Hello! I'm from Queensland in Australia and we probably get a lot of our products from the same manufacturers as those of you in New Zealand so that should be a bit helpful

I'm a self diagnosed coeliac/gluten intolerant now with all the symptoms but went off gluten before i was tested as it was just a hunch at first. A hunch that has stopped alot of problems i've had for ages but never would have thought it was coeliac related, thank goodness i'm a big googler!

In Australia we have labelling laws which say all common allergens must be listed on all our products (this includes gluten now) but i have had problems with a few products with no mention of gluten or wheat like candy lane choc coated peanuts from coles (i think they must be made on the same lines as their choc coated sultanas which do contain wheat)......i'm not sure if these laws are the same in NZ. I dont think alcoholic beverages have to list any ingredients at the mo', but i'm sure that will change soon, i just stick to yummy wine

I always find myself carrying food around with me, one of those little boxes of sultanas as well as a little bag of nuts and mother earth popcorn if i'm going to be out for a while keeps me going. there just doesnt seem to be anywhere convenient to eat without huge risks of cross contamination!

It would be nice to meet someone nearby....well in the same hemisphere at least lol I keep reading about all these great bread mixes available in the US and canada which we dont get, but i have enjoyed the basco bread mix, has a good texture and a mild flavour unlike all the premade ones i've tried....not sure if basco is available in NZ, its made by a company called greens.

I love orgran rice and corn pasta, and san remo spaghetti, chic nuts are delicious too (roasted crunchy chic peas with salt or tomato flavouring available in the health food aisle of the supermarket). i've been baking alot too and its been working out well but i have to restrict how many goodies i cook otherwise i eat them all and expand

anyway i must dash! hope to hear from anyone in my neck of the woods!

Aussie Peg
this is "anyone from my neck of the woods", but across the ditch, so to speak. Yes there are a few of us here, but I find the site so interesting, esp about the physical side of coeliac, but there is just not much food information that I can relate to and rely on. I know our m&m's here have glucose from wheat in them, well they did last time I looked, but in the USA they are gluten free.
Yes I agree our food laws are very similar, and hey, a lot of our food comes from Australia. I'm not a food snob anymore, once I would try so hard to buy kiwi made, but that is not always possible when I want something gluten free, and there is nothing kiwi made, so I go Aussie made, or anywhere made.

Well I have two sons in Sydney, and another one here thinking about doing the Melbourne thing next week. Help, I will only have one son left.

And I have believe it or not, most of my immediate family in aussie. Two brothers and a sister and all their whanau in Darwin. And a little sister in Brisbane. Kiwis are probably Australia's import.

Are you going to watch the came tomorrwo night, rugby of course. Us against the Aussies, always a good match to watch. But we will beat you. Lol. We will try, but the aussies seem to have a habit of beating us at the last minute. Still having said that I am not a rugby fanatic, but I do like netball. Another well matched couple of teams, and always exciting to watch you agains us.

Must go, got to get to work.

Cathy

Another thing, it annoys me about the alcohol thing too, no indication of what is in it. Like you I stick to the yummy wine, and hey there is some in the fridge for tonight. Lucky me.

Cathy

Cathy,

Do you have any info on O'Brien Brewing? Saw from website they have a gluten-free beer. I also saw they will be doing something in Sydney on Sept. 29. Maybe someone could try the beer and give an opinion on it's taste.

Tom

Tom
No I have no information about the beer. Personally I don't like beer, I prefer the wine.
You could try the beer, and then let us know what you think of it.
Cathy

Has anyone found any sweets, like jubes, snakes etc, that are gluten free? Every pack i check has that darned wheat glucose syrup in it! I spotted some gluten free nut bars in the supermarket today from the nice and natural company....has anyone tried these before?

i've got heaps of info from companies about gluten in their products if anyone wants me to send them some info

i find this site so interesting too! i'm on here nearly every day, its also a comfort thing so i dont feel so alone with these issues. I can't get enough of the cooking section either, its a life saver!

Kaycee - i'm not a big sporting person but my dad enjoys the excitment of the rugby and netball so i always get updates from him. Wow you do have a lot of family over here! some of my family has been moving to the UK so who knows how many will follow lol.

Did anyone go to the gluten free food expo in Melbourne on the 12th of August? i'd love to hear what it was like
Thanks!

Peg,
I was so excited today, I found some chocolate without soy in it. It is so hard to find any chocolate without soy. And it was just a simple humble Cadbury flake. But yum, it lasted in my hand a minute if that.!
I had to get some, the boss had told me to get a few little treat size bars to put inot the staffs cubby holes if they were tidy, a little reward for the good employees. Well my cubby hole was not going to win any awards, and any little chocolate bar just wouldn't be any good for me, so I passed on the challenge. But I got myself a big sized flake and put it in my cubby hole, while everyone else, just the good ones mind you, got a small measly little bar.

I have found some gluten free marsmallows, and, because I have been a bit missing out on yummy sweets, I managed to eat most of them in a couple of sittings. They were called Mr Mallows. Like you Peg I have found it hard to find a treat here and there. There are a few muesli bars around, but hardly anything in the way of lollies and toffees.

The hardest time for me is when there is a morning tea put on at work. And there were two put on this week, and there was nothing on the table that I could even think about eating! Drats. So I had a brainwave and went home, just around the corner, and dug in my freezer, and grabbed a bag of homemade gluten-free muffins. So now at work, if they have a special treat I will grab a muffin out of the work freezer.

The bread mix I get is a healtheries mix, it is called Simple and works okay, if I want variety, I put in some fruit, or nuts and seeds. To make the loaf have a bit more keep togetherness, I add an egg to the mixture, and it makes it no so crumbly. I have not seen the mix you use Peg.
Cathy

I'm from south east of Australia, not far from the Murray River.

