About Me
Hello, I am Bridget, these are My Gluten Free
Discoveries
The catalyst for this change began around 2017 when I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, necessitating a lifelong gluten-free diet. This diagnosis prompted me to seek information, but I found little that was relevant to South Africa, despite extensive UK-based resources.
I meticulously examined every food item in my home, redistributing two-thirds of the food and about 80% of the spices to family and friends after reading every label.
Grocery shopping transformed from a quick 15-20 minute errand to a detailed 2-hour endeavor, not due to a lack of food, but because of the necessity to read each label thoroughly. Although the variety in stores has significantly improved, it was overwhelming initially, and I hadn't anticipated how much I would come to depend on Dis-Chem.
I wished for a resource to guide me to gluten-free options, which led me to create MyGFD.co.za. This platform offers others embarking on a gluten-free journey a starting point, reducing time and frustration, and includes recipes with South African ingredients and purchasing locations.
Adapting to a gluten-free lifestyle was a 2-3 year journey before I felt reasonably comfortable. It's a challenging commitment, but if my experience can ease the transition for others, it brings me joy.
Over time, my health has significantly improved, affirming the value of this lifestyle change.
Cooking and Baking
I enjoy not only baking and cooking but also the entire process of discovering new recipes that appeal to me, even those I've never heard of before. Additionally, tracking down the ingredients has become a significant part of my process.
This blog caters to individuals like myself, ensuring that all content is gluten-free. In some instances, I have experimented with lactose-free ingredients and will indicate where I have done so. The focus is primarily on baking, as flour is a staple ingredient in this domain.
Sometimes an ingredient is not available to me, so I search for a recipe to make that missing ingredient from scratch. This often leads me to discover some unusual products that I've never heard of before.
I draw inspiration from various sources: the people in my life, my family, social media, food shows, movies, TV series, recipe books, magazines, and even the novels I read. While I may not be able to visit all these places, I can attempt to recreate some of their dishes in a gluten-free version using recipes shared on the internet or elsewhere.