My Coeliac Journey. From Diagnosis to Damn Delicious Bakes

Eighteen years ago, at just 18, while most people were living their best lives and chasing freedom, I was handed a coeliac diagnosis after years of anaemia. Surprise! Turns out my body had zero chill when it came to gluten. I was the first in my circle to be hit with an autoimmune curveball, and let me tell you, there was no roadmap, no support group, just me, a pile of restrictions, and a whole lot of WTF.

Missing Out. The Unseen Drama of Coeliac Life

Being coeliac isn’t just skipping the croissant, it’s skipping the carefree. It’s the bakery pit stops you can’t make, the birthday cake you politely decline, the restaurant menus that feel like interrogation scenes. It’s a full-time mental checklist, a constant game of “Is this safe?” and the exhausting dance of dodging cross-contamination. And don’t get me started on the so-called “free-from” options, bland, crumbly, and about as comforting as a soggy rice cake.

Even in “gluten-free” venues, I was side eyeing everything like a detective in a crime drama. Because once trust is broken, it takes more than a label to win me back. And while the world got busy with trendy “health-conscious” choices, coeliac disease got lumped in with casual intolerances. Cute for them, confusing and anxiety-inducing for us.

Déjà Vu. My Son’s Diagnosis

Then came the plot twist I never wanted. My son, diagnosed at five. Cue the heartbreak. Suddenly, I was watching my own story play out in miniature, complete with the same longing to fit in and the same exhausting vigilance. But I wasn’t about to let him live in the shadows of “can’t have.” I became the queen of fakeaways, the lunchbox legend, the snack sorceress. If joy wasn’t on the menu, I made my own.

Playdates? I brought the snacks. Family outings? I called ahead like a boss. But no matter how fierce my planning, the fear lingered, would he feel left out? Or worse, would he get glutened?

From Struggle to Sparkle. My Baking Mission

All of this fire forged a mission, to bake treats that are coeliac safe, flavour packed, and unapologetically joyful. My kitchen is a gluten-free fortress, where every recipe is a rebellion against bland. I don’t do compromise, I do cookies that slay, cakes that comfort, and bakes that bring the party.
Every biscuit, loaf, and slice is a love letter to those who’ve ever felt excluded. I test, tweak, and taste until my bakes don’t just match the classics, they outshine them. Because when you bite into one of my creations, you’re not settling. You’re celebrating. I hope you will enjoy joining me on this adventure.