Wheat Allergy

[Tracey Blackmore]

Hi

I have a wheat allergy and wondered if there was a list of the wheat free chocolates that I can buy from Retailers. Does anyone know if Galaxy Minstrels are wheat free?

Thanks

Tracey Blackmore

[ewoody]

I am a coeliac and am fine with galaxy chocolate and minstrels, in fact they are pretty much on of the the only chocolates I eat!
If possible, I try to stick to chocolate without fillings etc, as they are generally fine (dairy milk normal chocolate etc). You could try going to the allergy section in large supermarkets, I find morrisons to be really good and sainsburys, although tesco has things too. Mrs Crimble's chocolate macaroons are wheat and gluten free and I love them, as do most of my family (my dad is a coeliac too, but everyone loves them!) Also a lot of thorntons chocolate bars etc are gluten-free and they are really good for labelling etc.
I don't know if you have known about your allergy for long, but I have been on a gluten free diet for nearly a year now, and things are becoming much easier - you get to know the products that you like and get to know what to look for more. As someone diagnosed with 'coeliac disease,' I joined coeliac UK and you can get a great little book, the 'food and drink directory' which lists everything you can have. However I am not sure how this works if you aren't officially a 'coeliac' but it is worth checking!
One thing to be aware of is that companies do (annoyingly!) change ingredients often, so keep checking labels! Strangely too, some chocolate bars appear to be fine (mars bars for example), but the 'mini' versions of chocolates aren't! So if in doubt, check labels!!

[luckylady]

Hi

Don;t know about Galaxy but I do know that Sainsbury are bringing out or have just brought out a choclate range for Christmas including things you can hang on the tree. At last someone is thinking about the kids who can;t have normal food. Well done them.

[Tracey Blackmore]

Hi ewoody

Thank you for your note about buying gluten-free products in Sainsburys, Morrisons, Tescos. Would you know how much it costs to join Coeliac UK? I have been on a wheat-free diet for about 10 years or more, but there are still certain foods I'm not sure about eating, because I don't know if they contain wheat or not. I would like to vary my diet more and I currently cook alot of meals - even my Husband enjoys the meals when I cook wheat-free!!

Thanks again for the help I've received so far.

Regards, Tracey Blackmore

[Tracey Blackmore]

thank you luckylady for your response. I will look out for the range for Christmas!!

Kind regards, Tracey Blackmore

[ewoody]

Hi Tracey,

I think it is £20 to join coeliac UK (although there are some concessions and cheaper if there is more than one sufferer in your household). It is certainly worth looking into if you're feeling a bit lost!

I have recently started using buckwheat, which is totally gluten free and a great alternative to flour! It is great for things like pancakes (i have put a recipe in snacks section on here), and I am going to try and experiment a bit with other recipes.
I too am keen to vary my diet, as it can become very monotonous! What kinds of things do you have in mind?
Ewoody

[Tracey Blackmore]

Hi EWoody

Thanks for your reply to my message. I use wholegrain rice flour, buckwheat flour currently and I make my own bread in our bread-maker which is really great. I can give you the recipe if you like. I also cook wheat-free pasta (such as corn pasta, rice/millet pasta, and others from Health Food shops), wholegrain rice (basmati and ordinary rice).

I like to try out different recipes as well, but sometimes life is busy and we don't have a lot of time to experiment, but I hope to do a new dish every weekend or every other weekend at least.

Always happy to receive suggestions and I will let you know if I make anything delicious!!

Kind regards. Tracey Blackmore

[David]

and I make my own bread in our bread-maker which is really great. I can give you the recipe if you like.

Hi Tracey,

Perhaps if you get time you could share this recipe with us in our recipes section as lots of us have bread makers these days.

Thanks, David.