My health and a challenge to how you think!

I haven't been well thus the lack of posts, I'm actually writing this one from my hospital bed in the Nuro ward of one of Sydney's biggest hospitals! Im in here due to changes, big changes in me related to the accident! So big apologies for people who are waiting on reviews from the gf expo, they are coming, I just need to get better. The hospital catering has been great! It's actually been amazing to have every meal gf, I always check, almost like an in built paranoia and everytime it's right! But not here! I have choices, there are options and I even had hot toast! A rare thing for a hospital! Being in such a place makes you think about your life, I'm scared shitless about what I can't do, but then I hear other stories and I spent last night thinking of the plight of others. The 21 year old women who is paralyzed from a virus. I was talking to one of the lovely nurses who told me her son, who should be 20 lost his battle with cancer at 8! She felt guilty for not being there for her younger daughter, I assured her she had no choice! And there's the 52 yr old man with autism and other disabilities, who can hardly communicate and is having spinal surgery as we speak. But I think and pray for him now, it's the story of his birth his brother shared that made me horrified, as he had many disabilities the mother was told by the nurse, we can take him away to a hone, you never see him and forget you had a child! She demanded they bring him to her and the family and now a group home and family look after him! A hard life yes, but one that deserved to be lived, a human being! As far as childhood cancer, it's horrible and we try and think it just affects adults! Its ourself protection mode, it's too horrible, so we try and ignore unless it happens to us or someone close. Yesterday I was meant to be having a high tea to raise money for girls night in (a part of the cancer council)it's post poned now, but I will talk about the ugly horrible cancer that robs great parents of their children and innocent children of the majority of their life! But the reason why I write this is to stop and think about someone whose situation is worse than yours. In this fast paced world we have become so self consumed and our small problems become massive to us! Remember just how precious the gift of health is, until that gift has been taken from you and you don't have your health, and not just a cold, poor health that changes your life you really are rich! So next time you stress about the material things, that can be fixed, think for just a moment about those who are sick, who've lost a young one too early, who can't have children and realise how greatful you are; to walk, to work to drive to function normally, all things so many people take for granted. Take the time to smell the roses, watch the sun rise, appreciate your family and friends, because thankfully we don't know what's around the corner and no one is immune from poor health and bad luck! Love like there's no tomorrow, surround yourself with positive people and make every moment count. Take the time to think about those worse off than you, donate to a cancer charity, or care flight, help those who have it hardier than you. If you are living comfortably donate to a charity and help those less fortune than you, or take a walk to children's oncoology ward to put things into perspective for you. There is always someone with worse problems then you! I hope my readers are in better health than me and certainly not as bad as some others in this hospital

Trial the gluten and casein free diet for any child or adult on the autism spectrum

There are many often controversial theories and beliefs surrounding the success of the gluten and casein free diet on improving autism. There are a few medical professionals, one peadritcian in the Sydney area (I'm in the process if contacting this dr), who strongly beliefs in the success of the diet for autism. His waiting list is massive which clearly demonstrates the amount of parents who are desperate to try the diet, to have some improvement with their child. I've had a discussion with various health care professionals who believe in the diet, but also agree that it isn't always successful. I strongly believe that a large majority of the success of the diet is based on two things; 1) how strictly the diet is followed gluten and casein both need to be removed for the diet to be successful. Both gluten and casein are in alot of products! Simply removing bread and cows milk wont work. Gluten is in sauce, it's in chips, it's even in ice cream! If you want to see development in your child, to have them engage more, be more responsive, then you need to strictly follow the diet. See my recipe page for some ideas, (more meals will be put up shortly). 2)the degree of severity of your child's autism. If they are already responsive and are engaging, the diet may not be as successful. This diet change is about behaviour, it is always essential to ensure your child is eating fruit and vegetables and as much freshly made products as possible. Be aware that not all health care professionals will be supportive of this diet. But have strength in your decision and trial it for a few weeks and see if you see any changes in your child. You really have nothing to loose and so much to potentially gain! If you have any questions, please email me and I will do my best to point you in the right direction, via personal email I will give the peadrictians name and website. I wish you all the best in this challenge and I endeavor to provide you with more and more information about the success of this diet for autism. Please let me know how this diet goes for you and please monitor things like engagement, eye contact, response to names etc, that's the real proof if the diet is working!

The joys of eating out as a coeliac!

One of the things I find frustrating as a coeliac is going out to parties, people's houses and restaurants. Before I had the diagnose, I would generally have a flowing top on, just in case puffer fish emerged and pants that would pull up or I could undo the button! (don't lie we have all done it at times, over indulged coeliac or not and had to unbutton jeans because your so uncomfortable and honestly think you will explode!)

But now if we're invited to a party, I have to check what's on the menu, which is kind of impolite (I think most people understand), to figure out if I need to eat before I go, or there are things available to me! I always make my token brownies, to ensure that I can have something when the sweet things are put out! Though the problem is, I have to hide some, and everyone else happily gobbles them up! They can eat everything else and generally that's all I can eat!

Recently we were at a catered for family function, now most meats come with gravy separate, but this was actually smoothered with gravy, despite it being lamb and mint sauce was provided! Thankfully there was chicken that I got to eat (though a magpie stole some of the chicken, cheeky little bugger)!

There are plenty of people who I guess have to do the same as me, people with allergies would have the same problem as me. So I guess I dont suffer in embarrassment alone, as many people are like me and have to check menus, etc and often feel like a real pain when someone invites you to dinner!

My advice to friends and famy of coeliacs and peole on the gf diet, food isn't that hard, in Australia we are coming up to summer and BBQ are always a hit, plenty of butchers sell gf sausages as do the major supermarkets, steaks ate ok, as is fish and BBQ chicken, we just can't eat the seasoning! Salads are ok too, just check the dressing and use common sense, like don't use dressing until the person has checked the ingredients, then your not to blame for any reaction that happens!

Goodluck with cooking (or check my recipes if you want to impress, there are easy recipes up there with more to come soon!)keep an eye out for some more easy recipes!