Safety Tips

As your new life style develops, you will identify places and times where you are at risk of consuming gluten. By using practical steps, you can minimise risks.

At Home:

In households where there are both Coeliacs and non-Coeliacs, it is essential that everyone understand the importance of minimising risk. This may be difficult with small children. They may not be able to make informed choices. You will need to advise teachers, other parents and other carers. Separate food preparation areas, utensils etc are essential.  Perhaps identified by colour? Separate bread boards, butter/spread, pots of jams. Crumbs can travel.

At School:

You will need to talk to your child's school about what foods are suitable, and to ensure there is plenty of "safe" foods on the menu. Ask your child's teacher what projects (arts, sciences) might contain a food containing gluten. This gives teaching staff plenty of time to find a suitable alternative. Others in your child's class may offer sweets and snacks. It is essential your child knows to refuse, unless known to be safe.

Dining Out

This can cause a few problems. With increasing awareness of Food Allergies, the Food service sector is better prepared than a few years ago. Menus may have Vegetarian choices highlighted, and Coelaic options identified. A telephone call in advance gives Chefs time to prepare. Seek advice from the Waiters. They are usually very helpful. From experience, Chefs given opportunity to fully prepare, see Coeliacs as a challenge, with spectacular positive results. One on-line Coeliac group features a list of restaurants, pubs, cafes etc. There are even fish and chip shops.

On Holiday

Coeliac disease is common throughout the world. If your travels take you to a destination where English is not generally spoken, then you may need to prepare a small card with the salient points translated into the local language. It is possible to pre-order in-flight meals as Coeliac, but pack some "safe" foods as hand luggage as emergency supplies.

Coeliacs can, and do, live very well indeed.


About Coeliac Disease

‘Coeliac’ comes from the Ancient Greek ‘koilia’, meaning ‘belly’.

This shows that Coeliac disease is not a new problem.

If you have recently been diagnosed with Coeliac disease, or several other conditions where a Gluten free diet is an integral part of regaining and maintaining good health, you may, at first, be feeling rather daunted and puzzled.

It's only natural that you feel unsure what foods you can safely eat, where to buy such foods, where to find some practical help and advice.

Don’t worry, there are approximately 650,000 Coeliacs in the UK, so you are far from being alone. 
This figure is the equivalent to 1 in 100 of the UK population. Other research suggests this figure is closer to 1 in 10....

It is a global propblem...maybe genetic. Maybe hereditary. The research continues.....

In the UK, the diagnosis is made a simple blood test first, followed by endoscopy is to confirm the diagnosis. Until you have the confirmation, it is imperative that you retain gluten in your normal diet.

Many people may neither know they are Coeliacs, nor do they understand the condition or know how to manage their diet successfully.

But there are many naturally gluten free foods, and gluten free equivalents of the usual favourites such as bread, pastry based items, and even beers and lagers, so there is no reason whatsoever to "go without".

Within a few weeks of a gluten free diet, you will already feel much better.

It is in the adjustment period that you will need some help as it is so important to adhere to the Gluten free life style.

In the section, you will find some practical tips to maintaining your diet in the home and also in social situations.

We have also compiled a list of tried and tested recipes to tempt your taste buds along with lots of information and advice about living a Gluten free lifestyle.