Christchurch Coeliac Club

Christchurch Coeliac Club Bringing Coeliac-safe eats, products, information and reviews to the people of Christchurch and NZ. For those living strict GF, we know how difficult it is.

This page is for our community to share, be inspired and navigate GF life together. Diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at 35, I've been thrown in the deep end with little to no help. Navigating this new lifestyle is hard and draining. I've created Christchurch Coeliac Club to spread word, help each other with the difficult lifestyle and a place where we can share safe restaurants and cafes, know what products are safe and to generally share experiences.

đŸ„Ź Coeliac Disease: When Your Gut Ghosts Your NutrientsYou could be smashing green smoothies, munching kale, and sipping ...
18/06/2025

đŸ„Ź Coeliac Disease: When Your Gut Ghosts Your Nutrients

You could be smashing green smoothies, munching kale, and sipping bone broth like a wellness warrior

But if you’ve got coeliac disease, your gut might still be saying:
“Thanks, but I’m not absorbing any of that.”

When gluten slips in, your immune system goes full drama queen and attacks your small intestine—specifically the villi (those tiny nutrient-absorbing legends). Flattened villi = fewer nutrients getting where they need to go.

Most commonly MIA nutrients?
đŸ„„ Iron – Hello, fatigue. Goodbye, pep.
🩮 Calcium & Vitamin D – Your bones are quietly filing complaints.
🧠 B12 & Folate – Brain fog, mood swings, and the energy of a sleepy sloth.
🧬 Zinc & Magnesium – Immunity, sleep, and sanity in short supply.
💊 Vitamins A, E, K – Fat-soluble and flat-out ignored by damaged guts.

But here’s the kicker: Even after going gluten-free, your body might need time (and some TLC) to start absorbing properly again. That’s why regular blood tests and check-ins with your GP or dietitian are a must—even if you think you’re nailing it.

Gluten might be out, but if your villi are still in recovery, your nutrients might be too. Be patient, get tested, and maybe give your gut a little love letter while you're at it.

👑 Maharaja: Where Gluten Doesn’t Rule the Kingdom! 👑Great news, gluten-free foodies! Maharaja Indian Restaurant has conf...
16/06/2025

👑 Maharaja: Where Gluten Doesn’t Rule the Kingdom! 👑

Great news, gluten-free foodies! Maharaja Indian Restaurant has confirmed that most of their mouth-watering dishes are naturally gluten-free – and they’re more than happy to roll out the royal treatment for coeliacs 👑✹

They don’t use flour in their cooking (except for naan) and can take extra care to avoid cross-contamination when notified in advance.

Even better? They’re about to move into a brand new palace – the historic Papanui Train Station! 🚂📍 So soon you’ll be able to enjoy coeliac-safe curries in a one-of-a-kind setting.

Next stop: flavour town
 without the gluten!

Shoutout to Fiddlesticks for stepping UP for the gluten-free crowd 🙌⠀I asked all the usual coeliac questions — and got a...
13/06/2025

Shoutout to Fiddlesticks for stepping UP for the gluten-free crowd 🙌
⠀
I asked all the usual coeliac questions — and got answers that actually impressed me:
⠀
đŸ„– Dedicated gluten-free menu items
🍟 Fryers used only for gluten-free food (yep, including the fries!)
đŸœïž Separate prep areas, colour-coded chopping boards, and even a top-shelf oven policy to keep gluten-free food far from a gluten rain shower
📚 Staff trained through the EatChoice Coeliac Dining Out Programme
🛒 Every ingredient checked — from sauces to seasoning — to make sure it’s truly gluten-free
⠀
While they’re not “certified coeliac-safe” (because that requires lab testing), they’re doing everything within their power to prepare gluten-free meals with care, attention, and real understanding.
⠀
Honestly? This is the kind of effort and transparency we love to see 👏
⠀

🧠 THE MENTAL SIDE OF COELIAC(aka: when your brain becomes your bodyguard)Coeliac disease isn’t just about cutting out br...
11/06/2025

🧠 THE MENTAL SIDE OF COELIAC
(aka: when your brain becomes your bodyguard)

Coeliac disease isn’t just about cutting out bread—it’s a full-time mental game.

People with coeliac constantly navigate food like a minefield: reading every label, asking all the questions, scanning for cross-contact, and mentally preparing to advocate for themselves at every meal.

It can be exhausting.
It can feel isolating.
And often, it feels like being the "annoying one" in the group—the person who holds up the menu decisions, double-checks with the kitchen, or suggests different places just to stay safe.

