluten free community. Hosted and produced by Peter Stewart each episode offers content ranging from news items and comment, food updates, reviews and interviews with coeliacs and food & drink producers. It's well worth a listen and if you've got a coeliac / gluten free topic you'd like to discuss then check out the GFree Radio Show website and get in touch with Peter.

Richard Gottfried - coeliac, gluten free blogger and fan of alcoholic beverages

One of my most popular blog posts is on Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager and I've been lucky to find a fair few on my travels.

GFree Radio Links:
- GFree Radio website
- GFree Radio on Spreaker
- GFree Radio on Twitter
- GFree Radio on Facebook
- GFree Radio episode 80 - GF Drinks Special

Other gluten free links:
- Coeliac UK
- Gluten Free For Men
- Gluten Free Survival Guide
- Gluten Free Guerrillas
- Free-From.com

Related blog posts:
- Gluten free Ale, Beer and Lager
- Coeliac
- Gluten Free

Funny things about being a Coeliac #10 - Play-Doh is NOT gluten free

It's not just food that contains gluten - toys do too!

As today - 16 September - is National Play-Doh Day it's worth noting that Play-Doh is not gluten free as it contains dreaded Wheat!

The mind boggles!

Obviously Play-Doh is NOT a food product and is NOT meant to be eaten, but there are cross-contamination risks if Coeliacs touch/use/play with Play-Doh.

A big barrel of Play-Doh. This was as close as I dared get to it

Hasbro, the manufacturers of Play-Doh in the UK, have helpfully put together a warning on the product packaging and also on the Ingredients section of the Play-Doh FAQ & Tips website. Although rather than mentioning the autoimmune reaction - or gluten intolerance - it say that an 'allergic' reaction may occur with use of the product.

The Coeliac UK website has some further information on play dough products and even has a recipe for making your own Gluten-free play dough.

Related blog posts:

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1 - The labels you get on gluten free prescriptions

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2 - I live in Luton, but I can't eat Gluten

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3 - Howard the Celeriac comic strips

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #4 - The look of horror in the faces of waiting staff when you use the word 'disease'

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5 - Menu fails

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #6 - The different things you get called!
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #7 - Disappearing flight attendants!
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #8 - Being scared of bread!
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #9 - Menu disclaimers

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

Celiac Awareness Day!

September 13 is Celiac Awareness Day!

So, I was blissfully unaware that today is Celiac Awareness Day until I noticed a Facebook post by 1-2-3 Gluten Free! So here's a blog post about today's 'Day'.

Celiac Central, the national foundation for celiac awareness in the USA, are the group behind Celiac Awareness Day.

Check out the Celiac Central website for more information and their top ten ideas for marking Celiac Awareness Day.

I've been living the gluten free life since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease in May 2008. One of Celiac Central's ideas for Celiac Awareness Day was to show support by wearing green. I've worn blue clothes today - but here's a photo of me from last Christmas in my festive jumper

Things to remember about Celiac/Coeliac - it's NOT an allergy, it's NOT a preference, it's NOT a fad, it's NOT a diet, it's NOT an intolerance, it's NOT a choice - it's an AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.

Also, it's NOT contagious - though it can sometimes be quite amusing to see waiting staff and people who've never heard of it before recoiling in horror at your 'plague'.

Coeliac Disease (aka Celiac Disease in the USA) is a lifelong autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten and while there is no cure the only treatment is to adhere a strict lifelong gluten free diet - which can be harder than you think when you factor in the risks and hazards of cross-contamination!

In the UK it's estimated that 1 in 100 people have the condition, in the USA the figure is 1 in 133.

The strict gluten free diet means that a number of commonly found ingredients must be avoided. A non-exhaustive list of gluten containing things include wheat, barley, rye and oats. This means the diet is restrictive, expensive and can be a challenge. Every day is a learning experience about how to manage the condition, so its great to see so much information available online.

Good work by 1-2-3 Gluten Free in spreading the word. I met the team at the Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia and they told me about the brand's launch in the UK, having started life in the USA.

This year Coeliac Awareness Week here in the UK ran from the 12 to 18 May and Coeliac UK promoted the Gluten-free guarantee to ensure that key gluten free items are available in stores around the UK.

May was also Celiac Awareness Month in the US and Canada.

The team at Glutenlibre have their own 'smashmouth awareness campaign' and are on a mission to spread awareness worldwide. Check out the Glutenlibre website for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Celiac
- Minigolfing gluten free in Margate
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- Funny things about being a Coeliac

Links:
- Celiac Central - the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness
- Coeliac UK
- 1-2-3 Gluten Free
- #CeliacAwarenessDay on Twitter

Gluten Free Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

Finding some new gluten free cookies in Tesco.