I spoke to someone who attended the Expo in Melbourne. She said it was great. Huge response. Unfortunately some of the stalls closed early afternoon because they had run out of products, they had no idea the Expo would attract so many people.

I make my own bread using a premix that is made by Lansell Cottages Industries in Bendigo (www.lansellcottage.com.au). I also bought a cookbook from Wheat Free World (wheatfreeworld.com.au). It has some great recipes in it and they sell (online) the different flours used in the recipes. After being gluten free for nearly two years I've now found that I can make most of my favourite foods gluten free with acceptable results. Vaalia make yoghurt that is labelled gluten free and it is really yummy.

The lolly question is one I can't help with although I thought that glucose syrup made from wheat didn't contain the gluten protein.

The 'morning tea at work' issue is one of my greatest frustrations - I have given up on even trying with them. I also bring my own.

Ruth.

We are to have our own coeliac expo in Christchurch with Dr Rodney Ford at the end of September. Could be the same one that was in Australia. I would love to go, but it is in the south island, and so far away. What makes it worse, is that I went down to Christchurch just 5 weeks ago, and I don't think I will be allowed to go again so soon! I wish I had known it was on soooner, and then would've planned the holiday later.

Morning teas I hate. The silly thing is that it is usually up to me to go buy and present it all at the table. One day, not long after being dianosed, I went with good intentions to the supermarket etc, and told myself, I would make it totally gluten free. I bit off a bit more than I could chew. All there was, that was gluten free, was fruit, easter eggs (not really sure how safe they were), rice crackers, corn crackers which are so big and bulky, and cheeses. So I really failed at the test I gave myself. So Ibought a couple of gluten free things I liked, and was very nice to my fellow workers and bought them cake, hot cross buns and savouries. At least they know I wouldn't have licked the knife. But it still makes it tough. Yesterday I was nearly in a lather when somebody mentioned chocolate fish. Thanks to granny, I grew up on them!
Still that is the way it goes, and now I will make sure I always have a stash of frozen muffins in the freezer at school.

Cathy

I'm not Australian, but I'm in OZ, and I just had to pop in and say that Early Harvest bread is the best gluten-free bread on Earth. I've purchased it a couple times at Health Emporium in Bondi Beach. There's also a bakery in Sydney that makes the best gluten-free muffins on Earth. I can't think of the name of the bakery but I buy them at the U Eat Healthy health food store in Surry Hills. The muffins are made out of almond meal and they are sooooo good.

Thanks for that tip Mango04! i've been keeping my eyes peeled for that bread but havent seen it anywhere yet so i think i'll contact the company and see where i can buy it, i really need a good bread!

Chocolate fish....are those chocolate covered marshmallow things? if so, i love them too and have been yearning for one for ages. i'm going to look into the mr mallow marshmallows, i've found an online shop in brisbane that stocks them so i might just order some things from there and dunk them in my own melted chocolate.....or nutella, yum!

i'm not working at the moment so i havent had the morning tea problem but even at home i struggle to find things to eat for breakky, lunch and inbetween especially when there's tonnes of glutenful foods in the cupboard looking far more appetising than what i have in my little cupboard. i think i just need to go on a food shopping frenzy and stock up!

Thats great that the melbourne expo was so popular, hopefully places will realise how many non-gluten eaters there are and make life a little easier for us

how does the Lansell Cottages Industries bread turn out Ruth? I've had a terrible time trying to find a good recipe, the basco bread mix is pretty good but i dont really look forward to eating it, if i toast it and it goes a bit too brown then it tastes really bitter and I havent mastered the toaster yet lol.

Has anyone found anywhere that sells sorghum flour?? i've been hunting for it but just cant find it!

mmm, i do enjoy vaalia yoghurt, a lot of yoplait yoghurt is gluten-free and all ski yoghurt (only the mixed berry in ski double ups though) is too but always check the labels...i've got tonnes of lists in a folder so i'm happy to copy and paste or send it to anyone i've been eating a lot of jalna (i think thats the name) greek yoghurt with golden syrup drizzled over it and its so yummy!

My dietician told me that the wheat glucose syrup and caramal colours (from wheat) are ok to have too but i've had definite reactions to things with the glucose syrup in them and i'm still not sure with the caramel colours....maybe they just have a teensy tiny amount of gluten in them but i might be more sensitive and my body can still detect it. gosh i miss strawberry freddo frogs and cherry ripes!

Kaycee - thats so great that you can have cadbury flakes!! Must have been funny seeing everyones reactions to your giant chocolate bar when they get these measley ones, classic! you should keep a flake on you at all times in case of emergencies

phew, i've rambled on enough! sorry for such a long post

Yes Peg, they would be marsmallow chocolate fish.
And I know what it is like having a pantry full of things I can't eat. But I do tricks. If I know I can't eat something, I don't mind buying it for a for treat the kids, or hubby, and that way I am not tempted. What is there that we can eat anyway, if it is not healthy? But at times, I just need something unhealthy and full of sugar. Flake bar maybe, don't really know if it agrees with me, but I ate it.

I am at a stage where nothing seems to agree or work with me. It is frustrating, and I am sure I am getting a bit neurotic. What am I to do. I have cut out soy and dairy, apart from the wonderful Liddells lactose free milk, and that flake bar. Have cut out peanuts and probalby all legumes, except for frozen peas. You would think I should be a lot better. Maybe I have to cut out coffe, and the milk and corn. I am just toying with the thought, that it might be my dishwashing liquid. How crazy do I have to go? Could it be that?

