My friend has been diagnosed as Gluten & Dairy Intolerant

A good friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with a Gluten & Dairy Intolerance. At first I was sad to hear the news but then I realized that it was actually good. She had been feeling unwell for such a long time that it was a relief for her to finally know what the problem was and start being able to control it.

Of course once you are diagnosed, then what do you do? There are the obvious things to take out of your diet such as bread, pasta, milk & cream but what about all the hidden things in chicken stock, soy sauce and especially butter which is used in just about every type of cooking!

To help I offered to go over to her house & teach her how to cook one of my favorite meals - Thai Yellow Curry. Here are a few tips from our night that you might be interested in:

- Coconut Milk contains no dairy (it really is from a coconut) so it makes a great dairy alternative
- Rice Milk & Almond Milk are excellent dairy alternatives for breakfast, coffee & even cooking
- Always check the ingredient list of Soy Beverages as they often contain barley, which has gluten.
- There are loads of Gluten Free & Dairy Free Products now on the market for - bread, cakes, cookies, muffins, soy sauce, chicken stock, pasta etc.. Check the health foods isle in your grocery store.
- Avoid cross contamination of foods by using separate chopping boards, knives, bowls. Be careful of breadcrumbs in jams & spreads.
- Coconut Butter or Almond Butter is a great alternative to butter.
For more tips on gluten free cooking check out Gluten Free in The Kitchen

Eating Out
One of her main questions to me was about eating out? She travels frequently so eating out is essential. My suggestions were:

- Always travel with food, such as a gluten free bread, it is important to have a back up if you cannot find something suitable
- Carry allergy ID cards, especially when traveling in a foreign country
- Advise the restaurant when making your reservation that you require a Gluten and Dairy Free meal. Offer to bring your own ingredients such as Gluten Free pasta or soy sauce

Eating out can be intimidating initially, but once you become more comfortable with ordering, you won’t give it a second thought. Supportive friends, family and workmates also make a difference in making your dining experience enjoyable. It is great when they understand that certain restaurants are easier for you to eat than others, and that you need to take time when ordering to ensure that you receive a Gluten Free and Dairy Free meal.

Dining out may take a little more time and planning, but there is never any reason to miss out. For more advice on Eating Out Gluten Free see - Gluten Free Living: Eating Out

From Thai to Japanese to Mexican it’s true that some Gluten Free meals than others. For a complete run down on which cuisines are right for you see - International Cuisines

Enjoy!