While shopping in Tesco Metro in The Mall Luton I spotted an interesting box on the Free From shelves - it was was from the US company Enjoy Life and contained chocolate chip soft baked cookies.

As I'm always looking for new and different gluten free food & drink to try I had to get them.

The Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies contain twelve delicious treats. Unfortunately I had already scoffed four of them before I was able to take this photo

After poring over the details on the box to ensure they were total and utterly gluten & wheat free I was really pleased to see they were.

You get twelve cookies in a box for £3 and while they may look a little small they are packed full of choc chips, nice and squidgy, and delicious. Thinking back I may well have had some of the Enjoy Life range on a previous trip to the USA as I always try to stock up my hotel room from the nearest Whole Foods Market.

As someone with Coeliac Disease I've been 'stung' a few times over the years when products have proclaimed they are 'gluten free', but in the very small-print it'll say something along the lines of 'made in a facility that handles gluten/wheat etc.' so I was very pleased indeed to see that the box was full of reassuring signs of it being safe for me to eat.

Enjoy Life foods are 'Free from the 8 common allergens'*. On the Enjoy Life website you can read that they are dedicated to producing delicious snacks that are certified gluten-free and safe for those who have celiac (coeliac) disease, gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity so everyone can enjoy without worry.

The reassuring and bold messages on the box of Enjoy Life gluten free cookies

The Enjoy Life Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies are also Dairy, Nut and Soy Free and made in a dedicated nut and gluten-free bakery. Great to know.

I'll be looking out for more Enjoy Life products on sale in the UK.

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac Disease

Links:
- Enjoy Life
- Tesco
- Empire Food Brokers

* Enjoy Life products are free of eight common allergens and listed on the box are: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish. They are also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites. They are also marked as 'Certified Gluten-Free' by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) - a program of The Gluten Intolerance Group.

Funny things about being a Coeliac #9 - Menu disclaimers

There are a wide-range of disclaimers on food menus and as someone with Coeliac Disease I am always searching for that holy grail line printed on them - "Suitable for Coeliacs".

Coeliac Disease is a life-long autoimmune disease. It's not an allergy, intolerance or faddy diet choice. So it means people with Coeliac Disease must avoid eating gluten and gluten cross-contamination at all costs.

How I'd like things to be in more places. This was on the window of the Quayside Fish & Chip Restaurant and Takeaway in Whitby where we had a brilliant gluten free meal

We had a very nice meal at Pierre Le Bistrot in Nottingham earlier this year and I spotted a new dislaimer on the menu there. Warning of the "air-born allergen" that is 'gluten', it read "Please note no gluten-containing ingredients are used in these recipes. However, as gluten is an air-born allergen and it is used in other recipes in our kitchens, we cannot guarantee against contamination. Please feel free to ask us if you would like to know the steps we have taken to minimise cross contamination regarding gluten in our kitchens." The food and service we received was great and looking at the Pierre Le Bistrot website they are 'Proud to be working with Coeliac UK'.

Emily and I have also recently found some places with gluten free options, but upon looking on the menu the only gluten free 'choice' is a bowl of olives!?

There's also a real mix of how places state the allergens on menus. Among those we've seen are:
- Gluten Free
- No Gluten Containing Ingredients
- GF
- G (to denote 'Contains gluten')
- G (to denote 'Gluten Free')
- C (to denote the Coeliac options)

At a restaurant in Newcastle this year we spotted some Allergen Information that said "All dishes are prepared in the same kitchen with risk of gluten exposure, so we do not recommend any dishes for customers with celiac (sic) disease. We ask that customers with gluten sensitivity should exercise judgement before ordering." This basically means - Coeliacs Stay Away!

Most of the places we've found also contain the 'cannot guarantee against cross-contamination' caveat.

On Twitter I recently spotted a tweet from GFreeRadio that highlighted that you have to agree to a couple of disclaimer statements before you can even see the Gluten Free menu at Frankie & Benny's!

Their gluten free menu is 'Accredited by Coeliac UK', but still has the following warning "To reduce the risk of cross contamination from allergens during preparation there are controlled procedures in the kitchen. Every care is taken to avoid any cross contamination when processing a specific allergen free order. We do however work in a kitchen that processes allergenic ingredients and do not have a specific allergen free zone or dedicated fryers. All dishes on this menu are subject to ingredients availability."