Just as a thought what dishwashing liquid, for handwashing dishes do you use. Ihave been using Morning fresh, lavendar coloured.

Just an aside, you Australians had us kiwis worried for a few minutes last night with the rugby, I can say it was a good game.

Sorry if I am on a negative note today. Just frustrated and a bit down. I think I will attack the kitchen now and clean it out from top to bottom.

Cathy

Cathy

Peg, I forgot to mention, that caramel colouring I usually avoid too. There was some in a creamed rice tin, and it did a number on me. Labelled as gluten free etc etc. There are three ways to make caramel, i am guessing, as sometimes after 150 the number that denotes caramel in a food product, there can be and a, b, or c, or even I, II, or III. There could be four, but I avoid the last couple as they are from what I gather derived from a wheat base. I have found a vege spread from freedom foods, australian based and it has a caramel with 150a on the label and that seems to agree with me.

For a treat I make a flaked rice, it is like a creamed rice, easy to make and even easier to eat. I am careful what vanilla essence I put in.

Flaked rice
Bring 600mls of milk to the boil
Add 1 cup flaked rice, 2tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp salt.
Boil for three minutes
Add 2 beaten eggs and 1/4 tsp vanilla essence.

Nice for breakfast lunch and dessert.

Hints and ideas
I halve the recipe, enough for four serves, or two big ones
I used Liddell's lactose free milk
I have frozen in individual lots and microwaved when needed.
Cooke with dried fruit would be nice.

Cathy

Mr Mallow marshmallows are in Target stores in sydney, so try them in Brisbane. Also find them in Priceline. There are at least 3 varieties.

There's also a wholesaler who has them, as we are getting them for a Fete!

I think the great muffins the Mango talks about are from Roberto's - a bakery at Balmain.

Our usual cafe on weekends always has them for my hubbie.

I make Basco muffins and freeze them straight away. Use the ingredients on box, but not their instructions.
Instead, really beat egg, the add rest of the wet ingredients and beat hard so all bubbly, then add the packet, and beat to mix, then hard for about 3 minutes. I often add an extra tablespoon of oil to make them more crispy on the top. They are fantastic!!!!

I use "earth" brand dishwashing liquid and i contacted the company and they told me its gluten free so that one should be fine if its available in NZ. I tried to contact the morning fresh folks but couldnt find any contact details so i just stick with my safe "earth" brand

Kaycee, I've been having some troubles too with new symptoms even though i'm sure i'm keeping gluten free, i've been getting a sore throat every morning for the last week which gets milder through the day, and i've had some C and lung aches (if thats what u call them) so i'm going to cut out dairy and see what happens. Have you had an allergy screening? I'm not sure how much they cost but that could really help you find what the problem is....also i keep a food diary so i can do detective work to see what causes the problems, i've found that helped a lot! I hope you start to feel better soon, i'll send lots of good health vibes your way!! i find relaxing on the couch watching something on tv that makes me laugh cheers me up when i'm have a sad day, i'll send lots of happy vibes too

i've found golden syrup drizzled on fruit helps with the sugar cravings because its so potent, sure hits the spot especially on strawberries! I just bought flaked rice today so i think i'll make that recipe tomorrow, sounds delish!! thanks Kaycee!

Thanks for the marshmallow locations shiba! i'll check target and priceline this week, i cant wait!! i'll get the basco muffin mix too, i made them ages ago but followed the directions on the pack and they werent that great so i cant wait to try your directions, i miss muffins!

I try to avoid the caramel colours from wheat but the only gluten free soy sauce i can find is the one by fountain but it has the evil wheaty colour. has anyone found a completely gluten free soy sauce??

thanks for all your help everyone!! i hope you've had a smashing weekend!!

Peg,
your happy vibes are working for me. Went for my walk with a friend this am and I didn't even know myself. I was bubbling away, cracking funny jokes etc etc. It was dark, so maybe she didn't know who I was either. Your health vibes have done the trick too. Thank you

Gluten free soy sauce, have you tried a brand called tamari organic soy sauce. It is wheat free,can't guarantee the gluten free, someone else might know. Don't all soy sauces have that evil colour? Instead of soy sauce I use Vege Spread from freedom foods. It is like vegemite, and packed with flavour, and only need about a teaspoon for a stir fry.

I have not been for an allergy screening. I should I know, but it is a time thing and a doctor thing, he told me things will take time to come right. I agree now, but there is so much he could've told me, but I guess he just does not know. I think, and hope it is just an intolerance and I will grow out of it in time, and be able to put milk etc back in my diet. Not sure about soy, don't think I even like it.

I keep the food diary too, it seems to work, but sometimes I jump to the wrong conclusion and blame the wrong thing. Still don't know what it was last week, but I am over that, it just seems to take away all my energy and vitality. Peg I hope you work out the last of your food problems. Hope it is only something simple like, maybe not enough sugar. Of course it would never be that. How long have you been gluten free, I have only been for 8 months, I remember my last sandwich well, and it was a sandwich that didn't even make me sick! But then it is now the little things that get me.

Peg I so envy you being able to rest up on the couch and watch tv for relaxation! I work five days a week, forever walking the dog as well, the weekends aren't very relaxing with two teenage boys and a hubby. They are so useless in the kitchen etc, but I love them to bits. Time out for me is nearly non-existant, unless you can call time on the computer time out? But this is serious stuff keeping in touch with people.

