About Gluten-Free Diets for Children

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Gluten-free diets can be difficult to follow, especially for children. But, it's important to know the foods that can and cannot be consumed. With this limited diet, ideas for good meals and snacks for children on a gluten-free diet are also a must.

Reasons to Follow a Gluten-Free Diet

Gluten-free diets must be followed by those diagnosed with Celiac disease. Celiac diseases include celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, gluten sensitive enteropathy or gluten intolerance. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats. With Celiac disease, the body cannot process this protein.

Ingredients to Avoid

Avoid these ingredients: wheat, rye, barley, durum, breading, matzoh, wheat gluten, malt, wheat starch, soy sauce, graham flour, couscous, semolina, spelt, bran, kamut, farina, semolina and bulgar.

Ingredients that may be harmful and should be eaten with caution include: modified food starch, hydrolyzed vegetable and plant protein, artificial color and flavoring, natural flavoring, maltodextrins, dextrins, MSG and mono and diglycerides.

Foods Allowed on a GF Diet

Foods that are allowed on this diet include all vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, fish and eggs. Other foods that are gluten-free include corn, potatoes, rice, beans, nuts and seeds. Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt are also gluten-free. Baked goods, pasta and bread can either be bought at a specialty shop that sells gluten-free products or made using potato, rice, soy, amaranth, pure buckwheat, or bean flour instead of wheat flour.

Finding Gluten-Free Products

Natural health food stores contain many gluten-free products. It is also easy to find products online or in the natural section of most grocery stores.

Gluten-Free Meal and Snack Ideas

Below are some ideas for kid friendly gluten-free meal and snack ideas.

Breakfast: puffed rice cereals, cream or rice, grits, rice flakes, eggs, yogurt, juice, milk, gluten-free toasts with margarine and jelly
Lunch: turkey or ham lunch meat on gluten-free bread, gluten-free potato chips or corn chips, carrot sticks, apple, banana, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on gluten-free bread.

Dinner: chicken or beef in a corn tortilla, baked chicken or fish, boiled potatoes, green beans, or corn.

Snacks: rice cakes, rice crackers, natural applesauce, peanut butter, cottage cheese, or string cheese.

Sweet treats: gluten-free cookies, plain Hershey bars, skittles, Three Musketeers, plain M&Ms, juinior mints, candy corn, tootsie rolls, or red hots.