Gluten-Free Foods for Toddlers

If your toddler has had a positive result on a celiac disease test or you want to be cautious because a parent has gluten intolerance, you'll want to find gluten-free foods for the child. It can be tricky, however--many foods perceived as perfect for toddlers contain gluten. Here are few ways to feed your child healthy foods without compromising his digestive system.

What to Avoid

Often it's easier to find foods your child can't eat than it is to find food they can eat. As you examine the ingredients in foods you know your child likes, look for items such as monosodium glutamate, wheat starch and anything else made from wheat, rye or barley. In the grocery store you will need to carefully look over labels on cereals, soups, seasoning mixes and chips. Even on items you can't imagine would contain gluten, you may find wheat as the first ingredient.

Safe Foods

For overall health and avoiding gluten, you can't go wrong with the basics. Raw or cooked, fruits and vegetables are gluten-free as long as you don't add extra flavorings or dips. The same added-seasoning precautions can be used with beef, chicken, pork or fish. Dairy items such as cheese, yogurt, milk and eggs are also safe. Be mindful of ice cream, however, which may contain brownie, cookie dough or pie-crust chunks.

Toddler Snacks

As a parent you want to have something quick and easy to carry as a snack for your toddler. Easy gluten-free items include Nature Valley granola bars, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, most fruit-snack brands, mixed nuts or apple slices. For beverages, juices, water and milk are OK. The only drinks to avoid are malted beverages or milk shakes with cookie or candy pieces mixed into them.

Gluten-Free Cooking

As you cook meals for your child, you may find it hard at first to avoid wheat. Remember to utilize corn, potatoes, rice products and even oatmeal, which was once thought to be off-limits. Luckily, there are several products that allow you to make your child's favorites without gluten. Bob's Red Mill, for example, makes mixes for gluten-free pancakes, pizza dough, bread, cookies, cakes and brownies, and Mrs. Leeper's offers a variety of Hamburger Helper-type meals.

Where to Shop

As more people shift to gluten-free diets, finding food that is wheat-free has become easier. Most grocery stores now carry clearly labeled gluten-free items in their organic foods sections, or you can find them in your local health food store. There are also websites devoted to gluten-free food shopping such as www.glutenfreemall.com and www.food4celiacs.com where you can shop safely without having to read labels.