Special Diets Directory About living & coping with Special Diets and food allergies

Quite simply, Special Diets Directory is a passion that has somehow evolved into a campaign!

I'm wheat intolerant and my two children (one a vegetarian) have a kidney condition (Cystinuria) demanding a low salt and restricted protein diet. Add a lactose intolerant mother, friends and childrens’ friends with various food allergies/intolerances/coeliac/ and I seemed to be constantly sleuthing for a mish-mash of special dietary foods. I've always tried my best to buy organic and additive/preservative free food too which 'ups the ante!'

Despite increased awareness, adapting to and living a special diet is still challenging. Special diet and allergy food shopping can get your head in a spin!

Special diet and allergy food shopping can get your head in a spin!

The hassle of cooking & entertaining. The angst of social eating - you know the score, picking at the ‘safe’ bits, being drawn into annoying and embarrassing explanations or eating No-No foods just because it's less hassle (and an excuse to justify it!) Worrying about what your children are eating when you aren’t with them (whether on special diets or not!) . The wicked, short lived joy of cheating! The 'fall out'! These are all par for the 'University of Special Diets' course...

Few people make a hobby of the weekly food shop, but I remember the sinking feeling heading out on each ‘expedition’ with strongest eyewear at the ready to scrutinise labels! Despite the demand, the choice of food for special diets available in shops & restaurants was and still is 'very limited' - to be PC!

Only a few places stocked a token gesture of generally 'safe' foods - produced by that small & wonderful group of visionaries; the dedicated commercial producers who had faith enough to jump into the unknown long before 'special diets' became 'news'. They have been a lifeline

So I decided to explore the local West Country farmers markets - the vibrant atmospheres, stunning colours and the mouth watering smells! It was all so gorgeious I thought I'd never be lucky enough to find foods to suit my family's cocktail of special diets. Happily, I was so wrong! Families with differing dietary requirements can share the same food

Families with differing dietary requirements can share the same food

Lightbulb moment...

I spent time talking to Devon and Cornwall based producers and found they were really up for adapting their produce and recipes to a whole range of special diets – another beauty of hand/home production! This may be the West Country but throw away your misconceptions, these guys are cute and way ahead of the game. They recognise that 'special diets' and 'free from foods' = a loyal niche and exploding market. A win/win for consumers and the food industry!

As I nosed around a bit more I found that this was not just a West Country thing - small producers are 'Doing It' for the Special Diets cause and creating loyal customers all over the place!

People, not machines. prepare many of these foods. Culinary artisans, happy to put their imagination & skills into creating recipes for all sorts of special diets, medical conditions, and dietary restrictions. And the great thing is they are designed to be universal and bring the Oooh, Mmm & Yumm to food for all - not just for special diets! Everyone really enjoying the same meal together without worry - Result!

The BIG problem has always been the debilitating transport and advertising costs making it nigh on impossible to get these wonderful foods known outside of their patch.

I decided it was time to get them 'Out There'! and so Special Diets Directory was born!

There is a feast of food suppliers waiting to surprise and save us from cheating on our special diets, be they for elimination, detection, medical, coeliac, cultural, lifestyle reasons. Let's celebrate, browse, discover and support them. Then as this site grows, so more will magically appear! Our database is huge and as most don't really go in for promoting themselves they are hidden so let us know your food fantasies and we will do our very best to satisfy them!

This is your site, your place to find and say what you want, meet people,. learn, contribute and join in as you like. You are sure to have opinions, wish lists. suggestions, comments, ideas and gripes of your own - so please let us have them. We all need to pull together on this to make change happen...! Carefree eating wiith www.specialdietsdirectory.co.uk

Carefree eating wiith www.specialdietsdirectory.co.uk

I really hope that being part of Special Diets Directory (SpecialDD) will add a new dimension to your eating and lifestyle. We look forward to getting to know you!

Warm wishes

Annie