Ups And Downs With Diet

[Ridgewalker]

Well, my 6-yr-old son has been gluten-free for a couple weeks now (or so I thought,) and I had not seen much improvement in his symptoms yet.... But then I was reading through some old posts last night and read that his Flintstones vitamins are not gluten-free! So I've been glutening him every night without realizing it. He also grabbed a Special K cereal bar that I'd set on the counter and forgot about. He said he forgot he wasn't supposed to eat them anymore, but they were one of his favorite snacks, he may have gotten frustrated with the whole thing, who knows.

Over the past couple weeks, I've bought so many gluten-free replacements for his old favorites, and he's refusing to eat most of them... Envirokids cereal bars, Glutino "ritz-like" crackers, Blue Diamond Nut Thins, Glutino cereal bars, Kinnickinick hamburger rolls... I've been making mac and cheese with Tinkyada pasta, and that's starting to grow on him, thank goodness.

He does like both kinds of gluten-free pretzels that I've gotten him, Van's blueberry waffles, and the Envorikids animal crackers.

Our biggest success has been gluten-free pancakes, I am really happy about that one! I used Bob's Red Mill gluten-free Pancake mix (with skim milk, veg oil, and regular eggs.) As I scooped the batter into a measuring cup, I added in different things like blueberries or chocolate chips- whatever I had on hand- I didn't mix up separate batches to make different kinds. I made a BUNCH of them, and froze them in small batches. They reheated in the microwave really well, and taste fantastic, much BETTER than the frozen toaster pancakes the kids used to eat!

Which brings me to another point-- I have decided to put my younger son (age 4) on the gluten-free diet as well. He has been having diarhea every week for the past year, and that's not normal. It's hard to realize it, when it starts gradually!!! Also, his temperament has changed drastically in the past 3 or 4 months; grouchy is a massive understatement. My sweet baby has grown the temper of a demon So I decided to give it a try. My biggest problem with him is going to be his chicken nuggets...

Are there any gluten-free chicken nuggets that look and taste like Tyson???!?! The 4-yr-old is so addicted to them, I've actually considered chopping up chicken in the blender (yuck) and trying to make my own nuggets. But I don't know what to use for the breading! Tyson chicken nuggets are an obsession for him, it's just one of those kids' things. And I always swore I would never buy ANYTHING from Tyson... ...I can't even remember how he got hooked on them, probably from a grandma, bless 'em. Any suggestions would be welcome.

-Sarah

[missy'smom]

Ian's makes processed type nuggets, fish sticks and TV dinners. Just make sure the label says gluten-free as they also make non gluten-free. Welshire Farms makes real chicken fingers. Again, they make both gluten-free and non gluten-free. They also make a variety of franks, Kielbassa, ham, lunch meats.

Your 6 year old may just not be up to trying so many different foods at once and the gluten-free products contain ingredients that we are sometimes not used to. It takes time. It sounds like you've already found alot of things he likes. Save the ones he's not eating if you can and intoduce them slowly, one at a time or find new ways of using or serving them. My son(who's not gluten-free) and I share things. For me sometimes, it's hard to eat up a whole box of cereal or other product and not get tired of it. I feel better too if I balance them with plenty of naturally gluten-free fruits, veg etc.

[cs789]

Hang in there.

Our 5 yr old son has been gluten-free since Novemebr.

HE has grown about several inches since then & we see a very positive change in his behaviour too.

We are not perfect...but my Sister is celaic too for 10 yrs and we have some expereince with the diet. Don't try so many replacement things at once ...that can be overwhelming for a little guy...

There are alot of things that are gluten-free normally...Rice....meats and vegetables...But the hidden things like soy sauce will get you. We try to carry Braggs amino soy with us anytime we eat out..

I make Pizza for him out of Rice or Almond bread, and cut in traingles with sauce and meat and cheese...Crunchy tacos at mexican places.....are usually Ok i think.... Thinks that really bug me are - so many corn based cerals, KIX & Chex ...have Malt flavoring....malt is a no no...

One key for our son I truly believe...after the 1st few months or so when sypmtoms improved....we explained why he was feeling better over a few days and he has really taken to it well...becasue he likes feeling better.....that really made it easier the results....

We decided this wasnt going to define him....and after not even a yr....it doenst anymore....but you always have to be on guard....and bring snacks...make cupcakes & pancakes and freeze....popcorn, gluten-free pretzels...string cheese ...here's a ton but build it gradually. OUr son sometimes eats 4 banans a day.

