This time of the year, most children will be going back to school, and every parent is worried about their diet especially if they are suffering from celiac disease, and all the worry to ensure that the food they consume is Gluten-free.
Parents should be the first ones to educate their children about the changes that are to be made in their diet.
However, telling your kid about the gluten-free diet and its aspects can be tricky, and parents often wonder how you should educate the child about it.
No need to worry! as we here at Treat me Gluten-free will share some tips on how to help your child understand and follow the gluten-free diet safely and enjoyably.
Safe Gluten-Free school year:
Following a gluten-free diet is mandatory if your child has been diagnosed with celiac disease or even non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This also involves the time spent in school where supervision of parents isn’t available. For this reason, the child must ensure that foods containing Gluten are avoided.
The thing that makes it hard to follow for little children is the abundance of Gluten-containing foods. Gluten is present in almost every food normally consumed. If there is a lack of awareness, the results on your child’s health can be painful and may be dangerous.
To help parents and children return to school, the administration often carries out workshops and seminars related to the measures they’d take to provide gluten-free food.
Parents should make sure that they follow these tips to ensure a gluten-free diet for their school-going children:
- Knowing the people, teachers, other staff, and students that interact with your child daily is essential as it helps to provide the information easily and protect your child.
- Parents can always provide the school and class teacher with some Gluten-Free snacks, which are to be available permanently in case of any emergency.
- Educating your child is the first thing parents should do to empower them and help them spend their school day with no issues.
- Find other parents facing the same issue to combine efforts and help the children with gluten issues spend their school year safely.
Light lunch box recipe:
Most parents like to provide homemade lunch to their children, which can significantly help if your child follows a gluten-free diet. Making and giving lunch boxes puts the parent in charge—this way, any risky situation like gluten contamination can be prevented.
Fun and quick recipes are widely available online and we share some of the recipes that can be made with little effort:
- Apple car snack:
Using apple and grapes, you can make little cars that your child will love to see and eat
- Granola bars:
You can provide your child with granola bars that can be made using our Original Granola, which is Nut-Free and safe to be eaten in school, in simple steps. Super easy to make and rich in nutrients.
- Pancake muffins:
These are cute little muffins made from our pancake mix and feel super fresh. The children will love this. Add their favourite toppings. They can be made sweet or savory.
- Pancake sheets:
Don’t have time? Make a pancake sheet using our pancake mix and top it with different toppings then freeze them. They can be a healthy addition to your child’s lunch box.
- Pasta salad:
Use your child’s favourite pasta to make a cold and refreshing pasta salad. Colorful and has all the nutrients your child needs.
These recipes are simple, and anyone can make them without any trouble.
Gluten-free stories suggestion:
What better way to educate your child about gluten-free food than by reading a story? Children love reading them and it will help them understand the diet in a fun way. That’s why having the help of tales and animated stories related to a gluten-free diet can be a significant support to your child.
We share some of the stories that you can read to or by your children to give them information about a Gluten-free diet easily:
Eating gluten-free with Emily
This is a story of a girl named Emily that has celiac disease and is perfect for young children (3yrs-7yrs). After not feeling well, a trip to the doctor helped her parents know exactly why she hasn’t been feeling well. The story will help the child understand what is Gluten and why their food is different than the others.
To buy this book, click here (shipping to UAE is available)
Violet and the Crumbs: A Gluten-Free Adventure
Feeling left out at parties, Violet felt lonely and sad that she cannot enjoy the party food like the cakes, pizza, and cookies. Being an animal lover, she learned that even animals have food restrictions. This gave her the chance to explore the other food options that she can enjoy for when it’s her birthday party, she filled it with gluten-free yummy food. For children between 4yrs-8yrs.
To purchase, click here (shipping to UAE is available)
Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free cookbook for children and busy adults
This is basically a cookbook for children and even adults that want to learn more about different recipes related to gluten-free food. This can help parents prepare lunch for their children.
To purchase, click here (shipping to UAE is available)
Gluten-free child wristband
A gluten-free wristband is an accessory or an awareness band that people wear following a Gluten free diet. Making children wear it is the best solution for school staff and other children to know about the needs and care that the person requires.
In international schools, this might even function where a language barrier exists. The band is easy to wear and is made of child-friendly material. Children aged 3 years old and up can wear these bands, and parents can ensure that they have these on their wrists when going to school as a reminder for staff and students to be careful around their children with food.
This blog tells us about the different ways, and guidelines parents should follow to educate their children about gluten-free diets. To avoid any risks, caution is vital in every step. Make sure to take everything easy on little children and use stories and fun ideas to incorporate the knowledge inside their minds as learning is much easier this way.
For more information about what is Gluten and the different reasons to follow the diet, click here.
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