Rockfish Totally Rocks!

Recently, we went on a short holiday to Devon. The hotel in which we stayed (supposedly five star, but that's another matter) was such a disappointment, but thankfully Rockfish provided a much needed highlight to our stay. Finding Rockfish online, was a total Godsend!

Rockfish actually have a number of restaurants dotted around the South coast of Devon (see here for a map), but the one which we visited was situated in Torquay, right by the harbour. I wasn't sure what to expect, as I haven't been to Torquay in about 30 years, but I had heard that almost everything on the Rockfish menu (see here) could be made gluten free, so it had to be worth a visit!

It is a fairly small restaurant, decorated in a laid back contemporary beach shack chic kind of style, which I really liked. There's no parking, but there is a public car park just up the hill, a short stroll away, from the restaurant itself.

Great for dining casually, but nothing to stop one dressing up!

When we arrived, we had not booked, but as the place was almost empty, that wasn't a problem and we were soon seated, by efficient and friendly staff. The restaurant filled up as the evening went on, so if you wanted to go in the future in high season, I would definitely phone ahead to book.

Kiddo's entertainment!

Drinks soon ordered - mine a locally sourced, absolutely delicious apple juice, Kiddo was issued with a children's pack, the like of which I've never seen before in any restaurant. It wasn't just your bog-standard and over too quickly colouring sheet with word search, oh no! It was instead stuffed full of all kinds of educational and fun activities - including a kind of fishy Top Trumps, which we all enjoyed playing whilst we were waiting for our food! 

Fishy Top Trumps was really quite fun!

The boast that almost everything could be made gluten free was not an empty one. I soon found myself gleefully tucking into a plate of calamari - a starter?? An almost unheard of luxury for me!! And, oh my word! It was so good - the best I've ever tasted.

The Hub's starter - Vegetable Tempura - also came gluten free, so we all helped him out with his veg. - even the Kiddo!

I had to avoid the soya dip, but otherwise, the tempura was also suitable for me.

Kiddo has a number of choices to choose from, but, much to my surprise, stuck to cod and chips. It arrived in the form of goujons and she was soon tucking in.

Kiddo's meal

My main meal, was the Fritto Misto - minus the soya sauce and replaced with a seaweed dip instead (I didn't have to ask - what a measure of excellent service).

Fritto Misto

This I had accompanied by a lovely, lightly dressed, side salad. I could have had chips, but mindful of all the batter I was consuming, I decided to behave, and settled for pinching one of Kiddo's!

In reality, if I had put more thought into it, my main was a bit similar to my starter, but heigh ho - it's so long since I've been able to enjoy calamari in a restaurant, I was simply making up for lost time! ;)

Dessert was a little more tricky for us, but in the end we simply had no room for any more food anyway, but am pretty sure I made up for it - certainly calorie-wise - by sampling their wonderful Prosecco. 

From start to finish, this was a wonderful place to visit and the only shame was that it took so long to get there, from where we stayed, otherwise we would have been back for more! 

During our visit, we met some wonderful friendly locals, who recommended their other restaurants and said they were equally as good, which is good to know. As they seemed quite accustomed to fine dining, I would take their word for it. So if you're gluten free and find yourself in South Devon, you know where to go! You'll be doing yourself a favour by the visit.

And one other thing, it was all so reasonably priced! Our combined food and drink bill (two adults, one child, two courses) came to around £60.

Point to note: 

I have to say, this restaurant totally lived up to everything that I had hoped for. I took a bit of a gamble assuming that if they could do gluten free, then dairy free also wasn't a problem. Indeed dairy free was possible, but please note, you need to make this clear, as the standard batter they use contains milk, whereas the gluten free doesn't. The gluten free flour is also soya free - bonus!!

Rockfish have worked hard to fully comply with Coeliac UK standards. See here.

Further posts about Eating Out can be found here.

And you can also find further reviews by me, of restaurants, days out and hotels on Trip Advisor, under the same name as this blog. I am beginning to build up a list of places I have been recently, because when I was away, Trip Advisor was far more useful than any other site for finding suitable places to eat - so I think it's only fair to pay back, or even 'pay it forward', and help others.