Cathy

Hi Aussie Peg,

The Lansell Cottages bread mix comes out really well. The only adjustment I make to their breadmix is to add a heaped teaspoon of Xanthum gum. It makes up really well in the bread maker but I think it would be just as good done with an electric beater and cooked in the oven

I've also been trying to find sorghum flour and the only supplier I can find is 'Tribes ...?'. It is an online shop that markets african type food (very expensive). My son gave me a recipe book by Cynthia Meares and in it she has a wheat free alternative flour mix that uses Amaranth, Maize, Rice, Soy and Arrowroot flours and so I thought I would give that a try. At least I can find the Amaranth flour.

I also use the Basco cakes mixes and find the best results come from beating the eggs, water and butter first and adding the dry mix after that. I also find that I get better results when I cook in steel tins as opposed to aluminium. The seem to cook more evenly.

Have a great day.

Ruth

Hi Guys

Hope you don't mind if I jump in here. I am a kiwi, but live in Sydney and am a diagnosed Celiac (for about 1.5 years now). I am also pregnant so have to be really careful about what I eat.

Just thought that I would let you all know that Wheat Glucose syrup is fine for Celiacs to have. There is no detectable gluten in it and it was OK'ed by the Celiac society earlier this year. That opens up heaps of lollies to eat, but you sitll have to watch out for Wheat Starch.

I eat Pascall chocolate eclairs, Gourmet Jelly Bellies and for those of you in NZ, wine gums and jet planes are gluten free.
So all enjoy...
I really miss m&m's as well but they have Wheat Starch in them...

I have an ebay store which you might all be interested in as well. I am absolutely addicted to the Carob ginger gem cookies and carob licorice.

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Indulgent-Gluten-Free-Food

What I find really hard is finding a local takeaway that I can eat at. Every thai place that I go into coats their meat in flour and it is all pre-coated - I really miss thai...

That's about all for now.
Nadine

I spotted some gluten free nut bars in the supermarket today from the nice and natural company....has anyone tried these before?"

Hi

Yes Nice N Natural bars are a favorite here, I buy about six packs a week.java script:add_smilie("B)","smid_9")
cool.gif

We're also getting Live Well products her now, Jam tarts, bakewell tarts and bramley apple tarts... all very nice and another Company called Forever free which are K.

No gluten-free beer here yet but I did try some in Uk earlier this year, one was pleasing and the second tasted like I remember Barley Wine tasting. Tried another In Canada last year.
I'll stick with cider but it's another loooooong wait for some true Scrumpy.java script:add_smilie(":(","smid_16")
sad.gif

Here's the website for the dishwashing liquid: http://www.naturesorganics.com.au/splash.htm
They said that all their dish wash and hand wash are gluten free so hopefully its available everywhere!

I just looked up the lansell cottage website and there's a stockist right near me so i'll have to try some out, it looks really good from what i can tell, huzzah! I just found a pack of basco butter cake mix in my cupboard so i'll try your method Ruth, i cant wait for cake, CAKE!! *drool*

My dad knows all sorts of agricultural stuff and said that queensland is a big producer of sorghum so thats weird that we cant find it anywhere, humph, i'll have to call around and see if anyone can get it in for me.

Thats great that you're feeling healthier and happier Kaycee! Twas my pleasure to send vibes your way! I really should get out and go for walks in the fresh air.....if only my elderly cat would encourage me with a leash in her mouth lol That must be hard not having any time to yourself to relax though, i'm very lucky i can do that!

I haven't tried the tamari soy sauce, is it just available in health shops? i'll keep my eyes out for it, sounds promising!

If i can't pinpoint my sore throat cause in a week (hopefully it is lack of suger lol, wouldn't that be grand!), i'm going to the doc so I might end up getting the allergy screening, its scary that there could be other things i'm not aware of that could be sneakily affecting me! i'll let you know how it goes

i've only been gluten free for about 9 months and i started it on just a hunch not expecting the amazing results i got, so i wish i had known before starting the diet that i wouldnt be eating gluten again.....oh the things i would have eaten!

Hi nadinec, my dietician did tell me that wheat glucose syrup and the caramel colour are fine for most coeliacs as they have less than 0.002% gluten but i still get D and other issues from the wheat glucose syrup so i guess that small amount still gets me, dang! I really miss thai too! green curry and all the entrees were heaven, if only i could replicate such delicacies.

I ended up buying the nice and natural nut bars in the original and chocolate flavours, they ARE delicious! My jaw did drop somewhat when i saw the fat content though (trying to lose some weight), about 10g per bar, jimmeny crickets!

I best be off to bed now,
night night everyone, hope you have a great day tomorrow!

I found the Tamari soy sauce in the health food section at Safeway, also saw it in health food section in the Coles Supermarket.

Ruth

thanks ruth, i'll see if i can find it today!
i'm pleased to report that my sore throat has gone and i'm feeling much more alive! i cut out dairy, corn, egg and stopped using my usual lip balm and moisturiser yesterday so one of them doesnt agree with me. i'll be slowly re-introducing them to see which is the culprit, yay, i feel tops...so far lol

That is the hard bit, slowly re-introducing things. I have eliminated soy, and milk and peanuts and a couple of other things, like legumes. I have been waiting for the symptoms to settle down, but they have not. Still have a bit of D. So I am clutching at straws, and wondering what next to remove from my diet, thinking what can I remove?

I have noticed a difference without the milk, which gave me a sore tum, as in gas and bloatedness. Peanuts I think were bad and so was soy. But then I can't be sure they were the culprits, as I still had D.

But over the weekend I think I have had a breakthrough. After about 12 days straight with D, I have only just successfully had three days without any sign of diarhoea. What you may ask is my answer? I think it is just that I have been bringing my own thermos to work, instead of using the work zip. Sounds crazy, I know but it is working. The zip is one that is continously on the boil, and is fed with filtered water. I asked the caretaker today when he had last changed the filter, and he just said, "oh I con't know, not for a while. But I am okay" Grrrrr. So he turned around and said he would be onto it today.

