I can’t insist enough the importance of teaching your child about his own condition and cross-contamination. How much your child can absorb depends on his age and maturity level. You’ll be surprised by how much a child is capable of understanding, though. Even two-year-olds can practice “reading” labels with you at the grocery store. Practice with your celiac child at home how to explain information about cross-contamination to others and how to say “No, thank you,” when he is offered foods which may contain gluten.
With the increased support for celiac disease research, in the not-too-distant future an enzyme may be developed that can be taken with food to break down the gluten molecule. This most likely wouldn’t serve as a substitute for the gluten-free diet, but it would help your child deal with the cross-contamination problem. For the time being, though, you can ensure your child’s diet is truly gluten-free by following these tips.
Tina Turbin
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