Pancakes- Yes they are great....PAmela's makes really good mixes...some of Bob's seem grainy to us. PAmelas has a great chocalate cake mix too. We found a really great speghetti too made by bionatureA

Hang in there...

[Cheri A]

Hang in there. It's good that he's accepting some things. When my dd first went gluten-free, we just went with all the basic stuff that's gluten-free - meat, fruit, veggies. She kind of needed to "forget" what bread, pasta, pretzels tasted like. Then we added it back in and she is doing great.

She still gets the majority of her food from meat, fruit and veggies but really enjoys Tinkyada pasta, Glutino pretzels, Kinnickinick K-Toos also. I make homemade bread for her that she likes better than the store bought kind. But she likes it toasted, so it's mainly a breakfast thing.

She did not like the Ian's gluten-free chicken nuggets, but does like the fish. I make her chicken nuggets and would be happy to PM the recipe to you, if you'd like. Actually, we all like it and it's not hard at all.

[Nic]

Hi, my son was 4 when he was diagnosed and he is now 6. He actually took very well to the gluten free diet, it is the dairy free diet that he struggles with (he was a tremendous milk lover). We don't all eat gluten free in my house but after 2 years of having the food in the house, it no longer tastes odd to those of us who don't have to eat it. My point is, the longer he doesn't eat gluten, he will become accustomed to the gluten free substitutes. For chicken nuggets we also use Ian's as well as wellshire farms, they make a dinosaur shaped variety. We also found a different brand at Whole Foods that looked more like Tyson's but I cannot remember the brand name. If you have one by you go and look for the gluten free chicken nuggets in the black and red box. He really liked them and the meat inside looked more like fresh meat to where Ian's looks kind of processed. But I prefer the Ian's because they are completely allergen free to where the other contained soy I believe. Also, what I have found is that every gluten free companys version of a food might taste different. My son likes the pizza crust from only 1 company, he can tell the difference when I can't find it and have to buy another. So find the foods that will be your son's new favorites and stick to those brands. Good luck, it gets easier as the diet becomes second nature. Yesterday was my nephews birthday and my mom made him a cake. We always make them gluten free so my son can eat it too. I handed a piece to my son and he looked at me and asked, "is it gluten free?". Can you imagine?

Nicole

[Ridgewalker]

Thank you SO MUCH for your replies!

I specifically told myself before we started this, Don't introduce too many new things at once.... but then I think it happened anyway. I will keep the stuff around, and try to offer them again, slower this time!

We live in a very rural area, in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains. The closest health food stores/Whole Foods are about an hour south in Winston Salem, so I only go about once every week or two.

The past two times I've gone to Whole Foods, I've SCOURED the frozen section, looking for chicken nuggets!!! I've seen Ian's stuff, but apparently my Whole Foods only carries thier non gluten-free line. They also don't carry any Pamela's brand stuff I wanted to try the pancakes, because I agree, Bob's RM pancakes do have the slightest bit of grainy texture. When I went yesterday, they were even sold out of Bob's pancake mix! So I had to get Arrowhead Mills to try.

I really like Namaste Cake mixes... Is thier pizza crust any good? The idea of making mini pizzas on bread is a good one. But I'm trying to find a pizza crust that isn't too biscuit-y. I don't know if it's even possible, since I think it's the gluten in crust that makes it chewy.

Cheri, I'd love the chicken nugget recipe! I'm not sure how to send or recieve PMs, though.

Lucas, also has started asking, Is this gluten free? He's not in love with the diet, but he's a good responsible kid. Nic, which brand pizza crust does your son like??

Thanks you guys!

-Sarah

[JennyC]

It sounds like you introduced to your son some of my son's favorites! I'm sorry you're having a tough transition with your son. It will just take time. My son likes Kinnikinnick pizza crust (soft, chewy & a little sweet), doughnuts, bagels, K-Too's, and cinnamon rolls. It sounds like you need to give him some time, and maybe let him tell you when he's ready for some of the more "different" tasting foods like crackers. He's old enough that he probably has to grieve for his old foods.

Just a thought.

