No wheat!!

karene_4 · 10 April 2005 at 8:12PM

Hi everyone,
You'll have to bear with me but this is my first time of posting anything on this site. I think all of you are an inspiration and on that note can you inspire me?

After a visit to the doctor I've been advised to give up wheat for a while. I just love pasta and home made bread,so this news is PANTS!
The alternatives at the health food shop seem expensive and horrid. :j

elona · 10 April 2005 at 8:16PM

Have you tried rye bread - you can get it sliced in a packet and it is called Pumpernickel.

karene_4 · 10 April 2005 at 8:23PM

Thanks for your reply, does anyone know if you can make it in the breadmaker as the bought stuff seems so heavy in texture.

Paul_Varjak · 10 April 2005 at 8:47PM

Does the doctor think you may have Coeliac Disease or just a Wheat Allergy? If you have Coeliac Disease, you should not eat anything containing wheat, rye or barley (sometimes oats as well). Also beware of the 'hidden content' of foodstuffs (especially processed food).

If you are diagnosed a Coeilac you will be able to get bread on prescription, but most of them are pretty awful! Some biscuits are avaiable on prescription too, but they are tasteless.

Some of the large supermarkets such as Sainsbury and Asda have special ranges of gluten-free food and some of the cakes and biscuits are as good as the wheat-containing varieties. But even they may not have decent bread.

You may also want to look at https://www.coeliac.co.uk as they produce a list of wheat-free and gluten-free foods; many processed foods have 'hidden' wheat and gluten.

juno · 10 April 2005 at 9:06PM

I'm a coeliac!

You will not find a decent gluten/wheat free bread loaf anywhere

Juvela do some nice bread rolls that you can get on prescription. You need to reheat them in the microwave to make them edible though.
Or make your own using Glutafin's bread mix. You just add yeast (supplied in the packet), water, and oil. It can be done in a bread maker or just in the oven.

You can get loads of different types of pasta! Glutafin and Juvela do nice ones. You can get fusilli, penne, spaghetti, even lasagne! It's all available on prescription, or supermarkets do a limited range.

Asda have a bigger range than Tesco, but Tesco do more exciting things like fish fingers and hot cross buns. Holland and Barratt sell tinned spaghetti!

The coeliac society site has information about local groups you can join, and meet other local sufferers. Also, if you register with Glutafin they send you news of their proiducts and occasional samples. Juvela also send product information, and do the best savory biscuits ever. If you click on "newly diagnosed" you can send off for a free starter pack. But if anyone is reading this and does not need the starter pack please do not abuse this in the way you abused the Glutafin starter pack offer, as they have now suspended that and do not provide this valuable help to people in positions such as the OP.

Feel free to PM me if you want any more information.

Paul_Varjak · 11 April 2005 at 2:43PM

juno:

My mother was diagnosed a coeliac when aged about 76, hence the reason I know a little about the products available. But she went into a home not long after so I am not up-to-date on the products.

I do remember that there is a very good supplier of gluten-free foods in Hull (cannot recall name at present) that supply Sainsbury's and maybe some other supermarkets now. Their products are not only cheaper than the more well known sources like Juvela and Glutafin but tastier as well - in fact, as good as wheat products! Many of their prodcucts are sold under other names.

The company (wish I could remember name) never intended to produce cakes/biscuits for coeliacs but intended to produce 'low fat' cakes and just happened not to use wheat flour! They then found that they were getting enquiries from Coeliacs.

I have been to a few Coeliac meetings when their products have been given away - and all were delicious!

I am not sure if they do bread yet, though!

juno · 11 April 2005 at 4:28PM

Paul: I know their are other gluten free suppliers, but I thought I'd reccomend Glutafin and Juvela as their websites are helpful and everything they do is gluten free. And you can get them pretty much everywhere too. If you go into Asda or Tesco or anywhere then they have gluten free sections, but not all products there are gluten free!

Did you mean Dietary Specials/Nutrition Point? They do supply some food to Asda, but for some reason Asda hide it in the Organic section and don't stock much, probably because no one can find it so it doesn't sell. :mad:

Karene: Goodness Direct do a wide range of gluten and wheat free products! Some of the products in the list are "normal" things, like soya milk, that you can get from other places as well. But they do a nice range of pizzas and pies too! They also have bread, but I haven't tried it.

Their website just reminded me of another point! Check the labels on everything! There is hidden wheat in many things. Even oven chips! And once you've found a product you like keep reviewing the label periodically. Sometimes manufacturers change the recipe, and it always seems to be to add wheat rather than take it out.

elona · 11 April 2005 at 4:52PM

If you miss pasta you could use eggs cooked as a flat omelette and cut into strips.

Paul_Varjak · 11 April 2005 at 5:17PM

juno:

You cannot just rely on the labels to ensure something is gluten-free! You have to use the Coeliac UK Gluten Free list! Some foods do, by contamination, contain gluten, which is not on any ingredients list!

The name of the company that sells the delicious gluten-free cakes, bicsuits, pies and tarts is:

BAKERS DELIGHT
PO Box 222
HULL
HU2 0LF

01706 650356 (This is not a Hull number)

Their products are sold in in Asda under the brand name BAKERS DELIGHT. But Tesco and Sainsburys use their own brand names (but not all gluten-free products in Tesco and Sainsburys are made by BAKERS DELIGHT) There are finger muffins, round muffins and loaf-shaped cakes, jam tarts, apple pies and mince pies.

Their bread has been reasonably well received by Coeliacs and their rolls and baguettes are supposedly even better. Even non-coeliacs actually like and eat the baguettes! Sainsburys sell their bread, Tesco sell their baguettes, rolls and bread. Asda do not sell their bread products.

The company is family-run and most products are developed in-house by a master baker. Their products are not only tastier they are also cheaper (good for MSE'rs).

If anyone on wants more information please PM as I have a contact who can provide more info! Please note: I have no financial interest!

juno · 11 April 2005 at 6:10PM

Paul: I can tell your info is out of date. There's new EU regulations for product labelling now. Of course, if you are unsure use the guide, but it's easiest to read the label first and then consult the guide if the label doesn't mention gluten or lack of. Most dubious products reveal themselves one way or the other, and those that don't will have to shortly.

I tried the Baker's Delight Apple Pies, Cherry things and something else from Asda, and I wasn't impressed. They have a very dry, crumbly texture. Of course I can't compare them to non gluten free pies so they might actually be better.

rubytwilight · 11 April 2005 at 11:48PM

Have not tried so can;t vouch for taste but spotted this in lakeland's catalgue for gluten free bread mix .

http://www.lakelandlimited.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/GBP/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=ZrF1-QjhErWRpEq7mJt-_6AhqtQMGe9NMI8=?ProductID=xAbAqAYU_0YAAAEAbizYYT02

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

No wheat!!

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