Its fine to bring my children up gluten free

[Ironfistfunkymum]

I've been gf for 6+ years, not alergic or anything but feel so much better for it. People seem generally fine with this.

However now I have children people do seem to judge bringing them up gf. But why would if feed them something that I dont think is very healthy (grains hard to digest) and something that I don't think is very ethical (wheat production is causing more deserts due to its growing conditions).

Aibu to expect people to respect my choice and leave it at that?

OP: How hard would it be for you to do the shopping for your MIL? I mean, there are ways to make it easier for your ILs, no?

phantom amazing

OP I would definitely get some proper advice on whether your DC will be ok to have Gluten in the future or will become less tolerant through lack of exposure. Seems very unlikely to me that their school will be willing to accommodate this.
Taking kids away for Brownies and Guides, I can tell you the special foods take up massive amounts of the budget. Some parents send in stuff, but if it's a genuine issue we wouldn't begrudge it for a second. If it's not a medical issue then I'm not sure I'd think it was a good use of very limited funds.

Oh I do that anyway, send them with food but she is a bit offended heating up my home made frozens and would like to cook for then herself and eat the same meal.

For Brownies would there be any naturally gf food?

I'm never suggesting they should have special food. But IMO it'd easy and the same price to be gf. We had a soured chick pea curry for dinner, was yummy naturally gf and very cheap.

What does "avoid" mean though - are you happy for someone to make them a sandwich, serve them Rice Crispies or Pringles? What about salad with a malt vinagar dressing, or chips from the chippie or soup with a none gf stock cube?

If you are truly gf then you know that it's the hidden gluten that is hard to avoid. You also know that most people have no idea what it's in and will constantly offer inappropriate foods. Why put everyone through the stress? I think if you are going to follow this course you need to accept that friends will not be catering for them. Own it.

I think as long as you're not too precious about it outside the home then no-one should be judging you.

I'm not coeliac but I feel a million times better in myself, plus get more nutrients replacing things like sandwiches for salad, living my life gluten free. I would encourage anyone to try it. Studies show that a large percentage of people have non coeliac gluten intolerance.

Something tells me OP won't want her kids to go to Brownies.

Also; while I'm on my mini GF rant, switching to GF bread/pasta is absolutely ridiculous as it has so much crap in it. Like extra sugar. I don't understand the mindset of people who can't live without bread.

I would be totally fine having foods with traces of gluten. I use unpasteurised cider vinegar with the mother and actually have no idea if its gf! I should go check

ok, xpost. Brownies on camp eat cheap & cheerful. That means lots of stodge that will fill them up quickly & won't go to waste: white bread slices or rolls, wheetabix, other breakfast cereals, pasta, biscuits, maybe crisps, cheap ham, jam, margarine... You might hear about a few pieces of fruit available or porridge.

Iron I can't speak for the whole movement but I haven't served soured chick pea curry. Seven year olds, physically exhausted and away from home... It's all predictably very much not GF. It has to be cooked for at least 20 kids in no time with crap facilities. Oh and I'm a rubbish cook! Don't be put off though I'm sure there are better leaders who aren't serving pasta and sandwiches. I'm just not one of them!

I'm trying to be morOlder dd does know that she del great and gets a runny nose after eating gluten foods so trying to let her control what she eats.""

Of course she does! That's what you've been telling her will happen!

I think it would encourage an appalling attitude to food and would be worried it could foster the thinking patterns which lead to problems with food and eating disorders. I think growing up with a huge amount of everyday foods of limits for no good reason would stand a fairly good chance of fostering disordered eating habits and a bad relationship with food.

Barbarian don't forget not being able to eat mashed potato in a restaurant in case it's instant, or chips in case they're coated, not being able to eat a single dessert on a menu, no soy sauce, Worcester sauce or sauces of pretty much any kind...

yeoldetrout cheap ham?? Yes ok that's true!
I did laugh at the cider vinegar! Let us know what you find out. I'd check mine but I'm eating a large slice of gluten-ful birthday cake. There are some amazing gluten-free cake recipes but sometimes you just want a Victoria sponge with tons of neon pink icing.

Perhaps think about how often they'll be eating at other people's houses, granny's house for pasta/garlic bread and cake might seem like a nightmare for you, but it might only be once a fortnight situation; a playdate at someone else's where they are offered a biscuit or a home made cake would again not be a daily occurence.

Don't say "they avoid gluten" because that just tells the host they still have to put lots of effort in to being gluten free (obviously you feel you have to make the effort) while putting the thought in their mind that they're making the extra effort for no reason, so make them bitter about it. It's not going to win you any friends!

how about "I can't have gluten, so the children aren't used to eating it." which is much more truthful.

Cider vinegar is fine, malt vinegar has gluten in it. The foods I listed don't have 'traces' of gluten in them (except for the chips) they have gluten in them. Please don't go around telling people your kids don't eat gluten if actually you mean they don't eat (wheat based) bread, cakes and pasta. Do they eat barley malt?

Seems very unlikely to me that their school will be willing to accommodate this.

In what way? DD has packed lunches, and school know to not feed her things with gluten. But, as she's not coeliac she can get away with small amounts, although it's looking as though barley malt is causing problems too.

Primal I meant for school dinners

I don't understand, do they actually have a gluten intolerance or have they just developed one because they have had a restricted diet all their lives?

Your children are likely to have a reaction to gluten when they do get it if their systems are not used to it. It might be kinder to give them small amounts to let them get used to it so they can have a bit at parties, friends houses etc

For brownies what about if I sent a quick cook quenoir (part cooked and dehrdrated veg) or a can of something bean based? Or would and additional pan be the problem.

I'm not going to fret about the odd meal here and then. I would worry about a whole weekend of it. It would make them I'll. Heck it would make me ill!

If the Op eats what sounds like a very 'clean' diet then I doubt she's fussed about school dinners.

Barley malt, I'm not actually sure what that is!

Good idea to be clearer it would be better to say they don't ear wheat. We do have gf oatcakes.

Iron I am sure that would be fine. Pans are not in that short supply (washers up are but that's what Brownies are for and that's a whole other thread). My point was about trying to pay for that from our tiny food budget where every penny counts. If you're sending in food and idiot proof instructions then I'm very sure you'll get a helpful response.