The NHS cut down on prescriptions deemed to have low clinical value

[Amp34]

It isn't particularly hard - 'half the average UK diet' is a bit of a stretch I think, but regardless there are plenty of food options. It isn't much different to being a vegetarian and certainly less hassle than finding out you've got a nut allergy that could kill you if you slip up re: food. It certainly doesn't have to cost more though.

Here's the CPI "food basket"

I've helpfully crossed out all the things you can't eat if you can't eat wheat. It's a significant chunk of things that aren't fruit, veg or fresh meat.

No, you're not going to die instantly like a particularly bad nut allergy, but you'll be able to eat a lot more with a nut allergy than a gluten allergy, same with vegetarianism (a lifestyle choice BTW, not a medical issue).

Now consider you're replacing most of those products up there with more expensive products (whether direct comparisons, such as bread to GF bread, or equivalents with the same nutritions value) and consider the extra time in preparing completely from fresh if you're a minimum wage factory worker on 40 hours a week and then consider why some people may find the diet they are forced to eat a problem, both economically and practically.

EDIT: Missed one - most cereal bars also have gluten in.

 

[dowie]

Yet you've come up with no suggestions? That's helpful.

Why is it up to me to suggest things for you?

 

[paradigm]

Why is it up to me to suggest things for you?

If you're going to argue that there are easy things to take to a facility-sparse working environment then I'm all ears.

 

[Glaucus]

Oh, don't like stupid stereotyping? Odd.

It's easy to eat gluten free, I'm not disputing that. I'm disputing that it's easy to eat gluten free WITHOUT access to the more expensive (than their non-gluten free counterparts) gluten free foodstuffs. Not everyone has spare hours in the day to create their own meals from scratch, all the time.

It is more expensive to eat gluten free. I know, I've been buying the stuff for 8 years.

stupid stereotype it is not.

it realy isn't expensive again shows you are buying a gluten free alternatives, and if you cant think of anything else then taht just shows how bad you are at cooking. its not even hard these days so many recipes for free every wear.
simple lunch is salad, or rice dish or any number of alternatives. non require any facilities at all.
i mean you can get much cheaper than rice which is gluten free.

 

[paradigm]

stupid stereotype it is not.

it realy isn't expensive again shows you are buying a gluten free alternatives, and if you cant think of anything else then taht just shows how bad you are at cooking. its not even hard these days so many recipes for free every wear.
simple lunch is salad, or rice dish or any number of alternatives.
i mean you can get much cheaper than rice which is gluten free.

Played on the English there.

Here's the CPI "food basket"

I've helpfully crossed out all the things you can't eat if you can't eat wheat. It's a significant chunk of things that aren't fruit, veg or fresh meat..

There's more too. A lot of frozen chips and similar products are coated in wheat flour to prevent clumping.

Most Crisps are out due to "manufacturing methods" (i.e the factory handles wheat based products)

 

[Amp34]

Maybe this is just the result of living in London but if you can't think of other lunch options beyond sandwiches and salads then your local food options are pretty backwards. I very rarely ever eat sandwiches, I very rarely eat bread tbh...

Lots of people have some form of dietary requirements either as a result of medical conditions/allergy or the result of some moral or religious beliefs. It just means you need to be careful to check when buying some product you've not used before.

What do you have instead?

I know there are lots of options, but it would be interesting to see what you consider different.

(I didn't have issues in London either, plenty of places to go and buy everything from Tacos/Nachos to grilled chicken etc etc., but it gets a lot more expensive than those prepacked sandwiches most people buy, but then I had no money issues and wasn't on a low wage).

