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Walking through the hospital car park, Mum and I processed the news.

I had just been told I had a severe wheat allergy, and on top of that, I also had coeliac disease.

We’d been waiting a long time to find out what was wrong with me, and after years of going back and forth to the children’s hospital, a diagnosis felt like we’d closed a chapter, but it was also the start of a whole new one – and this time it was lifelong.

I was only 11 at the time and didn’t have any grasp of what it meant to have allergies. Now, of course, I know better. But I still think society has a way to go in taking allergies and conditions like mine seriously.

I always remember being quite an ill child. Throughout primary school I’d come out in rashes, hives, and I had to have time off school so we could attend hospital appointments.  

I wish I could pinpoint all the foods or the moments these things happened, but to me it was just part and parcel of my life. I didn’t always think anything of it.

However, I do remember that, when I was around 10 years old, I had two particularly bad flare ups. The first came as part of a long car journey.

At home, Mum always cooked our food from scratch. I was generally eating healthy, balanced meals.

When we went on holiday though, I’d indulge in a sweet treat. My choice was always a cake from the bakery.

On this occasion though it caused a really scary episode: Hives covered my body, my lip swelled and I began projectile vomiting from the back seat.

At that moment, Mum – who was already concerned – became even more worried about what was going on with me.

For weeks and months after we went back and forth to the doctor who ran all kinds of tests. Yet they never seemed able to put their finger on what was going on.

That same year we went on holiday to America and I couldn’t wait to get stuck into a portion of mac ‘n cheese. Only, the same symptoms flared up again: my legs were covered in welts and once again I was seriously unwell.

Luckily the symptoms subsided on both occasions but it was enough to make Mum push doctors for an answer.

It’s important to note that, when it comes to testing for an allergy, the process is different for everyone. In my case it started with doctors asking me to keep food diaries and write down when I was having reactions. 

A pattern soon emerged and it became clear that I had a severe wheat allergy.

And just like that, at the age of 11, my life changed.

I couldn’t just go to a friend’s house for dinner after school anymore. If I did, it all had to be planned out. I’d have to find out exactly what their mum was cooking and check with my mum. 

Then, in high school, when every one of my mates was getting their tray and buying lunch in the canteen, I was confined to the contents of my lunch box. It doesn’t sound earth shattering as an adult, but as a young teen it made me the odd one out and I hated it.

I used to envy my friends eating their pizza slices or paninis without a care while I had nothing but a chicken salad to enjoy. Because let’s not forget, the ‘free from’ aisle we’re used to seeing in supermarkets now simply didn’t exist back then. 

There wasn’t gluten free bread readily available on the shelf, and even if there was it tasted vile or would be rock solid by lunchtime.

Sometimes, I’d eat my lunch in the hallway, so I didn’t draw attention to myself as being ‘different’.

That desperation to fit in, to feel ‘normal’ was so all consuming at that age that, to my mum’s dismay, there were times when I would knowingly buy and eat something with wheat in it without any thought for the consequences.

‘What are you doing?’ She’d cry upon seeing the hives up my back or welts down my legs. ‘You can’t do this.’

Even then I still didn’t really grasp the seriousness of what I was living with. I was young and thought I was invincible. 

While I can’t pinpoint the exact moment everything clicked for me, suddenly when I was in my early twenties, I realised that this was not something that was ever going to change so I had to find a way to manage it better.

After I moved out, I was forced to learn to cook for myself and to my surprise I fell in love with cooking. I realised I didn’t have to miss out on things I enjoyed like burgers, pasta and garlic bread or roast dinners, I just had to adapt them for me.

That’s partly been made easier thanks to supermarket free-from sections getting bigger and restaurants asking about allergens as they seat you, or having the symbols on the menu, but I still have to be aware.

Just because something says it’s gluten or wheat free, doesn’t always mean it is. I still have to advocate for myself because my wheat allergy is not something to be taken lightly.

More than that though, when I started posting about my recipes and the fact I have coeliac disease and an allergy online, I quickly realised I was not alone. 

