Help - Daughter Needs Gluten Free Diet - Any Suggestions or Recommendations?

Usually, a picky eater means that there are gut issues going on. Gut issues can cause a myriad of other symptoms: Asthma, Eczema, allergies, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Autism and other behaviorial issues.

Some of the tip offs would be if the childs was colicky or experiences abnormal bowel movements, or craves certain foods. Usually, you crave want you shouldn't be eating.

A gluten free diet can make a positive impact, however, it doesn't deal with the underlying problem. In other words, you are eliminated a substance (gluten) that causes a reaction, but it doesn't help heal the gut.

Going on a special diet can be a challenge for a lot of folks. My feeling is that it is best to understand what is going on, that way it is more motivating to stick to it. Also, if you are going to go throught the excercise of diet, you might want to approach things a little different. Instead of an "avoidance" diet like Gluten Free, you might look into a "healing" diet like the Gut and Psychology Syndrome.

You can download a list of recommended foods and a list of foods to avoid here:
http://www.GutAndPsychologySyndrome.com/

Good luck on your journey!

Remember this, with every bite your daughter takes:
Food is either medicine or poison.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter, husband and myself are GF. I make most of our food from scratch, the pre packaged stuff is $$. The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control Now:by Shari Lieberman. I learned more from that book than our allergist, and I thought he was good. It runs in the family, so you or her daddy may have it too. I had silent symptoms and didn't know for a while.
Carol Fenster has a cookbook worth checking out, I use her pizza dough recipe and my husband approved it!
Pizza Crust:
1 tablespoon dry yeast
2/3 cup brown rice flour or garbanzo/fava bean flour*
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
2 teaspoons xanthan gum* this is the binding agent you can find it at meijers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin powder (I've skiped this part and it's still nice)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2/3 cup warm milk or non-dairy liquid
1/2 teaspoon sugar or honey
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
extra rice flour for sprinkling
Blend in a bowl w/ eggs better, it's a very soft bread dough, no kneading, smooth it onto your oiled baking tray w/ a spatula. It take practice to get it thin enough but not to thin. I've also used it as a pizza bread.

Trader joes brown rice bread is good too. Message me if you need help with more foods, or to convert old ones too.
:) it's not so hard. A. H
http://www.savorypalate.com/recipes.aspx

1 mom found this helpful

P.,

I was on a no-flour, no-sugar diet a few years ago, and found this recipe which I really liked.

Banana Breakfast Cookies
1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 med)
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups dry oats
1 1/4 cups walnuts- chopped
1/2 cup raisins
2 eggs
salt

Combine ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Press down lightly with a fork. Bake 350 degrees 10-15 min or until golden brown.

I have also filled muffin tins using cupcake papers with this and baked 350 degrees for 10-15 min.

1 mom found this helpful

I just recently found out that I am allergic to all wheat and oat products - which was so sad because I absolutely LOVE breads, pastas, muffins, etc. There is a website - Elana'sPantry - that I love! It is all gluten free recipes, and includes a lot of very good baked goods like breads, muffins, donuts and cookies. I have found that I can bake almost everything using almond meal (found cheapest at Trader Joe's), and it is full of protein and fiber! Coconut flour is another option. 'Pamela's' products are my favorite for cookie and pancake mixes. My kids don't even know the difference if I don't tell them!
Good luck! I know it is SO overwhelming at first, but now after 6 months, I've got it pretty much down to a science...

1 mom found this helpful

P.,
I know what you are going through. I recently found myself that I hav problems with gluten. If you have a Meijer near by, I believe Wal-Mart also have sections where you can get corn or rice flour. Anyting made from wheat will be the problem. Corn chips don't have gluten. There are health food stores that carry gluten free foods premade. It won't be easy and it does cost a bit more. I hope this helps; good luck with everything.
M

1 mom found this helpful

try kroger or walmart..they both have breads that are gluten free and egg free if needed. my son is allergic to eggs, milk, soy, peanuts and wheat. and i have found both pasta and bread at both stores that he can eat. a lot of people say trader joes but i find that you can find the same products a lot less at kroger but really at walmart. there is another store that people recommend but i hear they are very expensive to buy at. im sorry i cant think of the name of the store. i do know there is one at the corner of orchard lake and northwestern hwy.

