Category: Coeliac Disease

Day 2 and Counting – no near misses today

Made it – day two, no near misses, up to now, at least! So I had the same breakfast as yesterday, which I am still enjoying – not like my foray into gluten-free in 2009 – I’m unsure what has changed perhaps it’s my improved knowledge of the diet.

My lunch is shown on the right, it consisted of

1 fillet of smoked mackerel

1 boiled egg

5 radishes

2 celery sticks

2 inch slice of cucumber

5 mushrooms

and 2 slices of my wonderful (?) gluten-free bread

Unfortunately I forgot to take some fruit with me today so I arrived home ready to devour ANYTHING,  I would have eaten a scabby donkey if one were available – they are gluten-free :-). The one problem with the gluten-free diet if you are not used to it planning is needed. What to have for my meal? Whilst preparing my meal I had 2 small gluten-free corn cakes and a banana.

My bread has gone stale now – so ready for toast, 2 slices of bread (or brick – which describes it a little better!) with Edam and some ham (packet ham – avoiding contamination.) I did really enjoy this and it has filled me up. The gluten-free carb foods do fill me up I wonder if that is because they can be higher in fat to improve the texture? I don’t think my bread will last another day so I have wasted that mix, about 1/3 of a loaf, I might try freezing some next time, but I don’t think I have enough mix left to make another loaf.

The good thing about following the diet is that I can’t have any biscuits – My one and only weakness!! 🙂 I am going to try to make some scones now – so watch out for another culinary disaster.

Jules_GastroRD2 Comments

‘G’ day – day one on gluten free diet.

Day one – the gluten-free challenge – how is it going? Well fine actually – I have done good so far, but less than 24 hours in so perhaps that isn’t too surprising. Nearly had one mishap this morning though, or what would be classed in the health service as ‘a near miss incident!’ My alarm clock decided to ring VERY early – I don’t know why, this woke me up, disturbed my sleep and when I eventually managed to drag my body out of bed and go down for breakfast, I reached in the cupboard and took out the box of cereal that is too high in barley malt – poured a bowl – then realised. Had to put the cereal back in the box and get a new bowl. Opened the gluten-free cereal and had that with skimmed milk, a handful of raisins and two tablespoons of gluten-free cherry yoghurt – nice!

The picture above was my lunch consisting of

1/2 packet of brown rice fine noodles – pour on boiling water till soft, then drain and cool.

2 inch slice of cucumber – cut lengthways

100g prawns

2 sticks of celery – cut lengthways

2 radishes (for colour)

2 tablespoons of gluten-free sweet chilli

Mix well

I had this with 1 apple and 1 banana.

Waiting now for my evening meal of jacket spud and gluten-free baked beans – yum!

Last night I emailed the hotel and requested a gluten-free breakfast – they were very fast in responding, but I also need to ask them to bring my breakfast separately should it be a free for all buffet – breadcrumbs included! 😦

This is what I requested – we will see what happens, although it might be difficult to tell if some contamination has occurred 😉 but this is no different to what some people will experience.

Dear Sir/Madam
I have a reservation on the 17th and 18th of May and I am sending this email to request a gluten-free option for breakfast, if you would be so kind to provide this. This is required because of coeliac disease and consuming gluten can make me ill, should you need more information on how to provide a gluten-free diet please check the following link, which will take you to coeliac UK’s website where you can find further information. It is important that any contamination with gluten during preparation and cooking is avoided, this can sometimes be a problem. I am more than happy to answer any questions, or check foods for you, should this be needed.
If you can’t provide a gluten-free option I will bring my own cereal, so please let me know if this request is problematic.
Thank you
Tummy rumbling now – need my meal
Will blog again tomorrow!

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Less than 24 hours to G Day!

I have been challenged to have another try at following a gluten-free diet by Coeliac UK Wessex, to see what changes have come about in the last 3 years, I am aware of the changes as I do have to advise people, but as I have blogged previously – nothing like ‘living it.’ This time to make the challenge a little more difficult I am going to the Allergy & Free From show on Friday and Saturday necessitating a hotel stay and no doubt two days of eating out and all the difficulties that may present.

So with less than 24 hours to go to G day (gluten-free day 1) I have been preparing – I have to say I am a little more comfortable in following the diet this time as I am very knowledgable about what the requirements are, much less daunting than my first foray in gluten-free living. I have made my bread (see attached picture) not a pleasant sight, but very tasty non the less ;-). I have a fridge full of naturally gluten-free salad and fruit and I have planned what I am going to eat. The one thing I am finding a little unsettling is the fact I am going to have to contact the hotel to request a gluten-free breakfast – this is a little fraudulent, I feel, as I don’t have coeliac disease, but it is necessary to immerse myself fully in the experience. I am going to have to open a new box of rice breakfast cereal (as the one we are currently using contains greater than 100 ppm of gluten – as barley malt) and a new jam pot (to avoid contamination) and prepare my meals for work, I am actually looking forward to the experience. My lunch has been made for ‘G day’ brown rice noodles, gluten-free sweet chilli sauce, prawns, cucumber and celery salad and I have planned to be able to have a yummy breakfast with rice cereal, gluten-free cherry yogurt and some dried fruit (containing iron and calcium.) Wish me luck – will blog again tomorrow 🙂

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