Allergies affect the lives of up to approximately 21 million people in the UK, and 1 in 100 people have coeliac disease, but it’s important to note that these two things are not the same.

An allergy is where your body reacts to something and presents as symptoms which range from mild (like a runny nose) to severe (such as anaphylaxis where there is trouble breathing).

Coeliac disease, however, can cause damage to your gut (small intestine) stopping your body from properly taking in nutrients, and can cause serious damage later in life if you don’t follow a strict gluten free diet.

According to medical studies, cancers associated with coeliac disease include small bowel cancer, small bowel lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma.

I’m so proud to have a platform where people can come to get dinner inspiration and just feel seen. I wish there had been more people talking about allergies when I was younger.

It’s why I also became an ambassador for The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, because I want to use my following on social media and being in the public eye to raise awareness of allergies and conditions like mine.

Allergies need to be treated seriously; people are being put at risk, because mistakes are being made.

Eating out shouldn’t be at the expense of life; food shouldn’t be something that has to be feared, and having an allergy should not make anybody feel like a burden.

Now that I’m a mum, I want Landon to grow up in a world that is not only aware that allergies and coeliac disease exists, but is informed about how to help navigate and incorporate them into daily life.

For that to happen, we must start teaching ourselves (both adults and children alike) about them. We should know what the dangers are; we should know the signs if someone is having an allergic reaction or flare up and what to do about it. The responsibility is on all of us.

My son is too young right now to take any of this in, but I’m very conscious about setting an example for him as he gets older.

And yes, I am gradually introducing potential allergens to his diet on the doctor’s advice so as to prevent him developing one, but should he still get an allergy I’ll be ready to help him navigate that.

Because life doesn’t have to be different if you have an allergy, intolerance or coeliac disease. Of course you have to be careful and other steps must be taken, but you can have a normal, fulfilling life – and it can taste good too.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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Nothing beats that sleep you have at a hotel. From the squashy-yet-supportive pillows to the crisp, puffy duvet, there’s little better than a proper good hotel snooze.

So, what if we told you that you could snap up the exact pillows used in countless hotels across the UK? And that a hotel-quality sleep could be your standard at home?

This World Sleep Day (which is tomorrow, FYI), I decided that I needed to switch up my bedding, and seeing as some of my greatest slumbers have been in hotels (Premier Inn, I’m looking at you), I knew there was nowhere better to look than Fine Bedding Co.

The Fine Bedding Co Set of 2 Boutique Silk® Pillows Bundle

Designed to turn your bedroom into a boutique hotel without the early checkout, these medium/firm, beautifully rich silk blend pillows are packed full of advanced Smartfil fibres blended with the finest silk, giving you a taste of ultimate natural indulgence from home.

shop £71.44 (save £4.56)

After the huge (and I mean life-changing) success of their Coverless Duvet, which is my new ride or die sleep essential, I thought there’s probably nobody I trust more than them to give me great sleep.

So, I snapped up their Boutique Silk Pillow bundle, as well as their Spundown Duvet, and put them to the test.

Designed to turn your bedroom into a boutique hotel without the early checkout, these medium/firm, beautifully rich silk blend pillows are packed full of advanced Smartfil fibres blended with the finest silk, giving you a taste of ultimate natural indulgence from home.

This is all encasing in a soft-to-the-touch cotton cover with a beautiful stripe design, adding extra breathability to the silk pillow and ensuring you’re comfortable and cool every time you lay down your head.

How do the pillows look?

Adorned with a sleek white stripe design, these pillows truly look the part. They’re sleek yet totally puffy, and look gorgeous alone or stacked with another pillow.

I slipped on the brand’s Eden Green Matelasse 100% BCI Cotton Duvet Cover Bedding and I absolutely loved how full and elegant they looked, especially accompanied by the gorgeously puffy and luxe duvet.

(Side note: These sheets are perhaps some of the most gorgeous I’ve ever owned. They look and feel such beautiful quality and have been made using crisp 100% responsibly sourced BCI Cotton. 10/10 would recommend.)

