Sourcing certain products and ingredients for alternative cooking can take a lot of time, especially when you’re just starting out, so when my friend Laura Trotta introduced me to her friend Lisa Munro from Happy Tummies, I knew I’d found another business which offered cool alternatives for people like us and that I had to share here. Lisa’s business Happy Tummies is a one-stop-shop when it comes to buying those things you really wish there was an alternative to that the major supermarkets don’t stock.
So without further ado… I’d like to introduce you to Lisa Munro.
Lisa White: Could you tell us what brought you to develop Happy Tummies?
Lisa Munro: I started Happy Tummies nearly 3 years ago because my son has multiple food allergies and eosinophilic oesophagitis. I found it really time consuming to do the grocery shopping and I couldn’t find everything I needed in one place. I felt like I was driving all over town and ordering online from several places. I decided to start an online business selling the kinds of things I needed to make life easier for families like mine.
Lisa White: How does Happy Tummies make life easier for people with food sensitivities? What service do you offer?
Lisa Munro: Happy Tummies delivers right to people’s door anywhere in Australia. We have a search function on the website to help them find food in particular categories that suit their requirements and ingredients of every product and nutrition panel are there as well. I also write a weekly blog with issues that interest families with allergies and intolerances, and create new recipes for them to try out. There are a few exciting new services planned for 2016!
Lisa White: What do you think are the 3 hardest things for people with special dietary needs to figure out at this time of year?
Lisa Munro: There are so many gatherings that involve food at this time of year and it adds extra stress for families with food sensitivities. From my experience the three hardest things this time of year are:
- Organisation – it takes a lot of planning to have suitable alternatives at hand
- Young kids don’t always understand that they can’t eat what everyone else is and can get upset
- Being vigilant and keeping young kids safe at parties and gatherings
Lisa White: What are your 4 favourite products for this time of year?
Lisa Munro: We have a lot of great allergy free products all year round but in particular my favourites are the:
- Moo Free Selection Boxes
- Hopper 1000s & 1000s, Sprinkles and Pearls which are all additive free
- Enjoy Life Mega Chunks for melting into treats
- Gingerbread Folk Gingerbread Houses
If you’d like to make your alternative shopping easier, check out Lisa’s website and see what other great products her online store holds just click here. Or visit http://happytummies.com.au/
That’s all for this week, we’ll be back soon with more free-from cooking inspiration.