FirFran is totally Gluten-Free + Vegan + Allergy-Friendly + Seasonal … and … Allium-Free + Coconut-Free.

We’re all about sharing healthy, quick, easy, delicious, no-nonsense, gluten-free, vegan recipes and lifestyle tips for busy people. The main aim is to make your gluten-free, vegan life easy and fabulous.

If you’re new to gluten-free OR vegan we can help! Easy recipes and blog posts galore are ready for you.

You can find all FriFran Recipes here.

You can find the FriFran Blog Posts here.

Who is FriFran?

My name is Julia, I live in London and love to cook, run, swim and make things.

I have been working in the delivery of complex and/ or troubled technical/ change programmes and projects for over 20 years and have a PhD in engineering materials (concrete!).

I have been vegan for over 25 years (for ethical, moral and environmental reasons) and gluten-free for over eight years (for medical reasons). I also avoid alliums (e.g. onions, garlic) and coconut (for medical reasons).

Over the past 20+ years I have tried, tested and understood many specialist diets (under medical supervision) to relieve many symptoms – with variable success. These diets include, low-FODMAP, low-histamine, exclusion diets and of course gluten-free. However, I have acquired a great deal of knowledge, enthusiasm and understanding of delicious Gluten-Free + Vegan + Allergy-Friendly | Seasonal recipes and a sustainable, healthy, lifestyle.

I enjoy making and eating easy, no-nonsense, high quality, sustainable, healthy food that anyone would enjoy. I am also careful to use ingredients that can be easily bought in local shops or stores.

My FriFran journey has been long (and sometimes arduous). I have persevered and learned so much along the way that I want to share and make life easier for anyone with dietary restrictions.

The Name!

Now, the name! Fri Fran is Swedish for free from (and rhymes with free-from!) and no, I am not Swedish. However, my dad lived in Sweden for a while when he was young and often talked about much he loved his time there.

Sweden is a country that fascinates me for many reasons. One reason is that modern crime fiction started in Sweden with the Martin Beck series of police procedurals: 10 fabulous novels written by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. Amazing books for so many reasons (please do look them up).

Coming back to FriFran, I like the way Fri Fran sounds: short, sweet and snappy and the meaning is easy to understand (I hope!).

No Snake Oil Please!

As a scientist and engineer and with a rational and logical approach to life I am interested in credible, peer-reviewed, scientific and medical research in relation to nutrition, digestive, genetic and immune disorders – although the breadth and depth of this in relation to digestive, genetic and immune disorders is (sadly) narrow and shallow.

That means no snake oil, no pseudo-science, no fad diets, no bad science, no nonsense! Just high quality data and evidence based approaches.

Caveat

I am not a dietitian or medically trained. I strongly advise anyone thinking of making a significant change to their diet or lifestyle to seek appropriate medical advice.

Tell Me Your Story

I would love to hear your story – come and join me on social media (links below) and in my Facebook Group: Living FriFran. Share your story, insights, knowledge, information, ups and downs.

I look forward to meeting you!
Julia