Cheating In The Wee Hours

[Guest Zmom]

Although we do not keep anything with gluten in the fridge, sometimes my son getsup at 430 and sneaks oj (alllergic to citrus) and I caught him with his head in the freezer a couple of months ago with the cover to the icecream off.

I started to get the mega jugs of oj as a deterant but some weeks its like a game with him. I can't keep ketchup or hot dogs in the fridge. Can't go to the bathroom when he is eating-a couple of days ago there was half a bottle of ketchup on his eggs-the other half was on his face. Sometimes its obvious and he denies it until I check his breath... It doesnot happen everyday but it gives him loose stools and if it has any sugar he is out of control the whole day.

Can't say i am always the best example. I told my son to tell me NO milk Mommy if he sees me put milk in my coffee. Its hard and I understand wanting to rebel against the diet as I have been on it since march, but I am worried that he might end up with some of my health problems when he is older.

[pixiegirl]

Well isn't the easy answer not to buy those things... I'm guesing you like your OJ but hey, its your childs health.

My daughter at 6 months old was found to be allergic to dairy, wheat, peanuts, nuts, and soy. I was determined to nurse her and I did, for 2 whole years and I couldn't eat any of those things either, as they would get in my breast milk and bother her. Once she was old enough to get into the frig we made sure we didn't buy those things, they are kids so they can't really understand the concept of their heatlh down the line.

I know it doesn't seem fair but such is life. My daughter is now almost 14 and although she has outgrown some of the food issues, we don't keep the foods on hand that would cause her problems, of course now she wouldn't eat them anyways... but still. What we do for our kids!

Best...

Susan

[KaitiUSA]

I would have to say that you should not buy it anymore.

If you have to have your orange juice maybe you could get a mini fridge and keep it in a room that he can't get into but it should not be in the house if he can get to it. It's just not worth having your child sick.

If he is craving orange juice though maybe there is something in it that he is missing in his diet. Is he on a multi vitamin?

[Guest Zmom]

OJ is a low allergy food (1) on my sons rast allergy list and is supposed to be rotated. Its tough. We have three completely different medically related diets in the family. Two completly different sets of allergies and We do not have room for another fridge.

[Guest nini]

it's gotta be tough having three different medically necessary diets in the house, but it can be worked around. Have you met with a nutritionist to maybe help you plan meals and snacks so that they are healthy and safe for all the special dietary requirements and maybe just having to only slightly alter them for the individual needs?

What specifically are the dietary restrictions? Most if not all can be easily worked around a diet of organic, whole, unprocessed foods. Food in it's form most closest to the way nature intended it is always the healthiest. And for many common allergens there are very easy substitutes.

Also, with a four year old he is testing limits. I went through an episode with my daughter where she would snatch gluten laden cookies from friends at school when she knew she wasn't supposed to have them. (she was four at the time)... it's also more difficult for them to understand that they aren't supposed to have something especially if it is readily available either at home or school.

One of the biggest things for my daughter has been finding things that she CAN have safely, and stock up on them and let her have those things whenever she wants them, within reason of course. If someone offers her something she shouldn't have and she really wants it, I have to be able to offer her a even more enticing goodie that she can have.

Ultimately, you are going to have to start teaching him to be responsible about his diet, and it's easier to start small when they are little and make it fun and easy for him to grasp. Get creative. You can do it.

[connole1056]

I think it is normal for a child to do sneaky things like your child is doing. It probably does not have to do with the diet, more likely that he is testing you and his limits. I do not think it is unusual for some people to cheat. I am not saying it is a wise choice, but I do know some people who have made it nonetheless. It must be hard to see the reaction though, no matter what the reason he is sneaking food. There are locks you can put on you fridge. That is drastic though (obviously).Have you disciplined him after you caught him? Maybe taken away a favorite toy for a short time?

