2 replies to this topic

[mpeel]

Sam was tentatively diagnosed in Spring of 2003 with celiac. Beth, her older sister is showing some "light" symptoms -- mouth sores, geographic tongue (separate from the mouth sores), etc. No gastro symptoms. She is 7 and about to start second grade. I though the summer would be a good time to get her gluten-free. But, it has proved just as challenging as during school. She keeps telling me she is not like Sam, her tummy is fine. I know most of it stems from all the "stuff" she loves and won't be able to have. Most of it is stuff I don't let them have often anyway - store-bought sweets, pizza, etc. Any advice for making a smoother transition. With Sam, it was easy, she was 2, nearly 3. I just removed all she could not have, basically by learning to make it from scratch without gluten. Beth is not so easy. Friends have such neat food, you know.

Thanks.
Michelle
mom to Beth, 7 1/2 and Sam, 4

[Ruth]

Hi Michelle,
My daughter was also 7 when she was diagnosed.... completely asymptomatic. She was diagnosed by blood test and biopsy in December. We were shocked. She adjusted pretty well to the diet. I just told her it was something she had to do so she wouldn't get sick like I did.

I definetly bent the rules on giving her junk to ease the transition a bit. I made Danielle's gluten free brownies, bought gluten-free candy, had ice cream sundae parties instead of bithday cake, brought root beer floats to friends' houses for dessert, etc. All of us (2 gluten-free; 3 non gluten-free) eat only gluten-free snacks and desserts. I do keep one small shelf for regular bread and non-gluten-free nutrition bars that my husband and two other children enjoy. Other than that, all the other food in the house is gluten-free.

Not to say we threw healthy eating out the window. She has always loved fruit, veggies, meat, potatoes and rice .... so I kept up with these "regular" foods and eliminated all gluten-containing food from the house.

Now, when the others want regular pizza they order take-out my daughter and I have gluten-free pizza. We didn't do this right away. It was too hard on her at first... but now she is o.k. with it.

At school, my daughter kept a stash of gluten-free cupcakes in the nurse's freezer for improptu b-day parties, etc. She also had a drawer in her teacher's desk where she could keep a stash of non-perishable food for whenever she couldn't have what may have been passed out by a guest reader or guest.

I have also tried to empower her to make her own gluten-free food choices... after almost 6 months she is getting pretty good at it.

So far so good... although about once a week we still have the "If you don't know what's in it -- you can't have it speach"

Hope this helped. Take Care,
Ruth

[celiac3270]

I'm 13 years-old...still a kid...and therefore, with some advice to offer. One of the reasons why someone would dislike the gluten-free diet would be because of the restrictions and limitations that come with it. After all, if your daughter could eat a macaroni and cheese that tastes the same, a delicious pizza, and bread that is identical to that which she used to eat, it would be no big deal....just don't eat anything that other people give you....so, the key is: find replacements...quickly, so she doesn't develop a great aversion to the gluten-free diet, and two: try to make her feel normal....although I am not one of them, I think that a lot of kids want to fit in with everyone else. The less uncomfortable and different she feels eating gluten-free foods or dealing with people who aren't eating gluten-free foods, the better. Of course, it's not as simple as: find replacements...therefore, I'll give you some suggestions. I keep a list of good gluten-free foods in a word document to post for newbies needing good gluten-free foods. I remember the first gluten-free bread I ate: it was disgusting and I was really upset at the prospect that this kind of cr*p (excuse the term) would make up my diet....for the rest of my life. The less exposure to these foods, the more optimistic a Celiac can be. I was lucky to find the board early on and it helped me avoid running into bad-tasting gluten-free foods...here are some suggestions:

- Store-bought Cookies: try Pamela's Products -- the BEST cookies. The lemon shortbread are decent, but some people find them too strong a lemony taste. However, try the Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are AMAZING!!! Even including regular cookies, they are the best store-bought I've ever had.

- Homemade Cookies: if you have 15 minutes to spare, make peanut butter cookies. Very good...even my aunt who hates PB liked them. Preparation time is about five minutes and the recipe calls for 10 min. baking -- it might take 15. All you need is 2 cups of PB (Skippy or Jif), 2 cups of sugar, and 1 egg (this is also good because there aren't any weird gluten-free flours and stuff...where do you buy those things, anyway? I don't like to cook, and I surely don't like to cook something that requires six different types of flour...it's ridiculous and I like simplicity if I am even going to bother cooking something...I don't mind making basic things, but now 6-flour-cookies that take three hours to make and three minutes to eat... ).