As well as the two statements you need to agree to (akin to signing your responsibilities away as if you're about to embark on a Mega Death Chilli Eating Food Challenge off a show like Man V Food) I noticed the line "Wheat and gluten ingredients which are deep fried will use the same fryers in our kitchens as dishes not containing these ingredients - there may be risk of cross contamination which may therefore affect extremely sensitive sufferers." This statement isn't particularly well written. Does it mean that 'normal' diner's gluten and wheat containing food could be cross-contaminated by 'gluten free'!?

Its all a shame really, as many Coeliacs do still like to dine out, have disposal income to actually buy food but have virtually nowhere to safely spend their money!

On the bright side there are some very good restaurants out there and more are opening up to be solely gluten free, such as Vozars in Brixton, 2 Oxford Place in Leeds and the new Nibsy's Coffee Shop in Reading. Its really good to know more places are opening that can cater for the strict gluten free diet required by Coeliacs . And if they help to take away the majority of the anxiety that accompanies any eating experience then that's great too.

Thanks to Patrick at GFreeRadio for pointing out the Frankie & Benny's menu. Check out the GFreeRadio website and Twitter for more details of the informative and entertaining weekly podcast.

Related blog posts:

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1 - The labels you get on gluten free prescriptions

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2 - I live in Luton, but I can't eat Gluten

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3 - Howard the Celeriac comic strips

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #4 - The look of horror in the faces of waiting staff when you use the word 'disease'

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5 - Menu fails

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #6 - The different things you get called!
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #7 - Disappearing flight attendants!
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #8 - Being scared of bread!

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

Links:
- GFreeRadio
- Coeliac UK

New products from Udi's Gluten Free

Blog post about some of the new products available from Udi's Gluten Free.

At the recent Allergy and Free From Show in London I spotted some of the new gluten free products from Udi's Gluten Free.

Following feedback from customers since the UK launch in 2013 Udi's have launched 27 new gluten free products.

I was given samples of the new Soft n' Chewy Chocolate Banana Cereal Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Milk Chocolate Wafers by the Udi's team at the Allergy and Free From Show. So far I've had one of the chocolate banana bars, which was nice

Yesterday I received a nice surprise hamper from Udi's!

It's always nice to receive a surprise food hamper! Especially when you know all of the contents will be gluten free and suitable for coeliacs!

Last December I blogged about the first products launched in the Udi's Gluten Free range, and its going to be great trying the new products which all sound interesting and tasty.

In my pre-Coeliac Disease days, back when I was able to eat a 'normal' diet, I wasn't a big fan of bagels. However, that changed when I tried the Udi's Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The chocolate chip ones sound even better. Everything tastes better if its got chocolate in it!

The gluten free hamper contents were Soft & Tasty Chocolate Chip Bagels,Soft & Delicious Blueberry Muffins, Soft & Chewy Cherry Flavoured Breakfast Bars, Chocolate Flavour Sandwich Cookies and the Lemon Flavoured Wafers

I'll be scoffing my way through the new products in the coming weeks, I think i'll start with a toasted bagel, followed by a blueberry muffin...

Udi's Gluten Free launched here in the UK at the end of last year and have been operating in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

The Udi's philosophy is creating great gluten free foods that bring happiness. Read more of the Udi's story, from starting out in Colorado, USA in 1994 to the UK launch on the Udi's website.

Udi's Gluten Free was the headline sponsor of the recent Allergy & Free From Show at Olympia.

A wall of Udi's gluten free products at the Allergy and Free From Show in London, including some of the 27 new products added to the range

If you missed that event then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th & 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free
- The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia

Visiting the Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia.

My haul of information and freebies from the Allergy and Free From Show

Today I visited day two of the three day Allergy and Free From Show at Olympia in London. The event had dozens of suppliers, thousands of free from products and tens of thousands of people with allergies, intolerances, sensitivities and autoimmune diseases, disorders and conditions (such as Coeliac Disease).

Among the thousands of 'free from' products at the event were many I hadn't seen or tasted before, such as those from Delicious Alchemy, Venice Bakery, Focaccia per Tutti and 1-2-3 Gluten Free.

The Allergy and Free From Show 2014 at Olympia

I spent a good four hours checking out the stands, finding out product information and sampling food and drink. It was great to see some of my favourite gluten and wheat free brands at the show, including Celia Lager, Honeyrose Bakery, Eskal Foods, Kabuto Noodles, and the event's headline sponsor Udi's Gluten Free.

Udi's Gluten Free are the headline sponsor of the event and I picked up three of their products I haven't tried yet

I also really enjoyed speaking to a number of people who are really passionate about providing great quality (and interesting) food and drink for people with Coeliac Disease and getting info on their brands.

Visit the Allergy and Free From Show website for details on how to attend the third and final day.

