With only one week to go until Christmas day, Food Intolerance expert Dr Gill Hart has one tip per day to help you stay “free-from” your trigger foods this Christmas!
Tip 1: Identify undetected food intolerances. For many, underlying and undetected food intolerances may be the cause of symptoms such as digestive problems, headaches, skin problems and joint pain. According to the leading charity Allergy UK, 45% of the population suffers from symptoms of food intolerance. You can try and guess which foods are causing your symptoms. However, the average number of different foods, that people with symptoms react to, is six and it is virtually impossible to determine the exact combination of foods that you may be reacting to, based on guesswork alone.
Tip 2: Don’t be afraid to ask in restaurants. Many restaurants are all too willing to adapt menus to suit those with food allergies and food intolerances. If in doubt give the restaurant a call in advance, or check out the menu in advance so that you feel prepared. If they aren’t willing then they probably aren’t worth visiting!
Tip3: Stock up with “free-from” snacks. Make sure you don’t get caught out with nothing suitable to eat. Have some emergency supplies readily available. I really like 9Bars, these are really healthy nutritious snacks that are wheat, gluten, egg, yeast, dairy and lactose free. Check out their website www.9-bar.co.uk.
Tip 4: Check the ingredients in alcoholic drinks. Many alcoholic drinks contain ingredients that can contribute to food intolerance symptoms. Check out the labels, particularly with the ‘ready to drink’, cocktails and beers and stick to those that you know don’t contain any of the ingredients that you react to. If in doubt then ask, or avoid.
Tip 5: Don’t panic. When faced with an array of scotch eggs, cheese sarnies, pork pies, vol-au-vent and bread sticks at a Christmas event, rather than being tempted, try and look for something available that you can eat. There may be a bowl of fruit available, some salad on the side, maybe a salsa dip, or some crisps or corn chips that you can eat. If not then reach in your bag for your emergency supplies, relax, enjoy the evening and then later treat yourself to something that you know won’t cause you grief!
Tip 6: Remember the consequences. It’s all too easy, especially after a few drinks, to throw caution to the wind and scoff down whatever is put in front of you. You may have felt a lot better recently on your “Free-From” diet and are prepared to take the risk. STOP and remember that Christmas and New Year really aren’t the best times to be reintroducing foods that you know cause you problems. You want to be at your best over this period and enjoy yourself to the full.
Tip 7: Reward yourself. There are so many “Free-From” Christmas treats out there. Check out Celtic Chocolates who offer Advent calendars, mints and fine dark chocolates – all dairy, gluten, wheat and egg free available from Sainsbury and Waitrose. Also try Sainsbury’s gluten, wheat and dairy free iced Christmas loaf cake and Tesco “Free-From” Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies. Enjoy the festive season, however you may be celebrating it.
