Thinking of joining Slimming World but concerned about the cost? Here are 6 ways to save money on membership and get excellent value.
Slimming World membership costs an initial £10 to sign up, followed by a fee of £4.95 each week. But, as I’ll explain further down this post, there are plenty of ways to pay a little less than this while also getting your money’s worth.
The hardest parts about following a gluten free diet? Feeling left out during social situations! Whether you’re going for a meal for a relative’s birthday or your friends are filling their faces with takeaway pizzas after a night out, if you don’t choose a restaurant, cafe or takeaway carefully, you can sometimes be left eating a salad or nothing at all.
Thankfully, there are plenty of gluten free places out there that provide for coeliac and gluten intolerant diners so, if you’re sick of being the odd one out, it’s time to show your friends this list so you can start going to places that make you feel special!
Today I’m just going to focus on the best gluten free restaurants in Manchester. If you’re a gluten free diner from another part of the UK and you’d like me to celebrate the best places in your town or city, give me a shout!
If you’re a lover of tapas and paella, La Tasca is your mate. These guys really know their stuff too, so you can rest assured that the food you’re about to eat is gluten free.
I’d highly recommend Pollo Marbella and Pulpo Gratin Y Queso.
Not only does La Tasca do amazing food, they always have a wide selection of money saving food offers available. I’d recommend visiting their website and downloading their app so you’ll always have access to the best vouchers and offers. From saving 20% off your food bill to getting a free bottle of Cava on your birthday or graduation, there’s always ways to save money.
Monday is out of the way - that deserves a treat! Who else could tuck into one of these right now? #LoveLaTasca pic.twitter.com/Eqh6mYZgj6
— La Tasca (@LaTasca) 28 June 2016
Tea 42 is back! It closed down for a while last year and I can’t put into words how pleased I am that it’s back. Virtually everything on the menu is gluten free and, if you’ve been missing pastry since you gave up gluten, they even have gluten free pies! If you’re a fan of burgers, give their Chorizo Kick burger a go. This is another great restaurant for those looking to save money on dining out, as there are always offers to be had and savings to be made. Keep your eyes peeled for days where dishes are up to 50% off.
Pho (prounounced ‘fuh’) has become my favourite gluten free restaurant in Manchester. At this amazing Vietnamese haunt, 99% of dishes are now gluten free meaning that you’ll truly be spoilt for choice. Every time I go, I can’t help but have a starter and a main course before crawling out the door and flopping myself onto the bus home. Since so many dishes are gluten free, it means Jake and I can share our food with each other.
I’d highly recommend Chả giò (crispy spring rolls served with lettuce & herbs to wrap & dip) or Nem nướng (pork & lemongrass meatballs) as a starter followed by Phở Xào (Wok fried flat rice noodles) or Cà-ri (Vietnamese curry)
Celebrating Jake’s birthday with @PhoRestaurant ???????????? #vietnam #vietnamese #vietnamesefood #pho #phorestaurant
A photo posted by Jenni (@cantswingacat) on
Even if you’re a greedy sod like I am, expect huge portions in Handmade Burger Company. The first time I visited Handmade Burger Company in Manchester, I ordered a burger with chips on the side and it was a struggle to finish it all. Personally, I think the gluten free buns could be improved but the meal was delicious regardless. The burger is good enough to have without the bun! Plus you’ll save valuable tummy space for the good stuff.
Whether you’re in Manchester or another part of the UK, finding gluten Chinese food is usually an absolute nightmare! Well, not anymore! Manchester’s amazing Sweet Mandarin is the go-to place if you’re craving some Chinese grub that isn’t laced with gluten. The gluten free menu is extensive and the staff know what they’re doing. No matter what you order, your meal will be cooked to perfection and the portion sizes are fantastic too.
Almost every dish at Dough can be made without gluten upon request. So if you’re a big pizza or pasta fan, you’ll be in absolute heaven! These guys also know their stuff when it comes to gluten, so you don’t need to worry about confusing the waiter when you ask about gluten free options. The menu has a nice mix of traditional Italian classics along with more quirky and modern toppings.