 

[dowie]

Here's the CPI "food basket"

I've helpfully crossed out all the things you can't eat if you can't eat wheat. It's a significant chunk of things that aren't fruit, veg or fresh meat.

so not even close to 'half' as claimed earlier, if you consider the typical meals then vegetarianism is actually cutting out a large chunk - look at any ready meal section of a supermarket for example (I'm not advocating ready meals btw..) or any restaurant menu - veganism even more so

I've got plenty of dietary requirements myself as a result of a similar but far worse medical condition so you're not really going to convince me that being careful about what you eat is really a huge chore in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Glaucus]

and more stupid comments, you aren't even trying to debate.
if you really want to know I was born deaf amongst other issues and stayed that way for best part of 2 years and have struggled with language ever since. Had extra coaching, in writing, reading and speakin. So yeah i'm fine with where i am.

ready made meals should be avoided anyway, they aren't good for anyone, once you cut them out it is not hard to be gluten free at all and fresh cooking is generally cheaper than ready meals anyway.

 

[dowie]

What do you have instead?

I know there are lots of options, but it would be interesting to see what you consider different.

I avoid fibre rather than gluten so what I have instead isn't necessarily going to be applicable - I'm a big sushi fan for example, might not so suitable for there other poster unless he goes to some independent store and checks what they use. I'm a fan of Japanese Canteen too - noodle soups etc.. certain street food vendors - paella can be nice, Jamaican food - rice and chicken etc... Temples buffet is good - grab a box and pick what you like. M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury's offer various lunch options - little plastic pots with prawns and a dip, different meats etc.. they have various tapas selections etc.. too.

 

[Tefal]

Oh, don't like stupid stereotyping? Odd.

It's easy to eat gluten free, I'm not disputing that. I'm disputing that it's easy to eat gluten free WITHOUT access to the more expensive (than their non-gluten free counterparts) gluten free foodstuffs. Not everyone has spare hours in the day to create their own meals from scratch, all the time.

It IS more expensive to eat gluten free. I know, I've been buying the stuff for 8 years.

cook in bulk and freeze?

for a quick meal

shrimp/fish.meet, pack of frozen or fresh stirfry veg.

<10 mins unles you want to cremate it.

 

[Amp34]

so not even close to 'half' as claimed earlier, if you consider the typical meals then vegetarianism is actually cutting out a large chunk - look at any ready meal section of a supermarket for example (I'm not advocating ready meals btw..) or any restaurant menu - veganism even more so

I've got plenty of dietary requirements myself as a result of a similar but far worse medical condition so you're not really going to convince me that being careful about what you eat is really a huge chore in the grand scheme of things.

In as much as there is a huge amount go fruit and veg in that "basket". You don't normally have half a dozen fruit and veg for dinner and that's it. It's usually a little from column A, column B etc (the whole meat and two veg thing).

I don't look at the easy meals section sorry, because someone GF can't eat pretty much any of it. My basket is basically full of fruit, veg and rice.

Then you must know the issues involved then, when you go somewhere and can't eat anything, or go round a friends house and have to bring your own separate dish to eat, or eat freshly bought cheese and meat for lunch for a week because there is nowhere to prepare food and you have nowhere to store it.

Anyway, we're moving back to the difficulty, rather than the cost. Eating GF is more costly than the average persons meals. That's a reality. It's not a problem for people with a reasonable income, but those in low income families it can really eat in to their budget. As an example I used to have to spend about twice the amount on food at Uni than my housemates because I couldn't buy the same cheaper food they could.

 

[paradigm]

I avoid fibre rather than gluten so what I have instead isn't necessarily going to be applicable - I'm a big sushi fan for example, might not so suitable for there other poster unless he goes to some independent store and checks what they use. I'm a fan of Japanese Canteen too - noodle soups etc.. certain street food vendors - paella can be nice, Jamaican food - rice and chicken etc... Temples buffet is good - grab a box and pick what you like. M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury's offer various lunch options - little plastic pots with prawns and a dip, different meats etc.. they have various tapas selections etc.. too.

Whilst most of those sound great, I'm not certain I'd want to eat most of those cold.

But thanks anyway, as I'll certainly look into the Japanese noodle soups and Jamaican.

 

[dowie]

Then you must know the issues involved then, when you go somewhere and can't eat anything, or go round a friends house and have to bring your own separate dish to eat, or eat freshly bought cheese and meat for lunch for a week because there is nowhere to prepare food and you have nowhere to store it.

