watching the glutes

A change is as good as a holiday, so the saying goes. Brendan might take issue with this sentiment when the change proposed is a life devoid of regular bread, pasta and cakes and the immediate impact is the cancellation of two planned holidays (Madrid and Ireland).

So, instead of some lovely photos from European destinations, I have little more to present than a fascinating insight into coeliac disease.

Brendan’s sickness (mentioned in the previous post) did not clear up when we got home from Malta. After many weeks, doctors visits and tests, a diagnosis of coeliac disease was confirmed. Neither of us knew anything about this condition, other than perhaps a vague awareness of ‘gluten-free’ as a dietary requirement. Now we feel armed with enough knowledge to write our own guide, cookery book and regular advice column.

While Brendan’s Irish heritage enabled him to get an EU passport it could also be a clue to the condition – centuries of reliance on vegetables (ok, potatoes) and limited processed grains has led the Irish to having one of the highest rates per capita of gluten intolerance.

B has been adapting to his new diet for over a month now, relying on home cooking and a range of food substitutes and supermarket snacks. Eating out is more problematic, although not impossible. The biggest challenge to date will be his upcoming work trip to Tacoma in Washington State, USA. While he is looking forward to indulging daily in steaks the size of compact cars, finding a gluten-free donut may be slightly more problematic.