My favourite pizzas have got to be the Surf & Turf along with the Chicken Balti pizza. For dessert, treat yourself to a gluten free chocolate brownie. Mmmmm. It’s amazing.
Ummmm Slimming World’s going well. Just had an amazing Dough pizza with my buddy @catbyrnexo
A photo posted by Jenni (@cantswingacat) on
Virtually every pizza at Pizza Express can be made with a gluten free base and I’ve never been disappointed with my order. They also have a gluten free chocolate brownie for dessert but it can be a little on the small size.
Again, Las Iguanas are really knowledgeable when it comes to gluten free food so you’ll have plenty to choose from. I’d recommend starting with the Taco Sharing Tray and following it up with Blazing Bird or Chilli Con Carne
If you’re looking for gluten free pizza places in Manchester, you’re not going to struggle. Croma is another fantastic pizzeria and virtually every pizza on the menu can be made with a gluten free base. I believe there are four Croma restaurants in Manchester in total - Chorlton, Didsbury, Prestwich and the city centre.
So there you have it! There are plenty of gluten free places to eat in Manchester city centre. I’ll keep this post updated in the coming weeks.
Pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puddings, mince pies, Christmas pudding, Miniature Heroes, cheese and biscuits - I’m not saying Christmas is all about food, but let’s be honest, it kind of is.
When you’re unable to eat gluten, however, suddenly Christmas becomes a little bit of a struggle. Whether your colleagues are planning a delicious Christmas meal at a fancy restaurant or your friends suggest a trip to the German markets, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by food you can’t eat. As your mates tuck into their Christmas dinner, you put on a brave face and act like your gravy-less chicken breast with boiled potatoes and veg is the best thing in the world. But it isn’t. You feel rubbish and you just want what your friends are having.
15 Coeliacs Share Their Tips For Gluten Free Newbies
10 Survival Tips For Newly Diagnosed Coeliacs
From personal experience, one of the most frustrating things at Christmas is receiving gluten-filled gifts. I’ve had coeliac disease for 5 years, so you’d think people would know by now that there are certain things I can’t eat. I think my family secretly love it because as soon as I unwrap a box of biscuits or a selection box they start calling dibs on which ones they’ll have themselves!
Thankfully, there are plenty of gluten free goodies out there that can make the perfect Christmas gift. So whether you’re a coeliac or a gluten sensitivity sufferer yourself, or you’d like to make a gluten-free friend feel special, there are tons of options. This Gluten Free Hamper from Goodness Direct is a prime example of the perfect treat.
The team at Goodness Direct kindly sent me a hamper to try out myself and they’re willing to give one away to a lucky winner too!
The hamper (which as you can see comes in a gorgeous red box) includes the following:
If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning this great prize courtesy of Goodness Direct, please fill in the Rafflecopter form below!
Please be aware that I will not be posting the prize myself. Once the giveaway is over, I will get in touch with the winner before passing their details over to Goodness Direct.
Please only enter if you live in the UK or you’re happy to have the hamper delivered to a UK address, at it cannot be shipped elsewhere on this occasion.
It’s common knowledge that a healthy diet and plenty of exercise is the key to losing weight. But as we all know, changing your diet can be a tricky thing to do, especially if you’re going it alone. For this reason, many people choose to join weight loss clubs in order to shed some pounds with the help of like-minded people.
However, if you’re on a tight budget, you may wonder whether these clubs are actually worth the money. Here’s everything you need to know…
New members can save money by buying a 12 week Countdown course between 23rd December 2018 and 19th January 2019. You’ll get up to two weeks free and you’ll also get free membership.
Pay weekly and get half-price membership. That’s just £5 to join and £4.95 a week. Your first group meeting will cost just £9.95
11-15-year-olds can join Slimming World for free when they’re accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a paying member. The Slimming World plan for young members is called Free2Go. Ask your Consultant for more details.