Hi P.!
I found out I can't have gluten either the end of October - and my mouth dropped to the floor! Anyway, I don't know if you like to bake or cook, but I learned how to bake without regular flour before the holidays and boy was I surprised! My favorite book is Gluten Free Baking Classics, Revised Edition by Annalise Roberts - she also has a website called foodphilosopher.com ... I've tried a lot of recipes, including some breads and I've been very happy! Also, Hillers Market is my favorite place to buy gluten free foods - they have the most variety! There just was a gluten-free food fair this past weekend at the Hillers in Plymouth. Go to a Hillers and at the service counter, ask for their newsletter and sign up for their email news. Also, there is a Tri-County Celiac Support Group meeting once a month in Farmington; go to www.tccsg.com
I also go to Whole Foods as I found they have lower prices in the gluten free flours. As far as packaged gluten free foods, I like the Tinkyada brand pasta and I make my own sauce - I'm Italian :) I have Glutino brand but haven't tried that yet. As far as soups, the Pacific brand is gluten free.
My email is ____@____.com if you want to talk

Get online!! Amazon has a ton of gluten free options. The rice pasta tastes WAY better than the other options. Trader Joe's has a few varieties of bread- my son LOVES the berry blend- he won't really touch the other kinds. There are some yummy doughnuts called kinnikinnick. Glutino makes great stuff- especially the breakfast bars. And Envirokids makes good snacks- the Panda Puffs cereal is great! There are some online websites with gluten free menus that can help, and I bought a gluten free kids cookbook that was pretty helpful. It is a challenge to find new foods, and to avoid getting stuck in a rut. Make sure you read EVERYTHING!! Lots of stuff you think is harmless actually contain gluten (Spaghetti sauce, and chicken broth!!) My almost 2 year old has a gluten allergy, it has been tough, but way worth it! He has been so much happier since he has been gluten free. Good Luck! I hope this helps.

Meijer carries a pretty good selection of wheat free food. Some in the frozen section and a dry goods section. Our Walmart carries wheat free spaghetti noodles and penne pasta.

How does your family eat together? That must be tough. I have experience with supplementing to help where there are dietary issues ~ stomach problems, etc. if you want to talk.

Good luck. I know other people who grew out of gluten sensativities...but some have it for life. Ouch. Not much help, but I wanted to offer what I know.

S.
____@____.com

Check out Whole Foods, there are also alot of places on line that you can order from. I also know that VG'S has a section with Gluten Free foods. I have a friend with Celiacs and her whole family has gone Gluten free. If you would like pm me and I can talk to her about where she gets her food from. I know there is a really good Gluten free store in Ann Arbor, but I do not know the name of it.

There is a magazine called Living Without. We get it at Plum Market, but I am sure you can find it online. It offers all sorts of GF recipes and ideas. You might find it helpful. Good luck! It will be worth it.

There is a great store for those with Celiacs in Southgate. Here is the info:
Celiac Products(Special Diets)
###-###-####
14635 Northline Rd, Southgate, MI 48195
Cross Streets: Between Mulberry St and Ronda Dr
celiacproducts.net

Kroger also carries a nice variety of gluten free item including flour and tortilla chips, cereal. Good luck!

I have an 8 yr old son who suffers from sensory processing disorder, hypotonia and add. I refused to medicate and he really struggles in school. We started a wheat free and gluten free diet in Jan and have noticed quite a difference. He also was just approved for special ed in school and also physical and occ therapy. SO it is hard to determine what's causing what. At any rate Trader Joes website allows you to put in gluten free diet and you then you can print out everything in their store that is wheat and gluten free. But Wal-mart in New Hudson has a lot of the same products at better prices. It is very difficult to adhere to this diet but I think just packing his lunch with the right foods and providing the diet at home has helped. Good luck to you.

Jump on the interent and look at the diet info at tacanow.org.

You're going to find your BEST resources among the groups of parents who have autistic kids on a gluten free, casein free diet.

Join a yahoo group called GFCFKids, for starters.

