I'm putting my daughter (and myself) on a gluten-free diet that also removes preservatives/additives and coloring for health reasons and need some input & ideas on packing a lunch and snack she'll actually EAT. She's 4.5-years-old and pretty picky and head strong. Help! I'm feeling so overwhelmed.
Thank you!
Dallas ROCK (Raising our Celiac kids) website has lots of good ideas and there's a yahoo group mailing list:
http://www.dallasrock.org/resources.htm
Kelly that leads the group is always happy to talk to folks and folks on the list always willingly share the info. Do you have any test results yet? It is really hard to determine if the diet helps as it is very subjective and there are so many sources of hidden gluten. And, many mainstream medical docs (and school nurses and family) will challenge the need to be on the diet. Going back on gluten to prove things later can be very problematic as reactions increase the longer you're off gluten.
Well, we are doing turkey and cheese roll ups, fuit, nuts (my kids like almonds..who knew!) yogurt ( I buy all natural yougurt and they mix it up with some gluten free rice cereal:) Natural applesauce in a container or any fruit has been good too. The best thing has been our thermos container, they will take soup, beans and meat for nachos, shredded chicken or pork in BBQ sauce etc. They also have liked the mini rice cakes. They enjoy fruit leather (!00% dried fruit strips I buy at costco). We have done some trail mix type things with nuts, dried fruits, and some chocolate chips. I am dabbling into baking soon, and hope to find a muffin recipe that they like, maybe made into mini muffins? There is an apple muffin recipe in my new cookbook that I cant wait to try!! I am working on going GF too after my recent diagnosis, and will be having my kids tested soon too. Good luck, this is going to be a tricky change! (Oh, BTW, my girls enjoy cut up apples dipped in peanut butter too!) ~Amber~