Toddler Just Diagnosed-please Help

[zachsmom]

I wish I could just get a list of all the foods everyone has posted...

But as you will find ... many stuff in the regular grocery is gluten free... you just have to look. I have 14month old who was thought to have had it since 4 moths of age..w hen cereal was intorduced,,,, he had a horrible roto virus encounter... But I have and am there really in your shoes. but On land olakes .. they have a flour recipie and other recipies for gluten free folks.. I found it yesterday and thought I had died... But may regulare foods are gluten-free... dont get down... its like riding a bike.. hard and then easy...

[Kibbie]

Hey I just sent you with a msg that lists everything I keep in my panrty and a typical day of meals for my daughter (she is 21 months old) My grocery bills were high at first while I was getting stocked up, and trying new things... now its about where it was before we went gluten free! (My entire family is gluten-free except DH he iis gluten light he only has gluten at lunch... I'm cheep and get him regular bread because he is the only one in the house who eats it)

So check your msgs!

[sally123]

My 6 year old son was just diagnosed with celiac as well and we are trying to figure out what to eat. He is a very picky eater and likes very few fruits or vegetables. It is even more challenging to find food now. The bread we've tried is terrible. I think the cereal is too, but luckily he likes it. Also, I'm frustrated because the breads/cereal seem to have no nutritional value at all - 1 g of fiber in most of the cereal. My son is the only one in the family with celiac - we've been tested. I hate to make him feel left out and eating "special" foods alone, but I would rather have my 3 yr old eating high fiber cereal and bread. Plus, it's too expensive!

My biggest problem is that I have no idea what products are OK. I found lists from various websites listing products, but then when I read the ingrediants I see "modified food starch". Conversely, I find other products that seem to be gluten free, but I have no real way of knowing. I'm so confused. I also need to be able to tell school what is OK and what is not, but I don't know myself.

Also, we want to do holiday baking this week. Does it work to just substitute gluten-free flours into normal recipes. I haven't tried anything yet.

Any advice for a new celiac mom is welcome.

thanks

[par18]

Hi,

I think this is the toughest of all situations a family is faced in dealing with Celiac. You as a parent are most responsible for the diet choices of your son. How you go about it will be depend on not only yourself but also the other members of your family. The more the whole family can eat the same things (naturally gluten free food like meats, fruits and vegetables, dairy etc) the less "singled out" your son will feel. No one including adults wants to be singled out. It will also get everyone in the family eating healthier. If you have to buy a lot of prepared gluten free items for just one member it will become expensive. Also the more gluten is involved in the meal for the other members the more chance of accidental contamination. It also increases the time it takes to prepare meals. If all of you eat many of the same things it will be cheaper. The picky aspect of the whole family is something that will have to be overcome. If your son is to succeed then healthy eating must start now. Parents can do the most good in this area by setting a good example. The children may not think much of it now but they will thank you later when they understand how important it is. Hope this helps.

Tom