Kinnerton Dairy Free Advent Calendars 2016

Alright, alright so they're not the only dairy free Advent calendar you'll come across between now and Christmas, but if you want one that is dairy free, nut free and branded with a commercial, recognisable children's character, then these are the only chance you'll get. The characters available this year, are Peppa Pig, Thomas the Tank Engine, Homer Simpson and Tatty Teddy and the chocolate is also egg free and gluten free. The chocolate is made with soya lecithin, which is suitable for many with soya allergy, as the soya protein has been removed. Please check with your allergist or dietitian, if you are unsure about this.

Roll up, roll up!

Please note, the Paws Patrol and Trolls design are only available in the nut free version, not in the dairy free and nut free version, from what I understand.

The only reason I am highlighting Kinnerton's Advent Calendar so early, and not in my usual Advent post (which will follow at some point later in the season, when I know where definitely going to be sold, but in plenty of time for Christmas - see last year's post here, if you want to get an idea of what else will become available), is because Kinnerton's will NOT be available in any of your local shops but absolutely HAVE to be ordered in advance and by a certain time. This year there seems to be a little more time to get your order in, than in previous years, as you have until November 20th 2016.

The other thing Kinnerton offer, is to personalise your calendar with your child's name, and a little message, which is a nice added touch.

To register your interest and find out more, follow this link. When ordering, you will need to create a customer account, if you are a new customer, but can use your existing one, if you have registered with them before.

The cost of one of these Advent calendars of £6.50 is undoubtedly more than people will pay for a 'normal' chocolate Advent calendar, but please bear in mind that Kinnerton have had to invest extra in making sure these are absolutely safe for those with food allergies and this does mean extra expense. 

Other firms making dairy free Advent calendars may produce theirs for a slightly lesser cost, but cannot afford the copyright that they would need to pay in order to decorate theirs with commercial children's characters. So really the choice is up to you!

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post, neither have I been offered or received  any free samples or gifts. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

Related Posts:


Oo! Ah! Christmas Chocolat 2015



Dairy free ways to decorate your tree



Tasty Treats

Eat your dairy free heart out with Alpro's new ice cream

I've been secretly lamenting my lack of dairy free and soya free ice cream recently - ever since I realised I was beginning to react to the lovely range of Tesco free from ice creams. No idea why, but eventually, as much as I loved them, the tummy discomfort that followed became too much to ignore. 'Is it the lupin?' I wondered. Well, maybe! 

I tried a few coconut-based ice creams, but they didn't really float my boat, so I ended up going back to Almond Dream's Mint Choc Chip. I love it, but sometimes you just want a bit of variety! 

Then, the other night... THESE hit my screen (courtesy of @chubbania & @_ayrtonnn on Twitter). 

'Huzzah for Alpro!' I thought!

And I wasted no time in tracking them down!

Huzzah for Alpro!

In fact Alpro has not produced just one, but actually THREE ice creams!! A Coconut flavoured iced dessert, a Chocolate and Hazelnut one, and also a Vanilla version. That one is made with soya, so no good for me, although Kiddo can have it, but the Coconut and the Chocolate and Hazelnut are just right!

What's in them?


Coconut:
Water, Soluble gluco fibre, Coconut milk (13.3%) (Coconut cream, Water), Sugar, Vegetable fats (Rapeseed, Shea), Fructose-glucose syrup, Emulsifier (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), Stabilisers (Locust bean gum, Guar gum, Carrageenan), Sea Salt, Flavouring. 

Free from dairy and gluten. May contain traces of soya & nuts (no peanuts).



Hazelnut & Chocolate:
Water, Soluble gluco fibre, Sugar, Vegetable fats (*Palm kernel, *Palm), Fructose-glucose syrup, Hazelnuts (2.9%), Chocolate (1.7%), Fat-reduced cocoa (1.7%), Emulsifier (Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), Stabilisers (Locust bean gum, Guar gum, Carageenan), Sea salt. 

Free from dairy and gluten. May contain traces of soya & nuts (no peanuts).


Vanilla:
Water, Soluble gluco fibre, Sugar, Hulled soya beans (6.1%), Vegetable fats (Rapeseed, Shea), Fructose-glucose syrup, Emulsifier (Mono- and Diglycerides of fatty acids), Vanilla extract (0.4%), Stabilisers (Locust beangum, Guar gum), Sea salt, Vanilla seeds. 

