Go Gluten Free with Genius and Greg Rutherford: share your g-f tips or recipes - chance to win a £100 Love2Shop voucher NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Genius Gluten Free has challenged five Mumsnetters to go gluten free for a week, following a seven day plan jam packed with delicious gluten free recipes as well as fitness and nutrition tips from Olympic gold medal winning athlete, Greg Rutherford.

The Mumsnetters will be indulging in a selection of delicious and convenient recipes created by Genius founder, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, as well as testing out the latest mouth-watering additions to the Genius range: Pitta Breads, Pancakes and Pizza Bases. The Mumsnetters will also be trying out quick and easy fitness tips from Greg Rutherford, designed to slot easily into a busy lifestyle, and will be posting their feedback on the thread below. They were all sent £100 voucher to buy ingredients.

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Genius Gluten Free founder, says: "We’re thrilled to be offering mumsnetters the chance to go gluten-free for a week, and can’t wait to hear what they think of our recipes and, in particular, our newest products. As a busy mum myself, these recipes feature regularly on the menu for the week as they are really tasty, nutritious and quick to prepare. They also offer a lighter, easier to digest alternative to gluten rich dishes, which I find particularly important when I am squeezing regular exercise into my schedule. Whether you’re coeliac or just opting to go gluten-free as a positive lifestyle choice, there is something for everyone in our delicious gluten-free range."

NON TESTERS: Genius Gluten Free want to also hear feedback on Genius Gluten Free products and gluten free recipes and tips from the entire MN community - so feel free add your comments on the thread if you’ve tried going gluten free, tried any item from the range from Genius Gluten Free, tried one of their recipes (all of the Genius recipes can be found here) or even if you have your own gluten free recipe or tip. Add your comment and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 Love2Shop voucher.

GENIUS TESTERS: Please share on this thread: (All official testers who add their feedback will be entered in a prize draw where one will win a £200 Love2Shop voucher).

Why did you want to take part in this product test?
What you thought of the Genius products? Which foods did you try?
How easy it was to cook the Genius recipes? Which ones did you try?
Whether your family enjoyed it – what they thought?
If you added your own twist to any recipes (if so what)?
How did you find the tips form Greg Rutherford: what tips did you get and how easy or difficult were they to include in your life?
Finally (and you may need to answer this one later in the week) how you feel after cutting gluten out of your diet?

If you have any questions on the Genius range or going gluten-free, please post them onto the thread and Genius will endeavour to answer them as soon as possible.

Thanks, MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[AnnMumsnet]

Thanks for all the comments etc - am pleased to say the winner of the non tester prize is PigInMuck86 who wins a £100 Love2Shop voucher.

The tester winner is PrimalLass who wins the £200 Love2Shop voucher

Well done all.

[K1ttenp1e]

We have the Genius bread which is a great compromise however it doesn't taste like normal bread. It isn't as though it can't be done, Marks and Spencers seem to be able to make wonderful bread which tastes amazing. Usually we cook most things from scratch it makes things easier. Just buy gluten free flour and work from there. Mince pies are being made this week and we are all looking forward to them.

[LizB62A]

Kr1stina - it just seems odd that it's called FreeFrom and not just GF and that they have replaced wheat flour with almond flour which is such a severe allergen.
In our family, it's the case that nobody has just one allergy - one of my sisters is GF AND has a severe nut allergy so she can't eat bread etc. A nut allergy is generally much more severe - i.e. her nut allergy could kill her (so she has to carry an epipen at all times) - eating gluten will be unpleasant but won't kill her.

[keshimonster]

Non-tester here

Love Genius bread for toast but for me it is too dry for a sandwich x

[cluckyhen]

Non tester here,

I've noticed that since I changed my diet, stopped smoking and took to clean eating I seem to have an intolerance that I thought was related to wheat (I bloat and cramp after pasta and breads). Having a friend who is gluten intolerant is quite an eye opener as she made me a sandwich when I was at hers last month and I was expecting the whole 'here comes the I look pregnant' phase again - yet it didn't happen. Turns out she uses Genius loaf! I can now have a sandwich knowing everything will be fine.

[chrismse]

Non-tester here

[laurapotz]

I think it's great Genius do such a good gluten free range as both my mum and my brother can't eat gluten so it's nice to be able to still provide them with good food when they visit.

[baconbap]

have had some gf pasta from tesco - that was fine

[chr1ssy0908]

Our daughter was having problems so it was assumed she was dairy intolerant, but the problems have continued so we have very recently had to start following a wheat free and dairy free routine, which at this time of year has left us very flustered and we are trying to grab hold of every recipe and product we can to try! Not tried an Genius products yet but we will very soon, and some of the recipe on your site look wonderful!

[Rebecca361]

Non tester. I am wheat intolerant and love Genius products. Genius bread is the only gluten free bread I really enjoy. I also eat the frozen Denby Dale steak pies regularly as they are delicious!

[jt75]

I tried the bread because a dietician told me to try it. I liked it but thought it seemed to be high in fat.

[JWalker23]

With Family who are coeliac I know how important gluten-free foods are, but I fell that people use them without needing too i.e diets. Genius is always I one I go for when buying products as its the best :)

[PhilTB54]

Enjoy eating the bread as a colleague brings it in.

[Kr1stina]

I was amazed to find that the Sainsbury Free Free chocolate brownies are made with almond flour - considering how severe a nut allergy can be, this seems odd !

Why does that seem odd ? Nut allergy and gluten allergy / intolerance are completely different things . The phrase " free from " doesn't mean " free from anything that anyone might ever be allergic to " .

It just means free from the things listen on the packaging , usually wheat or gluten and sometimes lactose or dairy .

