Starting Gluten Free Diet for a 6 Year Old

HI N.,

I love the brand enjoy life foods. Everything they do is gluten, soy, casein and many other top allergens free. I also read some great blogs that have recipes (some even from moms who have GI kids). Let me rack my brain and cabinets (I found out I am gluten and soy intolerant over the summer) and figure out what is more kid friendly! Are you a member or the dallas or ft. worth support group? that would also be a great option to help you find more kid friendly stuff.

http://gfdfw.blogspot.com/
http://momcooksglutenfree.blogspot.com/
http://myaspergersgirl.blogspot.com/
http://surefoodsliving.com/

Also whole foods has some great GF options in their frozen foods section. Even a good tasting sandwich bread.

Here's the website and group that you should connect with to get info from lots of mom's with experience with this diet. I and my two sons have been on the diet for over 5 years. There are tons of GF foods for kids now available.
www.dallasrock.org (Note: for some reason that website is
not available right now.
The leader of that group, Kelly LeMonds is wonderful at helping with this. And, in a couple years you can send your daughter to a camp where all the kids are on a GF diet!
Here's a link to the Yahoo group - lots of info there:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dallasarearock/

I also have a Yahoo group with some recipes and lunch box suggestions:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FM-Celiac-GI-FA/

I've got a cookbook my Carol Fenster. It's got a GF sandwich bread recipe that's great. It's the best one I've ever tried. Give that a whirl. It's also got a great biscuit recipe for egg sandwiches and the like.

You could make your own "Lunchables" with GF crackers and cut up lunch meat and cheese.

We make easy "pizzas" with rice tortillas as the crust.

Lots of fruit!!

Go to Sprouts-- There is one in Dallas, and you can go to look at theire website to find the other locations. They have tons of gluten free / wheat free snacks-- from oreo cookies, to pretzels, to bread--hamburger buns and raisin bread; breadsticks, rye crackers, rice crackers. They are usually pretty good about doing some extra marking on the items that are gluten free. We stay off of Wheat and Gluten, one because I am alergic to both & two it is really not that good for you.

Sprouts Farmers Market has a free booklet called Gluten-Free & Wheat-Free guide. Very helpful suggestions for things kiddos will eat.

Whole foods has a huge inventory of stuff for that. There are bread mixes, brownie and cookies mixes and all sorts of stuff. It will be a trial and error thing. Sometimes the stuff won't taste the same, but keep offering it until she finds something she likes.

We haven't tried anything from Enjoy Life that we don't truly enjoy! (cinnamon granola, chocolate bars, candy, pizza crust mix, etc.)

Other ideas:
-popcorn
-gluten-free prepared snack crackers & chips abound - check out central market & even kroger has a good selection now
-Lay's STAX chips
-cups of applesauce
-carrots
-Nana's cookies
-Namaste cupcakes or brownies (at gatherings of extended family, these pass off as "regular" and taste great!)

Bon appétit!

Go to www.hacres.com and ask about their cook books for kids. It is a wonderful resource for healthy foods and healthy living.
V. B.

Hi N.,
Have you checked out Homemade Gourmet for gluten free ideas? You can see all the available mixes that are gluten free as well as recipes. Visit my website - www.homemadegourmet.com/janice1680 - you can order on line and have mixes shipped directly to you or you can contact me and I will be glad to ship to you directly.
Thanks and have fun searching the website - there are alot of new recipe ideas in the new Key to the Kitchen portion of the HG website. To find gluten free recipes, first click on recipes, then Recipe Search then Lifestyle Needs will take you to the gluten free recipes.