I do not believe in keeping food out of the house because then the child does not learn there will be challenges outside the home. I think it is important for people to learn there will times they have to make tough decisions about their diets. I see it as a learning experience. My daughter learned from age four when she was diagnosed that there would be times she would have to go without. I make every effort to have gluten-free substitutes for her when we are out, but there are times this isn't possible. Since she has had foods at home she cannot eat she is used to making do, rather than cheating/sneaking food. I think if we had only gluten-free food at home she would expect it to be like that everywhere, and that is not always the case. It certainly is not easy, but with a little discipline he will learn. I think this is why my daughter is disciplined in the other areas of her life as well. Her discipline regarding the diet has carried over to almost every other thing she does. I am very proud of her for that.

[Guest Zmom]

My son is great with telling people/school friends what he can't eat and turning down foods. He had never taken any gluten even when offered.Teachers have told me this.

I think this is just a testing limits thing. He probably eats healthier than 99% of other kids. We have a nutritionist,allergist, gastroenterologist, nurse practioner + and a Dr. and nurse in the family.

This post has caused more stress than help. I appreciate everyones response . Can I end this thread?

[Guest Lucy]

I understand how you feel. My diabetic son is caught sneaking foods. We keep all food types in the house. I don't think you need to keep that food out. That is life. My (now 3 year old, birthday yesterday) son just got ahold of a bag of peanut M&Ms yesterday. His blood sugar was soaring thru the roof.

Just take it in stride. Do the best you can, and YOU CAN come here just to vent.

It sounds to me like you have it tough, with all the allergys. Good luck.

[KaitiUSA]

The only way to get rid of a thread is for Scott to remove it.

[pixiegirl]

I'm sorry Zmom that this thread is causing you stress... I certainly didn't mean to do that and I enjoy reading everyone's ideas on these various issues, I don't always agree with them but they are interesting to me.

I do understand the people who say we keep the stuff in the house because our kids have to learn to do without or read labels or whatever. But with my daughter, her peanut allergy is so severe that until she got older we just couldn't take the chance. She can't even eat in the lunch room at school, just the peanut oil in the air from sandwiches causes a reaction with her. If, when she was very young, she would have eaten any peanuts she could have easily died even with an epi pen. We just were not willing to take that chance with a young child, now that she is a teenager she is very good at reading labels and what not... but at 4 or 5 year old... no way!

So every situation is different, all of our dietary issues and households are different and each of us has to make the decisions that work for our families. I hope because some people may have different ideas then yours you don't get offended, again we all have to make our own decisions.

Best to all,

Susan

[Guest nini]

I was just trying to be helpful , I hope my post didn't contribute to the stress

[chasesparents]

I don't know what kind of OJ you drink, but I would buy the individual bottles and count them, so that you can monitor if any are missing and so he would think twice before taking one.

[cdford]

Been there, done that. Ours was eleven and knew how to be really sneaky. We finally had to have the whole household go gluten-free. It was the only way to get it under control. That does not help when she is at a friend's house or even at the grandparents, but it sure makes life at home easier. We also have multiple diets here and try to stay within what we all can handle. It just makes life easier for the whole family.

[Guest Zmom]

Sorry i was so defensive I know everyone on this site understands the stress of special diets. I can't imagine how hard it is for people dealing with celiacs AND lifethreatning allergies.

[Guest nini]

Sweetie, it's easy to be defensive. Most of us are used to years of having to defend our somewhat "odd" behavior and "obsession" with food. I know in my case I get the most defensive when I really don't want to hear what people are telling me. For years it was obvious that I had a problem with wheat, but I refused to listen to those closest to me telling me I needed to cut wheat out of my diet. Even after having a kinesiologist tell me that I tested positive for a wheat sensitivity I still refused to listen. I didn't want to give up my Krispy Kreme donuts or Sausage Biscuits and gravy! (stubborn I know)

none of us here can truly know what your situation is. Only what you share here, so our attempts at help are at best educated guesses.

[pixiegirl]

Celiac and life threatening allergies... well it was stressful in the beginning but in my book you do what you have to do and now we have it down pretty well. I do worry when we go to new places or on vacation but we are really careful and the drill is just part of our lives.

Best to all,

susan