16 and 17-year-old can attend Slimming World for just £3.95 a week.
If you’re aged 60 or above, you can pay a special reduced Slimming World price of just £4.65 a week.
If you join a Slimming World group with four of your friends or family members, you’ll all get your first week free.
Unfortunately, this offer cannot be used in conjunction with the Countdown offer.
It usually costs £9.95 to become a Slimming World member. After that, each week you’ll have to pay £4.95 every time you attend a meeting.
However, there are a number of ways to reduce the cost. You can often reduce the cost of the initial joining fee by tracking down a voucher or online discount code.
Many groups also offer members the chance to get 12 weeks for the price of 10.
It’s worth noting that if you ever miss a meeting, you will have to pay for that week upon your return.
I first joined Slimming World in October 2014. I started to notice a difference within the first couple of weeks of joining and within the first two months I managed to lose a stone without ever letting myself go hungry.
If I ever found my stomach rumbling, whether I was at home or work, I’d let myself eat something. There’s no point in starving yourself after all.
Because the Slimming World diet is so flexible, it’s incredibly easy to stick to. In fact, I wouldn’t even call it a ‘diet’ as such. It’s more about changing your eating habits and living a more balanced lifestyle.
As a Slimming World member, you don’t have to count calories or weigh all your food. Instead, Slimming World is all about splitting certain types of food into categories, filling up on good stuff, and controlling the amount of bad stuff you eat. Bad stuff will have a ‘Syn’* value. You’re allowed 105 syns a week, and most people aim for 15 or less each day.
If you find yourself overindulging one day, it’s not the end of the world, you’re not going to be in any trouble, and no one is going to shame you in the group.
Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s not healthy to beat yourself up for eating!
You can eat pretty much anything. Slimming World is all about moderation. When I’m following the Slimming World plan, a typical day sometimes looks like this:
Breakfast: A three egg omelette with chicken, chorizo, mushroom, peppers, and onion
Lunch: Huge jacket potato and cheese & a ham, lettuce, cucumber & tomato salad with a bit of salad dressing
Dinner: A fairly large portion of chilli and rice
Snacks: Mullerlight yogurt, banana, apple, pear
However, I like to mix things up as much as possible. I’ll have Thai green curries, sausage casseroles, fry ups and even the occasional takeaway.
The Slimming World website is packed full of recipes and there are also recipe books available at fair prices.
Paying almost £5 a week to be a Slimming World member may seem like a lot of money. After all, it soon mounts up. However, if you’re keen to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle, I really do think it’s worth it.
Besides, think about how much money you waste each week on unhealthy foods. I bet it’s at least £5 or above. For me, it was a hell of a lot more! Healthy eating has a reputation for being expensive, but if you cook from scratch and ensure nothing goes to waste, Slimming World can be really great value for money.
Here are just a few tips to get the most out of your membership:
1. Stay for the group meeting after being weighed
2. Cook from scratch
3. Surround yourself with positive people who want to help you
4. Get your friends and family involved
5. Believe in yourself
For more tips, take a look at my guide to getting great value for money from Slimming World.
Yes! Vegans can of course join Slimming World and the diet shouldn’t be any more difficult to follow than a meat eater. Slimming World is becoming more and more vegan-friendly as time goes on, introducing a greater number of vegan recipes over time.
Yes! I have coeliac disease and I had no problems doing Slimming World. Whether you follow a gluten free diet due to an intolerance, coeliac disease, or through choice, there are tons of foods you can have while following the Slimming World plan. It may be a good idea to mention that you’re gluten-free when you join the group.
Food waste is a huge problem. Each day in the UK, 24 million slices of bread are placed in our bins and the average family bins a whopping £700 worth of food annually. Although 50% of the total amount of food thrown away each year comes from households, supermarkets and restaurants are also responsible.
Ever since I was a child the subject of organ donation has been something that has both broken my heart and filled me with positivity in equal measure. I don’t know when I first decided to join the organ donor register, but I remember watching an episode of Casualty with my mum and being amazed that the death of one person could save the lives of so many others.