Now hopefully, things have settled, I will then like you Peg, be able to re-introduce things slowly and see if I have any reactions.

Glad your throat is feeling better Peg. But it is that time of the year, and they are around. So far I have not had a cold yet this winter. Maybe it has passed me by.
Cathy

It has been a beautiful day here. One out of the box. Makes me feel good to be alive.
All has gone quiet here on this thread. I don't like to put too many entries in back to back, but would like to see this thread keep going.

There is a wine in the fridge chilling nicely. All dem children at school were good today, the weather makes such a difference to their attitudes and behaviours.

My 16 year old son, my baby, is doing his penultimate year at school, and got his report back today. Two subjects with complete A's. Am I allowed to gloat? Of course. But same son is worrying that he might have coeliac too. He has a couple of problems, but it could be stress, time will tell. But I should not leave it too long for time to tell!

Well I will catch you all later.
Cathy

Hello!
i've just come back from the shops with a giant bag of mr mallow marshmallows!! YUM!! Its crazy hot here today, about 30 degrees! in winter!

Thats so impressive about your sons results Kaycee!! Indeed you are absolutely allowed to gloat! I too shall gloat about my great hair day - its so soft and shiny today! lol I hope he doesnt have coeliac and it is just stress causing the issues, once all his assessment is over hopefully all his problems will subside!

I do believe i've tracked down the food issue i've been having to tomatoes or corn, i'm gobbling all things corny today but not touching anything tomatoey so we'll see how i feel tomorrow. I'm going to get allergy tests done soon too just to see what things i should watch out for so that should be interesting.

I got glutened 2 days ago, entirely my fault I went out to coffee with a friend from school and ordered a soy cappucino, hold the chocolate sprinkle, and I didnt think to ask if it was gluten free (i've never ordered coffee with soy milk so i'm just used to assuming cappucinos are fine). I got a lot of brain fog and fatigue that afternoon so emailed them (coffee club) to discover that their soy milk (and chocolate powder sprinkle) contains barley (and the chocolate powder sprinkle isnt gluten-free either but i avoided that)! uhoh! i had awful tummy and intestinal pains with nausea for about an hour, then it subsided to just mild pain and feeling generally not well which lasted a couple days.

I'm doing well now though and, as I diagnosed myself with coeliac, it was reassuring in a way as i often have doubts in my head that gluten is the issue so it was good proof!......well bad proof really

Thats amazing that taking your own thermos to work stopped all the D! I hate to think what state the filter is in!

I hope everyone is doing well and hasnt encountered any gluten and is enjoying soft hair
Byeeee,
Peggy

I've already had my share of mr mallows today. Yummy. Such a big bag, do they come smaller. Anyway, there is enuff in there to share. I won 't be mean!

Sorry you glutened yourself. It must be quite reassuring for you to know that that is what the problem is. I know before I was diagnosed, I always wondered, and sometimes had to have a sammy cause, I didn't know what the answer was. And to make it worse, sometimes I would react to gluten and other times I would not. But the longer I am gluten free, the worse the reactions, and there is no doubt in my mind that it was gluten. But the doubt now, what did it? Like you said the low feelings for me last a few days, and I am not a nice person to be around. I go into myself and become uninspiring, my sense of fun has gone awol.

I'm not sure about the thermos. But I have not had d for 5 days. Whereas before I had it for about 15 days straight. It gets me down. But I will keep taking my thermos, I look crazy in the lunch room doing it, but I would rather do it than risk being sick. I just don't trust things like I used to. Caretaker has not changed the filter yet! Spoke to the boss about my concerns, and he said it is easy, just change the filter, and that I had to nag the caretaker till he does.

I have not encountered any gluten for a week, what it was I don't know. But it was the brain fog etc. The other D is just that, D on its own, so I know it is not gluten. I soyed myself today, I had a can of tuna with soy oil in it, and I just wanted to have tunas for lunch. So it will be ineresting to see how I react to the soy tomorrow. Maybe it has just been the water all along.

Soft hair days are nice. I have had frozen hair, have you? From hanging out washing in the freezing down south a couple of months ago. My wet hair went solid, a bit like the towels on the line.

Soft hair is nice. I always get told when I get it cut, that I have a lot of hair, as in quite thick and plentiful, and lots of grey too, as I refuse to dye it anymore. Had enough of that. But it is usually soft and fine, but thick. Wash it everyday, with real expensive shampoo PPS for sensitive hair.

Cathy

Another Aussie Coeliac checking in

Yes guys! Wheat Glucose Syrup is fine for us! The protein that is gluten is completely taken out - so need to worry It opens the doors thats for sure

Uhmmm .. theres a lollie joob we can eat in the Australian confectionary brand (the "Dont eat the dinosaur dadday" brand lol). There are a lot of lollies and choclates once u disregard the glucose syrup!

