10 Ways you can support a partner with Coeliac Disease

Learn the basics about coeliac disease – Your partner will appreciate you understanding the basics of coeliac disease. Coeliac UK has produced a short animation explaining what happens when someone with coeliac disease reacts gluten.

Gluten free basics – Cooking gluten free meals can seem daunting at first, however once you know the basics, it becomes easier to know what you can and can’t eat.

Understand food labels – Starting out on a gluten free diet can be a steep learning curve for your partner and for you, understand how you and your partner can shop for safe foods by watching Coeliac UK’s quick video on food labelling.

Look for a gluten free label or the Crossed Grain symbol – if you are shopping, these indicate foods your partner can eat, so look out for new products they might like.

Recipe inspiration – there are lots of foods that you can eat on a gluten free diet. If your partner is struggling for new ideas or you want to treat them to a great home cooked meal, check out Coeliac UK’s Home of Gluten Free Recipes with over 800 delicious recipes for all occasions.

Cross contamination – keep your gluten-containing and your partners gluten free ingredients separate from other ingredients to avoid cross contamination in the kitchen. You can read more tips for avoiding cross contamination on the website.  

Experiment with grains – whilst wheat, barley and rye are out on a gluten free diet there are lots of alternatives for example corn, quinoa, buckwheat and rice. Download a list of grains from the Coeliac UK website.

Eating out tips – there are lots of restaurants offering gluten free meals, find venues on the Coeliac UK venue guide and look out for the GF logo indicating venues that meet a set standard for gluten free catering. 

Coeliac UK has lots of ways you and your partner can get involved, from joining a local group or GUTs, the Gluten free under thirties group, to fundraising and campaigning to improve awareness.

Join Coeliac UK for all the support, information and guidance you need https://www.coeliac.org.uk/join-us/, and follow them on Facebook https://twitter.com/Coeliac_UK and Twitter https://twitter.com/Coeliac_UK.