“It was actually arduous rising up like that”
Lengthy earlier than her TV fame, Megan was a 10-year-old coping with painful signs that nobody may fairly clarify.
“I used to be only a actually in poor health baby, actually skinny,” she says. “My entire physique form of simply shut down. I needed to have a variety of day off college.”
After being examined for all the things from Crohn’s illness to IBS, the ultimate prognosis was coeliac illness and a extreme wheat allergy – one thing Megan describes as life-changing.
“It wasn’t actually identified again then to have dietary issues. For those who couldn’t eat one thing, individuals would take a look at you such as you have been an alien.”
Canteens weren’t ready, supermarkets didn’t inventory gluten-free alternate options, and Megan discovered herself counting on her mum to discover ways to cook dinner all the things from scratch.
“The gluten-free issues again within the day have been terrible. Like cardboard. So my mum needed to discover ways to cook dinner for me, and that’s the place my love of cooking got here from.”
“Folks nonetheless suppose gluten-free meals is disgusting, but it surely’s not”
Megan’s newest guide, Love Gluten-Free, is full of hearty, family-style meals that simply occur to be gluten-free, although you’d by no means realize it.
“I cook dinner all the things gluten-free at house,” she says. “Oliver [her partner] isn’t gluten-free, however he doesn’t even discover the distinction. That’s the purpose. It’s simply good meals.”
What frustrates Megan most isn’t the ignorance round gluten-free cooking, it’s the notion that it’s one way or the other boring or bland.
“There are such a lot of meals which can be naturally gluten-free,” she explains. “However eating places determine to shove gluten in for no motive. I’ll name forward, I’ll ask for a gluten-free Yorkshire pudding, they usually say no. I’m like, ‘It’s simply [gluten-free] flour, egg and water!’”
She hopes her recipes will encourage individuals to really feel included once more, whether or not they’re coeliac, gluten-intolerant or simply wish to really feel higher after consuming.
“Meals needs to be comforting. It shouldn’t make you’re feeling anxious. And folks with allergic reactions ought to be capable of get pleasure from a correct roast dinner with out feeling like a burden.”
“I’ve needed to be actually vocal – individuals don’t take it significantly”
Behind Megan’s glamorous public picture is somebody who’s needed to be extraordinarily cautious about what she eats, usually to the purpose of frustration.
“I’ll triple-check all the things once I exit,” she says. “And nonetheless, I’ve had waiters attempt to inform me about my very own allergy. They’ll say, ‘Oh, the warmth from the fryer kills the gluten.’ I’m like, no it doesn’t!”
Megan is now working with the Natasha Allergy Analysis Basis to boost consciousness about cross-contamination, a hidden hazard for a lot of allergy victims. “This isn’t about being fussy. Folks have died. Particularly youngsters. It’s not one thing we will joke about.”
Even along with her platform, Megan says it’s arduous to be taken significantly. “After I was youthful, my face would swell up after consuming sure issues. However in that celebration way of life – ingesting, consuming out – you don’t wish to be ‘the tough one’. You’re scared individuals will suppose you’re simply being dramatic.”
Now a brand new mum to child, Landon, Megan is much more targeted on schooling and early consciousness. “Coeliac illness is hereditary, so I’m being actually cautious as I wean him. I’m introducing all the things slowly – nuts, dairy, finally wheat. I simply need him to be okay.”
“I wish to be identified for my meals, not simply my previous”
Megan may need began out in actuality TV, however she’s carving out a brand new id, one recipe at a time.
“Folks assume I simply wish to be well-known, however I really educated in musical theatre. I’ve carried out MasterChef. I’ve gained X Issue: Movie star. I wish to be identified for my expertise and my cooking.”
To her three million followers on Instagram, Megan shares all the things from creamy ragus and spicy curries to failsafe gluten-free desserts. It has develop into an area the place individuals can study, snort and really feel seen.
“I feel persons are shocked after they see my meals. Like, yeah, I eat correct meals. I need individuals to know that gluten-free doesn’t imply boring. It could imply apple crumble with custard. It could imply roast dinners with all of the trimmings.”
For Megan, good meals isn’t about developments, it’s about connection.
“It’s that heat feeling in your abdomen while you’re sitting across the desk with your loved ones. That’s what meals ought to really feel like.”
