Hi, I’m Katie Kennedy, and I’ve been a registered dietitian for over 20 years, working in lots of different areas of medicine, but more recently interested in gut health and supporting the gluten-free brand, Glutafin.

Taking some time to prepare your gluten-free kitchen is a really important step in helping to reduce the risk of accidental gluten exposure. I’ve got a few things here I’m going to share with you to help you get started.

First of all, we’ve got toaster bags. If you’re using a shared toaster at home, it’s very likely that the gluten-containing crumbs are going to get on your gluten-free bread when you use the toaster. A simple way to avoid this is to have a separate toaster just for gluten-free foods, or you could use toaster bags to help reduce the risk of contamination.

Next, it’s really important to have separate pots of butters, jams, and spreads for topping your gluten-free foods. This prevents people who are gluten-free from leaving crumbs in the pots, which then transfer to your gluten-free foods. It’s important to clearly label the pots that you want to be used only for topping gluten-free foods.

Invest in some food storage clips like these ones. This will prevent particles of gluten-containing food from getting into your gluten-free foods whilst they’re being stored. It’s also a good idea to store gluten-free foods on the top shelf of fridges and cupboards to further prevent the risk of contamination.

Try to keep a separate chopping board that’s only for use for preparing gluten-free foods. You could use a different colour so it’s really clear which chopping board is to be used for preparing gluten-free foods. Use plastic, glass, or slate chopping boards because these are less porous than wood and can therefore be cleaned more easily. The same goes for utensils such as spoons and spatulas.

Finally, have good, simple kitchen hygiene practices in place. Use hot, soapy water to wash pots, pans, and utensils well after use, and wipe down surfaces thoroughly between preparing gluten-containing and gluten-free foods.

Glutafin is a brand of products available on prescription for people with a diagnosis of coeliac disease. Check out the Glutafin website to see if you might be eligible for gluten-free products on prescription.