Hi,

I'm a kiwi! Just wanted to add a few things, the nice and natural bars are fantastic, yum yum yum. apparently the melbourne expo was great, over 10,000 people went! the best chocolate you can buy is fairtrade dark chocolate, gluten free, dairy free, and sooooooooooooooooooo yum! plus you will be doing a great service to all those cocoa farmers out there that usually live off the smell of an oily rag because they don't get a fair market price for their beans. (sorry rant over). I'm a bit jealous of those americans, sounds like they have heaps of yummy products on sale. Oh and I lived off the "don't eat the dinosaur daddy" lollies for the first 3 months of my pregnancy.
My favourites are san remo pasta range (just like the real thing, I think), and Venerdi bread. We have just got the Livwell range at Pak n Sav. My god they are expensive, $12 for 4 white rolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Personally I make a lot of foods myself, but then I have the luxery because I'm a stay at home mum. I've found bin inn to be quite good at stocking gluten free stuff, certainly cheaper than a lot of places.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. If you want a bit more information about where to buy and eat, check out my website. There are a few recipes there as well.
Cheers,

Good evening! Welcome tee and aussiejade!

where can i buy this fairtrade chocolate you speak of tee? is it in oxfam (community aid abroad) shops? sounds great! i love the san remo spaghetti too, just had it tonight with bolognaise, i prefer orgran for pasta though - the rice and corn stuff tickles my fancy

i'm still on my other food allergy/intolerance hunt, onions or corn methinks! i woke up with a sore and swollen throat the other day, it was a bit scary so i had some antihistamine and it went down after a while

i bought some dairy farmers 6 pack of little custard tubs today, they're great! each pack has vanilla, caramel and chocolate flavours and i'm in healthyish dessert heaven! they're low fat and have lots of calcium, probably full of sugar though but still, better than the things i usual have after dinner!

i discovered changs does a crispy gluten free rice noodle now too! i used to love their normal crispy noodles in the special noodle salad and now i can make it with the rice ones! yay!

i think my tummy is still recovering from the recent glutening, i just cant eat much food without feeling a bit sick but its almost back to normal so thats good

how was everyones weekend? we've had a lot of rain today and last night which is a welcome relief from the drought! it was such a great sound to hear the rain pouring down, a sound we havent heard in a long time, i got so excited lol

how did u go with the accidental soy-ing kaycee? i hope it didnt affect you much!

i've never had frozen hair lol, we're off to the UK at the end of the year for a holiday so i might experience it then in the freezing weather, i hope my hair doesnt snap off! i use pps leave in hair moisturiser which keeps my hair in line, i havent tried their shampoos/conditioners yet though, i've been using moogoo brand stuff. it smells so good (like milk bottle lollies and the conditioner smells like peaches and cream lollies *drool*) and keeps my hair and scalp happy. my hair goes super frizzy if i dont use a gentle shampoo so i cant get away with the supermarket stuff which can be annoying but worth it

again, i have rambled enough
hope to hear from you all soon! let me know if you find any new delicious products!

Hello everyone
Yes I got over the soy-ing. It wasn't too bad, can't remember much about it now. But it gives me a weird scent in my nose, and weird smelling poop. Just what you wanted to know.

But worse, this weekend I did the gluten thing. I thought, yes I will be safe, while they have their burgers at McD's on Sat, I will have a garden salad and coffee. So I ate my plain undressed salad, and drank my coffee. Where they hid the gluten in that I don't know, but it was somewhere. It was a boring salad anyway.

Tee I have had a quick look at your site, I will get back into it tonight after work. It looks good,have just registered.

Just a short ramble, the school bell will be ringing soon.

It will be a quiet day, they are all off to a show, leaving the booklady (me) in her library in peace.

Cathy

Hi

Yes Peggy, you get the chocolate from Oxfam, or TradeAid in NZ. it's a bit on the expensive side but boy is it moorish and such a treat ($5.90 big bar). I do volunteer work there, if only i could exchange my time for chocolate .
Thanks for looking at my site Cathy. I came up with the idea when I went to Dunedin for a friends wedding and realised that I had no idea where I could eat or shop. There is a positive side to feeding a baby at 4am (that's when I get my ideas).
Hope you are both feeling better. Oh and Cathy, to be honest, I've given up on the whole McD's thing, if you want takeaways, hell pizza do a gluten free base, just watch what toppings you get.
Have a good day.

Hi everyone,

The weather is great down here (Victoria), spring is just around the corner.

I've bought three gluten free cookbooks and I am trying recipes from all of them. - Changing Habits Changing Lives, Wheat-Free World and Gluten-Free Baking Classics. Some of my attempts are ending up in the bin, but that can happen with any new recipe. The only problem I am having with the Gluten-Free Classic is that I can't source the Sorghum Flour. Apparently in Australia Sorghum is our third highest producing grain crop but we feed it to the cows and don't mill it as flour. I am also having trouble finding Millet Flakes - apparently there is a shortage. Anyway I am trying Amaranth Flour instead of Sorghum and we will see what happens.

I have been cooking low-fat for so long that it is hard to convince myself that putting oil in a bread mix is a good thing, but I am finding that the food that does turn out OK is more tasty than it's gluten counterpart.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Tee
I know what you mean about the mcd's thing. It was my first salad for 8 months. Sometimes I just want to be able to do the eat out thing that the hubby and sons are doing, instead of sitting there looking into thin air. I thought the simpler the better, but I was wrong. That will be my last one there. Next time I will keep shopping while they eat. I did think of hell's pizza once, but I am still a bit scared of food, and I do need to loose a bit more weight. I will get there one day.
cathy

Hi there
I am in Auckland, are you NZ guys aware of www.mfd.co.nz, I found it really useful when we first arrived here from the UK as the products are so different!!! well the ingredients are anyway!

