We had our first appointment with a naturopath to discuss possible allergies or other reasons for our 3-year old daughter's wild personality moments (or hours). She suggested we try a gluten-free period for 7-10 days to detoxify her system ... and reduce processed & sugary foods too (which I was starting to think she was getting too much of anyhow). But what IS gluten-free? Super simplified, gluten is a form of protein found in many grains, such as wheat, barley (malt), and rye.
Of course I Googled and found on
Wikipedia that:
"a gluten-free diet is recommended amongst other things in the treatment of celiac disease and wheat allergy. It is a diet completely free of ingredients derived from gluten-containing cereals: wheat (including kamut and spelt), barley, rye, and triticale, as well as the use of gluten as a food additive in the form of a flavoring, stabilizing or thickening agent. Additionally, the diet may exclude oats. Some people for whom the diet is recommended can tolerate oat products and some medical practitioners say they may be permitted, but there is controversy about including them in a gluten-free diet because studies on the subject are incomplete."
I attempt to prepare healthy and well-rounded meals for our family while catering to the notorious toddler pickiness. This adds a slight cramp in my style but thankfully the Internet is a wealth of knowledge and the experience (and recipes and meal plans) of others who have a lifetime of gluten-free living is at my fingertips to tap into. Actually, the more I am reading about the gluten-free diet, the more I am considering it for all of us (at least for a few weeks to detoxify).
Thankfully, plain meat, fish, rice, fruits, and vegetables do not contain gluten so that is a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
Do you and/or your family adhere to any special dietary restrictions or choices? If so, how did you transition and make it a part of your daily living?