Straight away I knew I wanted someone else to have my organs if I didn’t need them any more. After all, what could I possibly use them for if I was dead?
As I’ve grown older, organ donation has continued to be subject I’m extremely passionate about. The first thing I think of when someone dies is ‘I hope they were able to give their organs, if that’s what they wanted’.
When my Nanna died of cancer in 2012, not only was I upset at having to see her suffer towards the end of her life, but I also felt that no good was coming from her death. The cancer had spread so severely that she couldn’t have donated her organs even if she had of expressed a wish to do so. I wanted so badly to find a positive and I really think I would have found comfort if a part of her could have been used to give someone else life. Of course, my Nanna was old, so she’d had a good run and had made good use of her organs herself. Unfortunately though, thousands of young people die each year and their organs, in a way, go to waste.
I’m terrified of death but as crazy as this sounds, the one thing that scares me even more is the fear that I might die in a way that leaves me unable to give my organs. What if I die of cancer? What if I die outside of hospital and it’s too late for them to save my organs? I know such thoughts are irrational, silly and pointless, but that’s just how my morbid little brain works.
Each year approximately 1,000 people die waiting for an organ transplant. However, only 4% of people regularly give blood and just a third of people are on the organ donor register.
Unfortunately, many people on the register are likely to die in circumstances that leave them unable to donate. As a result it’s unsurprising that there’s a shortage of available organs for those who need them the most.
Furthermore, since it’s ultimately up to the family of the deceased to decide whether doctors can take their loved one’s organs, sometimes those who had signed up for organ donation could die without being able to fulfil their wish.
For this reason it’s vital that we not only sign up for the register, but we also tell everyone we know just how important organ donation is to us.
If you like the sound of dying a hero, you need to be vocal about your wish.
A lot of people avoid talking about organ donation because they think it’s morbid and depressing. I understand that people don’t like thinking about their own mortality, but the longer we avoid talking about it, the more people die.
This could happen to any one of us. One minute we could be perfectly fine and living life to the full, the next we could find ourselves in dire need of transplant.
I’ll leave you with one final thought: If you’d be willing to accept an organ, you should be willing to give one too.
With more and more people eliminating gluten from their diets, gluten free awareness is starting to grow. In fact, those of us with coeliac disease or gluten intolerances have never had it so good. It’s getting easier for us to find restaurants to eat in and we can choose from a wider selection of foods in the supermarket. However, with a growing number of people banishing gluten from their diets in a bid to lose weight, many of us also find that a large percentage of people think we’re simply following a fad!
Thanks to lots of publicity from celebs who say they swear by gluten free diets, a lot of people think that by dodging gluten-filled foods, they can shed the pounds. But what are the benefits of a gluten free diet? Is a gluten free diet really the key to weight loss? In short, no. There is no evidence whatsoever to say that gluten free diets lead to weight loss. Let me explain…
Basically, gluten is a mixture of two proteins and can be present in cereal grains such as wheat, barley and rye. You’re most likely to find these grains in bread, pasta, pastry, flour, cakes, and biscuits. Oh how I miss this stuff!
Thanks to a lot of misinformation out there (I’m looking at you Daily Mail), a lot of people think that coeliac disease is an allergy, but in fact it’s an auto-immune disorder. When a person with coeliac disease eats gluten, the body’s immune system responds and in the process attacks the lining of the small intestine. This can result in abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and diahorrea. For coeliacs, short term exposure to gluten can lead to the above symptoms, in the long term more serious conditions and diseases can develop. Some sufferers can develop cancer or become infertile. It’s serious.
Not everyone who feels ill after eating gluten has coeliac disease. Some people are simply sensitive to gluten and can suffer from sickness, bloating and diahorrea after exposure to this type of protein.
If you’re diagnosed with coeliac disease, the only solution is to completely give up gluten.
For those that don’t have coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance, there really is no need to give up gluten.
