It can be an absolute nightmare at times knowing what to eat and drink when you are faced with a restricted diet because of food intolerances/allergies. The following list may be helpful to provide ideas for everyday meals or for the occasional treat now and again. Please remember it is important to check all products' full ingredients for your own particular food intolerances.
Sourdough Rye Bread - An alternative wheat-free bread. Made from 100% Rye. Tastes nicer when toasted. Available from health food shops, priced around 99p.
Kallo Puffed Rice Cereal - Ready to eat breakfast cereal. Made from organically grown, wholegrain brown rice. Wheat-free. No added sugar. Also available in honey coated. From Allergycare (details below), and Holland & Barrett. Priced around £2 per bag.
Greek Feta Cheese - May be tolerated by those who are sensitive to dairy products. Made from sheep's and goats milk. Available from supermarkets (Tesco, Morrisons).
French Soft Goat's Cheese - A soft goats cheese. Ideal topping for jacket potatoes or to spread on crackers. Available from Tesco, priced £1.09 per 125gm tub.
Kallo Rice Cakes - An alternative to crackers. Made from organically grown wholegrain brown rice. Available in snack size bags from Holland & Barrett, priced 69p.
Orgran Corn Crispbread - A superb wheat-free crispbread. Delicious as a dessert eaten with ice cream, or as savoury crackers. Available from Allergycare (details below), or selected health food shops. Price £1.81 for a 400gm pack.
Morrisons Potato Waffles - An excellent and filling easy to prepare snack. Can be used in many ways e.g. in place of bread for sandwiches, or beans on toast. Wheat-free. Bought frozen in packs of 12, priced 99p.
Heinz Baked Beans - Wheat-free baked beans in tomato sauce (many other brands are thickened with gluten).
Orgran Pasta - A marvellous range of wheat-free and egg-free pastas. Easy to prepare, providing a filling and nutritious meal. Available from Allergycare (details below), and selected health food shops. Priced around £1.69 for a 250gm pack.
Loyd Grossman Pasta Sauces - A very tasty dairy-free pasta sauce. Available in four different flavours, from Tesco. Price £1.49.
Mennucci Italian Vegetable Puree - A wheat-free puree which is very handy to add taste to stir fries, or used to make soups and pasta sauces. Available from Asda, price 49p per tube.
Old El Paso Taco Shells - A useful alternative to bread, just add your choice of sandwich filling. Made from corn. Available from the 'Mexican' section of selected supermarkets.
Buitoni Primavera Pasta Sauce - A quick and easy to prepare pasta sauce. Just heat and serve. Available in a variety of flavours, Spring Vegetables being just one of them. From Asda and selected supermarkets, price 99p per jar.
Sainsbury's Garlic Mushroom Rice - Ready cooked American long grain rice with mushrooms, onions and garlic. Just heat and serve. Suitable for home freezing. Available in a variety of flavours including egg rice. Price £1.69 per 520gm tub.
Tesco Mini Onion Bhajis - Made with gram flour, mildly spiced. Sold in packs of 12, price £1.29.
Allergycare Gravy Mix - A wheat-free gravy mix suitable for many people who are on restricted diets. Available mail order from Allergycare (details below). Price £2.25 per 250gm tub.
Lo Salt - A reduced sodium salt alternative. Available from supermarkets and health food shops.
Provamel Yofu - A 100% Non-dairy alternative to yoghurt. Pack of four (2 peach, 2 strawberry flavour) Cost £1.39. Available from health food shops and supermarkets.
So Good Soya Yoghurt -Alternative to dairy yoghurt. No added sugar, sweetened with fruit juice. Available in a variety of flavours from Holland & Barrett. Priced 37p each.
Provamel Soya Dessert -A non-dairy custard like dessert. Available in chocolate or vanilla flavour from Holland & Barrett. Pack of four cost £1.29.
Winners Swedish Glace Ice cream Dessert - A non-dairy soya based alternative to ice cream. Delicious!! Available in a variety of flavours (including strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla) from Holland & Barrett and selected supermarkets.
Plamil Carob Bar - A non-dairy alternative to chocolate, for those with a sweet tooth! Available from health food shops.
Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate - Made with 70% organically grown cocoa beans. Available from Holland & Barrett. Priced 39p. Also available in 100gm bars in a variety of flavours (spices & oranges).
Sunny Vale Rich Plum Pudding - A gluten-free pudding made from organically grown fruit. Also suitable for vegans. Should be available from mid-October time ready for the festive season, from Holland & Barrett.
Glutafin (Rite-Diet) Mince Pies - A gluten-free mince pie to leave out for Santa! (Yes ... Santa is wheat intolerant this year!) As with the plum pudding should be available from mid-October time, from Holland & Barrett and selected health food shops. Also available in this range are Rich Fruit Cakes, and Christmas Puddings.
Just Naturally Custard Powder - A natural custard powder without all the additives. Contains no salt or sugar. Available from Allergycare (details below), and health food shops. Priced 69p.
