Here at Lazy Day Foods, we understand the difficulties that can come with discovering, sometimes after a long wait, that you have coeliac disease. Our co-founder Emer knows this all too well. Emer was diagnosed around 15 years ago, at a time when the gluten-free choice was much smaller and usually a lot less tasty than some of the products you can find today!
If you've recently been diagnosed, you may be thinking that your time in the supermarket aisles is about to get longer as you check labels and discover just how many products, including some you might not expect, can contain gluten.
Rest assured, it does get easier. There's now much more information and support available, alongside a growing choice of gluten-free foods. As you learn what to look out for and discover the products you love, navigating a gluten-free lifestyle will start to feel much more familiar.
So, where do you start?
Get to Know What Contains Gluten
One of the first steps is getting familiar with the foods and ingredients you'll need to avoid. Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye, which means everyday foods such as bread, cakes, biscuits and pasta will usually contain gluten unless they're specifically made to be gluten-free.
It can also appear in less obvious places, from sauces to processed foods, so it's important to get into the habit of checking labels.
The good news is that there are now more gluten-free alternatives available than ever, so you don't have to say goodbye to all the foods you love.
Become a Label-Checking Pro
When you're shopping, look for products labelled gluten-free and always check the ingredients and allergen information.
It might feel time-consuming at first, but you'll soon get to know the brands and products you can rely on, making the weekly shop much easier.
If you're ever unsure whether something is suitable, it's always better to check before eating it.
Don't Forget About Cross-Contamination
Going gluten-free isn't only about the ingredients in your food. For people with coeliac disease, it's also important to consider how food is prepared.
At home, things like shared toasters, chopping boards and utensils can introduce gluten-containing crumbs to otherwise gluten-free food. Even dipping a knife back into the butter after spreading it on regular toast can leave crumbs behind.
If you share a kitchen with people who eat gluten, creating a few simple routines can make managing this much easier.
When eating out, don't be afraid to ask questions about how your food is prepared. Make sure the restaurant understands that you have coeliac disease and takes this seriously.
Find Your Go-To Gluten-Free Favourites
One of the best things you can do in those first few months is start building up a list of products you know you love.
Finding your favourite gluten-free bread, pasta, cereal, snacks and sweet treats means you won't have to start from scratch every time you go shopping.
And don't be discouraged if the first alternative you try isn't for you. Gluten-free food has come a long way, and there are plenty of delicious options to discover.
You Don't Have to Miss Out
This one is particularly important to us.
Being diagnosed with coeliac disease shouldn't mean missing out on birthday cake, dessert with friends or something sweet with your afternoon coffee.
In fact, it's one of the reasons Lazy Day exists.
Emer and fellow food scientist Dr Sally Beattie started Lazy Day in 2006 after experiencing first-hand how difficult it was to find free-from treats that tasted every bit as delicious as their mainstream equivalents.
Today, our treats are made in our dedicated free-from bakery in Scotland and are gluten-free, milk-free, egg-free and suitable for vegans. From cakes and biscuits to traybakes and individually wrapped treats, they're made so more people can enjoy the same delicious treats together.
Find Your Gluten-Free Community
You don't have to figure everything out yourself. There are lots of resources and communities available to help people living with coeliac disease.
Social media can be a great place to discover gluten-free recommendations too. There are lots of coeliac and gluten-free creators sharing everything from supermarket finds and new product launches to recipes, restaurant recommendations and tips for eating out. Following a few creators you trust can make discovering new gluten-free options feel much easier, and remind you that there's a whole community navigating the same things as you. Take a look at the tagged posts on our Instagram, where you'll find plenty of gluten-free creators sharing their favourite finds, reviews and recommendations.
Coeliac UK is a great place to find trusted information and support as you adjust to life with coeliac disease. From understanding food labels and finding gluten-free products to advice on eating out and travelling, there are plenty of helpful resources to make navigating your new gluten-free lifestyle a little easier.
Visit Coeliac UK to find advice, resources and support to help you live well gluten-free.
It Gets Easier
Those first few weeks of living gluten-free can involve a lot of checking, learning and adjusting, so give yourself time to find what works for you.
Before long, checking labels will become second nature, you'll know which products you love and you'll have your favourite places to shop and eat.
Most importantly, being coeliac doesn't mean missing out on the good stuff.
Everyone deserves to join in the joy.