Tips

[Guest motherof6]

my daughter and I have just been diagnosed with celiacs within the last couple of months. We have been gluten free for 9 months. My family is large I have 6 kids and my husband and myself. My daughter Shayna and myself are the only ones gluten free. I have to prepare all the meals as my husband is working a fulltime job and going to school full time. The rest of the family are not yet ready to eat gluten free. I have changed a few of my recipes to be gluten free however my family is hooked on my home made breads and rolls.these are the things they are not ready to give up and are a dilema for me. I try to wash my hand after but it is extremly difficult not only not to keep from getting contaminated but also to not contaminate my daughter when I prepare our meal. The smell of my cooking drives me insane because it smells so good and I know I can't have it. My daughter doesn't seem to be bothered by it. Does anyone have any tips for me. How can I get my family to be gluten free. I am very overwhelmed.

[teebs in WV]

WOW! Mother of 6 - hats off to you! I have two boys and 3 soon-to-be step children. I don't know that I can offer much advice, though. You see, before being diagnosed, I did not cook much at all. I work full time, go to school full time, and then with the kids extra-curricular activities and school, cooking was never considered an option. We ate dinner out all the time. Obviously, Celiac Disease changed all that and I cook dinner every night now.

I honestly cannot see any way around it for you. I think the best thing for your daughter's health - and your own health as well - is to quit baking regular bread. From reading your post, this will not be easy for you or your family. (If it were, you wouldn't have posted here, right? )

I have baked one 'regular' cake for my family since starting the gluten-free lifestyle a year ago - I don't think I will do it again. The flour totally freaked me out; I went outside to dust the cake pan with flour and I was still so paranoid! I found a really good gluten-free cake mix that my sweetie made for my birthday, and everyone in my home loved it (and they don't typically like gluten-free substitutes). Last weekend I made a homemade apple cake from my grandmother's recipe and it turned out well also. I substituted the gluten-free flour mix for regular flour, and my whole family loved it.

There are gluten-free baking cookbooks out there, and at least one dedicated to Breads. Maybe you should give that a shot. It will be an adjustment for everyone and I wish you the best.

Tracy

[Suzie-GFfamily]

Hi Mother of 6,

I'm new to this too- I'm newly diagnosed, I've got 1 child who has also been diagnosed, 1 that is probably celiac but we'll have to wait for the biopsy report to know for sure and a 3rd who is a baby.

We're planning to switch our whole household to gluten-free. This was my husband's suggestion- but I'm thrilled he's willing to do this for our family. He actually can't wait till everyone's testing is over and done with because he finds it such a pain to keep washing his hands during meal preparation. If he is making lunch using regular bread, I'll make him wash his hands before touching deli meats, lettuce, tomoato slices, cheese, etc. He sometimes has to wash his hands 6 or 7 times if he is making lunch for himself and the kids.

It sounds like you're a terrific cook and baker. I bet you could make great gluten-free breads too. I know my family loves to have homemade food- they have been just as happy with my few attempts at gluten-free baking as they were with my previous baked goods before I went gluten-free. It's the love that makes the difference. Sure the taste and texture of gluten-free takes a little getting used to, it's going to be a bit different, but it's that special ingredient that you put into it that really makes it special.

Making regular breads is not good for your health- if you breathe in some of the flour dust it could be making you sick. I'd think your family would feel differently about it if they realize how unhealthy it is for you to be baking with wheat flour.

Perhaps you could gradually bake more gluten-free foods- so if they want something warm from the oven, it's going to be gluten-free more often than not.

[Guest motherof6]

Hi Mother of 6,

I'm new to this too- I'm newly diagnosed, I've got 1 child who has also been diagnosed, 1 that is probably celiac but we'll have to wait for the biopsy report to know for sure and a 3rd who is a baby.

We're planning to switch our whole household to gluten-free. This was my husband's suggestion- but I'm thrilled he's willing to do this for our family. He actually can't wait till everyone's testing is over and done with because he finds it such a pain to keep washing his hands during meal preparation. If he is making lunch using regular bread, I'll make him wash his hands before touching deli meats, lettuce, tomoato slices, cheese, etc. He sometimes has to wash his hands 6 or 7 times if he is making lunch for himself and the kids.

It sounds like you're a terrific cook and baker. I bet you could make great gluten-free breads too. I know my family loves to have homemade food- they have been just as happy with my few attempts at gluten-free baking as they were with my previous baked goods before I went gluten-free. It's the love that makes the difference. Sure the taste and texture of gluten-free takes a little getting used to, it's going to be a bit different, but it's that special ingredient that you put into it that really makes it special.

Making regular breads is not good for your health- if you breathe in some of the flour dust it could be making you sick. I'd think your family would feel differently about it if they realize how unhealthy it is for you to be baking with wheat flour.

Perhaps you could gradually bake more gluten-free foods- so if they want something warm from the oven, it's going to be gluten-free more often than not.

