When we moved to Sydney, I was really keen to keep blogging. There aren't many resources detailing where to find gluten-free options here - let alone low-FODMAP options - so I thought I could add something useful by documenting my gluten-free adventures.
Sadly, it hasn't been that easy.
Since moving here, I have struggled to establish safe food options and keep my symptoms under control - even when I think I am being quite strict with regards to FODMAPs. And my unpredictable digestive issues make it difficult to eat out or recommend food with any degree of confidence.
Thankfully, we are in one of the best suburbs for gluten-free options. But there's a catch: a lot of the restaurants and cafes that provide gluten-free options aren't catering for low-FODMAP eaters or coeliacs. They are catering for a health-conscious market, which of course is totally fine.
But it has two downsides.
First, the other ingredients in these "superfood"-packed dishes are often high in FODMAPs, which triggers my symptoms in a really major way. Sugar substitutes, pulses, some vegetables, and fruit juices can all be problematic. And don't even get me started on my super-food nemesis - why must everything contain avocado??
Second, knowledge of gluten-free protocol is sometimes lacking. Sure, there's gluten-free bread aplenty, but basic concepts are sometimes missed - so it's entirely possible that gluten contamination has contributing to my symptoms - I can't know for sure. (Only a few weeks after arriving, I found myself explaining to the kitchen staff of a CBD restaurant that adding wheat-crumbed chicken to a gluten-free burger kind of negates the point. They looked surprised - I kid you not.)
Reliable options for eating out are really helpful. But it's not just eating out that's tricky. For people with IBS the everyday parts of your diet can make all the difference for symptom management. You can get away with a few indulgences if you know you're eating low-FODMAP the rest of the time. But since we arrived, I've even struggled to find a safe lactose-free yogurt for my breakfast!
I guess my food dramas are all just part of moving country. Many things in our lives are new and different - it's exciting, but it does take some adjustment. I thought my stomach would adjust too, but it hasn't.
I have refined my diet a lot over the past few months but to no avail. So in the past week or so I've gone completely back to basics - cooking all my meals at home, controlling FODMAPs quite strictly, and keeping a food and symptom diary. Hopefully it helps.
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| My food & symptom diary (and a breastfeeding pen. Hmmm not sure when I stole this - sorry Mum!) |
The past few months have been frustrating and painful at times. But right now I'm feeling thankful.
There are things I can do to help alleviate my symptoms. If my FODMAP exclusion doesn't work, then I have a great dietician that I can get in touch with. And there are still lots of things that I can eat.
My recent experience has also made me really grateful for the restaurants and cafes that do cater for people with digestive issues. I hope that I can get my symptoms under control so we can find more such places. But for now I am enjoying the relaxation and creativity of home cooking.
And I'm especially thankful for the plethora of delicious options we had back home in New Zealand. We were really spoilt with baked goods, a variety of trendy cafes, and restaurants of many cuisines.
Oh and one kiwi classic that I really miss....
Thanks for all the fish. xx
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| Gluten-free fish and chips from Double 8 on Main in Palmerston North. |