Free from dairy and gluten. May contain traces of nuts (no peanuts).

(*Sustainable sources of Palm have been used.)

Can decide which to have? Have two or even three at once!!

What are they like??

I like them all (I had a sneaky lick of the soya and am hoping for no ill after effects. So does Kiddo! The coconut was a definite improvement on some I have tasted before. Unlike another I've tried, quite recently, it wasn't too sweet, and, although it tastes of coconut, it's not over-poweringly coconutty. It's also quite creamy. 

I really like Alpro's hazelnut milk and as chocolate and hazelnut are a classic flavour combo, I enjoyed the Chocolate & Hazelnut flavour too. I was a bit surprised that Kiddo liked this one, as she can be a fussy mutt. I was mainly worried becuase hazelnut can add a slightly acrid after-taste, but Kiddo doesn't seem to have noticed, or if she has, she hasn't minded it!

And here's the Vanilla flavour!

The Vanilla is really creamy and actually tastes (from what I could tell from my small sample) a lot like a Mr Whippy ice cream. Kiddo was ecstatic when I told her this, as it has been her ambition for a long while, to be able to have a Mr Whippy ice cream. Now *all* she wants is for me to buy a machine that will serve it like a commercial ice cream machine, in a nice little swirl!! Hmm! I've looked online... looking at the prices of them THAT isn't gonna happen any time soon!

How much?

In Tescos, which is the only place that I know of so far, that stocks the new Alpro ice cream, Each 500ml tub costs £3.50. This is pretty well comparable with the cost of Almond Dream, so not too bad. Swedish Glace is certainly cheaper, so I'll probably stick with their vanilla for Kiddo, but I would definitely buy the other two flavours again - for me, if no-one else - although I suspect that Kiddo (even though, being able to have soya, she has a lot more choice than I) will want more too!

So well done Alpro! Now, when are you going to make us a yogurt without soya?? Now that you've done it with ice cream, we know you can do it!

Pretty please??

Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

Related posts:


Mint Choc Chip Almond Dream



Choices, Choices, Tesco's Free From Ice Creams

How important is Iodine in a dairy free diet??

So, six and a half years into our dairy free journey, maybe I could be forgiven for thinking I pretty well know my way around this whole thing by now?? 

Y'know, I've covered the what kind of dairy free milk is (nutritionally) best (see here), I've looked at elements that might be missing from a dairy free diet, such as calcium and vitamin D, but whilst Googling about some other thing that was bothering (I know, I know Dr Google isn't always that reliable, but I have been careful about my sources here).

I've just discovered something else to worry about!!

THIS stuff:

I is for...

What is it?? You may well be wondering... sugar?? 

No - sugar is sooooo last year!! 

This is salt. And I'm not worried about having too much of it (although you do need to take that into consideration, when planning your daily intake), what this salt is lacking is what is bothering me - a certain important element... iodine!!


How does this impact the dairy free??

I hear you ask.

Well, dairy is one of the major ways in which most people in the UK will take in Iodine - without even knowing it. This is because it is used to help clean cow's udders before milking (not so much in organic milk, though, apparently). 

Ah! Slight problemo there, then!!

More recently, iodine deficiency has been detected in breast fed babies with cow's milk protein allergy (see here).


What is iodine and why do I need it??

Iodine is a natural mineral and actually a fairly rare element. The body needs it to help maintain a healthy thyroid. Thyroid hormones play an important role in helping the body's metabolism work properly. They are particularly important during pregnancy and breastfeeding - specifically to aid brain development and also to potentially prevent miscarriage and stillbirth. Got your attention now??


How much iodine do I need??

It is recommended,by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) that adults require 150 mcg (microgrammes) a day, rising to 200mcg a day, if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Something I discovered, through reading around, is that women are more likely to be deficient than men, and also that here, in the UK, we are more likely to be deficient that in some other parts of the world. This is partly because in many other countries, table salt is often iodised - has iodine added - as a matter of course. Also, in the US, processed food is often made with iodised salt.

Why does that not happen here, in the UK?? Well, it is worth noting that too much of a good thing is bad for you, and this is also true of iodine. Too much can also cause problems for the thyroid. 


