My Daughter May Be Allergic To Rice

[AndreaB]

My daughter has been complaining of her tummy hurting when she eats. Pretty much every meal has rice with/in it in some form. I want to try to eliminate it but she is an extremely picky eater. I told her she has to start eating more meat and veggies if I'm going to pull her off all rice. Right now she considers eating meat as a bite or two. Do any of you have rice allergies? How did you find out about it? She never complained of her tummy bothering her until she got HSP (Henoch Scholein Purpura) the end of February which is part of that disease. We just got tested by enterolab and found out we are intolerant to gluten but had no obvious symptoms of it. She just got glutened on Saturday but the problems with her stomach have been going on longer than that. She's often said her stomach hurt, I just figured she was hungry because there are times she doesn't eat much. Any ideas on how to approach eliminating rice with a picky eater would be appreciated. We are talking about a child that thinks the only food groups are bread type products and fruit. She's 6 by the way.

[lorka150]

Hi Andrea, I was very sensitive to rice, and now can tolerate small amounts of rice flour and rice vinegar. I'm not six, but, learned to adapt without it. For awhile it was frustrating, especially when I was sit and wanted something mushy

I would perhaps not feed it to her for a bit and see if there is improvement.

I found out about it because whenever I had it, my other celiac symptoms hit ten-fold.

There are many rice alternatives... What does she basically eat now? I probably know off hand good substitutions.

[tarnalberry]

if you're not going to just go with starchy vegetables and fruit for carbs, then look into the other gluten-free grains - amaranth, quinia, millet, buckwheat, teff, for instance.

[AndreaB]

She doesn't eat much of anything. Hot rice cereal at time, muffins (Annalise Roberts), rice pasta, panda treats (rice), doesn't like any milk except soy which we don't drink anymore, fruit, brocolli, corn, few bites of chicken, taco seasoned beef, chicken link sausage, beef hotdogs (applegate brand), rice cakes, sometimes rice bread, little salad greens, potatoes (hashbrowns homemade or mashed and frozen tator tots), bite salmon, bite scrambled egg. We were vegan before gluten intolerance. She has never liked that many vegetables or beans (we are allergic to some) and still needs to get used to meat. Maybe if she starts to feel better severely limiting rice she'll start eating healthier. I can always hope.

We've increased rice again to get more fiber in, so fiber ideas would be great. I'll make sure she gets lots of fruit and work her quantities of the other food groups that we can eat.

[eKatherine]

Lots of doctors tell celiacs that it is too much trouble to follow the diet, so they should keep on eating gluten, which is the same thing you are doing.

Reasoning with a six-year-old (I'll let you stop eating rice after you change your eating habits) is not reasonable. This is something that just has to be done. You are the adult here, so you need to figure out how to get it done.

The problem is that you are stuck in the rice mode. She will eat from the foods available when she gets hungry. Serve

• cooked grains, like kasha, amaranth, and millet
  
• starchy vegetables
  
• baked goods made with alternative flours
  

She won't go hungry for long, and when you find out which foods she's choosing, you should be able to work with that.

[queenofhearts]

Is she okay with corn? There is corn pasta, grits & other corn cereals, & of course corn bread & tortillas... my kids loved them when they were in their starch-only era. (At about the same age.) We were not gluten free then, but they just liked corn a lot!

Leah

[zip2play]

IN all my reading, too much of anything one thing can cause stomach problems. Maybe cut back on the rice and see if that helps.

It is hard, I am sure for a 6 year old. I can't imagine. But, DR's will tell you they won't starve. They will eat, whatever is offered once they get hungry enough. As a MOM, it sure is hard to wait till that point.

It isn't as simple as YOU taking control I am sure. I feel for you. It is really hard with children. Espcially ones that have such allergy or intolerant issues.

Monica

[RiceGuy]

I've just recently started having trouble with rice Avoiding it isn't fun, accept for the relief I am now experiencing. I was eating the parboiled rice, so maybe the enriching agent is tainted with gluten or something. Sometimes the rice looks different too, so maybe they don't always get it from the same source. It's Uncle Ben's brand.

