Gluten-free Vitamins?

[amclemons]

My 30 month old was diagnosed 1 month ago with celiac. She is very tiny only 21 pounds but otherwise had no celiac symptoms. Problem is she was never a big eater to begin with and never ate much pasta or bread, so the diet change is not a big issue. But now she eats next to nothing!

She won't touch fruit at all, won't even try the gluten-free cerels, all she eats is peanut butter!

With a spoon out of a bowl, weird! I am very worried about her not getting enough vitamins, does anyone know which kids type vitamins are gluten-free? Or if there are any type of gluten-free nutional supplements she could take. Doctors are not the greatest with diet ideas! Believe me I have tried everything!

[NoGluGirl]

My 30 month old was diagnosed 1 month ago with celiac. She is very tiny only 21 pounds but otherwise had no celiac symptoms. Problem is she was never a big eater to begin with and never ate much pasta or bread, so the diet change is not a big issue. But now she eats next to nothing!

She won't touch fruit at all, won't even try the gluten-free cerels, all she eats is peanut butter!

With a spoon out of a bowl, weird! I am very worried about her not getting enough vitamins, does anyone know which kids type vitamins are gluten-free? Or if there are any type of gluten-free nutional supplements she could take. Doctors are not the greatest with diet ideas! Believe me I have tried everything!

Dear amclemons,

I Googled Gluten-Free Children's Vitamins and found these: Open Original Shared Link . They are very reasonably priced I think. Hopefully your picky eater will like them! These look like a good idea! Other parts of the site have some neat things, too. There is a storybook about a gluten-free child, and all sort of other things like cookies! Check it out!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

[Nikki2003]

Dear amclemons,

I Googled Gluten-Free Children's Vitamins and found these: Open Original Shared Link . They are very reasonably priced I think. Hopefully your picky eater will like them! These look like a good idea! Other parts of the site have some neat things, too. There is a storybook about a gluten-free child, and all sort of other things like cookies! Check it out!

Sincerely,

NoGluGirl

gummi vites are also gluten-free

[RiceGuy]

Thing is, your child cannot develop properly on just vitamin tablets and peanut butter.

I might start with peanut butter on gluten-free crackers. Mary's Gone Crackers has some that are quite tasty with peanut butter. I'm sure there are others but those are the only ones I ever tried. Another nice treat is applesauce with some peanut butter mixed in. To this I like adding a dash of cinnamon. A little carob makes it even more tasty. I only use natural peanut butter and unsweetened applesauce, and it's plenty sweet enough. What I'd also do is to start out by just giving her the bowl of peanut butter as usual, set the crackers nearby, and start dipping them in the peanut butter and eating them myself! She'll catch on really quick I'm sure!

Have you tried Kasha (roasted buckwheat) as a hot cereal? It's smooth, creamy, and easy to digest (it's not related to wheat, nor is it a grain at all). Add a little fruit like blueberries, applesauce, strawberries, banana, or maybe peaches or pineapple. There are a lot of great ways to enjoy Kasha.

Tapioca pudding is delicious IMHO. It's another thing which tastes great with fruit added. And I don't know of any child who doesn't like mashed potatoes. Have you tried these?

Basically, I think the key is to introduce new, tasty things which add variety, nutrients, and give your child the incentive to branch out to more foods.

[amclemons]

Thanks for the tips! Mashed potatoes, she will eat! But she is refusing fruit, although I know she loves bananas and blueberries. I will just keep trying!! I really love all the answers I get on this forum,

it is a great help to a newbie!!

Thing is, your child cannot develop properly on just vitamin tablets and peanut butter.

I might start with peanut butter on gluten-free crackers. Mary's Gone Crackers has some that are quite tasty with peanut butter. I'm sure there are others but those are the only ones I ever tried. Another nice treat is applesauce with some peanut butter mixed in. To this I like adding a dash of cinnamon. A little carob makes it even more tasty. I only use natural peanut butter and unsweetened applesauce, and it's plenty sweet enough. What I'd also do is to start out by just giving her the bowl of peanut butter as usual, set the crackers nearby, and start dipping them in the peanut butter and eating them myself! She'll catch on really quick I'm sure!

Have you tried Kasha (roasted buckwheat) as a hot cereal? It's smooth, creamy, and easy to digest (it's not related to wheat, nor is it a grain at all). Add a little fruit like blueberries, applesauce, strawberries, banana, or maybe peaches or pineapple. There are a lot of great ways to enjoy Kasha.

Tapioca pudding is delicious IMHO. It's another thing which tastes great with fruit added. And I don't know of any child who doesn't like mashed potatoes. Have you tried these?

Basically, I think the key is to introduce new, tasty things which add variety, nutrients, and give your child the incentive to branch out to more foods.

[sillyactsue]

Have you tried Parents Choice pediatric drink that is sold next to PediaSure at Wal-mart?

My little one is also 30 months old and has just jumped (over the last month or so) from 21 lbs. to 23 lbs. (and holding). This drink is gluten free and lactose free. Aimee was off of casien for a while but for now we are allowing it. Aimee calls this stuff Milky Juice and loves it. It is so good that my 18 year old daughter sneaks drinks from Aimee's sippy cup.

At the library I found a book by Linda Piette, Ms, Rd called "Just Two More Bites! Helping Picky Eaters Say Yes to Food"

I have been concerned that her dietary issues and my stress over them (you try to hide it but they know) would cause her to have eating disorders. In it she suggests using a pediatric supplemental drink to help fill in the gaps. The book recommends giving it at night right before bedtime for the most benefit (weight wise) but I let her have it during the day too. After she eats.

Here is a cool thing my older did with her recently. She baked her a potato and put out a variety of sliced up veggies and gluten free condiments and told Aimee that she could put what ever she wanted on her potato. She said Aimee's eyes lit up and she started piling on the cheese, green onions, Annie's horseradish mustard, butter, salt, no tomatoes thank you and a few other things I can't remember. Because she made it and made choices about it it was the best thing she had ever eaten. On the way home last night My older daughter called to tell me that she had baked potatoes waiting for Aimee and I when we got home. I told Aimee and told her she could again put what she wanted on her potato. She said, "Just eggs." I asked her if she wanted egg on her potato and she said yes so we called her sister and put in an order for boiled egg (She only eats the white). When we got home she thought of more stuff she wanted.

I hope this helps. Aimee is also very healthy otherwise. With us, her eating (or not) had become a control issue. the book helped a lot with that too.

Gloria