How can I get enough iodine??

Well, apart from dairy, one of the major ways in which you can get iodine in your diet, is through eating shellfish, such as shrimp, and white fish, such as cod or haddock. It is also present in meat and eggs. It's also worth noting that there is more iodine in conventional milk than in organic milk.

This is particularly problematic for those who are Vegan. That's not to say that Iodine isn't found in plant-based sources - Iodine is present in seaweed products, such as kelp, but it is not recommended that one relies on this as a regular source of iodine, as it is difficult to quantify how much iodine they contain and also, they may contain other toxic substances... such as arsenic!! 

There is also a small amount of iodine found in fruit or vegetables - more in those grown in iodine rich soil, however, it is difficult to quantify how much. Haricot beans (otherwise known as Navy Beans) are a good source of iodine, but Vegan sources, such as The Vegan Society recommend taking an iodine supplement, just to be on the safe side. 

Whilst taking a supplement may be a good idea if you are Vegan or Vegetarian, others of us may well need to take a bit more care, as if we eat a varied diet we may be eating a fair amount of iodine anyway, and, as already mentioned above, too much iodine can be bad for you. That said, the NHS Choices states that taking 0.5mg a day '...is not likely to cause harm'.

If you are at all concerned about how much/little iodine you may be getting, it's definitely worth talking to your Healthcare Providers (GP/Dietitian etc.) about it (although, no-one has ever brought this up with me before, which makes me wonder whether there is enough of a focus on it). There are tests that can be done, and if you are found to be lacking, your Healthcare Providers can help you assess the ways in which you can supplement your diet and can make recommendations specific to your personal requirements.

As for me, I have decided to eat more cod, prawns, corn (one of the few cereals containing significant amounts of iodine) and have added iodised table salt to my shopping list. My plan being not to 'up' my salt intake (it's important not to eat too much salt, especially when very young), but to use iodised table salt wherever I would normally use table or rock salt. So far, I have only found one product, containing iodised salt. This tub comes from Waitrose, but is also available in Sainsbury's:

'Iodised Salt' - meaning Iodine has been added.

Please note that the packaging states that 2g of this salt provides at least 15% of the daily amount of iodine required by an adult.

Strangely enough, although many sea products contain iodine, Sea Salt is not a good source of Iodine.

For more information, please check out the following articles linked below:


Further Reading:

Iodine - BDA Food Fact Sheet

Vitamins and Minerals - Iodine - NHS Choices

How much salt is good for me? - NHS Choices

Iodine status and growth in 0-2-year-old infants with cow's milk protein allergy - Pub Med Journals

Expert reaction to iodine in milk and IQ - Science Media Centre

Iodine and Selenium - The Vegan Society

Database of the Iodine Content of Food and Diets (P.12) - British Geological Survey

Iodine FAQ - British Thyroid Society

Iodine deficiency: no longer just a third world issue - NUTRA Ingredients.com



Update:

Certain plant-based milks are supplemented with Iodine:

Alpro Plus 1 - 24.5 ug per 100ml

Marks & Spencer Rice milk - 30.7 ug per 100 ml
Marks & Spencer Oat milk - 28.9 ug per 100 ml

Oatly Oat milk (Original/Chilled/Barista) - 5ug  per 100 ml - Oatly used iodised salts in the production of their oat milk. 

How important is Iodine in a dairy free diet??

So, six and a half years into our dairy free journey, maybe I could be forgiven for thinking I pretty well know my way around this whole thing by now?? 

Y'know, I've covered the what kind of dairy free milk is (nutritionally) best (see here), I've looked at elements that might be missing from a dairy free diet, such as calcium and vitamin D, but whilst Googling about some other thing that was bothering (I know, I know Dr Google isn't always that reliable, but I have been careful about my sources here).

I've just discovered something else to worry about!!

THIS stuff:

I is for...

What is it?? You may well be wondering... sugar?? 

No - sugar is sooooo last year!! 

This is salt. And I'm not worried about having too much of it (although you do need to take that into consideration, when planning your daily intake), what this salt is lacking is what is bothering me - a certain important element... iodine!!


How does this impact the dairy free??

I hear you ask.

