10 hours Ago
A PhD student from Glasgow has shared the challenges of Christmas for those with food intolerances. Mary Beth Graham, 33, who has been on a gluten-free diet for 16 years, spoke about the stress of the festive season. She said: "Christmas is all about enjoying great food with loved ones, but when you have food intolerances, that joy is taken away.
"You’re constantly anxious, trusting someone to cook for you. When a dish tastes too good, you're afraid it might be the thing that causes a flare-up. "It becomes your responsibility to educate those around you, and that can make you feel uncomfortable at a time when you should be enjoying yourself.
" Her comments come as a new survey by YouGov for gluten-free bakery Genius Foods shows more than five million UK adults may be left out of Christmas dinner this year due to food allergies or intolerances being overlooked. The survey found that six per cent of UK adults have been unable to eat Christmas dinner because their food intolerances were not considered during preparation. Mary Beth added: "I've been gluten-free since I was 17, almost half of my life, and the anxiety never gets easier.
"A flare-up means Christmas is ruined for me - my stomach swells, I get feverish sweats, and experience intense migraines that leave me lying in a dark room." Lauren Harber, head of marketing at Genius Foods, was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at 23. She is on a mission to raise awareness about accommodating people with dietary needs this Christmas.
She said: "Christmas dinner can be a huge source of anguish for those with food sensitivities, allergies, and intolerances. "Awareness about the real pain and discomfort that eating the wrong thing can cause is still low – and it’s really upsetting that so many people would simply exclude people with food allergies rather than thinking about how they can help." Andrea Macaulay, curriculum manager for hospitality at Glasgow Kelvin College, advised hosts to be proactive and thoughtful about dietary needs this Christmas.
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