Gluten free diet - What can I buy to help...

[Summer84]

A friend of ours has very recently given birth!
But unfortunately Mother and baby have had to stay in hospital and are going to be in for at least another couple of days.

I have been messaging her and I am due to pop to the hospital and see her later, but she is telling me that she is so hungry and the hospital food selection is very small and portions are just about enough to feed a toddler, let alone an adult.

Now, she is not able to eat anything unless it is gluten free, but I cannot get my around around, why the gluten free section in the shops and grocery stores are so bloody small. I am sure they know that Gluten intolerance is a big deal for a lot of people, yet fail to cater appropriately.

Anyway, i am a massive fan of lightly salted tortillas ans hummus and was thinking of taking some to her as well as some other bits, but not sure if what I have is gluten free and what I could get as well.

would you be able to help at all with ideas?

I have cooked her bolognaise that she had yesterday, but I wont have time to cook this evening, as I am pretty, much going from work.

shop.coop.co.uk/product/co-op-lightly-salted-tortilla-chips-200g/7d58a78e-851e-41a1-a894-e52357ecba93

shop.coop.co.uk/product/co-op-houmous-200g/4a0bed3d-e351-4d80-ac10-ec706372b6ec

The internet seems to think that they are gluten free, but the packaging only says suitable for vegetarian and vegans....

TIA

[dad2hen]

does she have an intolerance or an allergy as if its an allergy just stick to stuff that's sealed and says Gluten Free!

Most potato products should be gluten free, however sometimes gluten products are used to make things stick better, bulk or crisp something up. Tyrells lightly salted and kettle salted are 100% gluten free so id stick with them. Big Sainsburys have a pretty big gluten free section but theres lots of stuff that isn't displayed there that's still gluten free.

You can get some nice biscuits there to.

Focus on products made from oats, potato's, unprocessed meat. If something says may contain gluten its probably ok for an intolerance but not ok for allergy.

I am on and off the low fod map diet and this link is awesome.

mevsibs.com/2014/09/03/fodmap-friendly-products-ongoing-list/

I am pretty sure eat natural bars are also GF they're a good snack as they're so filling!

[dementedpixie]

Maize flour is corn so should be ok

[Summer84]

Thank you so much @dad2hendad2hen, it is an actual allergy, but I have also just tweeted the coop to see what they have to say too.
I have read the "internet" and these two things are supposed to be GF, but I will probably just nip into sainsburys and see what they have, if it all in a GF section, then I should be OK - but I will still check out the link you posted too!

Thanks again.

[Summer84]

Thanks @dementedpixie what about the humous?

[dementedpixie]

Houmous looks ok too. By law they need to highlight gluten containing ingredients

[dementedpixie]

Pom bears are gluten free. Chocolate?

[Summer84]

Awesome! Thank you!

[Summer84]

Oh everybody loves pom bears... what about something more filling?

[Summer84]

I also have chocolate, I have also picked up a gluten free double chocolate cake, to be used a a birthday for the new daddy!

[ShortyShortLegs]

My daughter has Coeliac's Disease and is Gluten Free.
Most gluten free products (apart from pasta) are disgusting!
I'd stick to buying naturally gluten free food rather than shopping from the Free From range.
How about salad boxes? Obviously don't choose one with croutons and check the label for Wheat, Gluten and Barley.
Any fruit, pre-prepared is usually a nice treat. Things like carrot sticks/celery hearts will be lovely dipped in hummus or Tatziki, etc.
Grapes, bananas, ready salted potato crisps (check labels), cheese portions, etc.

[dementedpixie]

You get sandwich things in the supermarket. Dont know if they are nicer than the bread

[dementedpixie]

Sandwich thins, sorry

[LoveGrowsWhere]

M&S have a sign on the front of their GF products, little ear of corn with a line through it (no big writing!). Find wraps & deli style choices in the normal sections. Take lunch size cheese, grapes & GF crackers? The Serrano ham wrapped around Manchego cheese sticks are delicious.

[StarryNightWithGrazingDeer]

Schaffer’s Gluten Free Baguettes are pretty nice. They come part-baked so you need to pop them in the oven for a bit, but then they make lovely sandwiches.

[StarryNightWithGrazingDeer]

Schar not Schaefer, sorry, autocorrect got the better of me.

[UpTheLaganInABubble]

For something more filling, I find M&S GF sausage rolls ok to eat cold, but you would need to cook them first. I also like cold pizza although GF versions are definitely not as nice, but they're bearable if there's nothing else!

[StarryNightWithGrazingDeer]

To do to Ups post, Pizza Express gluten free pizza is pretty nice and the restaurants do takeaway.

[Summer84]

Great ideas, thanks all, wI honestly never even knew we had so much to choose from.

I think i will pop into M&S as soon as a finish work and see what they have.

And will be sure to give the things that come as packages, like the fruit posts, ham and cheese wraps.

Great work Mumsnetters!

[LoveGrowsWhere]

Pizza info for anyone interested. DM who is coeliac rates the Morrison's GF build your own pizza at the counter option acceptable!