Well, dairy is one of the major ways in which most people in the UK will take in Iodine - without even knowing it. This is because it is used to help clean cow's udders before milking (not so much in organic milk, though, apparently). 

Ah! Slight problemo there, then!!


What is iodine and why do I need it??

Iodine is a natural mineral and actually a fairly rare element. The body needs it to help maintain a healthy thyroid. Thyroid hormones play an important role in helping the body's metabolism work properly. They are particularly important during pregnancy and breastfeeding - specifically to aid brain development and also to potentially prevent miscarriage and stillbirth. Got your attention now??


How much iodine do I need??

It is recommended,by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) that adults require 150 mcg (microgrammes) a day, rising to 200mcg a day, if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Something I discovered, through reading around, is that women are more likely to be deficient than men, and also that here, in the UK, we are more likely to be deficient that in some other parts of the world. This is partly because in many other countries, table salt is often iodised - has iodine added - as a matter of course. Also, in the US, processed food is often made with iodised salt.

Why does that not happen here, in the UK?? Well, it is worth noting that too much of a good thing is bad for you, and this is also true of iodine. Too much can also cause problems for the thyroid. 


How can I get enough iodine??

Well, apart from dairy, one of the major ways in which you can get iodine in your diet, is through eating shellfish, such as shrimp, and white fish, such as cod or haddock. It is also present in meat and eggs. It's also worth noting that there is more iodine in conventional milk than in organic milk.

This is particularly problematic for those who are Vegan. That's not to say that Iodine isn't found in plant-based sources - Iodine is present in seaweed products, such as kelp, but it is not recommended that one relies on this as a regular source of iodine, as it is difficult to quantify how much iodine they contain and also, they may contain other toxic substances... such as arsenic!! 

There is also a small amount of iodine found in fruit or vegetables - more in those grown in iodine rich soil, however, it is difficult to quantify how much. Haricot beans (otherwise known as as Baked Beans, or in the US as Navy Beans) are a good source of iodine, but Vegan sources, such as The Vegan Society recommend taking an iodine supplement, just to be on the safe side. 

Whilst taking a supplement may be a good idea if you are Vegan or Vegetarian, others of us may well need to take a bit more care, as if we eat a varied diet we may be eating a fair amount of iodine anyway, and, as already mentioned above, too much iodine can be bad for you. That said, the NHS Choices states that taking 0.5mg a day '...is not likely to cause harm'.

If you are at all concerned about how much/little iodine you may be getting, it's definitely worth talking to your Healthcare Providers (GP/Dietitian etc.) about it (although, no-one has ever brought this up with me before, which makes me wonder whether there is enough of a focus on it). There are tests that can be done, and if you are found to be lacking, your Healthcare Providers can help you assess the ways in which you can supplement your diet and can make recommendations specific to your personal requirements.

As for me, I have decided to eat more cod, prawns, corn (one of the few cereals containing significant amounts of iodine) but not haricot beans - I've been intolerant to those for years. If you can have those though, then great, as they can be added to Shepherd's pie and all kinds of things. 

I have also added iodised table salt to my shopping list. My plan is not to 'up' my salt intake (it's important not to eat too much salt, especially when very young), but to use iodised table salt wherever I would normally use table or rock salt. So far, I have only found one product, containing iodised salt. This tub comes from Waitrose, but can now also be found in Sainsbury's:

'Iodised Salt' - meaning Iodine has been added.

Please note that the packaging states that 2g of this salt provides at least 15% of the daily amount of iodine required by an adult.

Strangely enough, although many sea products contain iodine, Sea Salt is not a good source of Iodine.

For more information, please check out the following articles linked below:


Further Reading:

Iodine - BDA Food Fact Sheet

Vitamins and Minerals - Iodine - NHS Choices

How much salt is good for me? - NHS Choices

Iodine status and growth in 0-2-year-old infants with cow's milk protein allergy - Pub Med Journals

Expert reaction to iodine in milk and IQ - Science Media Centre

Iodine and Selenium - The Vegan Society

Database of the Iodine Content of Food and Diets (P.12) - British Geological Survey

Black Forest Swiss Roll - Baking Without 'Baby'

So, I'm Baking Without 'Baby' at the mo! Let's be honest, it is easier that way!!

