Response To Ny Times Article

[Guest Bernice]

A New York Times guest writer, Judith Warner, apparently said some things that people took issue with in a recent column titled, Less, and Less Often.

I found this reader's response in last weekend’s NY Times, but the original article is only available to paid online-subscribers, or in the printed copy. I didn't read the article in the paper, and had already thrown it out by the time the letter was printed.

To the Editor:

Judith Warner deplores parents' "joyless food-related fussiness (no gluten, no dairy, no pleasure — ever)." She should know that many of us, much as we would welcome the joy of eating gluten in our lives, cannot do so because we have celiac disease.

For us, consuming the gluten found in wheat, rye, oats and barley makes us feel unwell and threatens our long-term well-being. We fuss because we must.

Carolyn Makuen

Hartsdale, N.Y., June 30, 2006

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[Guest nini]

this seems to be yet another instance of some author opening mouth and inserting foot, complaining about parents food fussiness, wasn't there some brou ha ha on Oprah not too long ago about the very same thing???

Some ignorant people spouting off about what they percieve to be parents just being overprotective, over reactive and just plain crazy, but they don't know a thing about Celiac or other food intolerances and what they can do.

just chalk it up to ignorance! If someone can find and share the orignial article that would be cool...

[NicoleAJ]

My school subscribes to NYT. Below is the actual paragraph the single sentence mentioning gluten came from. The article basically argues that the practice of 'grazing' on food should be reduced for American children. She believes that instead of feeding children several small portions of health foods each day that parents should give children a single cookie and milk at 4pm and somehow this will cure obesity. Even though she doesn't agree with grazing, she does believe that we need to reduce portion sizes (i.e. eating less and eating less often). Though the premise of reducing portion sizes is just fine, it seems to me that she really is ignorant about the fact gluten is not just a matter of being health conscious but that it is, in fact, a deadly substance to some and that a gluten-filled cookie and milk each day for a celiac, lactose intolerant child could actually kill said child.

"An excessive focus on ''good'' vs. ''bad'' food has its place, too, in the development of eating disorders, a much less frequent, but -- in the case of anorexia nervosa -- no less deadly problem than child obesity. And at the very least, the good-bad dichotomy feeds the joyless food-related fussiness (no gluten, no dairy, no pleasure -- ever) that's so prevalent among parents -- and that really ought, as a public mental health measure, to be targeted for extinction in the next generation."

[Guest nini]

I don't have time to do it right now, but ALL of us need to write the NYT and educate them that gluten free diets are NOT about weight control and not about parents having a mental disorder or feeding mental disorders...

we should demand a retraction of that paragraph and educate the author that many parents have their children on a gluten free diet because feeding them gluten causes them to be very ill and could even kill them... Most people don't even have a clue what gluten even is and think that a lot of us are just plain crazy. We need to educate as much as possible and remove this stigma that is becoming attached to gluten free. We are fussy because we HAVE to be.

[gfp]

I don't have time to do it right now, but ALL of us need to write the NYT and educate them that gluten free diets are NOT about weight control and not about parents having a mental disorder or feeding mental disorders...

we should demand a retraction of that paragraph and educate the author that many parents have their children on a gluten free diet because feeding them gluten causes them to be very ill and could even kill them... Most people don't even have a clue what gluten even is and think that a lot of us are just plain crazy. We need to educate as much as possible and remove this stigma that is becoming attached to gluten free. We are fussy because we HAVE to be.

I'm with you on that....

Not only is this insulting but it also directly causes us problems... next time you ask for gluten-free and the waiter gives you that knowing look, perhaps he has been reading the NYT.

[ravenwoodglass]

I don't have time to do it right now, but ALL of us need to write the NYT and educate them that gluten free diets are NOT about weight control and not about parents having a mental disorder or feeding mental disorders...

we should demand a retraction of that paragraph and educate the author that many parents have their children on a gluten free diet because feeding them gluten causes them to be very ill and could even kill them... Most people don't even have a clue what gluten even is and think that a lot of us are just plain crazy. We need to educate as much as possible and remove this stigma that is becoming attached to gluten free. We are fussy because we HAVE to be.

I agree and will do so this afternoon. If only I had known to be a 'fussy' food neurotic mother when my kids were young. My son would be more than 5' tall and my DD would not have permanent scars on her body from the psychological effects of the disease and the toxic meds they push on us. This is disgraceful and can be a real set back for folks struggling with the should I or shouldn't I question.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

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[skbird]

Here's the comment I made on the re-posted version of the article:

This author has no understanding of the true medical conditions that require adults and kids to eat gluten and dairy free. Celiac disease, which affects 1 person in 133 in the United States causes an autoimmune reaction in people who consume gluten. While obesity is becoming an obvious problem here in the US, Celiac is, as well, and is linked to many more fatal conditions than obesity. In fact, Celiac can also cause obesity.

This is the sentence from the author I object to, for it belittles parents who are right for making their children’s health a priority: “And at the very least, the good-bad dichotomy feeds the joyless food-related fussiness (no gluten, no dairy, no pleasure — ever) that’s so prevalent among parents — and that really ought, as a public mental health measure, to be targeted for extinction in the next generation.” It’s attitudes such as the author’s that ought to be targeted for extinction in the next generation.

I expected more compassion from a “TrueLiberal” site.

Stephanie

Comment by skbird | July 5, 2006

Stephanie

[jenvan]

Here's the comment I made on the re-posted version of the article:

Stephanie

Love the response--esp the part about her attitude going extinct. Couldn't have said it better

[queenofhearts]

Wow... so now its "fussiness" to want your child to be well? Yikes. I just sent a reply too.

Leah

[Guest nini]

I am also a Celiac AND a parent of a child with Celiac disease, while the author makes some valid points about childhood obesity, her statement about “food related fussyness” especially in reference to no gluten, were extremely offensive to me. I wish that my parents had been that kind of fussy when I was a child. Then I wouldn’t have had years of health problems because of gluten. No, my parents fed me a diet rich in whole grains which they were told was healthy for me…

I demand a retraction of the statement about gluten in regards to food related fussyness. Unless you have been ill from food or have a child that gets violently ill from it, you have no business calling us fussy.

Comment by Nisla | July 5, 2006

here's my reply

[2Boys4Me]

Here's my reply:

The author’s comment “no gluten, no dairy” is completely out of line. I am sure the author is aware that wheat(gluten) and dairy are two of the top eight allergens. Would she consider “no peanuts” fussy? My son’s health is my first priority and you bet I’m “fussy” if it means I’m keeping gluten out of his system and maintaining his health now that we finally know that “healthy whole grain” food is the least healthy thing he can eat.

Linda

Comment by Linda | July 5, 2006

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

?

[frenchiemama]

I left a comment on her blog.

"When I first heard of the ignorant “fussy” food statement regarding gluten and dairy I thought, “No, that can’t be right. She must have been misquoted. Surely anyone would do even a modest amount of research before making such a claim against gluten and dairy free diets.” Sadly, I was wrong. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that someone would include gluten and dairy free diets in a rant against all that is wrong with eating in America.

Not only does this belittle anyone with Celiac Disease and/or dairy intolerance (I happen to have both), but it sets back our effort to have our needs taken seriously by society as a whole. Ms. Warner has done a disservice to everyone who struggles with a restrictive and MEDICALLY NECESSARY diet.

I hope that Ms. Warner receives a bit more understanding from others if she ever finds herself living such a life (with no joy, as she so thoughtfully put it). "

[gfp]

I might be wrong but I very much doubt she will really even be bothered by these comments.

Since we have several professional writers here why not write a measured complaint and let everyone add their names to it and send it to the editor as a complaint.