Many people know I am a dietitian.


Many people know I have coeliac disease. It’s great to share some of the experiences I have had living life as a coeliac, and a health professional working in the area, actively promoting great tastes!


I recently went to Nth Coast NSW to present at an Information Day to a group of dietitians, teaching about some dietary hints for managing irritable bowel syndrome. Whilst sitting in the coffee shop at Balina airport, waiting to board my plane home, I was a little hungry as ironically my gluten free dietary requirements were forgotten in the catering at the Information Day!


I did enjoy end up receiving a selection of salads, but mmm, was looking for something more, now being later in the day. I looked around at the foods on the shelves.


It was great to see great tasting local produce: Brookfarm muesli there – yum, but my tastebuds were after something a little different to a breakfast cereal at 5.30pm! And of course, the Byron Bay Cookie Company was there too – so yes, I confess, I did get a little tempter pack of gluten free choc biscuits to pop in my bag for later.


But what I was most surprised to see was the menu…. “Gluten Free Available”.


This was written just underneath the hamburger and toasted sandwich menu items, in bright pink chalk within a spunky blue star.
Wow!

I couldn’t believe that on a very limited menu (this was only a little café, with only a small kitchen) gluten free hamburgers were available!

Yum – not often you come across such a menu choice!

So, I ordered up!

A hamburger with bacon, beetroot, cheese, lettuce and tomato. The whole meal was delicious, and really memorable!


Isn’t life great? You never know what you will come across or when! I feel the experiences of eating delicious gluten free when away from home are increasing, for sure.


It is now not uncommon to see restaurants make a comment at the bottom of their menu that they can cater for gluten free; we may even see gluten free dishes indicated on the menu, or even better be presented with a gluten free menu, where all dishes listed are suitable.


Bon Appetite!

Comments: Add/Manage comment

It was twelve years ago when I was at university, studying to be a dietitian, just about to sit an exam, when I first found out I had coeliac disease.

I remember it well – I used a public telephone in the uni cafe to return a phone call I had missed the night before from my doctor.

In hindsight I can see it probably wasn’t the best time to phone before an exam, but that’s when I got told, “Sue, you have coeliac disease, so you need a gluten free diet. You won’t be able to eat normal bread and pasta again, but you’ll feel so much better for it.

Basically just need to watch what you eat. But you should know that – you’re going to be a dietitian, right? “

What?! I didn’t know what to do at all!! Gluten free? Forever?

Well I passed the exam, graduated, and still live to tell the tale! In fact I am healthy and enjoy many gluten free foods!

Although I am still alive and well to tell the tale, for me, and most people diagnosed with coeliac disease, being told I needed a gluten free diet, and then discovering the changes in lifestyle this created was at first overwhelming.

Having coeliac disease means you need a gluten free diet and you have to think about food. I wake in the morning and think, “Ok, where am I going to be today?

Will there be gluten free food there? Will I need to take it with me? Will I eat before I go?” And of course, knowing the gluten free diet must be strict and life-long means I can’t “break out” every now and then for a sneaky biscuit, pizza or pasta!.

So being diagnosed with coeliac disease, and having a job as a dietitian has meant that I live and breathe coeliac disease – both personally and professionally.

My coeliac disease diagnosis has been something that has been a positive and rewarding part of my life. I have taken the diagnosis to enjoy and embrace opportunities that I may not have otherwise had.

I like being a public spokesperson for all “great tastes gluten free”. I have worked closely with food manufacturing companies, the medical and health profession, and have been fortunate enough to travel internationally to talk about coeliac disease and my PhD research findings.

I have written cookbooks and been on television, radio and featured in print. I have also had the thrill of organising the Gluten Free Food Shows in Melbourne. What a joy it was to see so many happy faces enjoying gluten free food without question at the first ever Show last year.

I am very excited about the next one coming up on 20-21st October! Life is only what you make of it… and I am lucky enough to have had a tiring-at-times, but an amazing experience-rich journey so far, which has no doubt been enhanced by my diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Comments: Add/Manage comment

susieo72@hotmail.com says:  Being diagnosed with coelic has changed my life for the better of course. I love going on my missions and trying to cook new and tasteful foods and my partner has even changed his eating ways. I found a tavern on the Gold Coast that has 5 meals catered for us Coelics..you can just imagine how excited I was. Sue your cook books are fantastic and I have just purchased your third book, some awesome receipes in there. Thank you!!

Dee says:  I am not a coeliac but i have i.b.s & lactose intollerent.But i still can relate to your story as gluten & dairy free diets help my conditions.Infact i someyimes find it very hard to eat out as many things are not both gluten & dairy free.So i am really looking forward to my first gluten free show. Kind regards Dee

rkdHFFL@internet-marketing-australia.com says:  I really love what you say. For us - coeliacs it is very important to eat gluten free food.

Something about the value of meat.
I have tried to eleminate meat from my diet for 5 years,

For obvious reasons - di dnot feel very well. Thought that vegies and carbohydrates should be my stuff.
Was wrong!

recently tried to eat meat according with Eat by Blood Type and guess what: in just 2 moinths great improvement!
It is not Atkinson - just fresh meat, slightly cooked and green vegies!
What a finding - I am ne wnow!

Comments: Add/Manage comment

A message to all friends/relatives/etc of vegetarians out there.

Thanks for trying to accommodate us, but can you please feed us something other than vegetarian lasagna?!!!
No meat doesn’t have to mean no fun!
I guarantee anyone who tries it will love Jody’s pumpkin, tofu & cashew curry.

Comments: Add/Manage comment

My kids (4 and 2) have been living on pasta for months – it’s all they would eat, but I’ve just discovered the mini-frittatas from the vegetarian book are a hit!

I swapped the asparagus (which is a bit adult) for peas. Next time, might try adding corn too.

Definitely going to check out the kids recipe books next.

PS the Blackbean Caramel Tofu & Eggplant sounds a bit ordinary, but trust me, it’s mouthwatering.

Comments: Add/Manage comment

My boyfriend and I are doing a two week detox to get ready for summer.
The Detox recipe book has so many more options than we expected,
it’s actually been fun, and we’ve found quite a few new favourites which are going to be perfect for entertaining this summer – steamed ginger fish, detox salad, lime & lemongrass chicken to name a few.

Comments: Add/Manage comment

My sister gave me the recipe for the Pear & Hazelnut bircher muesli (from the Pregnancy food book) – it’s heavenly!

I make a big batch on a Sunday night to last me most of the week. I can’t start my day without it!

Comments: Add/Manage comment

How to eliminate problem in the restaurant with gluten food:
Ask that a plain piece of meat, fish or chicken be set aside before marinade, sauce or barbecue sauce is added.

Comments: Add/Manage comment

i just learned this:
Gluten is a protein found in all forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, and spelt), rye, oats, barley and related grain hybrids such as triticale and kamut.

When people with celiac disease consume gluten, the absorptive villi in the small intestine are damaged, preventing the absorption of many important nutrients. The long-term effect of untreated celiac disease can be life threatening. However, with a completely gluten-free diet, the intestinal lining will heal completely allowing most patients to live a normal, healthy life as long as they remain free of gluten in their diet. Even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms to reoccur.

Comments: Add/Manage comment

Does anyone know of a good recipe for beetroot risotto?

Comments: Add/Manage comment