Tips for Going Gluten-Free with Kids

Transitioning to a gluten-free diet with kids can definitely be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be a negative change. Whether your child has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, suffers from eczema due to a gluten intolerance, or has other health issues which require a gluten-free diet, these tips can help you make the needed changes with your child.

If appropriate, explain the situation to your child. If a child is old enough to notice major changes in their diet, and questions those changes, it's really only fair that you explain to them why the new dietary restrictions are in place. For a child who is old enough to understand that their itchy skin condition has a name, or that they have been found to have Celiac Disease, they can only benefit from becoming educated and equipped in managing their condition. The specificity of the explanation will vary from child to child, but putting forth the effort to include them in the process of the necessary changes will likely help them to more willingly accept those changes.

Focus on the positive. Rather than always listing the foods your child can't have, try to focus on the positive. Inviting your child to sit with you and make a list of all the foods they can have will help them to see the transition in a more positive light. For a child who suffers food sensitivity to only gluten, the truth is that there a ton of great foods that they can still have. Impress that fact upon them early on.

Teach them to read labels. It is vital that kids who suffer from an intolerance to gluten be taught how to manage the condition themselves. Part of helping them to help themselves is to teach them how to carefully read food labels and identify the different ways in which wheat and gluten are written. Additionally, teach kids how to find the statements at the end of food labels which state various allergen ingredients in the product.

Find alternatives to their favorites. Pizza and brownies are not off limits to kids who must avoid gluten. There are alternatives to almost anything the child is accustomed to being able to eat. The one exception is eating out. It will be necessary to explain to your child that most items in restaurants and fast food chains will now be truly off-limits.

Help your child appreciate the benefits. Consider creating a colorful chart with your child that will hang in an accessible place, which allows you both to jot down all of the benefits associated with leaving gluten behind. Perhaps they no longer suffer from pain in their joints, or their eczema is going away. This act of showing a child how giving up certain things can sometimes mean a person gets to experience a better quality of life has the potential to help them make healthier choices overall throughout their lifetime.

Going gluten-free is a big change in a child's life. But with the right approach and support, it can actually be a really positive experience.