What is a gluten allergy?

Gluten is a sugary protein found in most wheats and grains. Children allergic to gluten cannot digest this protein and often have a hard time eating breads, pasta, and crackers. They might also have an allergic reaction to certain spices and flavors if wheat or breadcrumbs are mixed with the spice. It can be hard for kids with wheat allergies to avoid gluten. There is wheat in almost everything because it works as a binding agent that keeps baked goods fluffy and regular foods firm.

It is also hard to know if your child is allergic to wheat. The symptoms of gluten allergies range from mild headaches and stomachaches to severe symptoms like anemia, seizures, and delayed growth and development in infants. Babies with wheat allergies are especially at risk for these delays, and many parents notice a failure to thrive in some infants suffering from Celiac’s disease, a chronic condition where wheat gluten systemically wears down the lining of the intestines and causes some of the symptoms listed above. Gluten allergies can also worsen the symptoms of existing conditions like psoriasis and depression. If you think your child might have a gluten allergy, talk with your pediatrician about symptoms and ask for a blood test that will let you know for certain.

How can kids avoid gluten?

Creating a gluten-free diet for kids can be problematic, as gluten is in almost everything we eat. But there are still many delicious alternatives for your family so everyone can enjoy mealtimes together with gluten-free kids. Quinoa, rice, millet, and corn are all gluten-free and make excellent flours that can be used as an alternative in baking. To make sure gluten-free babies avoid developmental delays, keep your child’s gluten-free diet rich in fresh, unprocessed foods. Fresh fruits and veggies are an easy way to stay gluten-free, and your gluten-free baby can still enjoy oatmeal as oats are entirely gluten-free too.

There are various recipe options available to parents cooking dinner for gluten-free kids. Potatoes are gluten-free and they provide kids with Vitamins B and C and potassium. All nuts and beans are also gluten-free and rich in potassium, but they also give kids the healthy fats and proteins they need to stay energized and keep growing.

What is lactose?

According to the National Institute of Health, lactose is a sugar found in animal milk. Lactose occurs naturally in goat, cow, and sheep milk and is impossible to avoid in products made with real milk. Lactose-intolerant babies and children are not able to break down this lactose sugar. If your child is lactose-intolerant, you may have noticed that they get stomachaches and diarrhea after drinking milk. Lactose also affects mood, making kids groggy, grouchy, and unmotivated. Kids with dairy allergies can also have these symptoms after they eat butter, cream, or yoghurts. It is important to remove lactose from your child’s diet if they start showing any of these symptoms.

How can kids avoid lactose?

Lactose-intolerant babies have a lot of options when it comes to avoiding milk. Soymilk is sweet and gentle on a baby’s stomach. Older children might enjoy the flavor of almond or hemp milk, both of which have a creamy, nutty flavor on top of being an amazing source of Vitamin D. Parents cooking for children with milk allergies often use vegan butter known as margarine. Margarine is made with vegetable oil instead of milk, which is easy on your kid’s stomach and even easier to cook with.

Taking milk out of your child’s diet can cut out a significant amount of calcium too. If you are worried about your lactose-free child getting enough calcium, there are plenty of fruits and green veggies they can eat to maintain a well-balanced and healthy diet. The Global Healing Center lists kale, spinach, broccoli, kelp, and collard greens as the top five vegetables for calcium. Oranges and figs are also high in calcium. So if your kids have a hard time eating their greens, start having a glass of orange juice every morning at breakfast. Oranges are an excellent source of dairy-free calcium!

If you are looking for delicious and healthy breakfast for gluten-free and dairy-free kids, try this recipe:

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY@JAM OAT BARS

Ingredients

3 cups oats

1 cup grape jelly @ jam

½ cup peanut butter

¼ cup honey

1½ tsp vanilla

¼ tsp salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celsius.

Line 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.

Blend 1½ cups of the oats until fine. Put them in a large bowl and add 1 cup of oats, peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt. Mix well.

Press mixture evenly into the bottom of your baking pan. Spread jelly@jam evenly on top and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup of oats. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting and serving. Recipe yields about 16 delicious, gluten-free bars.

It sometimes feels like there is milk and gluten in everything, so always remember to read labels and recipes very carefully when cooking for children with food allergies. Lactose-intolerant babies and gluten-free children need special attention when it comes to eating. Dietary discomfort can cause developmental delays and mood swings, so keep an eye out for symptoms and keep your gluten-free and dairy-free kids happy and healthy.