Many people find that by slashing gluten from their diets, they lose weight. But this is purely incidental.
When a person decides to stop eating gluten, they’re probably no longer going to be able to eat breakfast butties from the local café, takeaways on a Friday night, or enjoy a few pints down the pub. As a result of ditching these simple pleasures, they’re likely to see a change in their weight, providing they eat plenty of healthy food instead.
And it just so happens that most naturally healthy food is gluten free anyway. For example, meat, fish, salad, fruit, and vegetables are usually free from gluten. So if you eat a diet rich in the above foods while cutting back on cakes, biscuits, and takeaways (which often contain gluten), of course you’re going to see a difference.
But gluten itself is not responsible. In fact, there are plenty of foods that naturally contain gluten such as pasta and couscous that can easily be integrated into a healthy diet.
Some dieters also make the mistake of thinking that all gluten free foods are good for them and as a result turn to gluten free loaves of bread or bags of pasta from the supermarket. However, in reality these options can in fact be higher in calories and sugar than gluten-filled grub.
If you’re struggling to lose weight and think that going gluten free is the answer, please don’t! Don’t unnecessarily deprive yourself of all the lovely gluten-filled foods out there! You don’t need to. Gluten isn’t to blame and it isn’t always unhealthy. Instead of ditching it completely, adopt a diet that is rich in meat (pack in that protein), fish, vegetables, fruit, salads, and nuts. Give yourself the occasional treat, and if that involves a slice of gluten filled cake, so be it! The only reason for giving up gluten is if you have coeliac disease or a gluten intolerance/sensitivity.
Hearing the news that you’ve got a life-changing disease can be tough for anyone. For those diagnosed with coeliac disease, it’s not unusual to feel scared, isolated and angry all at the same time. Coming to terms with a new diet can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and while this may be new to you, there are plenty of others in the same boat that are doing just fine on their gluten free diet. I recently shared some of my top survival tips for newly diagnosed coeliacs. But now, I’ve decided to go a step further and find out what other advice other coeliacs have to offer for newbies.
First thing’s first, you need to figure out which aspects of your diet you’re going to have to change and which parts are okay as they are. As a general rule, meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, are okay. There are exceptions though. For example, burgers and sausages may have gluten in them, but also may not. It all depends on the brand and the way they are made. For this reason, it’s vital that you get in the habit of checking the packaging before you buy foods that you haven’t checked before.
@CantSwingACat Hi! Read the food labels throughly, there was a lot of foods I thought were GF but wasn’t. Get into the habit, it pays off.
— Charlie Hindle (@coeliac_charlie) May 4, 2015
Olivia A who tweets at @CoeliacExplorer says: “No.1 tip - don’t assume free from section is your only option. Loads of things are naturally gluten free!”
The Coeliac UK Food and Drink Directory can prove to be a great resource for coeliacs keen to know exactly what they can and can’t eat. The directory is regularly updated to cater for changing recipes and packaging labels. To gain full access to the directory, you need to become a member of Coeliac UK. Coeliac UK membership fees are as follows: Individual membership: £24 Concessionary: £12 Household: £30
It’s also worth noting that if you’ve been formerly diagnosed with coeliac disease by your doctor, you should be entitled to gluten free bread and pasta on prescription. This can be a great way of reducing the cost of your gluten free essentials, as instead of buying them from the supermarket, you can pick them up from the chemist. I’ve written a blog about getting gluten free bread on prescription, which you may find helpful.
After hearing that you can no longer eat gluten, it can be tempting to wallow in self pity and mourn the loss of Pukka Pies and Big Macs, but this approach is just going to leave you feeling worse. When I took to Twitter to ask fellow coeliacs what they’d say to a new coeliac if they had the chance, a tip that repeatedly cropped up was the importance of reminding yourself of the positves rather than dwelling on the negatives.
