Gluten-Free Diet... - Killeen,TX

I have a gluten sensitivity. When I go anywhere, I have to take my own snacks, just in case I can't find anything to eat. One thing that works in my favor is that, even as a kid, I did not care for bread or cakes or cookies. I never felt left out because I was very comfortable with fruits and veggies. Cookies were not a regular part of my diet, and this is before I discovered the sensitivity. When I want something sweet, I go for fresh fruit, maybe cook my carrots with brown sugar. There are also tasty gluten-free treats. My point is that if you don't treat cookies as something special, then he won't feel like he's missing anything when he doesn't have one.

Yes, my one year old has this. We just make do. I haven't found a ton of things for her yet as we are just now really
Starting to eat big girl food. At HEB they have a gluten free isle that has great things! HEB, whole foods have some foods he could have!

It does seem sad to you but look at it this way... if he eats the things that everyone else is having, they probably make him feel bad, so they may not seem so "yummy" to him. It's your perception that he is being deprived but if you don't make a big deal of it to him, then it will just be the way things are. I see tons of things at Target that are gluten free so I know that stuff is becoming more available. Instead of looking at it as deprivation, look at it as he gets "special" food. (i.e. more fun!) At 3 your child will believe what you tell him- keep his food sensitivity as a fact of life and he'll just learn to accept it for what it is.
I don't have a wheat sensitive kid, but my daughter was lactose intolerant until about 5 years old. We learned that most restaurants will accomodate you if possible- we would take our soy slices of cheese with us out to eat and they would make grilled cheese sandwiches for us. Grated soy cheese to pizza places and they would make her pizzas. Only once did I have someone tell me they couldn't accomodate us, and a quick chat with the restaurant manager made it happen. My daughter was not (and is not) a chocolate eater so for school parties where there were cupcakes she did without or I would take treats for her. It definitely makes you more aware of how prevalent some foods are- and how everyone assumes chocolate cake and ice cream are the perfect party foods! Any time I was involved with a school party I made sure there was a non chocolate/non dairy alternative- you could do the same with gluten free. It just may mean you need to volunteer a little more once your son gets in school. LOTS of kids have allergies and you might be surprised to find that other parents are grateful if you offer to bring some gluten free treats. And then they grow up and become vegetarian and you get to learn a WHOLE new way of cooking and feeding them! At least that's what my older two have done. The one with the food sensitivities still eats meat..... Good luck.

H., try not to feel overwhelmed by this. I did when my son was first diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity. My apologies for the length of this post. I'm going to give you a lot of detail so you don't waste a bunch of food and end up with horrible items like I did. I don't know what your doctor said but our said you don't have to be careful with things such as soy sauce or spices with gluten in them. I try to cut it all out but he still gets wheat from time to time. Here are things we have discovered...

Bread Mixes for Bread Machine (I cut them and freeze between wax paper. Defrosts well in my toaster oven):
Gluten Free Pantry Sandwich Bread
Pamela's Sandwich Bread
Udi's (you can buy this at Whole Foods; frozen in the GF section. This is premade bread that I keep on hand when I don't have time to make my own).

Pasta (go to Whole Foods and stock up):
Ancient Quinoa Pasta (this is my favorite brand but many people like the Tinkyada (spell?) rice pasta. Try different things until you find your favorite.

Pizza: You can buy GF pizza dough at Whole Foods but it's really expensive. I make my own with the mixes and freeze them. However, many GF doughs are like working with mashed potatoes. It's not easy! If you make your own, just be prepared for a sticky mess. Amy's brand has a great cheese pizza that's about $7. I'll add toppings for my kids. Lastly, I will often use a slice of the bread I make and make a square pizza in the toaster over. I buy pizza sauce, blend in pureed veggies and then freeze the sauce in ice cube trays (they defrost in the mic in 20 seconds). Top with mozzarella and turkey pepperoni.

Crackers: Nut Thins are great! My entire family loves them. HEB, Whole Foods or Central Mkt. My son will dip them in hummus. I will also send him to school with homemade "lunchables." Crackers, ham and cheese (that I cut out with a mini star shapped cookie cutter).

Chicken Nuggets: I make my own. Dip raw chicken pieces in a 50/50 mixture of honey and melted butter. Dredge in GF breadcrumbs. I forget the exact name of my favorite brand but it's something like Ener-G?? Yellow and Orange box, I think. Then, I'll press crushed up rice Chex into them. Fry them in a skillet and cool. I will store them in the freezer inside of Tupperware between waxed paper and pop them in the toaster oven.

