Wheat-Free Meal Plans for Kids

Making wheat-free or gluten-free meals is essential for children with celiac disease. Celiac disease is an allergy to gluten or a wheat allergy that may cause rashes, vomiting or headaches. If you are creating a diet for a child with either condition, you should avoid cooking with wheat, spelt, couscous, semolina, bulgur, rye, triticale, barley, malt and oats. These products may upset the child's digestive system. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Where To Buy Food

There are several stores that carry gluten-free and wheat free cookies, crackers, breads and candy. Many organic and health food stores such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods carry wheat-free and gluten-free products. Some mainstream supermarkets such as ShopRight, Target and Pathmark carry these foods in select locations. You should call or ask a sales clerk for more information about the closest store that offers these products. Online you can find these foods on Amazon, GFGroceries and GlutenFreeSupermarket.com.

How To Read Labels

Wheat products are found in many foods so you have to be careful to read the food labels before you buy any products. There should be a gluten-free label on any products that are wheat free as is required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you do not see this labeling, the product likely contains wheat.

Pre-Made Meals and Products

There are several places where you can get pre-made meals and products if you are worried about cooking for your child. GFMeals and GlutenSolutions sell pre-made gluten-free and wheat-free meals. KidsWithFoodAllergies.com offers several free wheat-free recipes for parents to make meals. Some easy to buy products for kids are Food For Life wheat-free bread products; wheat-free baking mixes for breads, pancakes, pizza crusts and cakes made by Bob's Red Mill, Cherrybrook Kitche, and Authentic Foods; and ready-to-eat and frozen wheat-free foods made by Ian's, Glutino, Kinnikinnick, Amy's and Pamela's.

Foods That Contain Wheat and Foods That Don't

It may be hard to identify foods that contain wheat from foods that don't. Here is a list of products that are usually not allowed in a wheat-free meal plan: wheat or white bread, muffins, ketchups, donuts, pancake mix, pretzels, soda, crackers, cakes, cookies, ice cream cones, noodles, spaghetti or products prepared with soy sauce. Products that should be safe for a wheat-free diet include: yogurt, meats, cheese, eggs, juice, fruit, vegetables, fruit ice, rice wafers, corn, polenta, quinoa, soy, nuts, tapioca and gelatin.