Children and Diet: How to Explain a Gluten-Free Diet
- By Christine Harrell
- Published 11/2/2011
- Food and Drink
- Unrated
A parent's interest and duty in fostering good nutritional habits in children can lead to a constant effort to counter advertising, other children's snacks and even the well-meaning adult who offers a treat. When children have a dietary restriction like Celiac Disease or other food allergies, it can be even trickier.
Most experts agree that education and allowing a child to manage his own diet as early as possible is the key to success. A young person who is allowed to make choices among acceptable foods is empowered. Knowing why some foods are acceptable and others are not can give the child a sense of control that will go a long way toward eliminating accidental ingestion of foods that are harmful.
Youngsters should be taught to understand the connection between ingesting gluten-containing foods and the unfortunate consequence as soon as possible. This should be no more difficult than explaining the consequence of touching a hot surface. Once the connection is made, children will be more than willing to cooperate. The ready availability of tasty gluten-free desserts, cupcakes and cookies mean that they need not feel deprived of treats.
At first, it will be necessary to teach children what types of
food pose a potential risk. They can learn to ask a responsible adult whether the items question are specialty cupcakes or other gluten-free desserts, and if not, to avoid eating it. A very young child must have someone monitoring what is eaten until he is old enough to recognize the categories that may not be gluten-free. Reliable lists of foods that definitely or may contain the offending protein are available from physicians and healthcare professionals, as are reliable lists of acceptable foods.
Once kids are old enough to read, teach them to read labels of items that they may be purchasing on their own, such as treats from a vending machine. Even if the treat does not obviously contain wheat flour, barley or any of the other grains that are off-limits, gluten tends to hide in unlikely places, even candy. Adults who monitor a child's diet should be aware of other items to look out for, even medicines, and ask. As juveniles grow toward adulthood, awareness and responsibility for checking these items can be transferred to them.
It is entirely possible to enjoy all of the types of foods in a normal diet while avoiding the grains that trigger reactions. Gluten-free dinner rolls, desserts, bread, cereal and sauces are available and enjoyable. Healthful choices also include fruits, vegetables and meats without sauces.
Most experts agree that education and allowing a child to manage his own diet as early as possible is the key to success. A young person who is allowed to make choices among acceptable foods is empowered. Knowing why some foods are acceptable and others are not can give the child a sense of control that will go a long way toward eliminating accidental ingestion of foods that are harmful.
Youngsters should be taught to understand the connection between ingesting gluten-containing foods and the unfortunate consequence as soon as possible. This should be no more difficult than explaining the consequence of touching a hot surface. Once the connection is made, children will be more than willing to cooperate. The ready availability of tasty gluten-free desserts, cupcakes and cookies mean that they need not feel deprived of treats.
At first, it will be necessary to teach children what types of
Once kids are old enough to read, teach them to read labels of items that they may be purchasing on their own, such as treats from a vending machine. Even if the treat does not obviously contain wheat flour, barley or any of the other grains that are off-limits, gluten tends to hide in unlikely places, even candy. Adults who monitor a child's diet should be aware of other items to look out for, even medicines, and ask. As juveniles grow toward adulthood, awareness and responsibility for checking these items can be transferred to them.
It is entirely possible to enjoy all of the types of foods in a normal diet while avoiding the grains that trigger reactions. Gluten-free dinner rolls, desserts, bread, cereal and sauces are available and enjoyable. Healthful choices also include fruits, vegetables and meats without sauces.
Christine Harrell
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about gluten-free desserts, please visit http://www.3fellersbakery.com
View all articles by Christine Harrell