E-mail me privately if you want to t alk.

Take her with you and go to whole foods or to theres a food store on hall road just down the sidestreet that has a mattress ansalvation army down it theres a food store in there too that has food for her she can eat. But whole foods is highly recommended they have special iles for her.

Yikes, I know how tough Gluten free can be. But just a little bit of help...
Meijer has a great selection of gluten free and allergen free mixes, soups and pasta. As far as the pasta, if you cook it longer than normal, and add more flavor to the sauce, it's fine.
As far as fast food and restaurants, just check their nutrition guides online and you can see what she can and can't have before you get stuck somewhere... we have all been stuck in a rut with our kids and end up in a drivethru at one point or another!
Good Luck!

AQlso try Trader Joe's. I know for sure they have rice pasta that is really yummy, gluten free rice macaroni and cheese, and REALLY good prices for both of those. I'm pretty sure they have other things, too!

Go to Whole Foods Market. They have a whole section on gluten free foods and have staff that is very knowledgeable. (rice pasta, rice crackers, gluten-free cakes, gluten-free bread, etc). They also host workshops and other informational programs designed for food allergies.

Here is a weblink for many stores in Michigan that sell gluten free foods.

http://www.tastefullyglutenfree.com/States/Michigan.html

Good luck!

Hiller's Markets carry a HUGE selection of gluten-free products. I shop at the one at 5 Mile & Haggerty, but I know there are several more (West Bloomfield, Commerce Township).

Picasso of Pizza in Commerce will make gluten free pizza with 24 hours notice.

A gluten allergy can really screw up your system, so hopefully switching your diet will do the trick, though it might take a while for her system to clean out.

Health food stores have TONS of gluten free options, and even Meijer's is pretty good. Pastas, crackers, breads... You can also find lots of recipes online as well. Does she have a dairy allergy too? These often run together.

She will have to get over being picky! Her foods are limited now and she needs to stay healthy. Rice and beans is very nutritious and not strange tasting, so that's something that you can easily make for her, and its a complete protein.

Best wishes!

Hi P.,

My husband has gluten allergies as well, so am quite familiar with shopping issues and substitution questions. I have found, that if you stick with rice pastas...you will usually fair well. Some brands are better than others, in my opinion, Tinkyada, being my "prefered". Rice pasta can be a little tricky to cook up to perfection....but Tinkyada seems to work the best for me. They have an "energy saving" cooking method, that never seems to dissapoint.

I purchase these at our local Meijer store, where they do have a small but workable gluten free section. The stuff is on the pricy side (all gluten free stuff is)but you do what you gotta do. Meijer also has a small section in the frozen food dept. that carries things such as gluten free waffles, pancakes (Van's is a great brand!!) pizza's and some bread. Now, I've tried some of the GF breads...not a big fan, as they all seem to be quite dense and dry. The bread sticks, however are enjoyable.

You might also check out your local health food store...again, a bit pricier...but a bigger variety of GF foods. I have found most people who work there very much up on what is GF and have received wonderful suggestions from most. This may be a fair place to purchase bread. READ the lables closely, and you might be able to pick up a great bread using different grains that are GF. Haven't tried to many of these, as hubby isn't supposed to have yeast.(yep, find a bread that doesn't use yeast!! haha)

Some trial and error will go into this, but in due time, you should have your "favorites" down. Good luck!

J.

My son is allergic to wheat, dairy and eggs. For pasta, I highly recommend the Tinkiyada brand. If you're in the Lansing area, it can be found at Better Health stores, as well as Horrocks and Meijer. I can't remember the good bread brand right now. A lot of the breads will be one of those things that she'll probably have to test them out and see which she prefers.

Hi P.,
Whole Foods has a gluten-free section in their freezer aisle of breads, cookies, etc. They seem to be sweetened with fruit juice, usually, so the breads are a Brownberry-style loaf and taste slightly sweet and nutty. They tend to be a bit dry and crumbly, though. WF also has lots of pastas made with different grains that are naturally gluten-free, I believe. I would recommend trying them one at a time to find one you all enjoy. Once you get used to eating pastas made of different grains, it's actually difficult to go back to white/wheat only. Good luck!