Isaac cooks up coeliac-friendly sweet storm
WHEN Isaac Tulemija was diagnosed with coeliac disease he soon realised many of his favourite treats were now off-limits.
Determined not to miss out on his favourite yummy delights like wagon wheels and doughnuts, Isaac and mum Michelle started flicking through the recipe books to make their own gluten-free treats.
After a bit of tinkering in the kitchen the duo came up with formulas for crowd-pleasing snacks that even the most discerning food critic would love.
“We were on a family holiday in Hawaii and we saw how easy it was to eat gluten-free over there and I thought, why can’t it be that easy here?” Isaac, 10, said.
Coeliac disease affects one in 70 Australians and occurs when a person’s immune system reacts abnormally to gluten, causing the bowel lining to become inflamed and flattened.
After realising the burgeoning market and perfecting their recipes Isaac and his mum started talking to local cafes and eateries — including Highton Fish and Chips — about selling the treats.
Now the pair’s business — named Gluten Free By Isaac — has popular Instagram and Facebook pages and is looking to expand.
“We make the treats before and after school and then deliver them to our stockists — the cafes,” Isaac said.
The young entrepreneur said wagon wheels were the best seller and that giving everyone the opportunity to eat yummy foods was the main motivator behind his business.
“Just getting to see all the smiles is the best part,” Isaac said.
Isaac’s efforts in raising the profile of coeliac disease led him to recently be named Coeliac Australia’s first young ambassador. Check out Isaac’s treats by searching Gluten-Freeby Isaac on Instagram and Facebook.