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Welcome to International Gluten Free! We’re so excited to introduce ourselves and share our journey with you. We may not have celiac disease, but we are deeply connected to the gluten-free world and passionate about helping others navigate it. Let’s dive into our stories and what we bring to the gluten-free community.

Who We Are

Karen’s Story: A Gluten-Free Mom’s Journey

My name is Karen, and my gluten-free journey began in 2006 when my daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease just before her fourth birthday. It was a life-changing moment for our family. We were living in Pennsylvania at the time, and her diagnosis was confirmed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Fast forward a few years, and we made a huge move—from Pennsylvania to Singapore! What was supposed to be a three-year stay has now turned into over 14 years. My daughter has since grown into a gluten-free adult, successfully managing her diet in college and beyond.

Living gluten-free in Singapore has been a challenge, to say the least. Unlike New Zealand and Australia, where gluten-free awareness is high, Singapore has limited understanding of celiac disease and cross-contamination risks. That’s why I’ve spent years advocating, educating, and navigating gluten-free life in a country that isn’t always celiac-friendly.

Cara’s Story: From Struggle to Gluten-Free Expertise

I’m Cara, and my gluten-free story starts with my husband. About 10-12 years ago, he was finally diagnosed with celiac disease after a long and difficult road. Unfortunately, due to years of undiagnosed celiac, he developed severe health issues—including osteoporosis, which led to him fracturing a rib just by reaching for a remote!

At the time, he was in his late 30s but had the bone density of someone in their 80s due to malabsorption. His diagnosis was a wake-up call, and our entire lifestyle had to change overnight. Gone were the days of beer and pizza; instead, we were thrown into a world where every ingredient mattered.

As a journalist, I went looking for resources, but at the time, there was little to no helpful information available. So what did I do? I created my own! I launched Australian Gluten-Free Life magazine, attended global celiac disease symposiums, and even had my fan-girl moments meeting experts like Dr. Alessio Fasano and Bob from Bob’s Red Mill (bless him!).

A few years later, I took things a step further and launched FODMAPPER, the first (and only) low FODMAP magazine in the world. As editor of Australian Gluten-Free Life (AGFL), I was regularly approached by readers asking if I had any low FODMAP recipes in the magazine. It became clear that there was a huge gap in the market for people who needed more than just gluten-free options.

Suffering from IBS myself, I understood the struggle of trying to find meals that wouldn’t trigger debilitating symptoms. So, I worked closely with dietitians and researchers to create a trusted resource filled with expert advice, gut-friendly recipes, and real-life stories—helping people navigate this complex diet with confidence.

I'm incredibly passionate about raising awareness of coeliac disease, IBS, and the gluten-free and low FODMAP diets. Having lived through the challenges myself, I understand the frustration of trying to find trustworthy, credible information in a sea of misinformation.

My mission has always been to ensure that people have access to reliable resources, whether they’re navigating their own health journey or helping others. It's so important that individuals struggling with these conditions know they are not alone, and that they can find expert-backed advice to help them make informed decisions about their diet and well-being.

Why We Do This

Both of us have spent years navigating the gluten-free world in different ways—Karen through parenting and advocacy, and Cara through journalism, research, and recipe development. Together, we’ve gained a wealth of knowledge that we want to share with you.

Our Areas of Expertise

✅ Celiac Parenting: Karen has raised a gluten-free child from age four to adulthood, helping families navigate diagnosis, school, travel, and more.

✅ Gluten-Free Living & Cooking: Cara has spent years perfecting gluten-free recipes, working with food brands, and researching safe eating.

✅ Global Gluten-Free Travel: We’ve both had to figure out how to eat safely in different parts of the world, from Singapore to Australia, the U.S., and beyond.

✅ Celiac Advocacy: We’re passionate about raising awareness, pushing for better food labeling, and making life easier for the gluten-free community.

Challenges of Being Gluten-Free in Singapore

One of the biggest differences we’ve noticed is how easy it is to be gluten-free in places like New Zealand and Australia compared to Singapore.

- In New Zealand, you can walk into almost any restaurant, ask for gluten-free options, and get a confident “no problem!” response. Menus are well-marked, and cross-contamination is taken seriously.

- In Singapore, gluten awareness is still severely lacking. Hawker centers (the heart of Singaporean food culture) are extremely difficult to navigate safely, and many restaurants have no understanding of cross-contact risks.

But don’t worry—if you’re traveling to Singapore or living here gluten-free, we’ve got your back! Our Gluten-Free Singapore Guide lists safe restaurants, grocery stores, and must-know tips for dining out.

Our Mission & How You Can Help

We started International Gluten Free to share trusted information, personal experiences, and helpful resources for the gluten-free community. Unlike big corporate sites, we run 100% on donations—everything we do is out of passion and a desire to make life easier for those with celiac disease.

💚 How You Can Support Us:

- Explore our website for travel guides, restaurant lists, and gluten-free tips.

- Share our content to help spread awareness.

- Make a donation to keep our resources free for those who need them most.

Final Thoughts

We’re so glad you’re here! Whether you’re newly diagnosed, a seasoned gluten-free traveler, or a parent navigating celiac life, we’re here to help. Check out our resources, follow along, and let’s make the gluten-free world a little easier together.

✅ Stay safe, get tested, and happy gluten-free living!

Learn More

👉 Sign up for the Gluten Free Singapore Newsletter (Don't worry, we won't clutter up your inbox. We only send it out when we have something interesting to say.)

👉 Check the calendar for upcoming gatherings with our local Singapore Support Group.

👉 Gluten-Free Parenting website and information is currently in development. Get on our list for updates and new resources.

Resources & Links

🔗 Visit us at: InternationalGlutenFree.com

🔗 Australian Gluten Free Life Magazine

🔗 FODMAPPER Magazine Website