Granose Soya Creem - A delicious alternative to dairy cream. Available from Holland & Barrett and selected supermarkets. Priced 75p.
Okanagah Fruit Snack Bars - A tasty snack made with 100% dried fruit. Available from Holland & Barrett in a variety of flavours (including Apple + Strawberry, Apple + Apricot, Apple + Raspberry). Priced 31p per bar.
Rooibos Tea (bags) - An alternative to real tea, similar in taste but caffeine free. Available from health food shops, priced around £3 per box of 80 teabags.
Oasis Light - A still fruit juice drink. Can be mixed with mineral water for a refreshing flavoured drink. Available from selected supermarkets, priced 72p per bottle.
Sunsweet Pure Prune Juice - Available from Holland & Barrett.
V8 Vegetable Juice - A savoury drink made from a blend of 8 vegetable juices. Very convenient for use in cooking too to make pasta sauces, gravies, soups etc. Available from Holland & Barrett and selected supermarkets, priced around 50p per can.
Goats Milk - May be tolerated by some who are allergic/sensitive to cows milk. Can always be watered down if too rich in flavour. Available from supermarkets, priced around 56p per pint carton.
Prewetts Chicory - Similar to coffee but without the harmful toxins that coffee contains. Available from Holland & Barrett, priced £ 1.49 per 100gm jar.
Rice Milk - An alternative to cows milk, but quite sweet in taste. A treat blended with fresh fruit to make delicious milkshakes. Available from health food shops.
Meridian Cashew Butter - A mouth-watering alternative to peanut butter. Available from good health food shops and mail order companies like Allergycare (details below). Cost approx. £1.49 per jar.
Wheat-free Soy Sauce - Handy to flavour cooking, especially for use in stir fries, or as a marinade to flavour tofu. Available from mail-order company Allergycare (details below).
Baxters Tomato Chutney - A tasty wheat-free, dairy-free chutney. Available from Asda and selected supermarkets.
Meridian Fruit Spread - A natural fruit spread. No added sugar (sweetened with fruit Juice). Available in a wide selection of flavours, Strawberry, Blackcurrant, Banana & Mango .... etc. from Tesco and health food shops. Priced around £1.20 per jar.
Hellmans Mayonnaise - A wheat-free salad dressing. Available from most supermarkets.
Heinz Tomato Ketchup - A wheat-free sauce (many other brands are thickened with wheat flour).
ALLERGYCARE - Pollards Yard, Wood Street, Taunton, TA1 IUP. Tel. 01823 325023.
A mail order company selling many foods for people on special diets. They supply a catalogue showing details of their products but please ask over the telephone about any products you would like to purchase where details are not included in the catalogue. The staff are extremely obliging and provide an excellent service.
Allergycare also provide a free Nutritional Helpline to answer any questions about the suitability of their foods for specific diets. Tel. 01823 325022.
TRUFREE FOODS - 225 Putney Bridge Road, London, SWIS 2PU. Tel. 020 8874 1130.
This mail order company sell special flours for those people on wheat-free diets. They also provide a very useful booklet called "The Trufree handbook, getting safely started", which is free on request and contains invaluable advice for those starting a wheat-free restricted diet. The flours they sell are rather expensive but nice for the occasional treat if you're ever tempted to raid the biscuit barrel!
BEANO WHOLEFOODS - 36 New Briggate, Leeds. Tel. 0113 243 5737
Along with selling a wide range of organic and wholefoods, this health shop also sell a good choice of fresh wheat-free produce including samosas, pakoras etc.
Parking close by to Beano can be extremely difficult but they do provide a delivery service if you live in the Leeds area. They will deliver almost any of the products that they stock, not just foods, but also environmentally-friendly cleansing products and many complementary medicine remedies (homeopathic, floral and herbal medicines).
The minimum order is £15 and a delivery charge of £3 under three miles, £4.50 between three and five miles, and £6.00 over five miles. Delivery day is Friday. Please telephone the shop for more information.
NUTRICIA DIETARY PRODUCTS LTD. - Newmarket Avenue, White Horse Business Park, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA1 4 OXQ. Tel. 01225 711801.
This company produce a booklet giving details of their products for people with food intolerances, including items which are available on prescription.
NATURAL COLLECTION - Eco House, 19A Monmouth Place, Bath, BA1 2DQ.
Tel: 0870 331 3335 Fax: 0870 331 3334.
A mail order company providing a catalogue packed with a wide selection of health foods with the emphasis being on natural, organic and additive-free food and drink. They also sell a comprehensive range of environmentally friendly orientated cleaning products, clothing etc.
NESTLÉ CARELINE - Tel. 0345 697351.
A useful wheat/gluten free food list is available on request listing products manufactured by Nestlé.
BRICKYARD ORGANIC FARM - Badsworth Common, Nr. Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF9 1AX. Tel. 01977 617327.
John & Lyn Brook who run the farm offer a box delivery service direct from the grower to your home. The boxes contain an excellent selection of organically grown fruit and vegetables, specifically to your choice and cost around £8 per box. Please telephone for details.