Yews I'm aware of some issues with not being able to eat certain foods and I still think that prescribing food is ridiculous and people advocating it are just lazy. No I don't have an issue with going round to a friends house as my friends are aware of my condition and I can often simply avoid stuff I can't eat like salads etc...

You've mentioned you don't look int the easy meals section - you've presumably been to a restaurant before though - you can still see the point re: vegetarians.

 

[Amp34]

I avoid fibre rather than gluten so what I have instead isn't necessarily going to be applicable - I'm a big sushi fan for example, might not so suitable for there other poster unless he goes to some independent store and checks what they use. I'm a fan of Japanese Canteen too - noodle soups etc.. certain street food vendors - paella can be nice, Jamaican food - rice and chicken etc... Temples buffet is good - grab a box and pick what you like. M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury's offer various lunch options - little plastic pots with prawns and a dip, different meats etc.. they have various tapas selections etc.. too.

Honestly I used to eat a lot of similar things, but (as my late edit mentioned), how much did/do your lunches cost in comparison to your work colleagues who just bought a sandwich. Those small selections in supermarkets start to add up quickly I found, to the point it became cheaper to just go and buy something prepared (especially street food and Tacos etc) in many cases.

 

[dowie]

Whilst most of those sound great, I'm not certain I'd want to eat most of those cold.

But thanks anyway, as I'll certainly look into the Japanese noodle soups and Jamaican.

I don't eat them cold (well the sushi I do). Is your office quite remote or something?

 

[paradigm]

I don't eat them cold (well the sushi I do). Is your office quite remote or something?

Remote, not really, but quite sparsely equipped unfortunately. There is a microwave, but I'm not sure I'd want to touch it, let alone put something that's intended for my mouth inside it.

There's an instant hot-water boiler too, which for me is fine, I can get a myriad of stuff that I can heat with hot water, but gluten-free stuff like this is harder to find.

We do occasionally get hold of some decent quality dehydrated rice noodles that haven't been anywhere near wheat, but they are... expensive. Back to case in point. Like I keep saying, the argument for me isn't difficulty, it's one of cost. I still say that the prescription is daft regardless.

Not quite sure why the animosity towards what I've been saying to be honest.

 

[dowie]

Honestly I used to eat a lot of similar things, but (as my late edit mentioned), how much did/do your lunches cost in comparison to your work colleagues who just bought a sandwich. Those small selections in supermarkets start to add up quickly I found, to the point it became cheaper to just go and buy something prepared (especially street food and Tacos etc) in many cases.

My work colleagues don't typically buy a sandwich every day, I didn't either even before being diagnosed. Maybe it is a London thing but we had one street food market around the corner, another a short walk away along with a bunch of independent lunch places, all the usual chains (several different sushi places nearby, some independent) and another street food market that would turn up on Thursdays.

 

[Amp34]

Yews I'm aware of some issues with not being able to eat certain foods and I still think that prescribing food is ridiculous and people advocating it are just lazy. No I don't have an issue with going round to a friends house as my friends are aware of my condition and I can often simply avoid stuff I can't eat like salads etc...

You've mentioned you don't look int the easy meals section - you've presumably been to a restaurant before though - you can still see the point re: vegetarians.

Vegetarianism is not the same though. That is a lifestyle choice, not a medical issue. It's like the people that go on a GF diet, only to "cheat" when fairly regularly if they don't find something they fancy that is GF, or unknowingly cheat because they don't look at the actual ingredients of many products.

 

[dowie]

Remote, not really, but quite sparsely equipped unfortunately. There is a microwave, but I'm not sure I'd want to touch it, let alone put something that's intended for my mouth inside it.

Why do you need to microwave anything - can you not just walk outside and buy lunch?

 

[dowie]

Vegetarianism is not the same though. That is a lifestyle choice, not a medical issue. It's like the people that go on a GF diet, only to "cheat" when fairly regularly if they don't find something they fancy that is GF, or unknowingly cheat because they don't look at the actual ingredients of many products.

I'm not sure vegetarians regularly 'cheat', the end result is the same. I'm well aware that vegetarians are doing so through choice so I'm not seeing why that needs to even be pointed out.