Caring For Kids In A Gluten-Free Environment

Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for healthy living. The damage is caused by a reaction to eating gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, possibly oats, and hidden in foods that you wouldn’t have even guessed. While the disease can begin at any age, it usually appears during early childhood. In the midst of kids being picky eaters, restricting their diet further can make meal planning more difficult. Below are a few tips to help care for a child with celiac disease.

      1.      Monitor junk food. There are now gluten-free Oreos, s’mores, cake mixes, and donuts. Just because these foods do not have wheat in them, that doesn’t mean they are healthy choices. They are compatible for a gluten free diet and give opportunity to have a treat.

      2.      Monitor iron intake. Kids on gluten-free diets are at elevated risk for iron deficiency because a great source of iron is usually found in wheat flour. Newly diagnosed people suffer from iron deficiency because of intestinal damage. Red meat, dark meat poultry, beans, baked potatoes, and shrimp are good iron-enriched foods to try.

      3.      Stock the pantry with gluten-free essentials. A quick lunch or easy dinner can always be prepared by keeping gluten-free pasta, soy sauces, and a bag of chickpea flour for breading chicken or fish in the cabinets.

      4.      Plan for playdates and birthday parties. Kids with celiac disease can’t enjoy a standard slice of pizza or piece of cake. Before outings, contact the host and ask what kinds of food will be served. If possible, volunteer to bring a dish so that there will be something gluten-free on the menu.

      5.      Make sure the school has a 504 plan. 504 plans are written agreements between families and the school to ensure that appropriate accommodations are made to suit the student’s nutritional needs. Sample plans are available online.

Excerpt from: US News

A Hot Car Is No Place For Kids

Think about the last time you had a hectic day. You were probably changing plans, adjusting schedules, and you may have forgotten a thing or two. Believe it or not, these are some of the distractions that have caused people to forget children in the back seat of the car. In some cases though, an adult left a child in the car purposefully while running into a store for a quick errand. Since the early 2000’s, more than 600 child heat related fatalities have occurred. Tragically, we have seen seemingly competent parents have a chaotic day and forget a child in the back of the car or miscalculate the time needed to “quickly” run into the store. Is this a risk when being pulled in so many directions?

            It only takes 10 minutes for a car to heat up 20 degrees. While some assume that cracking a window helps, partial ventilation does little to keep a car cool. With temperatures even in the 60s, the car can reach well above 110 degrees quicker than one thinks. Unfortunately, a child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult’s and once a child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, heat-related death may result. Heatstroke can happen when the temperature outside is as low as 57 degrees.

            The legal consequences for leaving a child in the car vary state by state. Each state has a law for the duration of time a child can be alone in a car depending on their age. In PA, “A person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle may not permit a child under six years of age to remain unattended in the vehicle when the motor vehicle is out of the person’s sight.” If a child is harmed while left alone in a car, punishments include, but not limited to, a $500 fine, or imprisonment.

            Some helpful tips to help remember a child is in the back seat include, placing a stuff animal in the front seat, leaving your purse or cell phone in the back seat next to the child, or keep a musical toy playing in the back seat to maintain awareness. Even if you think your errand will be a quick transaction, it is never a good policy to leave kids of any age unattended in a car.