Help !

[Emmie]

please help

my partners 4 year old son is coming to stay with us for the first time since we got together soon, and i have no idea on what i can and cant give him. i have been told he is gluten and wheat intolerant and could really do with some advice.

[Nantzie]

I would ask her for a detailed (written) list of food, including food preparation and cross contamination prevention requirements. Any parent of a child with celiac will have very stringent rules and information. Make sure you follow everything.

Some of the things may sound like she's going overboard or being too careful, but it's all very important. Something like touching gluten, and then touching his food will make him sick. But if you wash your hands with soap and water before you touch his food, he won't get sick. Another thing, since we're talking about a 4yo, is that Playdough has gluten in it.

You might want to eat gluten-free yourself while he's there to cut down on the risk of him getting sick from something you've eaten.

There is a lot of information on the boards here, so read, read, read. You'll be an expert in no time.

Do you have anything specific that you're wondering about?

Nancy

[WLJOHNSON]

I've been dealing with my 3 year old grandson's gluten sensitivity and allergies to milk and dairy products since he was 3 weeks old, since I am his primary daycare provider. I also have the same intolerances.

Here are the things we eat: Any meat, poultry or fish

Any fruit, any vegetable

Any nut or seeds

soy cheese, soy yogurt, soy ice cream

gluten free waffles, breads, etc.

Fruit roll-ups, kids' fruit in the box, etc.

Cookies I make using corn flour, oil, sugar

Any Hershey's syrup, cocoa or unsweetened chocolate

(add sugar)

Juices of any kind

It becomes easier and easier, the more you experience eating this way, and, you and he or she will feel better for eating this way. Have an adventure--jump into the child's life and eat for a few days the way he or she does. It's much easier than trying to keep 2 diets going. Good luck! Welda Lou