If your like me and suffer from a food allergy, cooking can sometimes be a real pain in the butt. Trying to come up with meals that both you and your husband can eat (and that tastes good) is a real trial sometimes. People who suffer with multiple food allergies have it even tougher. Some allergies can be classed in a "minority" group which is not really promoted or heard of a lot. Allergies such as fructose intolerance and malabsorbtion are some just to name a few. These are not really not known as well as ceoliac, dairy intolerance, or a peanut allergy. If you suffer from these allergies, life can get pretty miserable somtimes and I imagine trying to put together a meal would be even more challenging. This is where my next guest comes in like superman ready to help ...... Her name is Natalie and she is the auther and founder of the Low FODMAP website and cookbook. Want to know what FODMAP stands for? Continue reading to find out!

Hi my name is Natalie and I am a wife to Geoff and mum to Flynn 10, Ethan 8, Neve 5 and our four-legged canine Obi (can you tell we have Star Wars fans in our house?). I began a career in nursing and then midwifery. I have always loved cooking and have catered for various events over the years. I like getting out with the family for a hit of tennis on weekends and sail boarding over the summer.

. What started you to create your Low FODMAP website?

Low FODMAP.com was created to coincide with the launch of my cookbook, The low FODMAP cookbook. Originally it was just going to be where the book was sold but it has evolved quickly to be where I post new low FODMAP recipes and information on a weekly basis. It has also given me the opportunity to meet many people online and face-to-face in the low FODMAP community and beyond.

Orange & Chocolate Dessert Cake

What does FODMAP stand for?

Fermentable
Oligosaccharides
Disaccharides
Monosaccharides
and
Polyols

You can see why an acronym is used. In plain English, FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates (sugars) that have been identified as triggers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research has shown that reducing these carbohydrates in the diet 75% of IBS sufferers experience relief of their symptoms. IBS is a common gut disorder that is experienced by 1 in 7 adults.

What tips or advice can you give to people suffering from IBS and FODMAP malabsorption?

Firstly, don’t panic; you will get used to this diet.
It is not difficult to cook without onions.
You can still have a sandwich without wheat.
There are still plenty of fruits you can enjoy even though apples, watermelon and mangoes are out.
Oh, and maybe my cookbook will help ;-)

You can order Natalie's cookbook for $30.00 on her website LowFODMAP.com

Chicken Tagine With Herbed Quinoa

How did you come to write a Low FODMAP cookbook?

For approximately 15 years I experienced a range of IBS symptoms. After multiple visits to various doctors I finally saw a gastroenterologist who sent me to have hydrogen breath tests. These tests revealed malabsorption of fructose and lactose (2 FODMAPs). I then had to make major adjustments to my diet. It was difficult at first and there were not many resources available. After I got the hang of my new low FODMAP diet I began playing around with recipes and coming up with new ones. I had always dreamt of writing my own cookbook and it turned out that my years of struggling with IBS were now presenting me with just that opportunity. I knew that if I had wanted more low FODMAP recipes there were sure to be others out there who also did.

What was the hardest part in the cookbook writing process?

I don’t think I could say there was one most difficult part of writing a cookbook. It has been a huge learning curve in so many different areas.
I first had to learn to document my recipes carefully instead of cooking in my usual “a bit of this and bit of that” fashion. I also had to be patient when things didn’t work perfectly the first time.
Photography and food styling has been another challenge. My husband is the photographer in our family and all the photos in The low FODMAP cookbook are his. Since then I have been working hard to improve my photography skills for Low FODMAP.com.
Navigating our way through the printing and publishing trade also presented its challenges.
For anyone who dreams of publishing a book I would say go for it and be prepared to work hard.

What is your favourite recipe/s from the cookbook?

That’s a difficult question. I have different favourites for different reasons. But to pick out just a few:
Orange and Cranberry Bircher
Chicken Tagine with Herbed Quinoa
Orange and Chocolate Dessert Cake

Orange & Cranberry Bircher

What food could you not live without?

It would have to be chocolate. There aren’t too many days I go without just a little. But it needs to be good quality and preferably dark.

What is your worst cooking moment in the kitchen?

When I was developing my wheat-free recipe for ANZAC biscuits it took me 4 or 5 batches to get it right. The nicely shaped biscuits kept spreading so much on the tray that I ended up with 1 single tray-sized biscuit. The kids thought they were fantastic but I didn’t think they would photography too well for a cookbook!

Lactose Free Panna cotta

If you could invite 3 people over for dinner who would it be and what would you cook?

Kevin McLeod – We are in the process of building a house and I have a bit of a Grand Designs addiction. I’m also pretty sure he would bring a nice bottle of red.
Adriano Zumbo – I have a hopeless sweet tooth and love creating and eating desserts.
Stephanie Alexander – She has such passion for teaching children about real food and I think my son Flynn would also enjoy meeting her.
I think I would have to come up with a menu that I could prepare ahead so I could spend time with my guests...perhaps a slow cooked side of salmon with a warm quinoa and roasted vegetable salad. For dessert I would serve my lactose free panna cotta with balsamic strawberries.

What will be on your Christmas Menu?

We always have a bit of a mixed affair with everyone contributing to a delicious spread. This year I am planning to bring along a boned chicken with a forcemeat stuffing and a wheat free summer pudding with a lactose free crème anglaise. Hopefully I will get to do a test run so I can share it on Low FODMAP.com before Christmas.

Order Today: RRP $30.00

Natalia has kindly donated one of her Low FODMAP cookbooks to giveaway to one of my lucky readers. This would make a great addition to any cookbook collection or a great christmas gift to a FODMAP sufferer. Simply follow the instructions below and get your entry in today. There is the chance to put multiple entries in to the competition! Entries close next Thursday the 15th December.

Good Luck!