My Top Tips to living a happy Gluten Free life!

Tip 1: Accept it! It isn’t the end of the world being diagnosed with coeliac disease. So you can’t have simple day to day things like bread, cereals or biscuits. When I was diagnosed with coeliac disease I was so relieved to finally find out what was making me so ill even the thought of eating something containing gluten was incomprehensible.

Tip 2: Learn how to cook! My Mum taught us from a young age but I was never really too interested in it until I got diagnosed. The last couple of years I’ve become so much more adventurous and creative in the kitchen. I have to say it’s been a godsend I don’t really feel like I miss out on anything because I will just try to make it and adapt it to my needs.

Tip 3: Eat healthy and Keep Fit! Just because your gluten free don’t think you are no longer prone to putting weight on! You still need to have a balanced diet of fruit and veg and all your other essentials like calcium and protein. Do regular exercise not only does it keep you trim but it makes you feel good too.

Tip 4: Educate family and friends! Make sure your family and friends know how to adapt to your needs. None of them want to be responsible for making you ill! I’m lucky as my other half’s mother is also Coeliac they were a big help in educating me about many things such as cross contamination etc: My sister used to make desserts that I couldn’t eat if we had a family get together. She used to say that baking with gluten free flour tasted horrible  well excuuuuuuse me lol!!!!!. One day I took matters in to my own hands and made a homemade gluten free apple crumble. Low and behold it was delicious and you couldn’t tell it was gluten free! Now my whole family are very good at adapting to my needs and my sis makes me lovely meals when I go round, haha Score!!!

Tip 5: Always fight Back! On numerous occasions I have had my food contaminated even when I have been very specific of my needs, the best was when I had my starter served on bread!!!!! I have also been made to feel like I shouldn’t be in their restaurant because I can’t eat the food the way they prepare it and it was such an effort to be careful and adapt the meal for me. Pfft! If you are ever ill after eating in a restaurant or ever made  to feel unwelcome, complain verbally or in writing. I once received £50 in vouchers and a promise that the staff members would undergo all the necessary training on dietary needs!!! One day the world will be educated!!! 

So that is how I cope with being a Ceoliac the last one is a little aggressive but it works for me and I feel they should be more aware of our condition. The tips are just to help you along not a guideline to follow. Everyone has different ways in coping and what works for one may not work for another. I’d be really interested on how you cope with being Ceoliac so please feel free to share.