One of my favourite cake recipes that I return to time and again, is this one, by Mary Berry. It is completely foolproof (if you get the chance to make it by yourself), even when substituting gluten free flour for the plain.

I've used it several times for making a Yule Log at Christmas, and often, just as a straightforward chocolate Swiss Roll - partly because it is such an easy recipe, but also because it is popular with both Kiddo and The Hub! 

Recently, I decided to upgrade it slightly - for a 'grown up' afternoon tea with friends, and the result went down so well, that I thought I would share the 'upgraded' version! 

Result!

Step One

First of all you make the basic Swiss Roll, as described by Mary Berry's Recipe (link above). Once out of the oven, I roll it up tight in baking parchment, to help create its form and keep in the moisture.

Plastic clips help hold it together, whilst it cools.

Step Two

Meanwhile, boil a kettle and put two knives suitable for spreading into the water, to warm. Then unroll the Swiss Roll (keeping it on the baking parchment) and place two/three tablespoons of Black Cherry Jam (I used Waitrose jam) at the end that will be rolled last. Spread the jam towards the middle part of the roll, making sure the cherries in the jam end up at the end which will be the middle part of the roll. Try to keep from spreading right to the edge, as jam will squidge that way, anyway, as you roll the sponge.

The warm knife helps the jam spread evenly.

Step Three

Add some blobs of some whipped coconut cream. Top tip: if you're making coconut cream, follow this recipe, BUT start the cream two days before - one day to refrigerate it, then whip it, then leave it in the fridge overnight - it will end up thicker. However, if you bring it back to room temperature it will become a lot looser again, so only spread near the time you are going to consume the Swiss Roll! Then use the second knife to spread the cream over the jam - some mixing may occur, keep dipping your knife back in to the hot water, to help the icing spread more smoothly. 

Given that making the coconut cream takes some thinking about and some preparation, if, (like me, most of the time), you can't be faffed to make the cream, I have found Betty Crocker's Vanilla Style Buttercream Icing (or your own, if you prefer) makes an excellent substitute.

Dotting blobs of icing/cream over the jam makes it easier to spread the icing.

Step Four

Lift the baking parchment under the end of the roll that will end up in the middle, and roll the sponge back into a roll, as tight as you can manage.

Rolling it all back together.

Step Five

Place on platter, cut, serve and enjoy!!

You could embellish the top, but mine never lasts that long!

YUM!

Even yummier with Waitrose Raspberry and Prosecco Jelly and some coconut cream!! :)

Please note: 
This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do not receive products free to review, although I have often been offered them. This is to try and maintain an unbiased approach. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).

A Preview of The Free From & Allergy Show 2016

So 8th-10th July... got it in your diary yet?? If so, why not?? 

It's the weekend of the London Allergy and Free From Show!!

A lot of stuff about the London Allergy Show remains pretty much the same for me, whichever day I visit. This is because one of the main reasons I go is to hunt down new dairy free and gluten free products, and stock up on old favourites - especially those that aren't so freely available locally. I go armed with cash, and a shopping trolley, knowing that there will be show bargains to be had - my trolley is always full to over-flowing by the time I leave to go home. 

The Allergy Show is held over three days (8th-10th July, this year) in Olympia, London. Usually, Saturday is my best bet.

However, this year, for me, it's different. It matters quite a bit, to me, which day I go, as I'm desperate to get along to hear Dr Adam Fox speak in the Learning Centre. In previous years he spoke on the Saturday, but this year he's speaking on the Friday, at 2pm. 

AGH! A school day!! Now that Kiddo is at school, THAT is going to be a little bit tricky!

I'm not saying the other speakers aren't worth listening to (the rest of the The Schar Learning Centre Programme can be accessed here), but... he is definitely my favourite!!

Why? Well, in case you don't know who Dr Fox is, he is a Consultant Peadiatric Allergist par excellence - a BIG allergy guru, definitely worth listening to. Pearls of allergy wisdom flow from his mouth at quite some speed, so if you're planning on attending his session, come armed with pen/paper, hey even a dictaphone - you won't want to miss a thing. And get there early - quite a number of people had to stand around the edge last year, as there wasn't enough room to listen.

Dr Fox's talk was packed!

