Guide
About Gluten Free Diet
What it means to eat gluten free, why it matters for coeliacs and the gluten sensitive, and what to check for when eating out.
What is a gluten free diet?
A gluten free diet cuts out gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It rules out most bread, pasta, beer and baked goods unless they've been made with gluten free ingredients, and means checking for cross-contamination anywhere gluten containing food is prepared, in line with NHS and Coeliac UK guidance.
Coeliac disease vs gluten sensitivity
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where gluten damages the small intestine, and even trace amounts can cause harm, so the diet needs to be followed strictly and for life, as outlined by the NHS. Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity causes similar symptoms without the same intestinal damage, and some people are more flexible with how strictly they need to avoid gluten. Either way, eating out means asking the same questions about ingredients and kitchen setup.
What to check for when eating out
Whether the kitchen has a separate gluten free prep area or just takes care with shared equipment, whether the menu is labelled clearly, and whether staff can answer questions about ingredients confidently.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you think you have coeliac disease or a gluten sensitivity, speak to your GP or a registered dietitian.
Sarah's story
My experience with coeliac disease
I was in my late 20s when I was diagnosed with coeliac disease. My GP recommended testing after I couldn't maintain my weight, and as other members in my family are coeliac or gluten sensitive.
I love food, but eating a gluten free diet comes with two main challenges: eating at home and dining out.
At home, it usually means sticking to the same handful of brands, either because they carry a GF symbol, or because I've already checked the ingredients myself. But the GF symbol in the UK, guarantees under 20ppm of gluten. Even naturally gluten free ingredients like oats and lentils can carry a "may contain gluten" warning, just from how they're processed.
Dining out brings a few different challenges: the research needed beforehand, the knowledge of the staff, and how well the kitchen actually operates. Bring up gluten free as an allergy and you tend to get the same rehearsed spiel: separate prep areas, careful handling, but push for specifics, and they often can't actually guarantee it. In that moment, you have to make a decision: does what you've read about the restaurant, combined with what the staff have told you, add up to being worth the risk? There are amazing restaurants out there that get it right, and others that will simply refuse to serve you.
Both of these challenges come with a gluten free tax. Products with coeliac-safe approval are generally a lot more expensive, so eating safely often means paying a fortune.
I wanted my husband and me to build this app because I was spending so much free time trying to find gluten free restaurants near me, or while travelling, and with a young family that isn't always something we have an abundance of. We kept saying we wished something like this existed, and we thought, "why don't we just build it?"
Sarah
How Hungry For Gluten Free helps
Instead of searching for places to eat from scratch, the app checks for the information that matters, and turns it into a safety rating you can check before you go. Browse our Brighton and Hove guide in the meantime.
We Search. You Eat.
Hungry For Gluten Free is coming soon to iOS and Android.