Being intolerant to gluten is not simple. Adults have the maturity to understand the issue but with kids, it isn’t easy. One of the most challenging things for kids and their parents to endure is gluten intolerance. Celiac disease and gluten intolerance are autoimmune disorders that can cause inflammation of the small intestine.
Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance may experience diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, failure to gain weight, and poor nutrient absorption when consuming food that contains gluten. Therefore, its early diagnosis in growing children is very critical.
So, what are the food items that contain gluten?
If you look around, a lot of food that we eat contains gluten. For example, wheat, maida, barley, rye, packaged food, processed meats, sauces, etc. A lot of food items are also affected by cross contamination. Sometimes, they share a mill or a factory where gluten items are processed too, so whenever you buy any food item for a child who is gluten intolerant make sure you read the label properly. The food has to be gluten free, made in a facility that has not handled gluten at all. Even a tiny bit of gluten can make a child fall ill.
Dealing with kids and their diet can be tricky. They attend friends’ birthday parties, picnics, school outings, see burger joints and pizza places at malls and it is difficult for parents to explain why they can’t eat all these things.
On my part, when creating dishes, I ask myself, ‘Would a kid like to eat this dish?’ If the answer is yes, then I know I am on the right track. I try to focus on things that kids miss the most, for example cakes, biscuits, sandwiches, pizza, pancakes, etc.