Breakfast: Rice Chex, Corn Chex, rice crispies; look around. There are lots of GF brands but they are pretty expensive. I often buy the Whole Foods brand of cereal. Much more reasonable. Central Market makes a fantastic Blueberry Buckwheat GF waffle. They sell them at our regular HEB. You can probably get away with granola. From what I understand, oats are GF but most on the market are produced in factories where gluten containing foods are packaged. So, there is cross contamination (an issue for Celiac's but not sensitivities). ...ask your doctor about this, however. We love Pamela's Pancake and Baking mix. I buy it on Amazon (3 - 4lb bags for about $40). You can make all kinds of things with this stuff. Cookies, cakes, biscuits, etc. I don't care for any of the Bob's Mill brand.

Chips: We like Central Mkt Veggie Chips, CM white cheddar popcorn, Glutino's GF pretzels (these are GREAT! Better than regular pretzels) but very expensive.

Sweets: Betty Crocker's new GF cake mix is AWESOME! Just don't over cook or they dry out quicker than a regular mix. Frost them, decorate and freeze! I made cupcakes last week and my son's teacher was shocked that they were GF and so good. Great product.

Anyway, I could go on and one. It is expensive and it does take some thought and preparation. However, after a couple of months in your new routine, you won't even think about it anymore. The hardest part for me is going out to eat. My son is 5 and has his favorite restaurants and foods. He gets angry when we tell him he can't have them anymore. We eat a lot of Mexican food (corn tortillas!). Taco Cabana has great chicken flautas.

Good luck to you! Since you live in Killeen, sounds like you might need to drive to Austin and stock up every now and then. Sprouts and Sun Harvest have a great selection as well. I do buy some things off of Vitacost.com.

My child has been off gluten for almost 2 years. He doesn't do without, too much. I use Pamela's All Purpose Pancake Mix to make him cupcakes and cookies. I freeze them and take them with me to parties. Plus you can order many things on the internet if you cannot find them locally. HEB Plus has a growing selection of things to choose from, too. It took some time to get used to it, but I just have to plan ahead.

Hi H.,
I write cookbooks and a food blog with a registered dietitian. Every recipe on our blog and in our upcoming book is gluten-free (and also free of the 8 top allergens and vegan, so safe for pretty much everyone). We have recipes on the blog for cookies and cupcakes in addition to meals from soups to entrees. Our goal is to help folks make food that is so yummy they can serve it to everyone, with or without restrictions. We also have product reviews that might be helpful to you. Our address is www.welcomingkitchen.blogspot.com

my best friends daughter has wheat, soy and dairy allergies. There are SOO many options once you start researching. If you don't have something like Whole Foods near you, you can make stuff. Get some spelt flour. It seems to bake better than the other alternatives. My friend made delicious pumpkin muffins with the spelt flour. She also made cakes etc. There are some delicious pasta alternatives such as kamut noodles or corn noodles. I am sure you could buy these on line and have them delivered if there are no shops nearby which carry these. Oatmeal pancakes are great. Even check out Whole Foods website for options. They have loads of choices! I hope you are able to get in touch with other moms who are dealing with the same issues. That can be so helpful! Good luck to you.

There are lots of gluten free options out there. HEB caries a lot of them. Bob's Red Mill, Gluten free gourmet. You just have to try some things. Find a natural food store in your area or trek to Austin for a Central Market.

Also, the Feingold Program has TONS of useful information and products that are available. feingold.org or ADHDdiet.com. They both lead to the same place.

Good Luck!

Try this site. They have recipes that are really good.

http://www.glutenfreehomemaker.com/

this company is run by a friend from college. lots out there. :)

www.tasteslikerealfood.com

It can be done. My son doesn't eat any gluten, dairy, soy, egg or yeast, and yet he gets cookies, sandwich bread, muffins, cupcakes, etc. It is an adjustment, but once you get used to working around gluten, it gets a good deal easier. I have done a lot of experimenting with alternative flours, etc. and now have recipes that everyone loves - including those not on restricted diets. Some people even buy my baking these days.

i believe elisabeth hasselback (from the view) wrote a book about this, just an idea, best wishes for your little guy

Hi,

I don't know if you will see this since you posted a few months ago. I moved to Killeen a couple weeks ago. I was diagnosed with CD over a year ago, and it isn't easy, but Killeen is a lot better than some of the other places we have lived. Since your son has a sensitivity rather than CD, that should make things a little easier.

