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SN children

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Original poster

Gluten free - where can I find info

20 replies

Ellie4 · 12/05/2009 19:19

Ok we are just starting on a gluten free diet. Where can I find info on all the little hidden bits of gluten to look for on food labels eg I found out that modified starch can be derived from gluten. What else do I need to look out for?

OP posts:

ShannaraTiger · 12/05/2009 19:21

Is it any gluten or just wheat? Labels are v. good I find, I'm wheat intolerant btw but can handle gluten in oats.

ShannaraTiger · 12/05/2009 19:39

Coeliac society should be able to help. I've just googled 'coeliac' and got loads of sites.

HolidaysQueen · 12/05/2009 19:49

coeliac society used to do a book that listed loads of stuff you could eat. lots of products now also have the gluten free logo on them (wheat with line through it)

silverfrog · 12/05/2009 19:54

Marilyn Le Breton's book is very good - here

she has also written a GF/CF cookbook.

the coeliac info is ok, as far as it goes, but be warned there is a tolerance level that is permitted in foods by the food standards people, which people following a GF diet cannot tolerate (I assume you are following Gf due to autism? as you have posted in SN)

Original poster

Ellie4 · 13/05/2009 04:27

We don't live in the uk so the labelling of food is not clear whether something contains gluten or not. The coeliac info is specific to uk so the book would be of limited use here.
Yes we are doing the GF diet for autism. Also whats the deal with oats - can he have them or not.
Also was wondering how strict does it have to be but I take it from silverfrogs post that it is VERY. eg if he goes to someones house and they have used a stock cube in cooking that is not GF would this have an effect?
Thanks

OP posts:

Frasersmum123 · 13/05/2009 07:38

My FIL was a Coeliac and got a book from Coeliac UK called 'Gluten-Free Food & Drink Directory' which always seemed really good - he was always consulting it!

silverfrog · 13/05/2009 08:12

No oats on GF diet, I'm afraid.

Yes, anyhting that is not permitted (eg stockcube like you say) wil have an effect, and it is obviously ideal to completely cut everyhting out.

I don't give my dd any food that I do not know the full ingredients of - if we go to other poele's houses to eat, then I take food for her.

And if we are out and want to eat, I only get her food that I know is ok, eg plain chicken and chips (and even then you need to watch that the food isn't coated with anyhting)

HolidaysQueen · 13/05/2009 09:00

My dad is coeliac, has been diagnosed for 25 years, and has always eaten oats and drinks beer too which is also technically not gf. He only seems to have the bad reactions to wheat and it is more a gradual weight loss and failure to thrive type thing with him than an immediate reaction, so he has porridge and beer maybe once/twice per week - but then he is an adult so I guess able to make a judgment call on it himself. I think it depends on how sensitive you are to gluten as I believe the gluten in oats is slightly different to that in wheat.

silverfrog · 13/05/2009 09:04

can i just point out that the GF diet that the OP is wanting to follow for her ds calls for:

No gluten (no wheat, oats, barley, rye) or any gluten derivatives (often found, as the OP points out in the unlikliest of places)

No MSG

No sweetners/colourings AT ALL.

It is a separate diet form a coeliac diet. As I understand it, coeliacs can eat oats, in the main, and can usually tolerate tiny amounts of gluten.

The GF diet as followed for autism does not permit ANY trace of gluten at all (cross contamination is the major problem, tbh, in everyday life)

Original poster

Ellie4 · 13/05/2009 10:32

SF Whats the problem with MSG, sweetners and colourings and how does it relate to GF? Or is it separate but can also have an effect on ASD?

Not in UK so coeliac book won't be of much use for us

OP posts:

silverfrog · 13/05/2009 10:35

I really can recommnend Marilyn Le Breton's book (link inmy first post) - it explains it all very well.
Yes, MSG and sweetners/colourings etc have an effect. Basically all additives do (most preservatives aren't a good idea either)

The easiest thing to do is ensure all foods are fresh cooked, and not use much shop bought.

macwoozy · 13/05/2009 10:35

I wrote off to supermarkets and asked for a list of their gluten free products, I got quite a good response.

catski · 13/05/2009 12:38

Silverfrog - can you tell me if the No Oats Rule also includes 'clean' oats (which I think means oats that have been prepared with absolutely no cross contamination?). I was under the impression that clean oats are gluten free?

To the OP, the answer to how strict you have to be is 'very'. You also have to check things like toothpaste, shampoo, sun cream, play dough etc to make sure there's no gluten hidden in it. Basically, you have to treat it as if it's dog poo - keep separate utensils (especially toaster) for preparing GF food, wash your hands after touching gluten before touching your child etc.

silverfrog · 13/05/2009 12:44

I believe so, catski, as the oats them selves contain gluten (albeit a different kind of gluten form wheat/barley/rye)

I don't have my GF diet book to hand, but have always understood this to be the case.

catski · 13/05/2009 12:55

Thanks silverfrog. It's so hard getting proper advice where I am as this diet is unheard of and everyone thinks it's the same as the coeliac diet and I'm all "It's. Not. The Same. Thing."

silverfrog · 13/05/2009 12:58

have you tried the AiA site? here

they can be a bit over zealous, imo, on the forum, but there si a lot of useful info too.

catski · 13/05/2009 13:18

Thanks (again!) silverfrog - I think I have seen that in the past but didn't get round to signing up (I'm part-Yorkshire so not so good at parting with cash!). Bearing in mind the lack of help where I am though I think it's time I got my credit card out...

silverfrog · 13/05/2009 13:20

hey, snap! am also part yorkshire, so know exactly where you are comng form

I did join though, and have found enough useful info to renew this year too

catski · 13/05/2009 15:25

Glad you are of understanding mind!

Have signed up now and looking forward to having a nose!

HolidaysQueen · 13/05/2009 15:29

ah silverfrog, understand now - i've learnt something new today didn't realise that it would be even stricter than the coeliac diet.

fwiw my mum and dad have found it a lot easier to stick to dad's diet when they eat at home, and cook from scratch. My mum has also become very creative with rice and potatoes! if you are a reasonable home cook it does become easier over time as you become more instinctive about what you can and can't cook - i don't have to think twice about what i make for dad as it's automatic now.

homemade stock is very easy to make and keep in the freezer, but if you can get hold of Marigold stock powder then i believe this is fine for even a strict gf diet. you can buy it in big tubs, so maybe somebody could ship it to you if you can't get it where you are.

another useful thing is cornflour which can be used to thicken sauces and gravies and is gluten free. also gives a similar glossy look to MSG for things like homemade stir fry sauces.

biscuits and cakes are always difficult - even if you don't want them often there are always birthdays to consider. we found that there are plenty of yummy cake and biscuit recipes out there that use ground almonds instead of flour so worth checking those out.

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