I will begin trying other types of rice later when things improve enough (hopefully). Perhaps a different sort of rice will work for her, but I'd wait a bit so you can better judge the reaction, and she'll learn something too I'm sure.

[Cheri A]

((Andrea)) ~ first of all hugs! My dd is 7 years old and is allergic to rice. We found out last Fall when every meal she would get hives. After allergy testing, we found out wheat and rice. Celiac testing was inconclusive and going gluten-free helped tremendously with the stomach troubles and elimination troubles.

Take rice entirely out of her diet for at least a week and see how she is doing. My dd doesn't like the corn pasta, but loves spaghetti squash. We eat quinoa now (cooked in chicken broth w/sauteed veggies or meat) as our rice sub. I bake w/sorghum flour and sub it for all the rice flours in recipes. She will eat grits occasionally. She loves potatos so that is our starch now.

[AndreaB]

The problem is that you are stuck in the rice mode. She will eat from the foods available when she gets hungry. Serve

• cooked grains, like kasha, amaranth, and millet
  
• starchy vegetables
  
• baked goods made with alternative flours
  

She won't go hungry for long, and when you find out which foods she's choosing, you should be able to work with that.

Thanks Katherine,

Yes, I am stuck in a rice rute. I've just come of the vegan diet in the last two-three months and am still trying to figure out what to have.

Is she okay with corn? There is corn pasta, grits & other corn cereals, & of course corn bread & tortillas... my kids loved them when they were in their starch-only era. (At about the same age.) We were not gluten free then, but they just liked corn a lot!

Leah

I think she's ok with corn. I'll buy some corn elbows to make vegan mac & cheese. The kids love mac & cheese and haven't been too picky about what noodles the sauce is with. She loves corn bread, don't know about the tortillas.

IN all my reading, too much of anything one thing can cause stomach problems. Maybe cut back on the rice and see if that helps.

It is hard, I am sure for a 6 year old. I can't imagine. But, DR's will tell you they won't starve. They will eat, whatever is offered once they get hungry enough. As a MOM, it sure is hard to wait till that point.

It isn't as simple as YOU taking control I am sure. I feel for you. It is really hard with children. Espcially ones that have such allergy or intolerant issues.

Monica

I'm in a rut and haven't been including a lot of variety, which is also hampered by the kids not liking meat. You're right I need to buckle down, they won't starve.

I've just recently started having trouble with rice Avoiding it isn't fun, accept for the relief I am now experiencing. I was eating the parboiled rice, so maybe the enriching agent is tainted with gluten or something. Sometimes the rice looks different too, so maybe they don't always get it from the same source. It's Uncle Ben's brand.

I will begin trying other types of rice later when things improve enough (hopefully). Perhaps a different sort of rice will work for her, but I'd wait a bit so you can better judge the reaction, and she'll learn something too I'm sure.

We use Lundbergs organic rice. We typically buy long grain brown rice. If you invest in a rice cooker it would make things very easy for you...but you probably don't want to do that if you have problems with rice. So try some organic brown rice before quitting permanently. Of course, we are also using rice flour products now also.

((Andrea)) ~ first of all hugs! My dd is 7 years old and is allergic to rice.

Take rice entirely out of her diet for at least a week and see how she is doing. My dd doesn't like the corn pasta, but loves spaghetti squash. We eat quinoa now (cooked in chicken broth w/sauteed veggies or meat) as our rice sub. I bake w/sorghum flour and sub it for all the rice flours in recipes. She will eat grits occasionally. She loves potatos so that is our starch now.