@CantSwingACat don’t focus on what you can’t eat, focus on what you can eat — Heather Townsend (@HeatherTowns) May 1, 2015
@CantSwingACat My #1 tip: Try to stay positive & focus on what you *can* eat, not what you can’t…& yummy #glutenfree cake *is* possible 🙂 — Happy Little Cake (@happylittlecake) May 2, 2015
@CantSwingACat nice 🙂 take the opportunity to explore delicious naturally gluten free food (meat, fish, fruit, veg, gf grains etc) rather..
— carly b. talbot (@gfreeb) May 3, 2015
@CantSwingACat …than focussing on the foods you can’t have/trying to replace like with like. It’s a healthier approach & you’ll learn lots
— carly b. talbot (@gfreeb) May 3, 2015
It’s easy to look through the window of Greggs and die a little inside because you can’t eat a single thing. But by taking the time to learn what you can eat, you’ll soon learn that it’s not all doom and gloom. Happy Little Cake is a prime example of all the fantastic treats you can enjoy as a coeliac.
@CantSwingACat And this is one of my favourite #gf novelty cakes as I’m obsessed with all things pink and glittery! pic.twitter.com/1Jr085CY6O — Happy Little Cake (@happylittlecake) May 2, 2015
The majority of people who I spoke to agreed that one of the best things new coeliacs can do is join the Facebook and Twitter coeliac communities.
@CantSwingACat Get support from wonderful #coeliac community.Lots of lovely people on twitter with fab #gf advice and of course @CoeliacUK— Genius Gluten Free (@GeniusFoods) May 13, 2015
@CantSwingACat How about: get on Twitter and Facebook. Large supportive community of GF folk, always ready to offer tips and advice. — Alex Gazzola (@HealthJourno) May 2, 2015
@CantSwingACat join Twitter! So many positive #GF folk who show how good #GF life can be. Lots of new products, restaurants, tips, blogs 1/2 — Kim McGowan (@McGowanKim) May 2, 2015
Nathan Drewett @IdeologyLite is just one of many who reiterated this point. He tweeted: “Beyond the obvious things like joining Coeliac UK etc, I’d probably suggest joining the coeliac community on social media. I’ve found the coeliac community to be very helpful and supportive. You can get answers to questions at short notice.”
Following a coeliac disease diagnosis, it’s easy to feel alone. You’ll probably go through most of your day to day life without meeting anyone else that has the same condition. However, through social media you can find fellow coeliacs that love nothing more than sharing delicious tips, recipes and even symptom horror stories. A simple search on Twitter for the hashtags #coeliac and #glutenfree will help unearth tons of future coeliac friends who will be more than happy to welcome you with open arms. Don’t forget to search for groups on Facebook too. Facebook can be particularly useful if you feel restricted by Twitter’s 140 character limit per tweet.
Kim McGowan, founder of Gluten Free Gathering, adds: “It feels like the end of the world, and it’s just the beginning. Good health, new friends to make, and it’s such a good time to be gluten free.”
Richard Gottfried, who blogs at The Ham and Egger Files, says: “When dining out don’t be afraid to ask questions about the ingredients, preparation and cooking of the food. And don’t be embarrassed about walking away if it doesn’t meet your needs.” Richard makes a great point. I’m sure many coeliacs old and new will have had times in restaurants where they’ve just thought “oh sod it, I guess I’ll just have to eat gluten today.” I bet many of us have wanted to avoid causing a fuss and would rather just eat the gluten and be done with it. Don’t make this mistake. There really is no point in feeling ill over it. The good news is, the vast majority of restaurants are aware just how damaging gluten can be to coeliacs and as a result their table staff should be able to point out which dishes are suitable for you. Don’t forget to take the time to explain coeliac disease to your friends and family. The sooner they understand, they sooner they can help you. If, however, your friends try to persuade you to eat gluten when it suits them, stand up for yourself and make it clear that this is a serious condition that is here to stay. You deserve their support.
It can be hard to find the positives after receiving such a serious diagnosis, but try to remember that it’s not the end of the world. Not only are there plenty of gorgeous gluten free foods you can eat, you may find yourself eating a wider variety of foods than before. You’ll also almost certainly feel better and healthier once your new diet has kicked in and your body has started to repair itself.