People with nut allergies can eat bread, cakes, pasta, biscuits and all the things that contain gluten , as long as they haven't been contaminated .

[LizB62A]

Non-tester
My dad is a coeliac and I'm about to go GF and DF to see if it helps with my exzcema so will read through all the hints and tips - I'm especially looking for ideas for packed lunches to take to work as I think that's going to be my biggest challenge. In preparation I've been trying a few GF products (for when I try introducing dairy back in) and the Genius chocolate muffins are my favourite so far.
I was amazed to find that the Sainsbury Free Free chocolate brownies are made with almond flour - considering how severe a nut allergy can be, this seems odd !

[libra101]

Non tester
I had considered going gluten free as it sounded a much healthier diet. However, reading that foods such as bread, pasta, cereals and cakes should be avoided, it seemed a daunting prospect!

Having researched further, it seems that there are still many foods which can still be enjoyed, including meats, fish, fruit, veg and rice, along with an extensive list of foods on offer from 'Genius'.

I think most of the Genius products would need to be ordered online as I tried a couple of local shops and they didn't sell any gluten free products.

Glancing through the Genius website, I borrowed an idea from the recipes. Although I couldn't find gluten free pastry, I decided to borrow the idea of the Corned Beef and Onion Pie, and made a Corned Beef Hash.

Real comfort food, tasty, and easy to make, it's good to know that so called 'normal foods' can suit a gluten free diet.

I will be looking further into ideas for recipes in the new year, and the Genius website looks like an excellent resource for ideas and inspiration.

[Kr1stina]

Non Tester - I find if you ask restaurants when you book about GF options they are very accomodating and can make life so much easier

I've found many restaurants absolutely appalling . When they say that they offer a Gf menu or Gf alternatives , often they don't mean that at all , they mean " we will take everything off the plate that contains gluten " .

So the roast chicken dinner - chicken , gravy, stuffing, roast potatoes , vegetables and cream sauce - becomes a piece of dry chicken and some plain boiled potatoes . i was actually given this at a wedding , when I'd told them 6 weeks in advance that I was GF.

The desert - cake ,topping and ice cream - becomes one scoop of ice cream

The chicken burger and salad becomes salad .

You get less than half the meal of everyone else but pay the same .

I know it's not relevant to this thread but I had to mention it .

[Vole3]

Have been eating things from the genius range for some time - the brown loaf and recently discovered the crumpets. It's lovely to be able to eat things again that I had been missing (crumpets & peanut butter), even if the crumpets don't hold together quite like 'normal' ones. Have also used them as a base for mini pizzas.

[angiehoggett]

Non Tester - I find if you ask restaurants when you book about GF options they are very accomodating and can make life so much easier

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

I've been the same Em! Without going into too much detail...!

[EmLH]

I'm sorry if anyone is annoyed that non coeliacs got picked for this test. I can see that it must be annoying to think people are trivialising coeliac disease by trying it as part of what some people might see as a recent health fad. However, I can remember from the early days of my grandad being coeliac that back then there was barely any products available and he had to get most on prescription. Surely the trend of eating more healthily and naturally can only be a positive thing in that there are now whole parts of supermarket aisles dedicated to free from stock and the more people that buy it the more the prices will be able to be brought down as it becomes less specialist.

Also, I do believe that there can be benefits from avoiding gluten even if you don't test positive for coeliac. I personally have tested negative and been told that various symptoms I have had are probably due to the very wide reaching diagnosis of IBS. I have had a sigmoidoscopy that showed no results for inflammatory bowel disease or anything of that nature, so I wondered if changing what I eat may make a difference. I did definitely notice a difference last week with regard to bloating and without giving TMI, I was going to the toilet more normally. So.. it must make a difference and therefore it can't hurt to go gluten free, or at least limit gluten, should I choose to, even it is for loose health reasons that haven't been formally diagnosed.

As it goes, though I said I won't be avoiding gluten religiously, I will be carrying on as much as I can. I managed to get hold of the fruit bread this week and have been really enjoying it for breakfast. Probably my favourite Genius product so far.

[CopperPan]

Non tester - my DD is Coeliac and really enjoys the range. She loves the Blueberry Muffins and the shortcrust pastry is great, we often use it. Eating out is still a problem sometimes but it depends on the restaurant and menu range - she is quite fussy on top of being Coeliac so sometimes even if there is a suitable choice she just doesn't like it.

[buckley1983]

Non-tester! I recently made my colleague some gluten free mince pies - it was a bit of a battle trying to work with the pastry - gluten-free flour has a really odd texture & it just kept falling apart, so I had to keep the cases quite thick which made for a rather crunchy mince pie.. but they seemed to be enjoyed by all.. unless I just have really polite colleagues!!
I welcome all gluten-free options & think it's great there is such much choice & variety out there now on menus in many restaurants (it used to be just the steak!) & dedicated shelves in the supermarket.

[PigInMuck86]

Non tester - my husband is gluten free and we love Genius products. Even the children will eat them

[FreshsatsumaforDd]

Non tester and gluten intolerant, possibly coeliac due to severity of reactions but untested.
I do buy Genius products and I am glad to hear that there is greater choice available. After reading this thread I shall look for the Genius pastry and pizza bases in the supermarket. Thank you!
However the product which I struggle to find is good gluten free muesli. Would Genius consider this as a possible new product. Most of those available still make me ill. Many coeliac and gluten intolerants cannot tolerate the gf oats in many UK products. The very best that I have eaten is a product range called Freedom here sold in Australa. I haven't been able to find this or anything as good in the UK. Please Genius could you get product development to consider something similar. Or come to an agreement with Freedom foods as your products dovetail very nicely together, but on opposite sides of the world!