Five years ago I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, this means I have to stick to a strict gluten free diet. I had been sick most of my life and the doctors I went to were basically useless and never sent me for any tests. It was only when I moved to a new doctor that they couldn't believe I had been left unseen and not knowing what was wrong with me. I was then sent to see consultants who immediately knew it was coeliac disease by the gastroscopy test.
I never enjoyed bread, even when I was a child I can remember my mum trying to force me to eat pancakes as she thought I was just a fussy eater and the doctors didn't tell her otherwise (quite a funny story to tell people now). If I accidentally eat products containing gluten I get violently ill and it takes a few days for me to feel better again. Some people who have Coeliac don't seem to get as severe side affects but it is still doing damage to their bodies, not sticking to your gluten free diet can lead to possibilities like bowel cancer. People ask me if I miss eating 'normal' products and they feel bad when I'm out and can't eat certain things, my mind tells me not to eat those products and therefore I don't seem to crave gluten food.
Below are some things I would have in work or on the go when I can't find anything that is gluten free.
Having Coeliac means that sometimes you can get an upset stomach so I enjoy drinking a peppermint tea after meals as it helps your digestive system. Having Coeliac also means you are at higher risk of catching colds/flu's and feeling run down as it's an autoimmune disease. I try and take a echinacea & raspberry tea every day as echinacea helps with your immune system.
It can be hard to figure out what to have for lunch, I usually bring in left-overs from the previous nights dinner. If I sometimes forget lunch I usually like to eat rice cakes with banana or some organic peanut butter on them, they are actually quite filling.
Bananas are always a good food to have as they release energy slowly and are a great snack for in between meals. If I'm having a craving for chocolate I enjoy eating these Kelkin chocolate covered rice cakes. I now and again buy these 9 bars which have all natural ingredients which give an energy boost, they are quite big so I tend to half them, the peanut flavour is my favourite.
At the weekends I enjoy having rice cakes with cheese and piccolo cherry tomatoes on the top, these are so delicious!
You can never go wrong with yoghurt and fruit when you are feeling peckish, natural yoghurt is my favourite then I usually add fruit to it.
For breakfast I sometimes have natural yoghurt with banana in it, this is so yummy and very filling.
At the minute this is my favourite bar to eat in the morning in between breakfast in lunchtime.
Does anyone else have Coeliac Disease, if so I would look to see what you all like to snack on:)
