My Son Just Got Diagnosed And Have Couple Questions

[macocha]

Hi everyone!

My son just got diagnosed this last week. he is in jr. high and I was wondering a couple things.

Are there any snacks out there that you have found you absolutely love and are gluten-free?

is there anything in the schools environment that we should look out for that he could have a potential reaction to? For example, glue or envelopes (licking them). is there anything else that we have to watch out for - is mostly everything good to go?

Thanks!

[Wolicki]

There are lots of good snacks: Lay's Staxx, Crunchmaster crackers, Glutino crackers

Then all the naturally gluten-free snacks: apples, bananas, string cheese, rice cakes with nut butters.

My boys do really well with it (9 and 13).

They say that the glue issue is a myth- although I don't chance it. I use glueticks for envelopes. Playdough, but that is usually not a problem in middle school.

Good luck and happy gluten free living!

[macocha]

the glue was mentioned in a handout that I got from the dietician. hmmm...

gluestick for envelopes...that's a good idea.

[kareng]

I don't know if your school has the combined sewing/cooking class that our middle school has. I have seen how they cook & clean after & wouldn't recommend he even go into that room or touch the door knobs, etc. Lots of candy is gluten-free. I've seen lists if you search gluten-free candy.

[buffettbride]

There's some really great junk food out there for Celiacs! I have a 12 year old 7th grader. She loves Fritos, ice cream (most is safe unless it has the obvious cookies, dough, brownie, pretzels, etc), Corn Nuts, Cool Ranch Dorritos.

[Bloomtiful]

Hi! I am a high schooler with a gluten intolerance. From my experience, the best advice I can give you is to make sure that your son is constantly on the lookout. You can try your hardest to steer him away from gluten, but it all boils down to whether or not he is going to be careful. During the school day, when you are not with him, he will be bombarded with so much gluten it's not even funny. I would make sure that he understands that when his spanish class has a food day and everyone brings in goodies, he is not to eat anything. It's too hard, especially for someone so young, to be able to walk up to a table full of food and be certain that he can walk away unharmed. I have been gluten free for almost three months now, and I still have to stop myself from reaching into the box of doughnuts that gets passed around during first period. I was taught that if someone offers you something, you are supposed to take it. Having to turn down a brownie that someone at lunch offers to me is one of the hardest things to remember, for me.

[Darn210]

I have given my daughter's teacher a bag of safe snacks to keep at school (tootsie pops, tootsie rolls, smarties, lunch size fritos, etc) so that when something gets passed out at school, she has something that she can get that's safe. The school nurse is great about informing me when there are school-wide events that involve food like the holiday parties. There is also a policy that no one can bring in birthday snacks (cupcakes, etc). However, what I find surprising is that there don't seem to be restrictions on the teachers passing out food (especially as rewards). It's frustrating but my daughter is old enough (and well-aware of her own private stash) to turn down anything that might cause her trouble. With your son being in jr. high, I don't know if there is a need for a teacher to keep a stash of safe snacks for him . . . or maybe the need is even greater if he eats as much as my son

Even though your son is in jr high, he still needs to look out for items such as playdoh. My daughter just finished a unit called "play-doh economics" where all the students "manufactured" there own items out of playdoh. Well, that's what they were suppose to do . . . I furnished the class with a modeling clay from crayola that was gluten free.

[missy'smom]

My son's 11, soon to be twelve. He loves anything snacky!

applesauce cups(I buy the flavored, unsweetened variety-peach, blueberry etc.)

many pudding cups

homemade fruit juice gelatin with unflavored gelatin and 100% fruit juice-no sugar, popsicles made with the same juice

Lay's Staxx

many brands of fruit leathers(I buy the all-natural varieties-Cliff twisters, Stretch Island, Target's brand(I forgot the name)etc. etc.)

M+M's

popcorn(we use an air popper)

gluten-free pretzels-Glutino

we tried both the Betty crocker and Pamela's brownie mixes this weekend- a bake off- and he liked the Betty Crocker better

When I asked him if he's ever met a gluten-free baked good that he didn't like he replied "nope" I have a carb/sugar addict on my hands! That being said, to name brands, I used to make unfrosted cupcakes to keep in the freezer with the Namaste mix, and recently he tried the Glutino choco chip cookies, all the wafer cookies he's tried he's liked

Choco Krispy treats made with either Envirokids Koala Krisp or the Erwhon brand choco rice cereal

SO SO many mainsteam products or specialty gluten-free products that the choices are endless!

With Kiddo in Jr. High this year he reports that it's all about brand names and pre-packaged things. I try to find a balance, for budget, health and social pressure.

Treat it as an adventure!

[macocha]

thanks everyone! I have to also watch the snacks for my daughter who is fructose intolerant, so some of those listed are a no no for her. but I am debating having a bin for him and a bin for her...

I am sooooooo relieved that there are multiple things he can still have! we tried pancakes last night for dinner made from Pamela's and they were a hit with everyone! and we used Pamela's baking mix to make white choc chip cookies and that was a plus too!

[bbuster]

My son was diagnosed at age 10 and is 15 now.

ZonePerfect bars have been a lifesaver for us, both for school lunches and when he is playing sports - sometimes we will travel to a small town where they have few options available.

Zone bars have a lot of protein, so they are filling. Not all the varieties are gluten-free, but many are. You can find them for roughly $1 per bar.