"I want to thank a friend for her support over the last year and ideally I would like to give her a Christmas hamper. However, as she is a coeliac I need some guidance on what tasty Christmas treats would be appropriate. Can you help?"

P.O Hampshire

Buying for friends or family with a specific dietary requirement is never easy especially if they have a condition such as coeliac disease. In fact, people with coeliac disease do not have a food allergy as such but suffer from an auto-immune condition which means they need to avoid the protein gluten, found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and spelt. A festive hamper is a great way to say "thank you" so why not make your friend feel extra special by putting together your own gluten free Christmas hamper. Line a pretty wicker basket with some colourful crepe paper or shredded tissue paper and add some of our tasty gluten-free treats such as:

•·         Against the Grain Almond Cookies

•·         Munchy Seeds Pumpkin Mix

•·         Plamil Organic Dark Chocolate 87% cocoa

•·         Pukka Organic Love Tea

•·         Real Organics Spicy Tomato Chutney

•·         Snapz Beetroot Crisps

Add an extra special touch by including your own gluten free cake such as this delicious Carrot & Pineapple Cake. Preheat the oven to 190C. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin. Mix together 225g Rice flour, 175g Fruisana, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp of bicarbonate of soda. Add 100g can of un-drained crushed pineapple, 200g grated carrots, 100ml sunflower oil, 2 beaten eggs, ½ tsp vanilla essence and 50g walnuts - mix thoroughly. Pour the mix into the baking tin and bake for about 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap the outside of the cooled cake in brightly coloured crepe paper and fasten with a pretty bow.

For more information on this condition visit http://www.coeliac.org.uk/