Westie, thanks for that, I am well aware of the mfd site. When I joined the coeliac society here in nz, they put me onto it. It was my bible to start with, but now, I only go there occassionally, as the labelling of food is quite good here. How does it compare to England?
Another site I used to go all the time was http://foodadditives.org.nz/, it has all the lists of food additives etc, and how safe they are and what they can cause eg cancer. There are some items that they tell for coeliacs to avoid. It is a bit scary. Som of the additives we have here, like 123 (red) is banned in the united states. So why do they put it in our food here?
I agree different places, same food different ingredients.
Like the mm's in America, I think they are gluten free, but here I think they have wheat glucose in them. Some say that is fine, but I am being so careful, I avoid that. I think if I knew they were okay, I would eat more, so it is probably better this way, not eating them.
Hay a great day, wasn't it wonderful yesterday, got all my garden weeded!
Cathy

Hello y'all!
i hope everyone had a great weekend for fathers day! i've just put a belated fathers day roast pork in the oven, i've never cooked one before with proper crackling and whatnot so i'm hoping it turns out ok

I made delicious brownies the other day from a recipe in the AIA (australian institute for autism) gluten and dairy free cook book, its got some great recipes which all tell you what they are free from (like dairy free, egg free etc). Irrisistables for the irritable is a great book too, its got some delicious meal ideas as well as baking treats, i can eat a whole batch of chocolate shortbread in one sitting, no wonder i've put on a few kilos!

i'd love to hear more about the products and ingredients in the UK too westie, i'm heading there for a holiday at the end of the year and am a little scared about surviving gluten free...i did read that milkyway milkshakes are gluten free so thats always good lol

Thats worrying about additives being banned in other countries but are used here, i wonder why they're allowed to use them? i know aspartame is banned in some countries too but is in heaps of things here, i always avoid it because my mum started getting brain fog type reactions from it when she chewed gum everyday. This website: www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info has great info on the nasty food additives in aussie and new zealand food, if you scroll down there are blue buttons and one gives a list of additives to avoid, really interesting site!

Ruth, how did the baking turn out? did substituting the sorghum flour with amaranth work ok?

Kaycee, whats it like working in a library, i've always wanted to work in one but there just arent any jobs unless you're qualified as a library technician....not sure i'd be any good at reading stories to kiddies though I hope you're system has recovered from the soy and glutening!

i went to the dietician on thursday about all the strange food related symptoms i've been having, she thinks it could be from histamine releasing foods and is sending me a booklet on the elimination diet which i will start as soon as it arrives. i've started to avoid the foods she suspected and am already feeling better, i think it might also be histamine rich foods that mess with me. i even went on the exercise bike today!

i hope everyone has a great symptom free week!

Hi Aussie and Kiwi peeps...I have a question....

In the US oats are off limits because they are all known to be contaminated with wheat. Is that the case in Australia? Just curious...

Oh and food additives in general are evil IMO, but trust me, it's waayyy worse in the US.

Cross contamination is the big problem with oats. I did find some biodynamic oats that were supposed to have been milled in an oats-only environment but I wasn't willing to risk it (I don't like oats that much anyway).

Mango,
There seems to be debate about oats here too in kiwiland. I will not risk it, they just scare me.
I have discovered rice porridge, and it is yummy.

Peg, working in a library is awesome.
I worked my way up there, one minute I was cleaning the floors and now I am in the library, and loving it. Watch out principal, I might be after his job!
I am not qualified, but I spend my days there putting the books onto the system etc. I do not read to the children, as their teachers do that, and they do a wonderful job. It is never boring.
Yes Peg, I am coming right, it is a battle to say the least. Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and one back.The more basic the food, the better.
Wasn't that a shame about Steve Irwin. It put the whole of the family into shock. Poor guy and poor wife and kids

Cathy

Hi
Yes to the lovely weather, I hope summer is on the way, 1st for us can't wait!!
The labelling in the UK was great, really easy, as from late last year every product had to be labelled as containing gluten, or gluten free, so no more searching on each product!
I guess I am just getting used to the labelling here, and yes things like m&m's were gluten-free in england, along with much more that is not gluten-free here, but I'm getting there slowly!

New Zealand and Australia manufacturers are meant to to show whether food contains gluten, and all the other common intolerances or allergens. But I don't think it always does, as I have been caught out. So I still read the labels. If I am in doubt I will not touch it. Flavourings and colourings tend to be my biggest concerns.
Lovely weather has gone and quite misty this morning.
Got to smile and put on my best dress as there are school photos today. I hate them.
Cathy

Hi all, I'm on the Gold Coast, and haven't visited this site for ages. Don't know whether this will post in time or be read in time - but there is a GLUTEN FREE EXPO in Brisbane Tomorrow!! Sat 9th Sept. Its at the Mercure Hotel, North Quay, Brisbane city. The Coeliac Society are having their AGM first at 9am, then the expo is from 10am until 2pm. Should be lots of great things i would think. I'm hoping that Rocco Sorrelle will be there - they are a restaurant on the Sunshine Coast that also sell the BEST pasta and pizza bases that i have ever had. Are you guys also aware that Muffin Break also now do gluten free muffins? They usually have a couple of different types, and they usually vary each day. I believe all the stores will have them. They taste GREAT!
Will try and keep up with the site for a while
Lisa

At the beginning of the week Steve Irwin died, and now , yesterday I heard that Peter Brock has died. It is so mind boggling and shocking.
Two famous Australians in one week, it would make you worried to be a famous Asustralian. Lets hope bad luck does not run in threes.
Cathy

I grew up watching Peter Brock drive, I never thought he would be killed in a race - can't even remember him having a bad accident. I guess even Peter Perfect had his limits - a very sad end to an era.

WHHHHHHOOOOOO!

I'm so happy I found this section, I only found these forums a few days ago and here I was thinking I was the only Aussie, but wouldn't ya know there are even some Queenslanders on here.!

I've been finding it a bit of a struggle at the moment, I am not very sensitive and have to eat a fair bit to get any symptoms, so for the last four years I have been eating more and more ot the point where I have been eating far to much.

Not been super sensitive I don't coun't something like vegemite on a biscuit.( provided the biscuit is ok to eat of course)

Has any one tired the muffins from muffin break? They are awsome! Jamaca blue also do sandwiches on gluten-free bread (and don't charge extra!)

