A CHIPPENHAM mum-of-two has taken inspiration from her sons and her love for cooking to create a recipe book catered for diabetics and people with food allergies.

Lara Dawson has created and published Cook it. Count it. Eat it. after her two sons, 15-year-old George and Will, aged 11, were diagnosed as Type 1 diabetics and she found no recipe books to cater for their demographic.

The 48-year-old of Springfields said: “I created the book because there wasn’t one on the market, I looked and was shocked to find there wasn’t really one for diabetics so I thought if it doesn’t exist let’s create it.

“All the recipes have been tried and tested by my sons, all the recipes are gluten free, egg free, dairy free and nut free so kids with allergies can have them.

“George was eleven and Will was seven when they were diagnosed as diabetic but they have done nothing wrong and have a good quality of life.

“It can be quite frustrating when people say they will grow out of it because they won’t and people need to understand Type 1 diabetes better.”

A person diagnosed as Type 1 diabetic is insulin dependent as their own body fails to produce enough.

The book took 18 months to compile and funds were raised last year through a crowdfunding page to help publish it.

There are 50 recipes in the book ranging from main meals and desserts to family meals and drinks.

A book launch will be held at Topping & Company Book Shop in Bath over the coming months and people can order a copy online for £15.

To purchase the book or for more information, visit www.cookitcountiteatit.co.uk