The 2014 Allergy and Free From Show is co-locating with three other shows at Olympia and if you attend you can also visit the V Delicious, Love Natural Love Organic and The Back Pain Show.

If you can't make the final day of the 2014 London show then you can attend the Allergy and Free From Show North that is taking place on the 25th and 26th of October at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool.

Its going to take me a while to digest all the information from the event and I'll be writing more blog posts about my visit and all the great gluten & wheat free food and drink I tried and discovered at the show in the coming weeks.

I'm always keen to find out about gluten and wheat free brands that are suitable for people with Coeliac Disease so please do get in touch if you know of any, or are a producer/supplier.

Links:
- The Allergy and Free From Show
- Udi's Gluten Free
- Coeliac UK
- Gluten Free related blog posts on the Ham & Egger Files

Funny things about being a Coeliac #8

Being scared of bread!

Well, bread and all manner of other seemingly 'normal' food.

Just ask Emily about the look of fear upon my face if a waiter or waitress brings over a basket of 'normal' bread in a restaurant - it's like a vampire being confronted with garlic!

Links:

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #4

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #6
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #7

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

Funny things about being a Coeliac #7

Disappearing flight attendants!

On a flight to Sweden in 2011 I was surprised to see everyone get served an on-board meal. Well, everyone that is apart from a few poor vegetarians who missed out on the meagre offering of veggie sangers, and me.

The serving of the lunch was very puzzling as the BA website didn't allow you to make a dietary selection for the flight!? I mentioned this to the Steward, who said he’d ask his colleagues and have a look.

I never saw him again!

Odd, as it was a very small plane.

I have had some good experiences with airline food, its not always great, nor always gluten AND wheat free, but gluten free 'special meals' do get served before the normal people's meals.

Links:

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #4

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #6

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

- A week in the life of a Great Britain International Minigolfer

Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts from Udi's Gluten Free

New Coeliac Disease infographic from Udi's Gluten Free.

The team at Udi's Gluten Free have put out a new infographic with a range of facts about Coeliac Disease to coincide with Coeliac Awareness Week that is running from the 12th to the 18th of May.

The Udi's Gluten Free Awareness Week: Coeliac Facts infographic (click on the image to enlarge and also available to view here)

Udi's launched in the UK at the end of 2013 and have been in the USA since 1994. Check out the Udi's website for details of their range and stockists.

Further details about Coeliac Disease and Coeliac Awareness Week can be found on the Coeliac UK website and Twitter. May is also Celiac Awareness Month in the USA and Canada - check out the hashtag on Twitter.

Link:
- Udi's Gluten Free

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Coeliac UK Awareness Week 2014 and the Gluten-free guarantee
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Funny things about being a Coeliac #6

Its Coeliac Disease (pronounced see-lee-ack). So I am not:

a celeriac - that's Howard ;-)

a celery - even though my brother thinks I am!

a solero - that's an ice cream!?

Links:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #4
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #5
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts

Funny things about being a Coeliac #5

Restaurants that attempt to offer gluten free options. But fail. Massively.

 

Links:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #4
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts
- A bizarre 'Gluten Free' Restaurant Menu spotted in Birmingham

Funny things about being a Coeliac #4

The look of sheer horror and disgust in the faces of waiting staff when you use the word 'disease'.

Why call your condition an "intolerance" or "allergy", when the word "disease" makes a much better impression and helps put you more at ease on the already terrifying experience of dining out.

For added effect, I've started to ring a bell as I enter a restaurant to signify that I have Coeliac Disease - and I say the D-word in my most stentorian voice.

Links:

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

- Funny things about being a Coeliac #3

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

Funny things about being a Coeliac #3

Howard the Celeriac comic strips.

A little bit of gallows humour. But hey, sometimes its good to have a laugh about your serious medical condition.

Check out the 'Special Steak' incident comic strip on the Howard the Celeriac website.

Links:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2
- Howard the Celeriac
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts

Funny things about being a Coeliac #2

I live in Luton, but I can't eat Gluten.

Gluton (sic) Free menu at the Chicago Rib Shack in London (October 2010)

Gluton (sic) Free sausages at the Arcade Butchers in Hastings (October 2010)

Not the funniest of puns, but the amount of times I've heard the line! If I had a pound...

Links:
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #1
- Coeliac-related blog posts
- Gluten Free-related blog posts
- Luton, Gluten and Gluton - 'typo' signs
- Gluten Free Finds in London (and beyond) - October 2010

Funny things about being a Coeliac #1

As someone diagnosed with Coeliac Disease I find the labels you get on your gluten free prescriptions quite funny. Not only do they have instructions that you should eat the gluten free food "as directed by your doctor", but also that you should "Keep all medicines out of children's reach."

