SASKATOON - A Saskatoon woman has developed a special program at the food bank catering to those with a common dietary disease.
The Saskatoon Food Bank is now offering a gluten-free food basket after Megan Lust approached the organization along with the Celiac Association of Saskatoon with her idea.
People can request the basket as long as they have a gluten intolerance.
Lust said there are about 330,000 people in Canada with Celiac disease.
Lust said she grew up in a low-income family and couldn't imagine someone in a similar position being able to afford gluten-free food.
She's become familiar with those higher grocery bills after marrying a man with Celiac disease.
"I think there's a huge chance that a lot of those people are probably not able to afford that food," she said. "So just from a health perspective, it makes sense for the Saskatoon Food Bank to offer that."
Lust said the program, which started last week, has received mostly positive feedback. However, she admits there have been a few skeptics.
"People are thinking it's for a fad diet because there's a lot of celebrities doing gluten-free, but I think it's important to emphasize that this is for people who have health issues," said Lust, adding the program will continue as long as there is demand.
(CKOM)
