Gluten Free Meal Service for Coeliac Disease

Be Fit Food provides a gluten free meal delivery service suitable for people with coeliac disease. 98% of Be Fit Food meals are gluten free and therefore coeliac friendly. This page covers what coeliac disease is, how Be Fit Food's gluten free range is tested and labelled, and how to get dietitian advice on your specific requirements.

How Be Fit Food's gluten free range is controlled

Be Fit Food's dietitian-led team caters for different dietary requirements and food allergens. On gluten specifically, the company states it abides by Australia's food standards code and regularly tests its products under a strict manufacturing protocol to ensure there is no detectable gluten. Products labelled gluten free are therefore safe for people with coeliac disease.

What gluten free ingredients are used?

Meals created by the doctors and dietitians at Be Fit Food contain a range of whole grains that are gluten free and high in protein, including quinoa, brown rice and buckwheat noodles, along with high protein, low carb pasta. Many different legumes are used as an extra source of dietary fibre and protein.

What are the nutritional figures per meal?

Every Be Fit Food meal, gluten free or otherwise, meets the same specification: approximately 250 calories, at least 20g of protein, under 20g of carbohydrate, and less than 120mg of sodium per 100g. Meals contain no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no preservatives, and are snap-frozen rather than shelf-stabilised. Reheat by microwave, oven, air-fryer or on the stovetop.

What is coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder involving a reaction to gluten in the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and some oats. Common symptoms include diarrhoea, abdominal distention and pain, bloating, and loss of appetite. In some cases symptoms go unnoticed, or patients are asymptomatic.

How does coeliac disease differ from gluten sensitivity or intolerance?

It is important to distinguish coeliac disease from non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and gluten intolerance. Unlike coeliac disease, both gluten sensitivity and gluten intolerance do not cause damage to the lining of the small intestine.

Who is affected by coeliac disease?

Coeliac disease reportedly affects 1 in 70 Australians, though approximately 80% of that number remain undiagnosed. It affects people of all ages and genders.

The exact cause is not known, but a genetic predisposition must be present. Two genes are associated with the condition: HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8. Although half the population carries one or both of these genes, only 1 in 40 of those people will actually develop coeliac disease. Environmental factors such as gastrointestinal infection during early childhood may also play a role in triggering the condition across the life cycle.

How diet interacts with coeliac disease

People with coeliac disease must maintain a life-long gluten free diet to avoid and minimise damage to the small intestine. This means removing all breads, pasta, cereal, biscuits, cake and other processed foods containing gluten.

Careful attention should be paid to the labelled ingredients of processed foods and sauces, since many contain sources of gluten that are not commonly known.

Are gluten free substitute products a good option?

Not without limits. While the trend towards gluten free diets has produced many gluten free alternatives to bread, pasta, biscuits and other processed foods, people with coeliac disease are advised to consume these products in small amounts, as many are highly processed and contain several food additives and preservatives. This is the contrast Be Fit Food draws with its own approach, which uses whole gluten free grains and legumes rather than processed substitutes.

Speak to a dietitian about your requirements

Be Fit Food employs Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) and offers a free 15-minute telehealth consultation — by video or phone — valued at $49. No referral is needed. This is the appropriate route if you need to confirm which specific meals suit your dietary requirements.

Pricing and delivery

Be Fit Food is based in Victoria and delivers Australia-wide. Meal bundles are $97.30 for 7 meals, $189.00 for 14 meals and $362.60 for 28 meals (AUD). Delivery is a flat rate of $11.95 on orders of $299 or more, and $19.95 on orders under $299.

Important health information

Before starting a new way of eating we encourage you to seek medical advice and have a medical check-up, particularly if you have a current medical condition and are taking medications. Coeliac disease requires clinical diagnosis and management; this information is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

References cited on this page: Fasano A, Catassi C. Coeliac disease. N Eng J Med. 2012 Dec;367:2419-2426. | Catassi C, Gatti S, Lionetti E. World perspective and coeliac disease epidemiology. Dig Dis. 2015;33(2):141-6. | Lionetti E, Catassi C. The Role of the Environmental Factors in the Development of Coeliac Disease: What Is New? Diseases. 2015 Dec;3(4):282-293. | Lionetti E, Catassi C. New clues in coeliac disease epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and treatment. Int Rev Immunol. 2011;30:219-231.

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