So what is coeliac disease?
According to the Coeliac Society of Ireland:
"Coeliac disease (pronounced see-lee-yak) is a condition causing some adults and children to react to the gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Some coeliacs are also sensitive to the protein found in oats. If a coeliac eats gluten the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged reducing the coeliac's ability to absorb the nutrients from food. This can lead to various symptoms and complications if undiagnosed."
So people with coeliac disease (like me) must avoid all foods which contain wheat, barley and rye.
For example:
But here's what we can eat:
Travel tips:
According to the Coeliac Society of Ireland:
"Coeliac disease (pronounced see-lee-yak) is a condition causing some adults and children to react to the gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Some coeliacs are also sensitive to the protein found in oats. If a coeliac eats gluten the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged reducing the coeliac's ability to absorb the nutrients from food. This can lead to various symptoms and complications if undiagnosed."
So people with coeliac disease (like me) must avoid all foods which contain wheat, barley and rye.
For example:
- Wheat berries, spelt berries, couscous
- Bread, cakes etc (made using wheat, spelt or rye flour)
- Pasta (wheat)
- Soy sauce (tamari is usually ok - check the label!)
- Sausages (J Hick & Sons sell gluten-free sausages)
- Pre-made burgers
- Beer (made using barley hops)
But here's what we can eat:
- Any of the above which is made gluten free
- Rice, potatoes, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, gluten-free oats, polenta
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Meat & Fish (but always be wary if it has been processed/pre-seasoned)
- Nuts & seeds
- Beans & legumes
Travel tips:
- Research! - do a google search: "gluten free Dublin", ask on twitter/facebook and hopefully someone can help you out.
- Ask! - check the availability of gf food with the airline/hotel/b&b. Request it if they don't already offer it (if there's a language barrier, you could send them a copy of the restaurant card in their preferred language - see #3).
- If travelling abroad: download and print a gluten-free restaurant card in the native language of your destination. I have used these ones in Italy, Czech Republic and Morocco (I brought and used both Arabic and French) with great success!
- Bring gluten-free snacks - I usually bring at least some snacks for the journey (in case your requested gluten-free meal somehow gets lost along the way...) and some other food just in case (there's nothing worse than being really hungry and not able to find gluten free food). Some suggestions: granola, snack bars (e.g. Nakd, 9bar or even homemade), a mix of nuts/seeds/dried fruit, fruit.
- Enjoy your trip :-)