| Living a gluten free (GF) lifestyle is far from easy. | | | | a week (so as not to overwhelm them) to |
| It's even harder for children who must depend on | | | | convert to gluten free. Share with the cook an |
| others to make their meals for them. I have two | | | | idea or two of how they might easily make it GF |
| children with Celiac Disease and have been | | | | (i.e. If it were a hamburger - leave the bun off or |
| managing their gluten free diets for about 6 years | | | | suggest a GF hamburger bun they could use as a |
| now. When they were first diagnosed I thought | | | | substitute and where they can find them if that is |
| they would never be able to eat a meal prepared | | | | an option. If it were chicken nuggets, ask if they |
| by someone other than myself again! After some | | | | can offer your child a plain chicken breast instead |
| time and experience, I learned that with a bit of | | | | or suggest a good GF bread crumb and where to |
| education and a lot of patience, I could teach | | | | get it if they have the time to make nuggets |
| ANYONE how to cook for my children - even the | | | | from scratch.) Once they have figured out how |
| cooks in the school cafeteria! | | | | to make that particular meal gluten free, you can |
| Public schools are required to provide your child | | | | order it any time you want because they now |
| with a meal they can eat at school, no matter | | | | have a plan for how to prepare a GF version for |
| what their food restrictions are. Beyond this | | | | your child. Continue to add one new meal a week |
| requirement, all of the cooks I have worked with | | | | until they have cycled through all of the meals |
| have been more than happy to accommodate | | | | they offer and you have found a solution for |
| my children's needs because they WANT to. | | | | making each one gluten free. By now, your child |
| People that cook generally like to please people | | | | should be able to order most of the meals your |
| with their food, so they are typically willing to | | | | school kitchen makes on a regular basis and the |
| listen to the needs and desires of those eating it | | | | kitchen will know how to make each of them |
| and do whatever they can to meet them. | | | | meet your child's gluten free needs. My children |
| The first thing you need to do is contact the | | | | eat hot lunch 99% of the time. About the only |
| person in your child's school who is in charge of | | | | meal that they skip is fish sticks - because they |
| the kitchen. Inform them of your child's gluten | | | | just don't like fish, breaded or not! |
| free diet and ask if they are familiar with what | | | | If you take this approach, the kitchen staff will |
| gluten is and if they have any experience with this | | | | not be overwhelmed, they can learn about |
| type of cooking. For the sake of this article, let's | | | | different methods and products at a relatively |
| say this person does not. | | | | slow pace and they will be happy to |
| Next let them know you understand, that is | | | | accommodate your child's needs because you |
| wasn't that long ago that you didn't know | | | | have been respectful of their very busy schedule |
| anything about gluten either, and that you will be | | | | and have been patient with their learning curve. I |
| happy to share what you have learned with them. | | | | have used this method three times now: Once |
| Give them a very basic explanation of what | | | | when my daughters were first diagnosed, again |
| gluten is and the types of food that it is in. Then | | | | when we moved to a new town and a third time |
| offer to provide them with a more detailed | | | | when my oldest started high school. All three |
| explanation and list of GF foods for them to | | | | times this method worked like a charm and they |
| review and keep on file. Get it to them as soon | | | | were successfully enjoying gluten free hot lunches |
| as possible. | | | | at school within a few months time. The cooks I |
| Ask if you are able to get a menu in advance so | | | | have worked with have even gone so far as to |
| you can work with them ahead of time, planning | | | | tell me they have enjoyed learning about gluten |
| how to convert meals on their menu to a GF | | | | free cooking and have thanked me for teaching |
| version. Our school gives us a months worth of | | | | them what I know! |
| menus at a time. Start by choosing one new meal | | | | |