Blog Resurrection

It looks like after a 3 year gap I am resurrecting this blog.  Our allergy situation at home is unchanged.  The not so Small-n-Grubby is still following a restricted food diet.  We have introduced most of the foods from his original urticaria exclusion diet.  He hasn't had an allergic reaction for 8 years, so unless he has grown out of it, we are doing something right!  He now avoids nuts in any form (including products that may contain traces), sesame, preservatives (benzoates, sulphites, nitries), artificial colours and any other additives we aren't sure about.  I think he will stay on this diet for some time now.  He isn't keen to be tested for allergens and I can't see myself purposefully feeding him sulphur dioxide to see what happens, he just doesn't need to eat that stuff!

His hero product is currently Bakin' Boys Flapjack.

One of the few snack products he can buy off the shelf.

For me it's no wheat, rye, barley or oats.  I am shying away from saying gluten free as it's no longer the best description for me (see previous post).

With Small-n-Grubby being vegetarian by choice and Branston Pickle being a picky eater, not to mention having a typical teenage daughter, I am often found in the kitchen cooking at least 3 different evening meals.  I have found a few recipes where one meal suits all and I will be sharing them here among my rants and raves about all things food related.

** Kate **

Gluten Free Oats - a rant!

Gluten free oats used to be a mysterious and rare substance.  After all oats are gluten free, right?  Well yes they are, but they become contaminated in the milling process (by wheat or rye for example.)  In the last 18 months or so I have seen them become much more readily available and lots of gluten free products now contain them.

This matters not a jot if, like me, you can't eat oats, whether they are gluten free or gold plated they are still oats.  Oats naturally contain a substance called avenin, which for some people will have a similar affect on their digestive system as gluten.  I can vouch for this as I sit here this evening with stomach cramps awaiting other digestive misery!

I've been seriously avoiding gluten for about 12 years.  I tried gluten free oats but they weren't an option for me.  Regrettably, I think I am in the minority as even a mini survey of gluten free friends on twitter hasn't turned up an oat free pal.

Whilst the options for delicious, gluten free convenience foods widen my options are shrinking.  Tesco Free From cookies, that I used to love, now have an improved recipe.
   

They've added gluten free oat flour!

Today I bought and ate a 9bar, as I've done many times before.  Love 9bar, gluten free snacks and here was a new 'breakfast' one in a box at the till that I hadn't tried before.  Labelled gluten free, has the crossed grain symbol.

Quick scan of the allergens in bold, no problems there.

My own fault, I suppose, I should have stood in the store, at the till, with the queue behind me and read every single ingredient as I realise I now must do with every gluten free product I buy in future.  

There is a possibility that the minuscule writing under the crossed grain symbol is the incorrect licence and I will be looking into this further, checking other similar products.  But, in the meantime, I may need to buy a magnifying glass to take shopping with me!

~ Kate ~