Dr Fox's topic this year is Active Management of Food Allergy - current thinking in the specialist treatment of food allergies. WOW! What a subject! Which allergy parent doesn't want to know how best to manage their child's food allergy?? 

Also speaking on Friday, but in 'Speaker's Corner, is Alice Sherwood, author of 'The Allergy Free Cookbook.' I would be really interested in hearing her speak about Ten things they should tell you about Allergies (but hardly ever do). Her talk is scheduled for 2.30 pm - unfortunately clashing with the aforementioned Dr Fox *groans*.


Other highlights I'm expecting to see, are:


1. Shopping 

I know I've already mentioned this, but it is important - shopping for food, food and more food! Especially free from treats, I'm particularly partial to those! ;) 

I will definitely be looking out for Ms Cupcake's stall, as well as favourite brands such as Lovemore, Barkat and Eskal, to name but a few.

A former Allergy Show haul!

See the current exhibitor list here.


2. Allergy Adventures 

There will also be a kid's zone manned and created by Hailley - an inspirational, energetic, creative, wonder woman who almost defies description! There will be crafts, storytelling and a trail to follow. Surprisingly, she (and her loyal band of volunteers) are unpaid for this, so show her some love, buy her merchandise and nag your local school to book her!

Hailley in action - story telling!

For, not only is Hailley an author, who has written several books for children about food allergies (see here), she is amazing at spreading the word about allergies in schools - for which she has devised a series of free allergy workshops for schools (which you can find here). Not only that, she has also created several videos with fun free from recipes for children (see here) as well materials designed for allergy departments in hospitals, to help their young patients deal with being in clinic. 



3. And also...

There is also a chance to see free from cookery demonstrations (but usually I run out of time/energy for these). 

This year the Allergy Show is also co-locating (sharing the space) with the 'Just V Show', which is space reserved for Vegan and Vegetarian stands (some of this will be free from, some not) and the 'Love Natural, Love You Show', which basically is about organic/green clothing, skin and beauty products. there is a bit of fluidity between the 'different' shows, although they are basically exhibiting in the same hall - many dairy free products were located in the Vegan section, like this Violife stand:

Note last year, the Vegan are was carpeted in a lovely shade of pink!

On the day bring:

Your Ticket - it's free, to attend, but you still need your ticket to get in. You can download and print your free tickets by following this link. Otherwise, it's £10.00 on the day, with children under 16 allowed in free.

Light clothing - the exhibition hall is basically like a greenhouse.

Comfortable shoes - you'll be on your feet a lot!

Food/drink - if you're worried about finding enough safe stuff to eat - especially important for those with multiple allergies. There is going to be a 'Free From Cafe' on site, but that doesn't mean they'll cater for everyone!

Money - preferably cash - changes hands more easily.

Shopping trolley - you'll be carrying away more than you think!

Eyes - keep your eyes peeled to make sure you stay safe - read labels & ask questions before you eat (usual rules still apply). Remember many stall holders employ staff who might not know their products as well, or who (even though, ironically, it is an allergy show) might not have a good understanding of allergies/cross-contamination etc. especially if they are there for the Vegan show.

Wits - the space is being shared with various stands, some of which I'd avoid because they offer unproven alternative intolerance tests/remedies. They are there because they've paid for their space, just like everyone else, but .

Game Plan - familiarize yourself with speakers/exhibitors list, by looking at the website before you go, so that you don't miss a thing. In fact this year, I may well download a floor plan and chart a course, just to make sure I don't miss anything!


Getting there:

Train - The train station is right by the exhibition centre, if you're coming by train.

The train station couldn't be much closer!

Car - there is a car park, but it can be a bit tight in there!



And finally...

if you can't make it to London, well good news, there are other venues for the Allergy Show throughout the year:

Liverpool Exhibition Centre 5th-6th November, 2016

Glasgow SECC 11th-12th March, 2017


Please note: 

This post is not an advert. I have not been paid to write this post. I am not sponsored in any way, even by advertising. I do get free tickets - the same way as you can, by clicking the link. All views expressed are my own (unless I've asked for The Hub's or Kiddo's).


Related posts:




The Allergy and Free From Show 2015 - a retrospective



Shopping with Food Allergies in the UK