Here’s some sound advice from @DavidJ_GF: “Don’t get hooked on replacing normal foods. Just leads to expensive disappointment & can drag you down. Yeah we all hanker for old staples & find the odd oasis here & there. But ultimately it just isn’t going to be the same. So set out enjoying new finds & dishes. Actually makes you relearn what a good meal is.” And Nathan Drewett agrees:
@DavidJ_GF @CantSwingACat Good point! Replacing like-for-like with GF will also increase caloric intake and likely cause weight gain. — Nathan Drewett (@IdeologyLite) May 2, 2015
Remind yourself how great your life is. If you’ve been plagued with sickness, tummy troubles, bad skin, and fatigue, think how great you life is going to be now that you know exactly what has been making you feel ill. When it comes to being happy while living gluten free, there is no one quite like @TheHappyCoeliac:
@CantSwingACat happiness is often a conscious choice. I named my blog so I couldn’t get away with moaning all the time 😉 — The Happy Coeliac (@TheHappyCoeliac) May 2, 2015
@CantSwingACat if you choose 2b “happy”, your food options will open up rather than restrict you. So much naturally gf food out there. — The Happy Coeliac (@TheHappyCoeliac) May 2, 2015
Don’t let coeliac disease stop you from living your life: @itsgottobegf says: “Always be prepared and don’t stop travelling”
If it’s your child that has been diagnosed with coeliac disease, things might seem that little bit harder. While it’s not unusual for adults with the disease to feel sad, angry, and isolated, for a child, being unable to eat the same things as everyone else, and feeling like the odd one out can be even more upsetting. However, it’s worth remembering that there are thousands of happy and healthy children across the world who are living a healthier lifestyle following their coeliac diagnosis. Things may be difficult, but it’s not the end of the world either. Blogger and author of ‘Can I Eat It?‘, Katie Hardie, created the video below to share her experience of raising a little boy with coeliac disease. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWh4WRf_9HA]
If you’ve got any top tips for newly diagnosed coeliacs, or you’ve only just found out that you’ve got to go gluten free for the sake of your health, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. You can also tweet me @CantSwingACat. You never know, your tip might find its way into this blog post!
@CantSwingACat Stay positive, join Coeliac UK, check out the Food&Drink Directory and don’t just look in the Free From aisles! #coeliac — Juvela Gluten Free (@JuvelaGF) May 12, 2015
Photo Credits:
Gluten Free Cranberry Muffins. Sarah R. Creative Commons
Gluten Free Sign. Whatsername? Creative Commons
Heart Shaped Cookies. Alana’s Pantry. Creative Commons
Gluten Free Pizza. Keith McDuffee. Creative Commons
Getting diagnosed with coeliac disease can be hard to hear. If you’ve recently been given the news, you may be feeling upset, angry, scared, confused and even lonely.
When I was first diagnosed with coeliac in 2010 I felt all the above emotions, and it was certainly tough.
The good news is though, it aint all bad. While going gluten free may seem like an impossible task, before you know it you’ll be cooking delicious meals that both you and your friends can eat, and you’ll be force feeding your family members gluten free cake to prove how delicious it can be.
Nevertheless, it can be tricky in the beginning, so here are my top survival tips to help you get through the first few months:
You might also like these posts:
Busting the gluten free weight loss myth
15 Coeliacs Share Their Tips For Gluten Free Newbies
You may feel tempted to avoid telling people about your diagnosis, but this is a bad idea. The sooner you explain the situation to your friends and family, the better. If you don’t want to have to tell everyone individually each time you see them, send a mass text or email. You could even post a Facebook status to get the news out of the way.
Get ready for some gluten free pancakes baby!
Resist the temptation to have a little bit of gluten here or a little bit of gluten there, Look after yourself. Giving up lots of your favourite foods may feel impossible at first, but it will get easier. The sooner you get into good habits the better.
