Gluten-Free Kids: How to Support Your Child with Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity

Celiac disease affects roughly 3 million Americans, though it is estimated that a significant number of people go undiagnosed. When it goes undiagnosed and untreated, celiac disease can have serious health impacts – especially in children. Undiagnosed children with celiac disease are at risk for malnutrition and delayed growth as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Obtaining a diagnosis for a child with celiac disease is a step in the right direction, but it comes with challenges of its own. As a parent, treating your child’s celiac disease or gluten sensitivity is likely to involve significant lifestyle changes. 

Here are a few tips to help you support a child with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity as well as some kid-friendly gluten-free recipes. 

1. Educate yourself and your child. 

The more you learn about celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, the better you can protect your child. But educating yourself is only half the battle – your child will need to learn how to care for their own needs as well. If don’t already follow a gluten-free diet yourself, it’s wise to work with a nutritionist to help make sure your child gets the nutrition they need after diagnosis. 

Consider whether it’s worth making your entire household gluten-free. If you don’t, make sure to enforce clear separation between gluten-free and gluten-containing foods. Be sure everyone in your household understands the risk of cross-contamination and get into the habit of labeling things. 

2. Keep plenty of gluten-free foods on hand. 

The only current treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Though the presence of gluten in the diet is necessary to make a celiac disease diagnosis, your child should stop consuming gluten in all forms after the diagnosis is confirmed. 

Fortunately, pre-packaged gluten-free convenience foods are becoming increasingly more available. Though you shouldn’t build your child’s entire diet around packaged foods, it’s a good idea to keep safe snacks and staples on hand. If your entire household isn’t gluten-free, set aside a specific section in the pantry and teach your child to only eat foods from that section. 

3. Make mealtimes feel special and inclusive. 

Children with special dietary needs are prone to feeling excluded during food-oriented activities, both at home and in school. You can help by making mealtimes feel special for your child. If your whole household isn’t already gluten-free, try designating one night a week as “gluten-free night.” Make a special gluten-free meal for the whole family to enjoy. Gluten-free pasta is easy to make for the whole family, or everyone could make their own gluten-free pizzas with premade crust.

Even if your household isn’t completely gluten-free, you can help your child feel included by serving some of their gluten-free food to everyone at mealtimes. Pay special attention to presentation – make sure your child’s meal looks and tastes just as good as everyone else’s so they don’t feel like they’re missing out on something.

4. Plan ahead for school activities and social events. 

It’s easier to control a child’s diet when they’re young, but that control only goes so far when it comes to school activities and social events. Communication with your child’s teachers is important and it’s wise to inform their friends’ parents of their dietary needs. 

Talk to your child’s school about gluten-free lunches, even if you usually pack them yourself. Being able to order something in the school cafeteria can mean a lot for a child diagnosed with celiac disease. 

For social events like birthday parties, work with the host to find out what they’re serving so you can arrange for something similar but safe for your child. It’s simple enough to make gluten-free cupcakes or other desserts with a good 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.

5. Stay on top of your child’s health. 

Routine medical care is important for all children but, if your child is diagnosed with celiac disease, your pediatrician may recommend more frequent checkups. Keep tabs on your child’s symptoms once you start treatment and address any lingering issues with your child’s doctor. Your pediatrician may also recommend periodic blood tests to help determine whether your child is still getting a significant amount of gluten in their diet.

If your child continues to experience symptoms after switching to a gluten-free diet, there may be other medical issues at play. It’s also important to consider your child’s mental health and the impact a celiac disease or gluten sensitivity diagnosis can have. 

2 Gluten-Free Recipes to Make with Kids

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can be difficult for young children to understand – they may know they can’t eat certain foods without completely grasping why. To help children learn about their condition and to give them a sense of control, try to involve them in meal preparation. 

Here are 2 simple recipes you can make side-by-side with your little gluten-free eater: 

1. Easy Baked Spaghetti 

Servings: 8 to 10

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ boxes Schär Gluten-Free Spaghetti
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup melted butter
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cook the spaghetti 2 minutes less than the suggested cooking time – it should be just slightly underdone.
3. In a large skillet, cook the beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink, breaking it up into pieces with a wooden spoon.
4. Drain the excess fat then stir in the pasta sauce and set aside.
5. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl with the parmesan cheese and butter.
6. Add the drained spaghetti to the mixture, tossing well to coat.
7. Spread half the spaghetti mixture in the prepared dish and top with half the meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella.
8. Repeat the layers then place the baking dish on a sturdy baking sheet.
9. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
10. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is browned.
11. Let the spaghetti cool for 15 minutes before serving.

2. Mini Meatloaves 

Servings: 6

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
• ½ cup finely diced onion
• 1/3 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan.
2. Stir together the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until just combined.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions by hand and place them in the muffin pan.
4. Lightly pat down the meatloaf mixture to flatten the tops.
5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until the beef is cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F.
6. Turn the meatloaves out onto a cooling rack and rest for 5 minutes.
7. Serve with ketchup, pasta sauce, or your preferred toppings.

If your child isn’t old enough to participate in the physical aspect of meal preparation, you can still get them involved. When it comes to snacks, keep plenty of gluten-free options on hand and let your child choose what they want to eat. If your child has a favorite meal, try to offer it once a week so they learn to enjoy and look forward to eating safe foods.