Restaraunts in Killeen with GF options:

Chipotle-- tell them your son has a gluten allergy and they should change wash their hands, change their gloves, and the same person will follow you through the whole way, since they have clean hands. The rice bowl is good GF option-- everything at Chipotle is GF besides the tortillas and the red sauce.

Five Guys-- tell them about the allergy, they should wash hands/change gloves. Bring your own bread so your son isn't stuck trying to eat a burger without a bun. If you get cheese, ask them to put lettuce on both sides so the cheese doesn't stick to the aluminum foil they wrap burgers in. Everything at Five Guys is gluten free except the buns.

Fish CIty Grill-- I am not a huge fish fan, but they have a GF menu. If your son likes seafood this might be a nice place to have dinner out. I ate there with my husband when we first got here and it was good.

Boston's The Gourmet Pizza-- they have gluten free crust. It is pretty good for gluten free pizza. I got sick when I ate there, but since your son has a sensitivity he should be fine. Next time I go I will be more of an advocate for myself.

Outback Steakhouse-- they have a gluten free menu. I am not sure about kid's items.

Texas Roadhouse-- they don't have a real gluten free menu, but they do have a paper explaining how to order things so that they will be gluten free, i.e. "order salad with no croutons, made in a clean bowl." I really like this place. Way better than Outback.

Olive Garden-- They have gluten free penne pasta. If you are going and want to order him pasta, I would call ahead so they can make sure that they have some on hand, and so they can start boiling fresh water for the GF pasta. I always order a veggie/chicken grill, and that doesn't come with pasta, so I don't know if it's any good, but I never get sick there.

IHOP-- no gluten free menu, but I have had good luck at various locations. Order eggs made in a clean pan, with fruit instead of toast or pancakes. The hash browns and bacon are fine too.

Pluckers-- it's a wings restaurant. They have a gluten-free menu. They have naked chicken (no breading) and a variety of sauces. The sides that are GF are limited, and the corn on the cob is not very good. But they chicken is decent.

Wendys- if you need a fast food option, the baked potatoes and chili are safe.

McAlister's-- They have a gluten free menu. It's kind of limited to salads and baked potatoes. I like to go there for lunch and get a bacon and cheese spud. Not very healthy, but I love it. The sour cream is not gluten free.

Jason's Deli- they have gluten free options, and I have heard that the chain is now using Udi's gluten free bread. I haven't been to a Jason's deli in a long time, so I don't know if the location in Killeen does GF sandwiches. Call and ask.

El Chico-- they are supposed to have a gluten free menu. Not sure-- haven't checked it out yet.

Groceries: There isn't a ton here, but if you look, you should find most things. I am pretty particular about the brands I buy because I have bought so much junk that didn't taste good.

The commissary (if you are military) carries EnviroKids cereal bars, Nut Thins, and some gluten free cereals.Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free. They contain malt flavoring that comes from barley. They also have a lot of Bob's red mill things, and a couple GF pastas, Betty Crocker cake mixes, and GF waffles. They also have the new Asian Helper Chicken Fried Rice that is now gluten free. My two year old loves it, and it makes for a quick, cheap easy meal. I add extra veggies to it.

Health Arena-- they are across the street from the Killeen Mall. It's a tiny store but they carry a lot of GF for their size. Pretty pricey... I would use them as a last resort and stock up on things elsewhere.

H-E-B-- the newer one-- the big one on Trimmier (?) has a gluten free section (clearly marked on the aisle sign!!) They have some good stuff, including some Scharr products (pretty good stuff). No Udi's though. The old H-E-B near Harker heights has next to nothing!! Don't waste your time there.

Honestly, Austin is only an hour away, and the gluten free shopping choices there are endless. I am an avid Sprouts fan--- it's like Whole Foods without the pretentiousness or (as) high prices. They have Udi's (all of it is good) products in the freezers, Pirate's Booty, and an endless array of snacks, baking mixes and cookies. If you go there once a month you should be able to find everything you need. Whole Foods has a lot too, but I can't get over the prices. I'd rather deal with a slightly smaller selection and get things a lot cheaper.

** Sprouts also has Gluten Free sales about four times a year, when everything GF goes on sale for 25% off. Check their weekly ads and wait for these sales... and then STOCK UP!