Your friends may try to tempt you into eating gluten when it suits them. Maybe they want you to go to a birthday party at a place that isn’t very gluten-free friendly, or maybe they want to halve the cost of a takeaway. No matter what they say, be firm and say no.
You’ll soon learn that if you do give in and eat gluten in front of others despite having told them about your illness, they’ll soon expect you to do it regularly and may get annoyed if you won’t eat it when it suits them.
At least you can still eat fruit. Yay! 😉
If you find yourself feeling tempted to eat some pesky gluten. Remind yourself of the impact it can have on your body. The long term health problems commonly associated with this disease are far worse than missing out on a Greggs sausage roll.
I worry so much that my fertility has already been affected, so every time I feel like ordering a pizza from a takeaway, this is something I try to remind myself of. Remember: No Big Mac is worth long term unhappiness.
When it comes to coeliac disease and eating gluten free, suddenly everyone’s an expert. You’ll be told “it’s just a phase” and “it’s all in your head”. Ignore these idiots. It’s unlikely that they’re trying to be nasty. Chances are the’re just plain ignorant and genuinely think they’re right. Someone recently told me that coeliac disease is a psychological problem. Trust me honey, there is nothing psychological about the after effects of a coeliac diseased human who has just eaten a pie. When I leave the bathroom after eating gluten, I’d give it 10 minutes if I were you.
Don’t worry about your traditional Sunday roast. A bit of gluten free gravy and you’re laughing. Perfection.
In the early days, you may feel extremely limited when it comes to finding treats to eat. You may also feel left out when everyone around you is eating brownies and cupcakes. To overcome any feelings of isolation and jealousy, I’d definitely recommend familiarising yourself with a few simple gluten-free cake recipes. Honestly, they can be delicious and you’re unlikely to notice the difference. Bake loads of cakes in bulk and stick them in the freezer so that whenever you’re faced with cravings, or you know you’re about to be surrounded by cake eaters, you can be prepared.
Although gluten free cake is just as bad for the average person as a gluten filled cake, living the gluten free life can be healthy. Think about it. Not having the ability to eat gluten rules out a lot of the junk food that you’re likely to find in your average supermarket or takeaway. Instead, you’ll have to think carefully about what you’re eating and rather than reaching for the first ready meal you spot, you’ll be eating plenty of chicken, fish, potatoes, vegetables and fruit.
I’m aware this is probably not helping. If someone had said all this to me 5 years ago I would have screamed “I DON’T WANT TO BE HEALTHY! I JUST WANT TO EAT A MIGHTY MEATY PIZZA!!”
But you’ll soon notice an improvement in your gut, and your skin, and you’ll be filled with bags more energy than you have now.
Grab yourself some yummy gluten free bread and sausages, and this fry up is all yours! Hooray!
More and more restaurants are wising up to coeliac disease and as a result are offering a wider choice of gluten free foods than ever before. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend paying La Tasca, Pizza Express, Nando’s, and Las Iguanas a visit. There are of course others, I just thought I’d mention chains that can be found virtually anywhere in the UK.
If you live in the UK and have been formerly diagnosed with coeliac disease by your doctor, you should be entitled to certain gluten free foods on prescription. I’ve written a blog post all about how you can significantly reduce the amount you spend on gluten free food by applying for a pre-payment prescription. I’d definitely recommend giving the Juvela range a try. Their gluten free soft white rolls are gorgeous.
It may not feel like it at first, but if you stick to your new gluten free diet you will start to notice a difference. When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t take it seriously at first because I wanted a fast result. It was only when I started to really stick to it that I eventually started to feel so much better. The constant bloating that I’d gotten so used to disappeared, and I stopped feeling sick after meals. I started to feel more energised and even less grumpy!
So if you don’t begin to feel better within the first few days or months of cutting out gluten, please don’t be disheartened. Take care of yourself and I hope you feel loads better soon.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Also, if you have other any tips for new coeliac sufferers, don’t forget to share them in the comments below.
Photo credits: Stéphanie Kilgast on Flickr