Galway Independent - Coeliac Survival Guide for Christmas

Galway Independent - Coeliac Survival Guide for Christmas

Cashew Milk

If you are a little bored of rice or oat milk, not keen on the photo estrogen’s in soya milk and like me find it too time consuming to make almond milk – here’s a delicious milk, cheap, easy to make and I make gorgeous smoothies and even ice cream out of it!

Smoothie with cashew milk and banana – gluten and dairy free but really creamy!

To make milk (more than one portion)

1 cup raw cashews

3 cups water
1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean

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To make the smoothie

1 cup of milk and 1 very ripe banana

Blend in powerful blender and serve – perfect breakfast!

• Gluten Free Directory - Add or recommend your favourite gluten free businesses right here.

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• www.glutenzone.ie

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Gluten Free Halloween Candy Apples

My first attempt at Halloween Candy Apples!

We are only a small family so don't need lots but just double or triple the ingredients to do more - the measurements below made 6 candy apples.

Wooden sticks/skewers
6 apples
100g castar sugar
85g golden syrup
85ml water

Place in saucepan and stir until boiling and thickens.

Dip apples in the syrup and place on a flat tray with grease proof paper.

Leave to set and then enjoy!!

Gluten Free Beer in Ireland

If you are like me, when I was finally diagnosed as a Coeliac (or Celiac) then life became a little more challenging.

I find it fairly easy to eat at home, I am a nutritional therapist and other than the odd craving for freshly baked glutinous bread (it's the smell more than anything!) I eat very well at home. But once I go out it becomes more of a challenge for me.

With the Glutenzone directory, we aim to help make life a little easier. Some of you are simply looking to eat gluten free because you feel better, some feel it controls their weight, some feel less bloated and some, like me have improved my health no end. From constipation (I could go 7 days and nothing), to IBS - never want to be out and about when that happened, bloating, tummy pain, skin rashes, oh I could go on.

At Glutenzone we are supporting EVERYONE who wants to opt for a gluten free life, we support Coeliacs, Celiacs (American spelling), gluten free, NCGS, gluten intolerant, Paleo - anyone.

For this post I would like to introduce you to a fabulous range of gluten free beer.

As I enjoy the Rugby World Cup, my ladish ways tell me there is no better way to enjoy a weekend of watching the Rugby Quarter Finals than with a nice cold gluten free beer!

I have found mine in Supervalu and Tescos in Killarney.

We also have found a fabulous company in Portlaoise, Egan's beer and wine.

Egans Portlaoise stock 20 + Gluten Free beers. Exclusive agents for Daas Belgian Blond and Ambre. Selling shortly into bars and restaurants countrywide. Call into shop to see them.

http://eganswines.ie/craft-beers/gluten-free

Gluten free web directory http://www.glutenzone.ie

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Gluten Free Scones

Thanks to Eleanor Looney from Cubby for Cakes in Killarney for this recipe.

She is not a sole gluten free or Coeliac cake business but I have tasted some pretty awesome gluten free delights and she always caters for my parties and business events.

Recipe
500g gluten free self raising flour
100g margarine (I use dairy free spread)
100g castor sugar
2 eggs
Enough milk to make it stick (I use rice milk)

https://www.facebook.com/cubbyforcakes?fref=ts

Welcome to my gluten free story

So I think it’s a good time to introduce myself, my gorgeous sister on the other side of the globe and our journey with MY gluten free life.

You see, there are many blogs out there giving loads of information on how to live gluten free, the miracles of this amazing life and all the unknown amazing foods we can eat.

Well I'd like to introduce myself, my name is Heidi Grimwood, im 37 years old and a mum of a gorgeous little 7 year old girl living in Ireland (I grew up in the UK).

From as far back as I can remember I had weight problems, undiagnosed skin conditions (spent my childhood at some of UK's best dermatologists) and constipation that left me with a threat that after numerous surgeries, medications and diagnosis – I would be carrying a colostomy bag by the age of 30.

I was 21, living the high life as a fitness instructor working on cruise ships when I had one of my many colon cancer scares; however it wasn’t cancer just my un-diagnosed constipation.

They told me they had ground breaking treatment for my constipation and that there were only 2 specialists in the country. I would have to wait six month but it would save my life in the end.

However I was never a ‘glass half empty’ kinda gal. I was living an amazing life at 21 already lived in New Zealand, Tahiti, cruised the Caribbean and USA, and visited goodness knows how many more countries, and they wanted me to stop?!

NO!!

So I defied all odds and carried on working around the world, ‘coping’ with my random skin flair ups,  occasional hospital visits when my colon just wouldn’t empty enough and my system was getting too toxic and I have lost count of the days I was doubled over with tummy craps, unexplained pain.

When I was 32 I had a food intolerance test and was advised to avoid gluten and dairy. OK ill try this after all I am qualified in nutritional therapist, how hard can this be right?

WOW it was tough, there were good days, bad days and days when I said feck it, it’s too tough. I was raising my daughter alone with some weeks having only a food budget of €10 – I couldn’t do this, right?

So I would get easier options and would get the cramps and bloating and so much more.

When I was 35 I had to have my appendix removed. But when they scanned my tum what they told me has never left my mind. They scanned my tummy for an hour, in the end bought in the top dog to continue the scan. In my head I said – this is what you get girl for being defiant all these years, this is it, cancer has arrived.

But what they told me was my intestines were so dangerously inflamed and asked if I was Coeliac? I said I knew I shouldn’t eat gluten but you know.............

I had my appendix removed and  from that day on and have never looked back.

Now I am no holy saint and would love to say:

‘And I never ate gluten from that day forward’

But I’d be lying to you!

I have had the occasional slip up, I have had days when I just don’t care anymore for this hard work or a mad pizza or donut craving.

But then I feel the instant effects of even a smidgen of cheating.

I have discovered it is not worth it.

Do I think I will live a longer life by going gluten free?

NO.

But whatever time I do have I want to feel good.

Now there are even days when my ever so delicate system doesn’t like anything even though it’s been more than 18 months since I have had a taste of gluten at all. But I have tricks that make my tum feel better and I will share all of these with you.

I’m not promising they will work for you. We are all different after all.

I am gluten free, I am dairy free, you have your own journey and don’t try to copy anyone else.

How does my gorgeous sister on the other side of the globe factor into my story of a gluten free, dairy free world?

Well like any of us who have dietary restrictions the one thing my friends and family always ask when I am visiting is:

‘What the heck do I feed you?’

So you are going to get a perspective from me, a lady who loves her food, eats out and travels a lot, and is never going to proclaim to be perfect in this gluten free journey.

And you are going to get a perspective from my sister who has to cater for me when I visit.

I don’t get asked to dinner much – most are too scared to ask!!!

Feel free to email me, post questions or positive comments, myself and Tania are looking forward to taking you on our gluten free journey.

Namaste

Heidi and Tania xx