As for specific products, if you are looking for cakes and cookies, here is my opinion:

Udi's makes frozen muffins-- the blueberry and lemon are my favorites. They make cinnamon rolls and chocolate too, but the rolls are a little dry and the chocolate muffins aren't sweet enough for me.

Gluten free Pantry/Glutino Truffle Brownie Mix-- best GF brownies, hands down.

Pamela's Pecan shortbread cookies-- so, so good.

Waffles-- Van's are the best. Commissary carries them, I bet HEB does too.

Other products:

Udi's Gluten free bread and bagels. I can't live without these. I love eating sandwiches and bagels-- and having normal looking/tasting bread!!! They also make frozen pizza crusts... very good! I haven't found the bagels yet-- but I hear that there is a Whole Foods location that carries them in Austin.

Scharr Pastas are very good, but expensive.

Pacific just came out with GF cream of mushroom, celery, and chicken soups. I haven't tried them (because I can't find them) but am really excited because it means we can make casseroles again without me making my own creamed soups. I bet they taste great, as everything from Pacific is really good.

Thai Kitchen makes these little rice noodle soups (like Ramen) that are good and pretty cheap. I love the spring onion flavor, and it's pretty cheap compared to other GF stuff.

Quinoa is a really good gluten free grain if you are getting tired of rice. They sell it in bulk at Sprouts (waaay cheaper that way). Make sure you soak for 15 minutes, then rinse, and then cook as you would rice (I put mine in a rice cooker). It's really good, and very healthy.

Pamela's baking mix-- makes delicious pancakes. I like it better than I ever liked bisquick.

Better Batter Flour-- it's expensive, but if you like to bake, you might want to invest in some of this. It's cup for cup like wheat flour. I've used it to make muffins and cinnamon rolls, and I use it as a thickener for homemade gravies, as well as a coating for fried food. I have to buy this online.

Amazon.com has a "subscribe and save" program where if you sign up to receive cases of foods every 1,2,3, or 6 months then you get a discount, and free shipping. If you find something you really like, then it will probably be cheaper to buy it online than to find it in a store. I'm waiting for them to start carrying the Pacific condensed soups, because I will certainly want to stock up on those.

Good Luck! Hope things are going well for you and your son here in Killeen.

Hope this helps, I hope you see this. Killeen is not too bad of a place to live G-Freely, and with Austin only a short drive away, it's even better!

Hello H.,

reallygreatfoods.com has AWSOME cakes! I've had many other gluten free cakes, but those are the best. I specially like their pineapple cake (I use rice milk instead of pineapple juice) and people can't believe it's wheat/soy/nut free! I usually order 3 or 4 at the time so I'm not out. they also have pancake mix, bread mix, etc. hang in there. go to celiac.com and read all you can. wheat has many names, shapes and forms. I know you said your daughter is not celiac, but you still have to avoid gluten just as well. you also have to watch out for barley and rye.
By the way, when going to a birthday party, bring her own cupcake.... =)
Good luck! ~C.~

There are a number of awesome gluten free cookbooks available through amazon that include recipes for all the cake and cookies and such you could want. Almost all of the "normal" foods have gluten free equivalents if you're willing to make them for him so he has an alternative.

And yes, health food stores. Ask them where to find the gluten free stuff. It's often tucked somewhere weird, but I buy scones and cookies and and all kinds of pre-baked stuff at our local whole foods. And much of it is awesome.

I suggest looking at every grocery store, store that sells any sort of food, and "random" TJ Maxx type store from this point on for all things gluten free. I would also call your local health food or vitamin store to find out if they know of a gluten free store near you (believe it or not, there are more than you think). My mom cannot eat any wheat, and while it was more difficult at first, she soon realized that most places have basic gluten free needs (i.e. bread, flour, pasta, soup, etc.). It hasn't been easy, but she has quite a stock now. I would also suggest telling all friends and family that if they see something gluten free that they think your son would like, to buy it, and you will pay them back. Her family and friends are always picking up gluten free items that they know she would like, and she appreciates that they are thinking about her! (If you have a Christmas Tree Shops near you, I know that they have a very LARGE selection of gluten free products.)

be strong momma. i eventually grew out of my food allergie but it was no fun to beg for "what ever" get it then break out in hives for hours. so be strong. and try to follow that diet yourself and the entire family. ppl realy dont need cookies and cake so much. do a search online for recipies for cookies and cake. good luck.