I haven't tried spaghetti squash...it's a vegetable she won't eat it. I'll try it though. I tried quinoa about 7 years ago but didn't rinse it first. Didn't know I was supposed to . Haven't tried it again since...it's still in the freezer. We've been out of potatoes lately and I haven't been shopping. Most times I have my hubby pick up misc. things we need. I'm getting ready to head out in a little bit to restock our fridge. I just bought 25# bags of flour etc to make gluten free stuff. I can still use the brown rice for the rest of the family but I'll have to experiment with the sorghum. Thank you for suggesting that. I'm one that used to bake my own bread with my own ground flour so this has been quite a switch and I've been spending fortunes buying everything recently.

[lindalee]

Thanks Katherine,

Yes, I am stuck in a rice rute. I've just come of the vegan diet in the last two-three months and am still trying to figure out what to have.

I think she's ok with corn. I'll buy some corn elbows to make vegan mac & cheese. The kids love mac & cheese and haven't been too picky about what noodles the sauce is with. She loves corn bread, don't know about the tortillas.

I'm in a rut and haven't been including a lot of variety, which is also hampered by the kids not liking meat. You're right I need to buckle down, they won't starve.

We use Lundbergs organic rice. We typically buy long grain brown rice. If you invest in a rice cooker it would make things very easy for you...but you probably don't want to do that if you have problems with rice. So try some organic brown rice before quitting permanently. Of course, we are also using rice flour products now also.

I haven't tried spaghetti squash...it's a vegetable she won't eat it. I'll try it though. I tried quinoa about 7 years ago but didn't rinse it first. Didn't know I was supposed to . Haven't tried it again since...it's still in the freezer. We've been out of potatoes lately and I haven't been shopping. Most times I have my hubby pick up misc. things we need. I'm getting ready to head out in a little bit to restock our fridge. I just bought 25# bags of flour etc to make gluten free stuff. I can still use the brown rice for the rest of the family but I'll have to experiment with the sorghum. Thank you for suggesting that. I'm one that used to bake my own bread with my own ground flour so this has been quite a switch and I've been spending fortunes buying everything recently.

When small children come over they love a tray filled with small bowls that I fill with assorted foods. They usually eat it all. of course I try to always give them some of their favorites like olives or blueberries. LindaLee

[tarnalberry]

definitely try for variety. quinoa and millet are both good grains (with more nutrition than rice), and easy to cook. (millet is 'milder' tasting.) but don't forget about other things - beans and lentils, for instance. or potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other starchy vegetables. maybe she doesn't like them the way you've cooked them so far, but would like them another way. (I thought I *hated* sweet potatoes for the longest time, but tha'ts because I always had them cooked with mashmallows for thanksgiving. that *recipe* sucked, but sweet potatoes themselves are quite good - and make good oven fries!)

[AndreaB]

definitely try for variety. quinoa and millet are both good grains (with more nutrition than rice), and easy to cook. (millet is 'milder' tasting.) but don't forget about other things - beans and lentils, for instance. or potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other starchy vegetables. maybe she doesn't like them the way you've cooked them so far, but would like them another way. (I thought I *hated* sweet potatoes for the longest time, but tha'ts because I always had them cooked with mashmallows for thanksgiving. that *recipe* sucked, but sweet potatoes themselves are quite good - and make good oven fries!)

I'm not super fond of millet. I've had it in some things that were good and some things that weren't. I'll need to scrounge around online for more recipes. I have lots of cookbooks but I don't remember millet being used that much in them.

Sweet potato oven fries...my hubby would love those! What do you season them with. I typically use onion and garlic powder for potatoes along with basil added near the end (my hubbys addition).

[Rachel--24]

I've just recently started having trouble with rice Avoiding it isn't fun, accept for the relief I am now experiencing. I was eating the parboiled rice, so maybe the enriching agent is tainted with gluten or something. Sometimes the rice looks different too, so maybe they don't always get it from the same source. It's Uncle Ben's brand.

I will begin trying other types of rice later when things improve enough (hopefully). Perhaps a different sort of rice will work for her, but I'd wait a bit so you can better judge the reaction, and she'll learn something too I'm sure.