I wish I could get my husband more on board he's supportive when it comes to what I do with my daughter and myself but thinks I'm taking things overboard by having the other kids tested and wanting to go totally

gluten free. His family (especially his mother is very supportive and is always researching diff things for me) I just wish he could really understand the disease.

I have been really struggling this week with symptoms and I don't know what is contaminating me. My daughter is not having any symptoms. So it is something I am being exposed to solely

There are gluten-free baking cookbooks out there, and at least one dedicated to Breads. Maybe you should give that a shot. It will be an adjustment for everyone and I wish you the best.

Tracy

I have tried a few different breads but so far only one I like . Its a french bread that's really good. My biggest Problem is I created alot of recipes that center around my very gluten bread dough (that I have perfected) that are very difficult to duplicate with a gluten free dough. Most gluten free doughs are not very shapeable and elastic. These recipes have become a tradional staple in this house and my husband is having a very hard time letting go.

Jodi

[happygirl]

Leading Celiac experts recommend that all first degree relatives (that means children, siblings, and parents) be tested for Celiac. So, no, you are not going overboard. Celiac is a genetic disease and it is worth testing all family members!

[teebs in WV]

Jodi,

I know what you mean about the gluten-free breads. It seems like most people eventually adapt to the texture of gluten-free breads, but I have not been able to yet. I just don't eat any bread because I cannot get past comparing it to regular bread.

Hang in there and I hope someone else on this board can give you some tips.

[Suzie-GFfamily]

I felt very sad a few months ago when I looked through my box of recipe cards..... many of the recipes that I had collected over the years, and which our whole family enjoyed, were ones that contained gluten.

I felt like I'd have to start all over- that all the recipe testing and perfecting would have to begin again.

I'm feeling better about it now, so I guess I've probably moved on to the next stage of coming to terms with this disease. Now I'm starting to get excited about trying new recipes and maybe I'll try to re-invent a few of our old favourites too.

Perhaps it would be easier if you start with some gluten-free recipes that are highly recommended first. Learn a little and get used to gluten-free baking... and then maybe work on adapting a recipe as a substitute for your bread rolls/shapes a little bit later? There is a site called glutenfreeda.com that has lots of baking tips and recipes.

Perhaps your husband would understand if he went to some support group meetings with you? Or, if he enjoys reading you could get him a book that explains celiac disease so he could understand that you are not going overboard.

[gfp]

my daughter and I have just been diagnosed with celiacs within the last couple of months. We have been gluten free for 9 months. My family is large I have 6 kids and my husband and myself. My daughter Shayna and myself are the only ones gluten free. I have to prepare all the meals as my husband is working a fulltime job and going to school full time. The rest of the family are not yet ready to eat gluten free. I have changed a few of my recipes to be gluten free however my family is hooked on my home made breads and rolls.these are the things they are not ready to give up and are a dilema for me. I try to wash my hand after but it is extremly difficult not only not to keep from getting contaminated but also to not contaminate my daughter when I prepare our meal. The smell of my cooking drives me insane because it smells so good and I know I can't have it. My daughter doesn't seem to be bothered by it. Does anyone have any tips for me. How can I get my family to be gluten free. I am very overwhelmed.

You have gotten some good advice so far.............

You don't say how old Shayna is so I don't know whether her being bothered is your concern or hers. There comes a time when if she doesn't want to be gluten-free there isn't much you can do about it...

I have to prepare all the meals as my husband is working a fulltime job and going to school full time.

I don't see why? I worked and went to school full time and did all my own cooking, laundry and all ....

My freezer was my friend in this....

I try to wash my hand after but it is extremly difficult not only not to keep from getting contaminated but also to not contaminate my daughter when I prepare our meal.

If you are using flour then its practically impossible.... what happens to the flour on your clothes, in the air?

If you vacuum it will just spread it through the air....

Until I know the ages of the kids its hard to give the best advice.... I don't know what current guidlines say about kids cooking at whatever age but I was cooking at 9-10 so unless you have twins you must have kids old enough to do their own cooking ....of course then they need to do their own washing and cleaning up.... they may decide they prefer gluten free????

The rest of the family are not yet ready to eat gluten free. I have changed a few of my recipes to be gluten free however my family is hooked on my home made breads and rolls.these are the things they are not ready to give up and are a dilema for me.

Well if you get a seperate area you can have the kids or hubby buy decent bread.... and let them make their own sandwiches...I kinow its not the same but.....??? look at it this way... you could have a disease that stops you doing anything ... you shouldn't feel selfish for protecting your health...

I'm sure it will cause some furore... families get used to work being done for them.... I do all the cooking at home and my girlfriend gets very upset when I suggest she cooks.... when she was at university she lived with 2 guys and did all the cooking (unless I visitied) ... she has just got used to it.... (my fault)