Q & A - "My friend and her family are coming to stay, however, her little boy is a coeliac and I am worried about catering for him. I also don't want my friend to feel she must arrive laden with groceries! Can you provide me with some ideas which will be safe for him to eat and yet the whole family will enjoy?"

TB, Sussex

It is, of course, important not to alienate anyone who suffers with an allergy, especially a youngster who might feel particularly sensitive about "being different". From a practical point of view you won't want to cook different meals to accommodate everyone's tastes and health requirements after all you want to enjoy your friend's company as well as make her stay a pleasant one.

First of all you will need to understand a little about coeliac disease - it is an auto-immune disorder whereby the body's immune system attacks its own cells. In this case it is triggered by the protein gluten which is found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. Only a few individuals appear to be sensitive to the gluten in oats so you will need to check this with your friend before they visit. It is important that sufferers avoid these grains including their derivatives, which means you will need to carefully check food labels unless a product is clearly marked "gluten free". Although catering for a special diet can appear daunting, there are some easy food options that the whole family will enjoy and which demand little additional effort.

How about starting the day with a simple gluten-free breakfast cereal such as Alara's gluten-free muesli?

Stock up on gluten free breads which work well for toasting and accompany with some tasty fruit conserves or nut and seed butters. These spreads are also useful options for those who need to avoid dairy foods.

Children love to snack and your friend's little boy will be no exception. We offer some great drinks and cookies that all the children (and grown-ups) will love including our Against the Grain Cookies and Fruit Hit juices.

For those Summery afternoons in the garden why not make some home-made iced lollies? These are safer options than buying ice creams which often contain wheat derived binders. Choose a favourite juice and pour into lolly moulds and freeze - we love the Apple, Orange and Mango juice which is also suitable for those with a cow's milk or dairy allergy.

If you want to make the most of the good weather then a picnic needn't be a problem - again use some gluten free bread for sandwiches and fill with lean meat, fish or Chalice's olive tapenade with grated carrot and cherry tomatoes. Alternatively offer a salad with rice noodles or gluten free pasta, some diced vegetables, sweet cherry tomatoes with prawns, diced chicken or flaked salmon, sprinkle with a few Munchy Seeds for an extra crunch.