I Tasted True Dining Freedom - But It Came at a Cost

For four years, I did something I had never done in my life. I ate whatever I wanted in restaurants. Pasta, bread baskets, tasting menus, takeaways: no questions, no disclaimers, no awkward chats with waiters.

And for the first time, I felt what I can only describe as dining freedom.

‍

Why I Walked Away from Gluten-Free Living

I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at just 18 months old. But being diagnosed so young meant I never truly understood what that meant: not medically, emotionally, or socially.

By the time I reached my late teens I decided to rebel. But I wasn’t rebelling against my body. I was rebelling against the system around me. A system that made dining out feel stressful, isolating, and embarrassing. I was tired of the awkward conversations with restaurant staff. Tired of friends waiting while I interrogated menus. Tired of being the “difficult” one.

So, I stopped keeping gluten free.

Not because I didn’t care about my health, but because I desperately wanted to feel normal.

‍

What Dining Freedom Actually Feels Like

The first time I walked into a restaurant and didn’t have to explain myself, didn’t have to ask, didn’t have to feel different - it was euphoric.

There was no stress. No spotlight. No second-guessing. Just food, friends, and freedom.

For someone who had spent their entire life feeling anxious around food, it felt like I had discovered a whole new world. Ordering anything I wanted off the menu without hesitation was liberating.

I hadn’t realised just how much I had been missing out on.

‍

But Freedom Came at a Price

Of course, it didn’t last.

My partner at the time, a medical professional, was worried. And eventually, so was I. My health began to deteriorate. I ended up back at the Gastroenterologist and was quickly reminded of the seriousness of my condition.

I returned to being gluten free. Properly this time. Fully informed, fully committed.

But with that commitment came the return of the emotional toll. The anxiety. The over-preparation. The quiet fear that one wrong bite could undo everything.

‍

The Truth Most People Don’t See

Dining freedom is a privilege.

Being able to walk into any restaurant and order whatever you want, without fear or clarification, is something most people don’t think twice about. But for those of us with dietary requirements, eating out is rarely that simple.

It’s scanning menus ahead of time. It’s hoping the staff understand cross-contamination. It’s mentally rehearsing how to explain your needs without being dismissed. And it’s the constant risk of being made to feel like an inconvenience.

I have no regrets about those four years; not because I ignored my health, but because they gave me a perspective I never had before.

‍

That’s Why I’m Building TasteBuddy

TasteBuddy exists for everyone who has ever felt the anxiety I tried to escape.

It’s the UK’s first comprehensive dining ecosystem for people with dietary requirements: Coeliac Disease, the 14 major allergens, Veganism ,and more. We're starting with the most critical needs, and in time, we'll expand to support even more communities, from Keto to low-FODMAP and beyond.

We’re working with restaurants, communities, and technology to create a future where everyone can enjoy eating out, without fear, frustration, or feeling like an afterthought.

Because no one should have to choose between their health and the simple joy of dining out.

‍

Join the Movement

If you’ve ever felt the same or want to help change the dining experience for millions - join the TasteBuddy movement.

‍
👉http://www.taste-buddy.co.uk

‍