This changed everything for me...

And it could for you too.

Learning to live without eating a major food group can be a real challenge.

Favourite dishes may have to change, and they won’t taste quite the same as before. Finding new recipes can feel overwhelming, and you might end up eating the same meals on repeat, feeling stuck.
And then there’s that one thing you used to eat and LOVE—the thing you just can’t stop missing.

It’s a big adjustment. I know, because I’ve been there.

When I had to give up gluten in my 20s, I went through all the stages of grief. From denial to (very reluctant) acceptance, it was far from easy.

Back then, gluten-free products were rare. Bread existed, but it tasted like polystyrene. The advice? “Toast it—it’ll taste better.” Spoiler: it didn’t.

It took me years to come to terms with my new diet. I often felt overwhelmed and, honestly, a bit embarrassed.

When friends invited me over for dinner, I had to explain that I wasn’t just vegetarian but also gluten-free. I usually offered to bring my own food to make things easier.

Eating out was even more stressful. In the early 2000s, I had to explain what gluten even was—only to end up with a sad plate of food missing all the good bits.

But over time, I managed to shift my mindset, and that changed everything.

I stopped focusing on what I couldn’t eat and started focusing on what I could. My cooking became more playful, creative as I cooked more from scratch.

My kitchen was messy, and I turned into the Swedish Chef from the Muppets (minus the rubber chicken). But I was happy.

Yes, I couldn’t eat gluten, but there were still so many things I could enjoy. Spices, herbs, vegetables, rice, quinoa—the possibilities felt endless once I embraced them.

I started creating recipes that made me genuinely excited to eat again and when friends came round, they didn’t even notice the lack of gluten.

For a while, life felt manageable and joyful too.

And then I faced an even bigger challenge.

In my late 40s, as well as some other things, I found out I could no longer eat cheese or any dairy. And I really loved cheese.

Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash

At first, I did what any self-respecting cheese lover would do: I hovered over my partner as he tucked into his Old Amsterdam, asking him to describe the taste and texture. Yep, he thought it was weird too.

But I knew I needed to do what I’d done before—focus on what I could eat and fast.

This time, it was both easier and harder. On one hand, I had experience.

On the other hand, fake cheese isn’t the same. And I really missed butter too.

Photo by Jacqueline Munguía on Unsplash

So I flexed my creative muscles again and decided to reframe the situation -

What if I could make everything more fun? And make eating enjoyable again?

Once again, I realised there were so many delicious things I could eat and make. Meals that didn’t make me miss dairy at all.

Reframing my mindset transformed the experience, turning restriction into curiosity, joy and abundance.

I also started finding ways to make cooking easier. I repurposed recipe elements so I didn’t have to start from scratch every day. For example, a side dish of roasted sweet potatoes could be turned into a tasty Lime and Chilli Butter Sweet Potato Hash or a Mexican inspired warm salad. A sauce could double as a soup base.

Photo by Mel

Cooking became less of a chore and more of a creative challenge.

This journey has been life-changing for me. And now, I want to help others on theirs.

That’s why I’ve decided to combine my 20+ years of experience of cooking for intolerances with my coaching and consulting background to support people, at home or online, who are navigating similar challenges. Whether you’re:

• Just starting out with a list of foods your doctor/nutritionist has told you to avoid.

• Struggling to find recipes that work for all your household’s unique needs.

• Trying to make cooking from scratch easier and less time-consuming.

I’m here to help. It’s like having your own cheerleader, sounding board, coach and food consultant rolled into one. I can help to share tips, recipes, meal plans. Finding solutions for what isn’t working for you, minimise the stress, so you can enjoy meal times again.

I’m offering a free 20-minute discovery call to chat about your challenges and where you would like to get to and see how I can support you.

If this sounds like something that would help you (or someone you know), please share this post or get in touch with me at mel.mediasauce@gmail.com.