- Fruits/Vegetables/Meat: I eat so much more fruit now...apples, bannanas, strawberries, blueberries, canned mandarine oranges, canned peaches, etc. There are, of course, meats: chicken, steak, pork, hamburgers, etc....no fresh meat is excluded...but I often forget about fish, which are, too, gluten-free.

- Bread: People will say Knikinick or however it's spelled is great, but I've found Ener-G to be a bread that tastes astoundingly similar to regular gluten-filled white bread...that's what I use...you make your pick...go with me or the majority!

- Pizza: probably thought you'd never have that again, right? Get Chebe (you can only get it online), but buy the bread mix, not the pizza crust (the bread mix turns out better). Follow the instructions, mush it out into a round "thing", bake as instructed, and then add sauce (Classico is good and the only kind that I know to be gluten-free....but expensive), and gluten-free cheese. It's terriffic. By the way, you can get the Chebe at http://www.chebe.com. Try it...the shipping is free and once you realize that you like it, you can buy it in bulk and get discounts. Please!!!! If you take ANY OF MY ADVICE FROM THIS POST....TRY THE CHEBE!!!

- Miscellaneous: Raisins, Quaker Rice Cakes, most soft drinks are gluten-free including all kinds (diet, caffeine free, etc.) of Coke, Sprite, Sunkist, Pepsi, etc. As long as you stick with the brand-name companies (not the Supermarket Colas and be careful with Root Beers). There are many gluten-free candies...I actually made a post under the "Teenagers Only Section" for gluten-free candies...check there for the complete list that Gf4Life provided...actually, I'll copy it below:

Hi celiac3270,

I have a list of mainstream gluten-free and milk free candies that I use when shopping for candy for my kids. I got it from the Gluten-free Casein-free Diet Support Group for Autistic kids and they are very strick when it comes to putting products in their booklet each year. I know that Dextrin is one of their ingredients that is avoided, so these should be safe. Still read all the labels, since manufacturers change their formulas far too often:

Nestle: Sweet Tarts, Spree Chewy Candy, Regular Spree Candy

Farley gummy bears

Willy Wonka: Gobstoppers, Bottle Caps, Pixy Stix, Nerds, Runts

Mike & Ike: Zours, Jelly Beans, Hot Tamales

Starburst Fruit Chews (NOT Starburst fruit twists!)

Necco: Necco Wafers, Sweethearts, Conversation hearts (Valentines), Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Candy Stix, Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Peach Blossoms (Christmas), Necco Ultramints, Canada Mint & Wintergreen Losenges

Rock Candy (made from pure sugar)

Ce De Candies: Kidz Rings, Candy Fruits, Candy Lipsticks, Smarties

Mars Inc: Skittles, Jelly Beans

Sunkist: Fruit Jems, Jelly Beans, Orange and Cream chews, Super Sour Stars

Sorbee International: Lollypops

Jolly Rancher: Hard Candies, Jelly Beans

Jelly Belly: All flavors of Jelly Beans EXCEPT: Cafe Latte, Buttered Toast, Caramel Corn, Buttered Popcorn, Chocolate Cherry Cake, Chocolate Pudding, Strawberry Cheesecake

This should give you a lot more options and they are all available pretty much everywhere. I can also put together a list of others that you might only find online or in healthfood stores if you would like. Just let me know.

As for chocolate, I found that the Scharfen Berger chocolate bars are very yummy. They are gluten and dairy free by ingredients. The small bars are wrapped in a different facility where they also wrap other chocolates that do contain milk, so as a precaution they put a milk warning on the label. I am very sensitive to dairy reactions and have never had a reaction to these bars. They are a bit pricey and not available everywhere (I got mine at Whole Foods) but they are very nice to have when you are craving chocolate. There are also a few kinds of baking chocolate chips that are gluten and dairy free.