[dionnek]

The best gluten free chicken nuggets (they have chicken strips too) are Bell and Evans - they are in a black and red box (make sure you get the gluten-free blac and red box b/c they make regular ones too) and are in the frozen meat section at Whole Foods (NOT the regular frozen food section - they are with the meat). They are much better than any of the other ones, but it is very easy to make your own. I just chop up chicken breast to the size/shape you want, coat it with something wet (I use dijon mustard or honey mustard), then roll in crushed gluten-free cornflake (I use Natures Path) or gluten-free crackers, etc. I usually sprinkle some garlic powder in with the crushed corn flakes. BAke at 350 for about 20-25 min., or longer depending on size of chicken.

[Nic]

Nic, which brand pizza crust does your son like??

Thanks you guys!

-Sarah

We buy Gluten Free Naturals pizza crust. They are a small company out of Cranford, NJ and they unfortunately do not go with any distributors as of yet. They sell privately to the local health food stores. But you can purchase them directly on line at www.gfnfoods.com.

Nicole

[Nic]

The best gluten free chicken nuggets (they have chicken strips too) are Bell and Evans - they are in a black and red box

These are the ones I was talking about earlier. They look and taste as good as Tyson.

[Cheri A]

So true what Jenny said about grieving for the lost food. I cried for weeks when we got the news that she was allergic to wheat. Then I did what every mama does ~ figure out what else she could eat and adapt. For those first few weeks, she ate tostitos and apples for breakfast, lol!

[missy'smom]

Bell and Evans makes the chicken products I was thinking of, not Welshire Farms. Ahhh....my memory hasn't been great lately. I thought it was getting better .

I love the Namaste mix for choc. cake but I don't care for the pizza crust mix. It makes alot which is good but it is also yeast free. I think pizza crust really needs the yeast if you can have it.

[Cheri A]

Sarah ~ I PM'd the recipe to you. You should have gotten and email and be able to get it. If not, let me know. You're so lucky to live in such beautiful country!! If I had a choice of where to live, I'd be near you!!

[Ridgewalker]

Cheri, thank you for the recipe! We're going to try it out asap.

Been having a REALLY hard time with both of my boys. My older son's symptoms had improved, and now are coming back. My younger son's symptoms are getting worse, and he's pitching temper tantrums for Ritz crackers on a daily basis!

I am frustrated, and really wishing I could get them tested, but I just can't right now. I am confused, and I don't know if I'm doing the right thing!

I am trying to track down any little things they might be getting gluten from. I bought a dedicated toaster, I switched thier vitamins. I still need to check thier toothpaste. Going to go do that now.

Just needing to vent. The frustrating thing is not KNOWING. Is all this necessary? Do I need to be looking at something else? Am I just CRAZY?

-Sarah

[natalie]

Cheri, thank you for the recipe! We're going to try it out asap.

Been having a REALLY hard time with both of my boys. My older son's symptoms had improved, and now are coming back. My younger son's symptoms are getting worse, and he's pitching temper tantrums for Ritz crackers on a daily basis!

I am frustrated, and really wishing I could get them tested, but I just can't right now. I am confused, and I don't know if I'm doing the right thing!

I am trying to track down any little things they might be getting gluten from. I bought a dedicated toaster, I switched thier vitamins. I still need to check thier toothpaste. Going to go do that now.

Just needing to vent. The frustrating thing is not KNOWING. Is all this necessary? Do I need to be looking at something else? Am I just CRAZY?

-Sarah

Blueridge Mountains... I wish I was on a motorcycle driving through them!!!

I know it is tough when they aren't enjoying their foods.

I don't know if you have access to El-Peto products, but I feel that they have the best pancake mix around.

Good Luck

[Cheri A]

((Sarah)) ~ I know it's hard!! What are your 6 year old's symptoms? With my dd, she was so sick and feeling badly that even though she really missed her favorites, it was a great motivator to give those things up because she felt better. The bread and crackers really don't taste the same, so maybe give them some gluten-free pretzels instead. Hope they find some new favorites soon. You aren't crazy!!

[Ridgewalker]

((Sarah)) ~ I know it's hard!! What are your 6 year old's symptoms? With my dd, she was so sick and feeling badly that even though she really missed her favorites, it was a great motivator to give those things up because she felt better. The bread and crackers really don't taste the same, so maybe give them some gluten-free pretzels instead. Hope they find some new favorites soon. You aren't crazy!!

They both do love the gluten-free pretzels, that's one thing at least. I need to figure out how to add a signature that can go after my posts, like you all have. But thier symptoms are:

Lucas, age 6 1/2: Poopy accidents almost every day since beginning potty training. Sometimes little, sometimes big, very very stinky. Chronic ear and sinus infections since 8/05. TWELVE cavities at first dentist appointment. Dark circles under eyes. Unexplained low-grade fevers in the early mornings. When asked why he didn't poop in the toilet, he usually says "I didn't know I had to go." Gluten-free since 5/24/07.