The pharmacy guidelines and doctor's orders stuck on my prescribed packet of medicine (Glutafin Mini Crackers)

The Savoury Shorts from a prescription with the big guidelines sticker from the pharmacy

On a more serious note you can check out the guidelines for Coeliacs to receive gluten free food on prescription on the Coeliac UK website. The only treatment coeliacs currently have is to adhere to a STRICT gluten free diet - this can be very restrictive indeed - so it's great that some staple products are available on prescription. However, in the dozens of prescription orders I've ever done, I've only had one be correctly prescribed!?

Luckily I followed the doctors orders and didn't overdose by eating too much long-life bread, or too many crackers and pizza bases.

Links:

- Coeliac-related blog posts

- Gluten Free-related blog posts

- Coeliac UK

- Glutafin

Q&A with the Glutenlibre Celiac Awareness website

Check out my recent Q&Q with the Glutenlibre team at "Glutenlibre Q&A with Richard Gottfried."

The Glutenlibre website and brand promotes awareness for celiac* disease and the gluten-free lifestyle.

In my interview I discuss my diagnosis as a coeliac* in 2008, life as a Pro Minigolfer, how I've managed the transition to a gluten free lifestyle, the impact on my life and the wide-range of sports, games and activities I get up to on my travels.

Playing in the final of the World Crazy Golf Championships the year after my diagnosis

Since 2012 Glutenlibre has been using "Gfree performance" to show people they can still have a full, healthy lifestyle despite having to live on a strict and life-long gluten free diet.

Links:

- Glutenlibre

- Glutenlibre Gfree Athletes

- Glutenlibre on Twitter

- Glutenlibre on Facebook

* Celiac in the USA and Coeliac in the UK, but either way it's pronounced "See-lee-ack".

Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies

Finding out more about the new range of Udi’s gluten free food.

While shopping in the Dunstable branch of Tesco Emily and I spotted a new range of food in the Free From section of the supermarket.

A selection of the range of Udi's Gluten Free food that I've tried so far

The brand was Udi’s and recently launched in the UK. It’s been going strong in the USA since 1994.

One of the products in Udi’s range of gluten free food are the Rich n’ Fruity Mince Pies. This year I had my first mince pie of the festive season a little later than in 2012, but since that first mince pie in October I’ve bought (and scoffed) at least four more boxes!

The first of Udi's products I tried were the Mince Pies - back in October! Very festive.

On that shopping trip we also bought packs of the Udi’s Ancient Grain crisps – in both Jalapeno Cheddar and Aged Cheddar flavours.

Udi's Ancient Grain crisps also come in a very tasty Aged Cheddar flavour

After seeing “My first gluten free Mince Pie of the festive season” blog post the team at Udi’s got in touch to send me a hamper of their range, which was very much appreciated.

When I received the box of goodies from Udi’s the first product that caught my eye was the Chocolate Chip & Toffee Flavoured Muffins. And they tasted as good as they sound.

One of my favourites among the Udi's range - the Chocolate Chip & Toffee Flavoured Muffins

Next to be tried, though not on the same day, were the Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. While not a fan of bagels (I've always found them to be very dry, and haven't eaten one since I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease) I found the Udi's ones to be very nice. They were helped by not being plain ones and as the packet says, they taste great toasted.

The Cinnamon & Raisin Bagels. The best I've tried.

Next out of the bag were the Toaster Pastries. These caught both me and Emily's eyes and brought back memories of pop tarts!

The most interesting of the Udi's range are the retro Toaster Pastries!

As we don't own a toaster we simply put them under the grill for a few minutes to heat them up to that perfect molten lava level before allowing them to cool a bit.

Emily is a fan of the Strawberry Flavoured ones, while I liked the Apple Cinnamon ones more, but would be equally happy with either for a breakfast treat.

The products Udi's sent through to me, and those we've seen in-store are just a selection of the range they are bringing to the UK.

Emily also recently bought a pack of the soft white Classic Finger Rolls and we’re going to use them with some frankfurters we found that were gluten free while shopping in Aldi last week.

Looking at Udi’s US website it’ll be interesting to see if the small and large Tortillas they offer will also be an item they’ll be bringing to these shore as we're big fans of Mexican food!

Check out the Udi’s website for details of the full range and to sign-up for the email newsletter. 

Related blog posts:

- My first gluten free Mince Pie of the festive season

- Gluten Free

- Coeliac

Links:

- Udi's Gluten Free UK

- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Twitter
- Udi's Gluten Free UK on Facebook

- Udi’s Gluten Free USA

- Udi’s Gluten Free USA on Twitter

- Coeliac UK