God bless,
Mariann

Chips: most things by Frito Lays (not Doritos), you can have: Lays Potato Chips, Wavy Lays Potato Chips, Cheetos, Fritos, etc. You can get a complete list at http://www.fritolay....lutefree.shtml:

FritoLays Gluten-Free Products:
Last updated August 28, 2003


BAKED DORITOS® Cooler Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips
BAKED LAY’S® Original Potato Crisps
BAKED LAY’S® Sour Cream & Onion Artificially Flavored Potato Crisps
BAKED RUFFLES® Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Crisps
BAKED RUFFLES® Original Potato Crisps
BAKED TOSTITOS® Bite Size Tortilla Chips
BAKEN-ETS® Fried Pork Skins
BAKEN-ETS® Hot ‘N Spicy Flavored Pork Cracklins
BAKEN-ETS® Hot ‘N Spicy Flavored Pork Skins
BAKEN-ETS® Pork Cracklins
BAKEN-ETS® Sweet & Tangy BBQ Flavored Pork Skins
CHEETOS® ASTEROIDS™ Flamin’ Hot Mini Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® ASTEROIDS™ Mini Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Flamin’ Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Flamin’ Hot Limon Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Jumbo Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Reduced Fat Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Twisted Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Natural White Cheddar Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Wild Ranch Flavored Snacks
CHESTER’S® Butter Artificially Flavored Popcorn
CHESTER’S® Cheese Flavored Popcorn
CHESTER’S® Hot Fries Corn & Potato Snacks
CHURRUMAIS® Limoncita Chile & Lime Naturally and Artificially Flavored Corn Strips
CRACKER JACK® Butter Crunch Peanuts
CRACKER JACK® Original Caramel Coated Popcorn & Peanuts
DORITOS® Cooler Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Four Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Guacamole! Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Mini Cooler Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Mini 3D’s® Zesty Ranch Flavored Mini Corn Snacks
DORITOS® Ranchero Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Salsa Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Salsa Verde Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Taco Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® 3D’s® Jalapeno Cheddar Flavored Corn Snacks
DORITOS® 3D’s® Nacho Cheesier Flavored Corn Snacks (full size 3D’s – not mini 3D’s)
DORITOS® Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® WOW!® NACHO CHEESIER® Flavored Tortilla Chips
FRITO LAY® Cashews
FRITO LAY® FLAMIN’ HOT® Flavored Sunflower Seeds
FRITO LAY® Honey Roasted Peanuts
FRITO LAY® Hot Peanuts
FRITO LAY® Jalapeno & Cheddar Flavored Cheese Dip
FRITO LAY® Mild Cheddar Flavored Cheese Dip
FRITO LAY® Mixed Nuts
FRITO LAY® Original Trail Mix
FRITO LAY® Salted Peanuts
FRITO LAY® Smoked Almonds
FRITO LAY® Sunflower Seed Kernels
FRITO LAY® Sunflower Seeds
FRITO LAY® Sweet Honey Trail Mix
FRITOS® Bean Dip
FRITOS® Black Bean Dip
FRITOS® Chili Cheese Dip
FRITOS® FLAVOR TWISTS™ Cheddar Ranch Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® FLAVOR TWISTS™ Honey BBQ Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® FLAVOR TWISTS™ Jalapeno Cheddar Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® Hot Bean Dip
FRITOS® King Size Corn Chips
FRITOS® Original Corn Chips
FRITOS® SABROSITAS™ Lime ‘N Chile Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® SCOOPS!® Corn Chips
FRITOS® Waves Corn Chips
FUNYUNS® Mini Onion Flavored Rings
FUNYUNS® Onion Rings
LAY’S® Chicago Steakhouse Loaded Baked Potato Flavored P.C. (Taste of America)
LAY’S® Classic Potato Chips
LAY’S® Cool Guacamole Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Country BBQ Thick Cut Natural Potato Chips
LAY’S® Deli Style Original Potato Chips
LAY’S® Dill Pickle Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Fries Cheddar Flavored Potato Snacks
LAY’S® Fries Regular Flavored Potato Snacks
LAY’S® KC MASTERPIECE® BBQ Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Kettle Cooked Mequite BBQ Flavored Extra Crunchy Potato Chips
LAY’S® Kettle Cooked Jalapeno Flavored Extra Crunchy Potato Chips
LAY’S® Kettle Cooked Regular Potato Chips
LAY’S® Limon Tangy Lime Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Monterey Pepper Jack Flavored Potato Chips (Taste of America)
LAY’S® Salt & Vinegar Artificially Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® San Antonio Salsa Flavored Potato Chips (Taste of America)
LAY’S® Santa Fe Ranch Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Natural Sea Salt Thick Cut Potato Chips
LAY’S® Sour Cream & Onion Artificially Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Sour Cream & Onion Artificially Flavored Mini Crisps
LAY’S® STAX Cheddar Flavored Potato Crisps
LAY’S® STAX Original Flavored Potato Crisps
LAY’S® STAX Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Crisps
LAY’S® Tangy Salsa Artificially Flavored Potato Chips
LAY’S® Wisconsin Cheddar Flavored Potato Chips (Taste of America)
LAY’S® WOW!® Original Potato Chips
Maui Style Regular Potato Chips
Maui Style Salt & Vinegar Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE’S™ Jalapeno Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE’S™ Mesquite BBQ Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE’S™ Original Potato Chips
MUNCHOS® Regular Potato Crisps
RUFFLES® Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Chips
RUFFLES® French Onion Dip
RUFFLES® Mini 3D’s® Maximum Cheddar Flavored Potato Snacks
RUFFLES® Regular Potato Chips
RUFFLES® Ranch Dip
RUFFLES® Reduced Fat Potato Chips
RUFFLES® Natural Reduced Fat Regular Sea Salted Potato Chips
RUFFLES® Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Chips
RUFFLES® 3D’s® Maximum Cheddar Flavored Potato Snacks
RUFFLES® 3D’s® Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Snacks
RUFFLES® WOW! Original Potato Chips
RUSTLER’S™ Beef Jerky
RUSTLER’S™ Spicy Flavor Beef Stick
SABRITAS® ADOBADAS™ Tomato & Chile Flavored Potato Chips
SANTITAS® White Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
SANTITAS® Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips
SMARTFOOD® Reduced Fat White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn
SMARTFOOD® White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn
TOSTITOS® All Natural Hot Salsa
TOSTITOS® All Natural Medium Salsa
TOSTITOS® All Natural Mild Salsa
TOSTITOS® Bite Size Rounds Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Crispy Rounds Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Fire Roasted Salsa
TOSTITOS® Gold Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Medium Organic Salsa
TOSTITOS® Natural Blue Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Natural Yellow Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Queso Supreme Dip
TOSTITOS® Restaurant Style with a Hint of Lime Flavor Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Salsa Con Queso
TOSTITOS® Santa Fe Rounds Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® SCOOPS!® Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Southwestern Salsa
TOSTITOS® Strips Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® WOW!® Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Zesty Bean & Cheese Dip
TOSTITOS® 100% White Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
WAVY LAY’S™ Au Gratin Flavored Potato Chips
WAVY LAY’S™ Hickory BBQ Flavored Potato Chips
WAVY LAY’S™ Regular Potato Chips

