Ouch!

[Mom23boys]

Hubby is my problem child when staying on the diet. I have made a connection between his rash (DH?!) and gluten. Things were going great but then he grabbed a corn dog (all cornmeal he thought) . Now he has his yucky, oozy (because he scratches) polka dots again. Is there some kind of super easy lists for beginners?? The kind that would say for the kitchen illiterate "cornbread is made with cornmeal AND wheat" or something like that?

[pricklypear1971]

As a DH sufferer I can honestly say the threat of the rash (which itches like a sob) was enough to train me to read every label on every piece of food I was going to put in my mouth.

Lists like you're asking for, to me, aren't accurate because there are gluten-free replacements for virtually everything, and stuff that should be naturally gluten-free isn't (by cc, if nothing else)...so you must always read the label before you shove it in your mouth.

Sounds like his biggest problem is that he isn't knowledgeable about food or cooking.

Perhaps he needs to shop and cook a few times?? This is his disease and he needs to learn to manage it. That may sound a bit mean but it's realistic.

[Adalaide]

The short easy answer is, if it isn't a fresh fruit of veggie it is suspect. Some things are highly suspect, some not so much. I really mean everything. Canned beans, chicken broth, tomato soup, corn tortillas, frozen veggies (with sauce) and even some sugary candy are things I've found that either straight up have wheat in them, or "may contain" wheat. I read every single label, every single time I buy something. Fortunately there are some brands that have reputations for being more forthcoming than some others with this information. Sometimes you'll find yourself spending 4 hours in a grocery store so you can make a dozen phone calls to see if this or that is safe.

I will second prickly that this is something he needs to learn to manage. It is awesome of you to be supportive and helpful, especially if you do the grocery shopping. That said, it is important for him to learn what he can and can't have and this is an important lesson for him. Hopefully this will be the last assumption he ever makes since making it has been so very painful for him. I can't speak for you, but if I had to micro-manage my husband's illness I'd start to resent him. I'm his wife not his mother and it isn't my job to tell him what he can and can't (or should and shouldn't) eat.

[kareng]

He needs to take responsibility for what he puts in his mouth.

One of the Ten Commandments of Celiac :

If you don't know what's in it - don't eat it.

Unless he can read the ingredients or made it himself (or you made it), he can't eat it!

[Mom23boys]

He isn't very knowledgeable about the kitchen and he is just beginning to see what I am seeing about the relation between wheat and his "rash". I saw his hands while we were eating (his first "rash" since going gluten-free ) and I asked if it was new. He said "yes". I reminded him about eating the corn dog and for the first time I saw the light come on. He is actually starting to try (I've got the kids on his case) since we have to do it for all of us now. I've got him with one of the kids now for a blood draw. They are testing for some kind of genetic link and we know it isn't coming from me! I guess it is cooking 101 for hubby.

[pricklypear1971]

He isn't very knowledgeable about the kitchen and he is just beginning to see what I am seeing about the relation between wheat and his "rash". I saw his hands while we were eating (his first "rash" since going gluten-free ) and I asked if it was new. He said "yes". I reminded him about eating the corn dog and for the first time I saw the light come on. He is actually starting to try (I've got the kids on his case) since we have to do it for all of us now. I've got him with one of the kids now for a blood draw. They are testing for some kind of genetic link and we know it isn't coming from me! I guess it is cooking 101 for hubby.

Hopefully the light continues to get brighter.

Good luck!