RiceGuy,

If you do fine with oraginc brown rice but not the enriched white rice then it could be a sensitivity to corn or free glutamates (msg). People with these intolerances get reactions from anything "enriched".

[lindalee]

I'm not super fond of millet. I've had it in some things that were good and some things that weren't. I'll need to scrounge around online for more recipes. I have lots of cookbooks but I don't remember millet being used that much in them.

Sweet potato oven fries...my hubby would love those! What do you season them with. I typically use onion and garlic powder for potatoes along with basil added near the end (my hubbys addition).

I'm on a healing diet. No grains, beans, corn or night shades. I do have rice when I go to PFChangs @ once a month. I drink bottled water and all this has helped me. LL

[AndreaB]

I'm on a healing diet. No grains, beans, corn or night shades. I do have rice when I go to PFChangs @ once a month. I drink bottled water and all this has helped me. LL

We haven't been eating beans...we are allergic to some.

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. If only she would drink more water...just one more thing to work on.

[eKatherine]

`Sweet potato oven fries...my hubby would love those! What do you season them with. I typically use onion and garlic powder for potatoes along with basil added near the end (my hubbys addition).

I season them with a blend of sugar, salt, cinnamon, cayenne, and citric acid.

[penguin]

Sweet potato oven fries...my hubby would love those! What do you season them with. I typically use onion and garlic powder for potatoes along with basil added near the end (my hubbys addition).

I use kosher salt and lemon pepper

DH eats them all before the rest of dinner is done

[lindalee]

We haven't been eating beans...we are allergic to some.

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. If only she would drink more water...just one more thing to work on.

My little people like those tiny bottled waters. LL

[queenofhearts]

Sweet potato oven fries...my hubby would love those! What do you season them with. I typically use onion and garlic powder for potatoes along with basil added near the end (my hubbys addition).

I'm a sweet potato fanatic! I like them baked with butter or soy sauce, or sometimes a yogurt sauce. I make oven fries, sometimes with olive oil, fresh garlic & rosemary, sometimes with peanut oil, fresh garlic & chili powder. I also make what I call "sushi taters"-- (not for your six year old, I'm sure)-- a sort of double-baked thing with soy, wasabi & ginger. (No fish-- it's just the flavorings that come from sushi.) It's kind of a quirky thing but I love them & there's nary a grain of rice in there...

One caveat, ladies-- after my twins were born I participated in a study that showed there was a correlation between high sweet potato consumption & fraternal twins! You have been warned!

Leah

[penguin]

One caveat, ladies-- after my twins were born I participated in a study that showed there was a correlation between high sweet potato consumption & fraternal twins! You have been warned!

Leah

What exactly is in sweet potatoes that makes you ovulate twice?

[queenofhearts]

What exactly is in sweet potatoes that makes you ovulate twice?

Darned if I can remember-- the boys are 19 now! Probably plant estrogens, but I'm really not sure. I do remember laughing my head off when I found out about it because I really am a sweet potato junkie!

Leah

[tarnalberry]

I'm not super fond of millet. I've had it in some things that were good and some things that weren't. I'll need to scrounge around online for more recipes. I have lots of cookbooks but I don't remember millet being used that much in them.

Sweet potato oven fries...my hubby would love those! What do you season them with. I typically use onion and garlic powder for potatoes along with basil added near the end (my hubbys addition).

For sweet potato fries, I tend to use olive oil to coat, then fajita seasoning, chili powder, garlic salt, and a bit of extra salt if needed. (I like 'em spicy!) But you can also just go garlic salt, or just salt and pepper, or a bunch of other ways.

Millet's different (and IMHO better) if you toast it first in a dry skillet. It also helps to not serve it plain - use broth, or tomato sauce, or plenty of spices and aromatics. Makes a good pilaf too.

You may find that lentils are fine even if beans are out. It's just sounding to me like it's time to find a wider variety of foods.