FRITOS® SCOOPS! ® Corn Chips & Chili Flavored Cheese Dip Kit
RUFFLES® Original Potato Chips & French Onion Dip Kit
TOSTITOS® Tortilla Chips & Cheese Dip Kit

*The above products do not contain gluten; however, they are produced on the same line as our products that do contain gluten. Although the lines are washed between batches, a slight residue may remain on the lines. Individuals who are extremely sensitive may be affected.


All Frito-Lay products are labeled accurately with the most current ingredient information. Frito-Lay makes every effort to maintain this list; however, since the ingredients in our snacks are subject to change at any time, we recommend that you check the label on a specific product for the most current and accurate nutritional information. If you need assistance, please contact Frito-Lay Consumer Affairs toll-free at 1-800-352-4477 Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time.

- Genisoy Bars: good for high-fat snacks, and on-the-go meals...only two flavors are gluten-free: A honey Creamy PB Yogurt, which isn't the best, and Southern Style Chunky PB, which tastes like candy...it's great -- and it has about 25 grams of soy protein!

- Mac & Cheese: If you don't want to bother to make your own Mac and Cheese and want it the quick way like you may have had it back in the day...the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese SAUCE PACKET is gluten-free. Then use your own gluten-free noodles (such as DeBoles), and you have a quick lunch.

- Foods By George: set a high-standard for gluten-free foods. Their brownies...to die for, especially when you heat them up and put gluten-free icecream (Haggen Dasz: strawberry, vanilla, chocolate...anything except for the obvious, like cookie dough........if you're avoiding dairy and lactose, try "Soy Delicious") on them. Also amazing, their corn muffins...heat them up, smother them in butter, and I literally checked the box again to make sure they were gluten-free after I took the first bite. If you take two bits of advice from this post, make it the Chebe and the Foods By George. BOTH ARE AMAZING. CHEBE AND FOODS BY GEORGE....brownies are gluten-free/wheat-free/casein-free/dairy-free/lactose-free/soy-free. Corn muffins are gluten-free and wheat-free.

Pasta Deboles is gluten-free, but about 20 cents more expensive than an equally good brand that's more popular (at least, with Celiacs on this board). Tinkyada is most popular, very good, and a little less expensive.

Good luck in the transition...
-celiac3270