Special Diets - Factfile - Page 1

Special Diet Foods I cannot/should Additional information not eat

Religion Foods must be kosher (slaughtered in a certain way). Jewish Pork and shellfish Dairy foods and meat should not be stored, cooked or eaten together. Foods must be halal Muslim Pork and alcohol (slaughtered in a certain way) Hindu Beef Diet is mainly vegetarian.

Allergy / Coeliac Gluten – found in cereals Eating gluten can cause intolerance such as wheat, rye, barley diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and oats. bloating and weight loss. There are many gluten-free products available. Lactose intolerant Lactose – a natural sugar The body is unable to break found in milk and dairy down lactose, this causes foods. flatulence, diarrhoea and bloating. Small amounts or some types of dairy foods can sometimes be tolerated. Allergies Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Eggs The immune system mistakes or Milk. the food as a threat to the body and releases a chemical called histamine. A severe allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis and can potentially be life-threatening. Symptoms include a rash, difficulty breathing, face and lips swelling and a tightening throat. An injection of an anti-allergy medicine called adrenaline should be given as soon as a reaction is suspected. Emergency services should also be called. Vegetarian Lacto-vegetarian Meat, poultry, fish or eggs People choose to be a vegetarian but they do eat dairy due to many different factors, products. and reasons include health, aesthetics, religion or moral beliefs. Replace the loss of protein in your diet with food like nuts, beans and quorn. Special Diets - Factfile - Page 2

Vegetarian Lacto-ovo-vegetarian Meat, poultry or fish but A lacto-ovo-vegetarian is what they do eat both eggs and most people think of when dairy products. someone says they're "a vegetarian”. It is the most common type of vegetarian diet.

Ovo-vegetarian Meat, poultry, fish or dairy products but they do eat eggs.

Pescetarian Meat or poultry but they do eat fish, eggs and dairy products.

Vegan All animal products. They They also avoid buying anything do not eat eggs, dairy made from animal products, products, or even honey. such as leather, fur, wool and silk.

Medical Diabetic Sugary foods and drinks Diabetes is caused by having too much glucose in your blood. Glucose is a type of sugar which is normally broken down by a hormone the pancreas produces, called insulin. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the body is unable to produce any insulin. People with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for life. Type 2 occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin for it to function properly, or when the body’s cells do not react to insulin. This type of diabetes is progressive and can be diagnosed later in life. It can also be controlled by eating a healthy diet. Symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, needing the toilet more than usual, especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss and muscle wasting. Special Diets - Factfile - Page 3

Medical Heart disease Foods high in saturated fat, This condition means that a cholesterol and salt gradual build-up of fatty material has narrowed the walls of the coronary arteries. Avoiding foods high in fat and eating foods high in fibre such as fruits and vegetables, oats, nuts, beans and pulses can alleviate the condition.

Obesity High calorie foods. Foods Over time, eating excess high in fat and sugar. calories, and not exercising enough to burn off the calories, can lead to excessive weight gain.

Being obese shortens life expectancy and can lead to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Time of life Pregnancy Alcohol, pate, undercooked A healthy, balanced diet rich in and raw egg, rare meat, soft folic acid, must be followed in cheeses and liver. order to ensure the health of the growing baby and mother. Folic acid is needed to prevent spina bifida and is found in green, leafy vegetables and pulses.

Elderly Hard foods which are Elderly people may have lost difficult to chew. their teeth or wear dentures. Large portions. They may also suffer from a Spicy foods. variety of diet-related disorders such as osteoporosis, therefore they must follow a healthy, balanced diet. Spicy foods and large portions can upset their stomachs.

Special Diets - Factfile - Page 4

The 14 major allergens

Cereals containing wheat

Wheat, rye, barley and oats can be found in foods containing flour, some baking powder, batter, breadcrumbs, cakes, meat products, sauces, soups and some fried food.

Crustaceans

Crabs, lobster prawns and scampi are examples of crustaceans.

Eggs

Eggs may be found in pasta, cakes, quiche, sauces and pastries. Some food products are also glazed with eggs during cooking.

Fish

Fish may also be found in sauces in foods such as pizzas, relishes, stock cubes and Worcestershire sauce.

Peanuts

Peanuts are often found in biscuits, cakes, curries, desserts and sauces.

Soya

Soya can be found in miso pates, edamame beans, bean curd, soya flour or tofu. It is a staple ingredient in oriental food. It may also be found in ice cream, sauces, meat products and vegetarian products.

Milk

Milk is mainly found in dairy products. Examples of these are butter, cheese, cream and yoghurt. Some foods are also glazed with milk during cooking.

Nuts

Nuts (excluding peanuts) typically refer to nuts grown on trees, unlike peanuts. Examples include almonds, cashews and hazelnuts.

Celery

This includes celery stalks, leaves, seeds and the root. These can usually be found in salads, celery salt, soups and stock cubes. Special Diets - Factfile - Page 5

Mustard

This allergy includes allergy to mustard in the form of powder, liquid and seeds. These can be found in breads, curries, marinades, meat products, sauces, soups and salad dressings.

Sesame

Sesame seeds are usually found in bread, sometimes sprinkled on top of buns, bread sticks, hummus, sesame oil, chutney and tahini.

Sulphur Dioxide (Sulphites)

Sulphur Dioxide is often used in dried fruits, some meat products, wine and beer, soft drinks, and vegetables. Asthmatics have a higher risk of developing an allergy.

Lupin

Lupin is a flower which may sometimes be found in flour, bread, pastries and pasta.

Molluscs

Molluscs includes mussels, land snails, squid and whelks, but can also be found in oyster sauce, which is commonly used in fish stews for example.