7 Tips for Raising Gluten Free Kids

This is a condensed version of the full length article, “Parenting a Gluten Free Kid 101.”

1. Focus on what they CAN eat, not what they CAN’T eat

If your kids are small, you can give them (and those who will come in contact with them) the great gift of not making it all about them whenever food is around. Teach them to look for options, not limitations, quietly and in a whisper with you, not a discussion that the whole group has to be a part of – the goal being, to eventually not discuss the food at all. Just figure out what you can eat and eat it.

2. Try new foods often

Congratulate kids for trying something new, even if they hate it. Have you tasted some of this stuff?? Kids should not be punished for not liking foods that don’t taste good to them. If the whole experimental gluten free meal is awful, don’t take it personally –treat it with humor.

3. Allow kids to be part of the menu planning and cooking process

If they plan it and help cook it, they learn about planning their own meals and picking foods, plus they will complain less if it doesn’t turn out well.

4. Arrange your kitchen so kids know what they can eat.

If your whole kitchen isn’t gluten free, give them a shelf that is just their stuff – GF crackers, breads, cereals and snacks – and stock your refrigerator with fruits and veggies that are all gluten free.

5. Buy well known brands for when their friends come over (if they can eat them) so they don’t feel “different.”

I keep a basket of individual sized Frito-Lay chips in our home theater at all times and a basket of popular “fun size” candy bars that just happen to be gluten free for when my son’s  friends show up for movies or video games and we’re ready for a party day or night.

6. Handle the issue of treats in the classroom in advance.

Ask the teacher to notify you on days that treats will be brought in to class. You can also have your child assemble a few of his favorite gluten free treats in a baggie to be held by the teacher for times when there are foods your child can’t eat.

7. Focus on what they CAN eat, not what they CAN’T eat.

Number 1 on this list is so important that I decided to restate it again!

Teach kids to see options, not limitations. Help them see it’s not all about them when food is around and that sometimes they will have to wait to eat without complaining or ever announcing, “I can’t eat THAT!”