But here’s the truth:
Coeliacs aren’t being difficult. They’re just trying not to get sick.
There’s no cheat day, no “just a little bit,” no gluten wiggle room.

Despite that, coeliacs become food label experts, gluten-detectives, and polite-but-persistent truth-seekers. Their health depends on it.

And while it might feel like a burden at times, speaking up is actually a strength.

đŸ’Ș It takes courage to ask the awkward questions.
🧠 It takes brainpower to manage every single meal.
❀ It takes resilience to live in a world that often doesn’t take gluten seriously.

So next time you see someone asking the waiter way too many questions—give them some grace.
They’re not fussy. They’re just coeliac. And they’re doing their absolute best.

’sNotAFad

đŸ™‹â€â™‚ïž What I Wish People Knew About Coeliac DiseaseLet’s clear a few things up, shall we?Because being gluten-free isn’t ...
10/06/2025

đŸ™‹â€â™‚ïž What I Wish People Knew About Coeliac Disease
Let’s clear a few things up, shall we?
Because being gluten-free isn’t a personality trait — it’s medical.

Here’s what I really wish people understood (and why awareness is important):

❌ No, I can’t “just have a little bit.” Even crumbs can kick off a full immune response. I’m not being dramatic, I’m being careful.
🍞 Cross-contamination is real. If your gluteny toast went in that toaster
 I’m out. Prepared my GF pizza in the same space as normal pizza? Yeah nah.
đŸ„Č It’s not a trend. I’m not doing keto-lite. I’m doing “please don’t destroy my gut lining” lite.
đŸ€ą Symptoms aren’t just about the gut. Think fatigue, brain fog, low moods, and iron that won’t behave.
đŸ§Œ Shared fryers are enemy territory. Hot chips cooked with nuggets = not gluten-free.
🧁 Gluten-free doesn’t mean taste-free. We’ve come a long way since cardboard cupcakes.
đŸ„ There’s no cheat day. This isn’t a diet — it’s a lifetime commitment to staying well.
🔎 I read every label. Every time. Gluten loves to sneak into the weirdest places.
đŸ„— I don’t want your side salad. I want a proper meal. That’s also safe.
🧬 This isn’t a choice. It’s my health. And yes, it’s serious.

💬 Fellow coeliacs — what do you wish people understood? Drop yours below 👇

Did You Know? – Coeliac in Aotearoa EditionThink coeliac disease is just a “bit of a gluten sensitivity”?Think again, br...
09/06/2025

Did You Know? – Coeliac in Aotearoa Edition

Think coeliac disease is just a “bit of a gluten sensitivity”?
Think again, bread lover.

Here’s your dose of gluten-free facts to chew on:

đŸ„– 1 in 70 Kiwis are estimated to have coeliac disease — but up to 80% are still undiagnosed. That’s tens of thousands walking around wondering why they’re tired, bloated, or iron-deficient
 blaming the weather.

💉 If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ve got a 1 in 10 chance of also being coeliac. Double trouble.

🧬 Got a close relative with coeliac? You’re looking at a 10% chance of joining the gluten-free gang.

😮 Fatigue, brain fog, brittle bones, infertility — yep, untreated coeliac can sneak up in unexpected ways. It’s not just about tummy aches.

🚹 Still sneaking the occasional sausage roll? A study found people with coeliac who keep eating gluten have a 6x higher risk of death, especially from gut cancers. Harsh but true.

đŸ„„ And FYI: there’s no cure. The only treatment? A strict gluten-free diet, for life. No cheat days, no “just a bite.”

✅ Moral of the story?
If your body hates gluten, believe it. Don’t ghost your guts.
Get tested. Get answers. Go GF if you need to.

đŸ“Č Share this post to help others who might still be stuck in the bloated, brain-foggy unknown.

“Wait... that’s a coeliac symptom?”Coeliac disease doesn’t always scream “tummy trouble.”Sometimes, it whispers
 for yea...
08/06/2025

“Wait... that’s a coeliac symptom?”

Coeliac disease doesn’t always scream “tummy trouble.”
Sometimes, it whispers
 for years.
And that’s why 4 out of 5 Kiwis with coeliac don’t know they have it.