They just look so good. Literally like you’ve just checked yourself into a boutique hotel. Swoon.

How do the pillows feel?

You know that feeling when you jump onto a hotel bed and just sink into the cushions like they’re marshmallows? These pillows give that same, squishy and cosy feeling, truly like resting your head on a cloud.

While they claim to be medium/firm, I’d say that for my firm pillow-loving self they fall more around the medium mark, so if you like something a lot firmer then I’d opt for the Spundown Firm Support Cotton Pillow. Love a medium squish? The Boutique Silk Pillows will be for you.

The thing is though, while I do lean towards firm, I slept incredibly well on these pillows, and thanks to their impressive support I wasn’t left with a stiff neck in the morning. Instead, I was rested and comfortable, and what more can you ask for than that?

What I also love about these pillows is that they hold their shape night after night, dissimilar to pillows of the past that have become pancake-worthy within weeks.

What’s the price like?

Pricewise, these pillows come in at £38 for one, and £71.44 for two – so a nice little discount when you get the bundle. This is, admittedly, on the pricier side when it comes to pillows. All I can say is that a luxe feel like this seldom comes cheap, and they’re definitely on the lower end of the price spectrum for top-notch quality pillows.

Plus, can you really put a price on great sleep? I don’t think so…

And hundreds of shoppers agree, with 94% of reviewers (over 400!) calling the pillows a five-star buy and raving of how they’re ‘so so comfy’.

‘Amazing pillow!’ Raved one five-star reviewer. ‘For years I’ve looked for the perfect pillow, these are amazing! Highly recommend, they are soft but firm and keep their shape, I’ve no more neck and back pain in the morning’

‘I discovered these pillows at a hotel stay and quickly found out where to order them from. I now have that dreamy comfort in a pillow at home that I’ve been searching for, for ages!!! I love them.’ Wrote a second.

Another added: ‘So comfy Surprisingly light but very supportive without allowing the weight of your head to flatten it too much. It doesn’t retain heat too much either. Very satisfied.’

And the duvet?

What an absolute treat. Now, while this won’t be replacing my coverless duvet, it’s now my go-to in the guest bedroom which I use almost daily for naps.

The Fine Bedding Co Spundown Duvet – Double, Summer (4.5 Tog)

Cosy yet lightweight, this Spundown Duvet boasts advanced Smartfil fibres, making it compressible and perfectly squidgy. Similarly to the coverless duvet, this duvet fits effortlessly into your washing machine for quick and easy cleaning.

shop £40

The Spundown Duvet, like the pillows, boast advanced Smartfil fibres, making it compressible and perfectly squidgy. Similarly to the coverless duvet, this duvet fits effortlessly into your washing machine for quick and easy refreshing.

These innovative fibres swiftly recover, ensuring the duvet returns to its original plump shape after each wash. It’s also ideal for allergy sufferers as it can be washed at 60°C, effectively eliminating dust mites and providing outstanding protection and freshness.

This duvet gives a quilted down duvet look and feel but with gorgeously cosy Smartfil fibres instead, which I love because you get that lovely puff, luxe look while staying just the right amount of cosy.

It’s puffy and cloud-like while still squashing down to washing machine size, which is another excellent feature in my opinion.

What more can I say? This is the ultimate bedtime setup for international sleep week and beyond. Snap them up today for sweet dreams from here on out.

The Fine Bedding Co Eden Green Matelasse 100% BCI Cotton Duvet Cover Bedding

This stunning, soft emerald green duvet cover features a delicate matelasse design that looks simply stunning in any room. It's been crafted using the finest quality, sustainably sourced cotton for breathability throughout the night and a luxurious smoothness against the skin, while the percale weave gives a smooth finish and cool, crisp feel.

shop £37.50 (save £37.50)

Night Lark Seersucker Coverless Duvet Set

This seersucker Coverless Duvet comes with two pillowcases to create the perfect, cohesive look. Snuggly yet utterly practical, the duvet is easy to pop in the washing machine when needed, totally transforming laundry and sheet-change day.

shop £65

Your beauty sleep awaits.

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