Also, based on my experiences with my husband, who was always classified a "picky eater" as a child (and he HATES being called that now) she may be a super taster, and be sensitive to food textures. She might be too young to work with at the moment, but you may well be able to work with her to find out what tastes/textures are a problem for her. If she is a supertaster, she *won't* just eat it. She will go hungry instead. (Even my husband will do that now, and he's an adult.) Some people really can taste more of the bitter chemicals in foods, and those things are truely disgusting (to the point of being nauseating) to them. But you can work around it, and learn what they can eat, when made appropriately.

[AndreaB]

Thank you everyone for all the recipe ideas. I must have lost this thread because I didn't realize there were so many more responses. Too bad I didn't know about the sweet potatoes before our last child ...my daughter really wanted twins, one of each. When she found out we were only having one child she wanted a sister. Poor girl, she was really disappointed...she loves her baby brother though.

I also wanted to update everyone. We are on the second day of being rice free and she is doing better.

Also, based on my experiences with my husband, who was always classified a "picky eater" as a child (and he HATES being called that now) she may be a super taster, and be sensitive to food textures. She might be too young to work with at the moment, but you may well be able to work with her to find out what tastes/textures are a problem for her. If she is a supertaster, she *won't* just eat it. She will go hungry instead. (Even my husband will do that now, and he's an adult.) Some people really can taste more of the bitter chemicals in foods, and those things are truely disgusting (to the point of being nauseating) to them. But you can work around it, and learn what they can eat, when made appropriately.

Tiffany,

Thanks. That is something else I can keep an eye on. Making the pot roast tonight...couldn't reach my mom, so I don't know how it will turn out, but oh well. I was proud of my daughter last night...she actually ate everything. We had salmon which she's not overly fond of.

[tarnalberry]

Thanks. That is something else I can keep an eye on. Making the pot roast tonight...couldn't reach my mom, so I don't know how it will turn out, but oh well. I was proud of my daughter last night...she actually ate everything. We had salmon which she's not overly fond of.

It's something I didn't appreciate until I married my husband. I also always heard the "make them eat it" advice or the "you're the parent, don't give them the option, they'll eat when they're hungry" suggestion. As a spouse, of course, and one who likes cooking, you know full well that your SO will fend for themselves, meal-wise, occasionally, but you also like to find out the things they really enjoy. With my husband's family history of heart disease, I really wanted to get him to eat healthier things too. And, of course, as an adult, you can't just 'make them eat it'. ;-)

So, a number of years of conversation, and trial and error ensued. And I have a much better understanding of how texture and taste affects things. I'll eat almost anything, but I've learned what food tastes/textures are just disgusting to my husband, and - for those of us who'll eat most 'normal' foods - it's *not* as easy to figure out as you'd think, but does follow some interesting rules. It's hard, of course, since we don't have the same taste buds. I recall having a *fascinating* conversation with him about the taste of broccoli, and it really is different for us. :-)

What's been fun is learning how to modify the taste of an item. Raw carrot doesn't taste the same as lightly sauteed carrot, which doesn't taste the same as thoroughly cooked carrot, which doesn't taste the same as very hotly wok-ed carrots, which doesn't taste the same as pureed cooked carrots. And the raw or lightly sauteed carrots can taste different depending on if they're grated, finely chopped, coarsely diced, or cut into strings, thin slices, or large chunks. And when you start adding spices...

(I'm teaching a friend to cook, and have decided that you might just need to experience these differences first had to appreciate them. :-) We put carrots in the chili we made last night, and she noted that she usually doesn't like cooked carrots - because her mom would always cook them until they were soft. So I noted that you just put them in when there's only 10 minutes or so left in the cook time, and don't cut them too small, and she tried one on it's own when the chili was done, and noted that they were still crunchy, but where just cooked through, so they retained a good texture, and still had that characteristic sweetness, rather than going bland.)

BTW, that reminds me... any chance your daughter would like spicier food, if what she's been getting has been fairly bland? If, in particular, she has sinus allergies, she might like her food spicier. (If she can't smell the food well, she won't taste it very much, and that's no fun. :-) )