Here are some of the most common symptoms:

✅ Bloating
✅ Diarrhoea or constipation
✅ Fatigue (the bone-deep, nap-needed-at-9am kind)
✅ Iron deficiency
✅ Nausea
✅ Weight loss or gain
✅ Brain fog
✅ Mouth ulcers
✅ Abdominal pain

But here’s where it gets tricky...
It can also show up as things you wouldn’t expect:

đŸ€Ż Mood swings, anxiety or depression
🩮 Osteoporosis
đŸ©ž Skin rashes (especially dermatitis herpetiformis)
🧠 ADHD-like symptoms in kids
💄 Hair thinning or brittle nails
đŸ‘¶ Infertility or miscarriages
đŸ’Ș Joint pain
😮 Sleep disturbances
đŸš« No symptoms at all — and still damage happening inside

Yup, coeliac disease is different for every body — and that’s this year’s theme.

✹ Share this post.
You could be the reason someone finally connects the dots and gets tested.
You might even save them from years of feeling unwell and not knowing why.
Undiagnosed coeliac disease can cause serious life changing conditions later in life.
Go to: https://coeliac.org.nz/

📣 Coeliac Awareness Week starts NOWđŸ—“ïž June 9th –15th 2025This year’s theme is “Coeliac disease is different for every bo...
07/06/2025

📣 Coeliac Awareness Week starts NOW
đŸ—“ïž June 9th –15th 2025

This year’s theme is “Coeliac disease is different for every body” — and honestly, it couldn’t be more accurate.

Because here’s the thing: coeliac doesn’t show up the same for everyone.
Some of us get brain fog, others get bloated like a beach ball. 🏐
Some lose weight, some gain it. ⚖
Some live in the bathroom đŸšœ, others just feel off.
And some (like me) went years being told it was “just stress” or “maybe dairy.”

That’s why awareness matters—because what looks like a “fussy eater” to one person could be someone else’s autoimmune disease screaming for attention.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, years in, or just here because gluten is your mortal enemy—welcome.
Let’s show Christchurch (and beyond) that going GF doesn’t mean going it alone.

If you’re a Christchurch coeliac and haven’t been to Doubles yet... stop what you're doing and go.This place is basicall...
07/06/2025

If you’re a Christchurch coeliac and haven’t been to Doubles yet... stop what you're doing and go.
This place is basically the VIP lounge for gluten-free folk — minus the rope, plus really good coffee.
Centrally located and service is fast, and efficient.

đŸš« No standard flour on site
🍟 Fryer is a gluten-free-only zone (hallelujah)
🧑‍🍳 Tell them you're coeliac and they give you that look — the “we got you” kind, not the “what’s gluten again?” kind.
🍞 The only gluten in the building is some bougie Grizzly bread — but it’s kept on its own hot plate like a toxic ex: close enough to exist, far enough not to ruin your day.

I popped in last week and had the scone — and honestly? Game changer. Fluffy, delicious, and zero gluten regrets.

It’s one of the few spots where you don’t need to interrogate the menu like a crime scene.
You just show up, order, and enjoy — stress-free and crumb-free.

Big love to Doubles for being absolute gluten-free gems 💛

đŸ„„ Breakfast in NZ – Coeliac Edition đŸ„đŸš«đŸŒŸBefore my coeliac diagnosis, breakfast was a vibe. Now? It’s a full-blown investi...
06/06/2025

đŸ„„ Breakfast in NZ – Coeliac Edition đŸ„đŸš«đŸŒŸ

Before my coeliac diagnosis, breakfast was a vibe. Now? It’s a full-blown investigation. Every box gets side-eyed, every label gets a forensic scan.

Waking up as a coeliac means one thing: reading cereal boxes like they’re legal contracts. “Contains gluten.” “May contain gluten.” “Thinks about gluten.”

But after some serious shelf-scanning and label-squinting, I’ve found some NZ brekkie gems that won’t betray your gut.

🍌 Sanitarium GF Weet-Bix – Still got that iconic Weet-Bix vibe, just without the side of stomach pain. Best with fruit, milk, and a sense of relief.

🐓 Macro GF Cornflakes – Crunchy, simple, and safe. Like cornflakes that actually like you back.

🐩 Something to Crow About GF Muesli – Seedy, nutty, a little bit posh. If your breakfast had a personality, this one owns a keep cup and drives a hybrid.

đŸ„„ Chantal Organics GF Granola – Organic, local, and doesn’t taste like cardboard. That’s a win.

🛒 Countdown Free From Rice Puffs – Straightforward, no nonsense. Ideal for yoghurt, smoothies, or sneakily snacking out of the box.

🍞 Vogel’s GF Toast – Technically not cereal, but let’s be honest—if there’s peanut butter involved, it counts. Soy & Linseed? Game changer.

Got a GF brekkie fave? Share it in the comments—I’m on a mission to find the good stuff so we can all eat in peace. đŸ•”ïžâ€â™‚ïžđŸ„„

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