Ezra, age 4: Chronic loose stools. Sudden huge change in temperament since 3/07. Chronic sinus infections and repeated bronchitis since 7/05. Now in the past several days, he's been having massive poopy accidents every day. He also says he didn't know he had to go, but this may be because he's heard his brother say it; there's no way to know. Gluten-lite since 5/24, gluten-free since 6/7 (and doing some major, loud grieving for gluteny foods!)

My mother, thier maternal grandmother, was diagnosed with severe, full-blown Celiac disease last year.

I know they haven't been gluten-free for very long...

With the symptoms I'm looking at, it's not as easy to see improvements/worsenings as it would be if they were having the uncontrollable diarhea, etc. I judt don't even know if I'm on the right track. Every symptom that they have can be attributed to other things....... but then, most symptoms of Celiac/gluten-intolerance are that way.

I'm going to stick with it. I have an application in for the NC state insurance plan, and I'm hoping we'll qualify for it. If we do, I'm having them tested immediately. At this point in time (paying for all medical expenses out of pocket), I haven't even been able to talk to our family doctor about them going gluten-free. When I do, I think she'll be great about it. She's also my mother's doctor, she was the one who initially suggested that my mom might have Celiac.

BTW-- Yeah, we love living in the foothills! It's quiet, it's beautiful. The view out my kitchen window is stunning- hey there's a little mountain out there! My husband grew up here, and I've lived here since I was 15. It's a good place to raise children. Just takes forever to get "anywhere," that's the only drawback!

-Sarah

[Ridgewalker]

Oh, and I forgot to mention... (I really need to write all this down for when I meet with the fam. Dr.)...

The day he was born, Lucas had some kind of wierd gagging, retching thing going on. They had to suction his stomach when he was less than a day old. He then became jaundiced, but they said he wasn't bad enough to put under the bili light. They said he just needed to nurse and poop to resolve it. Well, he wouldn't nurse, my milk wasn't coming in, he was crying constantly, and they said he needed to be put on formula, which I allowed them to do. We ended up staying in the hospital a few extra days because of all this. His jaundice resolved after a couple weeks.

When my milk came in, I started pumping as much as I could, and he was getting mostly breastmilk at first, but it quickly dropped off. I was 21, and didn't know nearly as much about it as I do now

When I decided to let it dry up, and he was getting mostly formula, he started having bad diarhea 10-15 times a day. Lucas was maybe 5 or 6 weeks old at this point. Our fam. Dr. said he was probably lactose intolerant, and we put him on a soy formula... ProSoBee, I believe it was. When he was a year old, she had us gradually introduce cow's milk, and he seemed to do fine with it.

I don't know if any of that has anything to do with the things that are going on now.

PS- I got good news in the mail this afternoon-- we qualified for the NC state medical insurance for children! This isn't Medicaid, but a low cost insurance that you can apply for if you don't qualify for Medicaid. We just barely qualified, so we will have small enrollment fees and co-pays, but no monthly premium. This is a MAJOR relief for me. To be completely frank... we almost lost our house due to overwhelming medical costs this past winter... everything has been 100% out-of-pocket... with the kids' constant ear and sinus infections, and bronchitis... They've been sick -so- much!

And now I can work on getting them tested for gluten-intolerance. Is Enterolab the only one that does the more sensitive stool-testing? Or do other labs do it too? Everything I'm hearing sounds like people either do stool-testing through Enterolab, or blood-testing through thier doctors. I also get the impression that most insurance won't pay for Enterolab?

Thanks again for listening!

-Sarah

[dahams04]

I'd get the gene test done along with the reg. blood tests for Celiac. But keep in mind that even if they dont have the gene they can still be gluten intolerant ( like my son).

After time they will accept the Gluten-free foods better. My son has been Gluten-free for almost a year now and he is much more willing to try all Gluten-free products. Hey if you go long enough with out regular oreos your bound to think the Gluten-free ones are good now. LOL

NOt sure what chicken nugget recipie you got but an easy one that tastes like McDonlads is mix 1 egg in with 1 lb of ground chicken, form in nugget shape and coat with crushed regular Lays potato chips. Bake for about 20 min on 350 or untill golden brown. My boys and I love them! Hope this helps and good luck!