But along the way something changed. I realised that I really enjoyed the writing part. A lot. I started to pick up more readers, more followers on Twitter, and among both there were other food bloggers. These were men and women who, like me, had experienced coeliac disease or other allergies or intolerances; people who had, at least in part, dealt with a new lifestyle by helping others adjust to similar situations, using product reviews, recipes and advice. Currently, I probably read some 15-20 blogs and checking the latest posts on them is the highlight of my week.
What makes these blogs so good? They are informative, they are fun to read, they have food porn by the saucepan-load, and they are very well written. The authors are also friendly and supportive of other bloggers - something I hadn't expected.
So, without further ado, here are my top five allergy-friendly blogs, in no particular order:
1. Wuthering Bites
The name itself is fantastic, but what really sets this blog apart is the sheer volume of food porn. Oh yes. You want to see a gooey, sinful pudding, oozing with chocolate or caramel? Want to see meat, glistening with tender juices? Trust me, it's all right here, along with recipes that will have you reaching for your utensil drawer before you realise what's happening. There are reviews as well and it's worth noting that this blog was a Grand Finalist in this year's The Food Reader Awards for Best Food Blogger.
http://wutheringbites.co.uk/
2. The Free From Fairy
One look at The Free From Fairy blog shows you it's something special. Beautifully designed, but still with an air of fun, this blog began after the author's daughter was diagnosed with coeliac disease and lactose intolerance. Although there are recipes and reviews in abundance, the thing I love most about this blog is the high level of information dispensed in the posts. Through video posts and written posts, the reader can learn all about catering for a child's birthday party, dealing with school meals, and there's even a whole section dedicated to offering advice for those in the catering biz on catering for coeliacs! Keep your eyes peeled for competitions here as well!
http://freefromfairy.com/
3. Dairy Free Baby and Me
Started in 2012, this blog covers the experiences of raising a child diagnosed with non-Ige cow's milk allergy. This is not the same as lactose intolerance, and can be very tricky to negotiate. There is a huge amount of information specific to avoiding dairy, and there are recipes for and reviews of dairy free food and drink. If it's dairy free and NOT on Dairy Free Baby and Me, it's probably not worth buying. Even better, there's help on eating out and travelling, which can be a real challenge on a restricted diet.
http://dairyfreebabyandme.blogspot.co.uk/
4. Free From Favourites
Recognition should go to the author's brother-in-law, who desgined this fantastic website. But, of course, the main focus has to go to the author herself, who started blogging about gluten free and dairy free recipes after she was diagnosed with Arthrochalasia - a form of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. There are three main things to say about this website: recipes, recipes, recipes! Want a recipe for breakfast muffins? Struggling to work out what to have for lunch or snacks? You'll find recipes here in abundance, safe for coeliacs and lactose intolerants alike. I especially rate the recipe for jaffa cakes!
5. Last, but by no means least, The Happy Coeliac is a pro in the world of food blogging. Diagnosed in 2011, the author has emigrated fairly recently to the Netherlands, but this hasn't stopped her from providing some of the best gluten free blog posts around. Not only are there regular recipes, reviews (including mentions of products and eateries in the Netherlands), giveaways AND drool-worthy food porn, you can even buy her ebooks on cooking gluten free at Christmas and for dinner parties. Special mention has to go to the video post 'My Gluten Free Kitchen: A Peek Inside'. If you ever wanted a good look at someone else's kitchen, this is definitely a post worth checking out!
http://thehappycoeliac.com/
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