Why write this blog?

I have created this blog for all the people out there that have been recently diagnosed with coeliac disease;  have children that have been diagnosed with coeliac disease;  or those who are wanting to avoid gluten in their diet.

I was diagnosed with coeliac disease eleven years ago and when I found out it was a huge relief to finally know what was wrong with me.  I had acute anaemia to the point that I had weekly iron injections in an effort in increase my iron levels.  My exhaustion was indescribable;  I had trouble climbing a set of stairs without feeling drained!

Once I had my diagnosis, I felt as through a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders but then it hit me - what on earth was I going to eat?

I read so may books and articles on coeliac disease whilst they told me what it was and what I could not eat, they didn’t really tell me what I was able to eat and how to cook without gluten.  I felt as though it was the end of me enjoying food.

I grew up in a house where the discussion of food and what we were going to eat for the next meal was a big part of family life.  My mother all gave us freedom in the kitchen and encouraged us to cook dinner and activities in the holidays was the baking of cookies and snacks.  For me, being able to cook anything well was something that was so easy and I took for granted.  But now being given the challenge of cooking gluten free, I was not feeling terribly confident.

I found that my first few trips to the supermarket after my diagnosis were rather lengthy.  

I had joined the NSW branch of the Coeliac Society and they were so helpful.  I cannot express the relief and hope that talking to the ladies there gave me.  Their ingredients list was the most useful tool and a resource that I have virtually memorised.

Reading through the ingredient list of all of my usual products, so many of them I found that they contained gluten, but so many other rather nasty products.  I had always thought that I had a healthy diet but this was a real learning curve!

In the years since my diagnosis, there have been so many more products available not only at heath food stores but also in supermarkets.  Now you can buy gluten free products at supermarkets both big and small, in cities and also in country towns and surprisingly all over the world.  The news of gluten free eating is spreading and every time I travel to a new place I am always pleased when I find new products to try and restaurants to eat at.  

In my upcoming blogs, I will explore these topics through my own experiences travelling, cooking, eating and shopping gluten free.  Stay tuned!

Contact:

Coeliac Australia
http://www.coeliac.org.au/