Kids and the Gluten-Free Diet: How to Introduce the New Diet

There is no particular age group that is immune to celiac disease. Furthermore, there is also no typical symptom associated with celiac disease, since anyone who has the condition may or may not experience symptoms at all. If you are suspecting that your child has celiac disease, have him or her diagnosed right away and put on a gluten-free diet. Kids and the gluten-free diet can actually go hand in hand, if the diet is introduced properly.

Kids with celiac disease should be introduced to a gluten-free diet as soon as possible. Children particularly do not have a high tolerance for foods they are not used to eating, so presenting children gluten-free food at a younger age is a good idea. However, it is always advised to have your child properly diagnosed with celiac disease first before introducing a new diet. It is recommended that you do not make any changes in your child’s diet at all before diagnosis, so as to not obtain a misdiagnosis.

Another thing you have to be aware of is that it is not appropriate to introduce children under 6 months old to a gluten-free diet. But usually, symptoms are noticed after a child is 6 months old, when he or she is able to eat solid foods. A piece of bread or cereal can cause adverse reactions in the child such as chronic diarrhea, upset stomach and gas. If left undiagnosed and untreated, a child may develop not only physical symptoms, but also psychological symptoms such as constant feelings of sadness and unwillingness to interact.

Fortunately, having kids and the gluten-free diet combined is not as difficult as you may expect. There are several gluten-free recipes available for children suffering from celiac disease. To determine which foods and food ingredients contain gluten, just remember the general gluten-free guideline: avoid, at all times, any food or food ingredient containing wheat, barley, rye and oats.

If you have kids and the gluten-free diet in the home, slowly restrict fats and refined sugars during the first month after diagnosis. Observation to what your child eats is the key to treating his or her health condition. When your child is 6 to 12 months old, foods that are salty should be totally eliminated from the child’s diet. Infants should start off with fresh, pureed foods that are soft enough to consume. Be aware that most types of sauces contain gluten and can cause allergic reactions just like any other food types.
Kids and the gluten-free diet sometimes do not mix because parents find that the elimination of sweets is too unpleasant for kids. The truth is, celiac kids can still eat certain sweets. Gluten-free sweets include honey, jam, jelly, chocolate, hard candy, marshmallows and meringues. A good idea would be to go to a gluten-free shop.

Making kids and the gluten-free diet meet healthy standards is not a difficult task. There are free guidelines on gluten-free recipes of different cuisines and baked goods/desserts (which kids love) available on the internet and in your local bookstore.

You may want to check out Alorex - Comprehensive Formula for Celiac Disease Support which addresses nutritional and immunilogical needs of people who are gluten intolerant

Click here to check out the Gluten-Free Guide to Eating. 25 Places to Get Amazing Gluten-Free Food Online and 25 Gluten-Free Recipes.