I tired the Woolworths pizza base the other day and it was nice enough that I will def have it again. Also the Wollies gluten-free version of Tim Tams are good. I also like Eskal pretzals and the Lemon wafers you get are just great.

Products from the gluten free bakery are good, there Nenish tarts is something I really like.

Has anyone tired the Basco self saucing pudding? If so is as good as there other stuff?

Also be Wary of birds eye oven roast potatoe, I bought some garlic and rosemary ones the other day and didn't bother to read the ingredients (yes I realise thats my fault but thats the last thing I was expecting to be bad) anyway they have wheat in them.

Hello Saz,
Glad you could find us.
Just a note about the oven roast pototoes, I don't think we get these here in NZ, but on a similar vein, quite a few frozen chip varities have flour in them. I find that totally appalling, as I can not order chips from the fish and chip shop, and if I want to make oven fries, there are only a couple of brands I can have. They are never quite the same, expecially if I have to put the work into cooking them!

Did I hear you right and you said there were gluten free Tim Tams? Would only happen in Australia, mainly cause I am not there. Next time I go over to visit my sons, I will bring back 20 kilos of gluten-free tim tams. Wonderful, they might eventually sell them here, as they sell nearly every other arnot biscuit.
Since Arnott's is Austrailan owned, do you know if their rice cakes/biscuits with the whole in them are gluten free? There has been a bit of an argument over here in one of the forums about them not being gluten free anymore, but I can't see anything on the packet that would suggest gluten. I am confused.
Hope to see you again.
Cathy

THe Arnotts Rice biscuits with the hole in the middle are actually listed as special dietary food, and are meant to be gluten-free. We've used them with no reactions, which is a good indication.
The gluten-free Tim Tams are actually Woolworths own brand - in their fairly new 'FreeFrom' range.

I've tried a few things from the Woolies Freefrom range. The chocolate cake mix was a disappointment, it has a strange taste, sort of more caramel than chocolate. I find the Basco cake mix range as good as any home made cake I have made - their chocolate cake is really good and I just add bananas to the vanilla cake mix and it makes a great banana cake (though I haven't made that since the cyclone went through the banana plantations.)

I have a recipe for Anzac biscuits that uses millet flakes instead of oats, but because of the drought (so they say) I am having trouble finding millet flakes. I would rather make my own food from scratch because everything we buy seems to be loaded with additives and preservatives - nothing is what it is supposed to be.

Nothing is like it used to be. Nothing is made the same way as before. It looks the same, but does it taste the same? Yet people still eat it. It is convenience that sells.
I know I was guilty once. I did not mind the amount of additives and preservatives I was eating, could be becasue I did not know what was in the food. It was food, it was easy to prepare when in a rush and the children would eat it. How was I to know what was in it, or why would I have cared?

It is not until I had an intolerance diagnosed, that I looked closely at the labels, especially the ingredient list, then realise that I do not know what dextrose, maltodextrin or soy lecithin is, to name a few things, let alone what the number 261, or 102 meant. It is at this point that I began to wonder about all those additives in our food. The first to get the heaveho was msg, followed closely by citric acid. I am not sure whether they are problems for me or not, but a lot of things in processed foods sound evil. I have done a complete turn around, and feel I do better without all the extra additives and preservatives. I have finally got to the stage where I prefer to eat food that is more natural, than food that is laced with additives. But I do know that if I relax my vigilance with what I eat, I go backwards as far as D is concerned.

I went to a tupperware party tonight. A work colleague was hosting it, and I thought she knew about what I could have and not have. But she did not, as she thought I was worried about sugar and salt intake. She either thought I had high blood pressure or diabetes!

It was quite a scream the party. Everytime our tupperware dealer tried to sell a product, like the microwave pieces, she (the host) even though it was her party, and she was in to earn some tupperware for herself, she wanted to know who had a microwave, and we all had except for herself, and then she would go on about how bad microwaves were for our health! Then she would go on about how bad plastics were for us. I don't think she was doing herself or the tupperware dealer any favours by going on so much. But I did spend a bit of money. Our dealer was quite a character, being a male and gay at that, it was quite a night. He did an awesome job of selling the product despite the hosts comments. I also learnt from the host how bad innoculations etc are. A very educational night, but we are all adults and can make our minds up about all the things she was going on about.

Still it is getting late, I must go to bed, think I have gone on enough.
Cath

[/quote]Did I hear you right and you said there were gluten free Tim Tams? Would only happen in Australia, mainly cause I am not there. Next time I go over to visit my sons, I will bring back 20 kilos of gluten-free tim tams. Wonderful, they might eventually sell them here, as they sell nearly every other arnot biscuit.
Since Arnott's is Austrailan owned, do you know if their rice cakes/biscuits with the whole in them are gluten free? There has been a bit of an argument over here in one of the forums about them not being gluten free anymore, but I can't see anything on the packet that would suggest gluten. I am confused.
Hope to see you again.
Cathy
[/quote]

hi cathy,

you can get biscuits in nz that are similar to tim tams and are gluten free. they are called delush (i think) and are delicious, but a bit expensive, i think about $6 a packet. nice for a treat though, you can get them from either avalon or putiputi ra. I have never had a problem with the Arnotts rice biscuits. As for the plastics comment and microwaves... I refuse to use a microwave now and esp would not heat anything up in plastics, they leech all sorts of chemicals into your foods. As you say we are adults and can inform ourselves and make choices, but I would seriously inform yourself.
cheers,

Tee,
I am not sure about your last comment, but I feel you are having a dig at me, I feel that is totally inappropriate and uncalled for.
Cathy