Whether your child is diagnosed with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance/sensitivity as an infant or as a teenager, it is important to begin teaching your child as soon as possible what it means to be gluten-free and why it is so important.  Part of this teaching includes helping your child learn how to adopt a gluten-free diet.

In what follows, are some tips to help you do this:

1.   Teach your child how to read labels

At any age, you can teach a child that every food item has a label on it, which contains ingredients and nutrition information.

Before children can even read, they are perceptive enough to learn how to recognize words.  You can teach them how to recognize certain words such as “wheat” or “rye,” for example.  These are two of many words that indicate the food item contains gluten.

As children get older, you can introduce more gluten-containing words to them.

2.   Be positive

One of the worst things you can do is to express your negativity or frustration, that comes along with a gluten-free diagnosis, to your child.  If you are feeling negative, then be sure to speak with your spouse or another trusted adult.

You do not want to make your child feel guilty with the extra expenses that can accompany a gluten-free diet.  You also do not want to make your child feel that somehow he is to blame for the extra preparation and time that is required when planning everyday meals, traveling, or family get togethers.

3.   Include your child in cooking and baking

You can teach your child the difference between regular recipes, and those made for people who cannot eat gluten.  Again, be sure to explain that some people, mainly because of their genetics, cannot tolerate gluten-containing foods.

In addition, you can teach your child appropriate ways to adapt regular recipes calling for flour by substituting safe alternatives.

If your child lives in a home where not everyone needs to eat gluten-free meals, it is important to teach how to cook, bake, and even make snacks without cross contamination occurring.

4.   Teach your child that it’s okay to say “no” to adults and other children

Many well-meaning adults and children will offer your child gluten-containing foods and treats.  You need to teach your child that it’s okay to say “no” politely as these other foods can make him sick or harm his body.

5.   Teach your child that gluten is also in non-food products

Food is not the only thing that your child needs to learn about.  For example, items such as lip balm, play doh, and candies can contain gluten.