What are free-from foods?
Over the last few years, there has been a surge in shops and supermarkets creating ‘free-from’ sections for products that do not contain certain ingredients. These areas allow people who suffer from food intolerance or who follow a special diet to shop in confidence and buy items whose suitability is clearly labelled.
If you are, for example, on a gluten-free diet or allergic to eggs or dairy, you can head to the free-from section of your local store to find products made with your needs in mind.
How can I optimise my diet?
The Premium Food Intolerance Test†analyses your reactions to up to 200 different food and drink ingredients to create your personal ‘food fingerprint’. This is a quick and easy way to find out whether there are certain food or drink products you should be avoiding in order to stay as healthy as possible – these are classed as your trigger foods.
I have a food intolerance – which snacks are safe?
Finding snacks and quick bites to eat that don’t contain trigger foods can be tricky. We asked yorktest Customer Care Senior Consultant Becky, whose trigger foods include cow’s milk, yeast and gluten, to name some of the things she grabs when she’s on the go.
Pumpkin seeds
I LOVE these little guys. I can munch on them all day, but I do try to limit myself a little! Free from gluten, dairy and yeast, they’re tasty, portable and pack a good punch, nutrition-wise. I find they help with my energy levels which is great when I’m rushing about, and they satisfy my urge to nibble on something.
Cashew nuts
I’m a fan of nuts in general but cashews are probably my favourite. They tick the boxes for a savoury snack but also contain good fats, so I feel like I’m choosing a good option when I have a handful of these.
9 Bars
These are such a good grab-and-go snack. They’re packed with fruit and seeds and come in so many flavours. They don’t contain wheat, gluten or dairy but there are chewy chocolatey ones, which satisfy my sweet tooth. It’s great to be able to grab something quick and not have to scan the label first. I just have to make sure I avoid the peanut ones as they contain yeast.
Bananas
The original portable snack. You can’t go wrong with a banana really. Cheap, packed with nutrients and filling. I always keep one in my bag or on my desk for when the munchies hit. If I have a little more time, I like to add banana to corn cakes and top with a little cashew butter – perfect energy boosting snack!
Ready salted crisps
Sometimes, nothing but a cheeky bag of crisps will do. I love original ready salted. They don’t contain gluten, yeast or dairy and are available everywhere. I also LOVE vegetable crisps – the kind with the parsnips and carrots in them. They have a tasty sweet and salty flavour and, like the plain ones, contain none of my trigger foods.
Dark chocolate rice cakes
When I want a little sweet treat, I munch on dark chocolate rice cakes. They don’t contain any yeast, gluten or dairy and the crunchy texture makes them super satisfying – the only problem I find is stopping at one!
Further reading
If you’re keen to find out more about food intolerance and trigger foods, our case studies feature first-hand accounts from people who have experienced skin problems, fatigue and abdominal bloating symptoms because of their diet. You can also read our food label guide to food intolerance here.
Help and support
Always speak to your GP if you are concerned about your symptoms. Once they have ruled out any underlying conditions, it could be a worthwhile opportunity to take a closer look at your diet. YorkTest’s Premium Food Intolerance Test could establish if you have any food intolerances† and provide you with nutritional support to help you optimise your diet effectively
†YorkTest define food intolerance as a food-specific IgG reaction
YorkTest recommend that you discuss any medical concerns you have with a GP before undertaking a Yorktest programme.
