What’s a school cafeteria hamburger without the bun or a birthday party without cake?
For a child or teen with celiac disease, no hamburger or birthday cake is par for the course, but parents can find ways to help their children enjoy school lunches or parties without feeling left out. You may even discover that your child is more open to a gluten-free diet than you expect.
Celiac Disease: Your Child Is Not Alone
Perhaps the biggest worry among parents is that their children with celiac disease will be singled out for their diet. Fortunately, that’s not necessarily the case. “With food allergies on the rise and with celiac disease becoming a more common diagnosis, there are a lot of other kids in their shoes,” notes Lara Field, RD, a pediatric dietitian in the section of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.
What’s most important is that your child understands which foods are safe and has the motivation to stick with the diet. It tends to be easier if your child was diagnosed at an early age, say, before age 10, Field says.
If children are diagnosed when they're older, there’s a higher chance they’ll rebel against the diet. Educating children about the long-term effects of untreated celiac disease can help motivate them to avoid gluten even on their own. One big motivator for teenagers, for instance, is knowing that not following a gluten-free diet could cause them to stop growing before they’ve reached their full potential, Field says.
Celiac Disease: The Right Choices
Here’s how to send your child off to school or a party with confidence that they’ll remain gluten-free.
Communicate with the school. It’s important to let school officials know that your child has celiac disease and that certain foods offered during school parties will be off-limits. Some schools will keep gluten-free snacks in the nurse’s office so your child will have safe food to eat when treats are being offered in class, Field says.
Brown-bag it. School cafeterias are required by law to offer a variety of options to students with celiac disease, but it’s challenging to find a food service that truly understands a gluten-free diet, observes Field. As a result, your child may be better off bringing food from home.
Tripti Kasal, a broker from Chicago whose son Evan, 16, has celiac disease, can vouch for that. When the school cafeteria staff made gluten-free meals for her son, they would sometimes become contaminated by nearby, gluten-containing foods. “It’s easier to send him with [food] every day,” Kasal says.
Teach kids how to spot gluten-free foods. There will always be days when the bagged lunch is forgotten on the kitchen table. When there's no choice but to eat cafeteria food, be sure your child knows which foods to select: fresh fruits and vegetables, plain meat or poultry, and a healthy drink such as milk.
Cross-contamination needs to be carefully avoided, so your child will have to ask the food service manager for a plain piece of meat, such as a hamburger, that’s cooked on a grill that’s been cleaned of food that contains gluten, Field says.
Redefine after-school snacks. If your child has an after-school activity and needs to pack a snack, make it a piece of fruit or a handful of veggies, such as carrots and celery sticks.
Beware of vending machine goodies. Remind your child that chips and other vending machine fare may be technically gluten-free, but processing may have caused cross-contamination, Field says. While other choices such as chocolate bars are gluten-free, they should be an occasional indulgence rather than a regular snack.
Call the host of a birthday party. If your child is going to a birthday party, it’s essential that you call to ask what foods will be offered, urges Field. Then you can tell your child ahead of time which dishes are safe to eat. If no gluten-free options are being offered, ask the host if you can bring a dish for the party specifically for your child. And be sure to ask that your child be served plain ice cream instead of cake. Another good idea: Make sure your child eats something before the party to help stave off hunger in case there aren't enough gluten-free foods available.
Evan’s biggest concern is not bringing attention to himself at school or parties, Kasal says. With more awareness about celiac disease and increasing gluten-free options at stores and restaurants, it’s making it easier for Evan to enjoy his meals without feeling self-conscious.