Gluten Free UK

Today we have a special contributor from the UK

- Elena Blunsum sharing her experiences with a gluten free diet and gluten free UK shopping.

First, we have a quick interview with Elena to find out a little bit about her history with gluten intolerance.

CFGF Team: When did you first discover you were intolerant to gluten?

Elena Blunsum: I discovered I am gluten intolerant 12 years ago. At first it was incredibly challenging on the food front as there were so few gluten free alternatives avaliable and many of those weren’t very good! I’m so grateful that this is no longer true!! Then there was the issue of people’s attitudes and pity that I could no longer eat so many of the things I loved – a typical comment would be “How awful for you!!!” “…Why????” I was just delighted to have an answer!! I didn’t want to eat those things any more, not with the way they made me feel!!! If eat gluten for 3 days I literally can’t function! So now it’s just a part of life!!

CFGF Team: What was one of the best moments for you for turning your health around to being healthy and vibrant again?

Elena Blunsum: One of my biggest turn arounds was working with Brian McDonogh at the Eagle Clinic. I really recommend him! His approach to nutritional medicine resolved the long term effects on my health of eating gluten!!!

CFGF Team: How would you describe the gluten free diet for you?

Elena Blunsum: So, for me, a gluten free diet is fantastic!!!!

Furthermore, here is what else Elena was so excited to share with our community.

Whether you live in the UK, or about to go on vacation to the UK here are some wonderful hints and tips she’s delighted to share to enhance your experience of living with a gluten free diet.

Gluten Free UK – By Elena Blunsum

Gluten Free Food Shopping in the UK has come so far in the last 15 years! It just keeps getting better! In fact, I found a gluten free Panettone yesterday!

I would say that the best supermarkets for gluten free UK shopping  are Sainsburys and Tesco with Waitrose coming 3rd!

I’ve found that the best bread is “Genius” – it comes as white or brown and doesn’t need to be reheated! If you can’t get that then Antoinette Saville’s rolls are great – they do need to be refreshed/reheated and are also delicious toasted!

As for pastas you’re safe with most of the brands from the supermarkets above – my favourites are Salute and Doves Farm.

Sainsbury stock some frozen products – I’ve only tried the pizza which was ’ok’ – better than nothing! I’m not sure if Tesco do…..

Cakes and biscuits – again, lots to choose from! Just see what takes your fancy – I particularly love Prewitt’s Chocolate Bourbons – luxuriously delicious and you’d never know they were gluten free!

If you want to bake then Dove’s Farm is the flour to get – it makes brilliant cakes!

I generally avoid the health food shops as they tend to be expensive and the range at my local one is not so good.

Beware corn tortillas as they’re usually corn and flour – unlike in the US where I thoroughly enjoyed ‘just corn’ corn tortillas! There is a small stall in Borough Market (near London Bridge station), London where they sell proper corn tortillas and of course you can freeze them!

If you’re over here for Christmas and want a GF Christmas pudding I wouldn’t recommend buying one – none I’ve ever tried have been very good! However, I would recommend the recipe in Peter Thomson’s book “Gluten Free Cookery”! The family all prefer it to what they would usually have had!!

If you have any specific enquiries do feel free to add me as a friend on FB and get in touch!

Gluten free UK – Eating out

The awareness of the needs of those on a gluten free diet has soared over recent years as has the provision of gluten free food in restaurants and it’s now often specifically identified on menus which is a great help, especially amongst chain establishments!

If you’re in/near the Kingston upon Thames, Surrey area and like Italian food you’ve got to check out “Bruschetta – the Gluten Free Restaurant” on facebook – unbelievably good pizza and pasta – I thought I’d gone to heaven!

I haven’t tried it but I recently heard about http://www.italiancotto.co.uk/ 89 Westminister Bridge Road,Waterloo, London SE1 7HR so I’m looking forward to giving it a go!

I’m not sure what the norm is for you regarding Chinese food and the use of soy sauce – here it’s often added during cooking, even to special fried rice so it’s always best to double check before ordering! (editors note to newbies to the gluten free diet – most soy sauces generally contain gluten. Please read the ingredients label and check for a gluten free soy sauce product).

Also, when eating Mexican food, beware corn tortillas as they’re usually corn and flour – unlike in the US where I thoroughly enjoyed ‘just corn’ corn tortillas!

Useful info on the web can be found at:
www.glutenfreetravelsite.com
www.go-gluten-free-wheat-free.co.uk/eating/
www.glutenfreeonthego.com/default.asp

If you have any specific enquiries do feel free to add me as a friend on FB and get in touch!

Well, I think that’s it for now!

Bon appétit and happy travels!

Elena Blunsum London, UK
www.wanderful-life.com

Note from CFGF Team. Would you like to contribute some great hints and tips for a gluten free lifestyle in your local area?

First, please comment below.. and if you have a LOT to share, then we’d be glad to hear from you and post an article with your information to share with our community.