Discussion on another thread prompted me to start this one. Since I have two GS genes, each of my children have inherited one from me. All my girls have gone GF, one of them adding this to already being CF. My son, who turned 24 today, has just chalked it up as an additional bad gene he has inherited, and is not interested in going GF. However, I suspect that at some point things will change as his wife's family has gluten, dairy, and egg intolerances, and it seems likely that my 5-month-old granddaughter will have trouble at some point.
My 16yo was the one who had the most problem with going GF. However, there are other children we know who have food intolerances, including the four oldest daughters in a family that we are very close to, one of whom is GF/DF.
Last weekend, my daughter went to an Optimist speech tournament with this family. While everyone else was eating pizza, the GF/DF friend and my daughter bee-booped out to the van for the food they brought. My daughter was laughing about how they had brought almost exactly the same things. I think having friends who are living well with food intolerances has really helped my daughter to accept her own, especially since she has no symptoms, this is just preventative.
Our church has a potluck meal almost every Sunday. We have a special area for those who have food intolerances to put their food so that the people who can eat anything don't snarf down the good stuff before the ones who need to eat it get to it.
I think that as food intolerances are diagnosed more often, and as our children grow up with family and/or friends with food intolerances, that attitudes will change. Older people who grew up on Wonder Bread and Kool-Aid will be the last to change attitudes unless--like me--they are diagnosed with food intolerances themselves.
Children, Food Intolerances, and Changing Attitudes
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MBombardier
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Children, Food Intolerances, and Changing Attitudes
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Marliss--
My Mom, who is 60, has recently gone lactose and gluten-free. Years ago, she was diagnosed with IBS, and as she has watched me battle with MC, we have become suspicious that she might have it. We have always eaten a very healthy diet, based on whole foods, organic if possible, so this has made the change oddly easier. Luckily, I am not intolerant to casein, and she does not seem to be either. We both limit soy only to gluten-free fermented soy sauce and seem to have no problem. I am amazed at how easily she took this on, and how much better she is! Her recipe ideas are great...I don't think my stepdad has noticed yet.
It is really inspiring, and a little sad. My stepmom has full-blown celiac, and just refuses to make the changes she needs to make. She even has fibromyalgia. I know it has something to do with her severe depression, but I still hold out hope. I think because mom and I both cook a lot, and my stepmom eats out every meal but breakfast makes the difference. We'll see what the future holds!
Love,
Mags
My Mom, who is 60, has recently gone lactose and gluten-free. Years ago, she was diagnosed with IBS, and as she has watched me battle with MC, we have become suspicious that she might have it. We have always eaten a very healthy diet, based on whole foods, organic if possible, so this has made the change oddly easier. Luckily, I am not intolerant to casein, and she does not seem to be either. We both limit soy only to gluten-free fermented soy sauce and seem to have no problem. I am amazed at how easily she took this on, and how much better she is! Her recipe ideas are great...I don't think my stepdad has noticed yet.
It is really inspiring, and a little sad. My stepmom has full-blown celiac, and just refuses to make the changes she needs to make. She even has fibromyalgia. I know it has something to do with her severe depression, but I still hold out hope. I think because mom and I both cook a lot, and my stepmom eats out every meal but breakfast makes the difference. We'll see what the future holds!
Love,
Mags
I'm not ready to make my young children go GF for preventive reasons. That would complicate life way too much. But I have made a commitment to reduce the amount of gluten and dairy they consume to "rational" amounts, so that 90% of their nutrition isn't coming from breads, pasta, etc. like many children we know. They have gotten used to GF dinners at home, rice crackers and corn chips instead of crackers and bread, even Udi's bagels and coconut milk (hubby drinks it too). Their favorite snacks are vegetables with hummus or yogurt with honey and frozen berries. For my birthday we had AMAZING GF/DF/SF cupcakes from Sweet Sin bakery, and the kids had no idea they were different (only hubby noticed). A toddler and young child are always drawn to whatever mommy has to eat, so I let them covet my fake milks, my nut bars, etc. And they always ask me if I can eat certain things wherever we go, and cheer when something is GF. It's cute. I think giving this example will make the transition much easier the day they have to make the switch...hopefully never.
I'm mailing away my 6 yr old's gene test this weekend. I hope he doesn't have my DQ2!
I'm mailing away my 6 yr old's gene test this weekend. I hope he doesn't have my DQ2!
Zizzle,
I hope he doesn't have that magic gene, too! And meantime, for sure you are reducing the 'gluten load' - to the extent that the effect is cumulative, that must buy them time and health, as well as great eating habits. I feel lucky I never was a junk-eater. My mom was smart; it was never forbidden, but it wasn't around much. That does make it easier, as Mags suggested - I don't expect many of my calories to fall from a vending machine ;) Your kids' food awareness and good habits will last them a lifetime, whether or not they have to make the particular choices that drive your shopping and cooking.
I know the risk of GS tipping over into MC or celiac is much more complicated than just a steady drip of gluten reaching the "full" mark - luck, pathogens, and more luck may well be involved. But at least you are moderating what you can control.
Love,
Sara
I hope he doesn't have that magic gene, too! And meantime, for sure you are reducing the 'gluten load' - to the extent that the effect is cumulative, that must buy them time and health, as well as great eating habits. I feel lucky I never was a junk-eater. My mom was smart; it was never forbidden, but it wasn't around much. That does make it easier, as Mags suggested - I don't expect many of my calories to fall from a vending machine ;) Your kids' food awareness and good habits will last them a lifetime, whether or not they have to make the particular choices that drive your shopping and cooking.
I know the risk of GS tipping over into MC or celiac is much more complicated than just a steady drip of gluten reaching the "full" mark - luck, pathogens, and more luck may well be involved. But at least you are moderating what you can control.
Love,
Sara