Food is medicine: Gluten intolerance and your child's behavior

For many children, gluten intolerance is typically demonstrated as "off-the-wall irrational" behavior. A father of a gluten intolerant child described his 7-year-old's behavior to include "many more outbursts, crying and door slamming, and saying life is 'really, really tough'." Before you listen to a single utterance about ADHD or accept a pharmaceutical solution for your child's less desirable behaviors, I strongly encourage you to either have your child tested for gluten intolerance or read up about how to remove gluten from your diet. (Parenting 101: Possible dangers of children taking ADHD meds)

Gluten intolerance symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Fatigue or general weakness
  
• Foul-smelling or grayish stools that are often fatty or oily
  
• Osteoporosis
  
• Stunted growth in children
  
• Weight loss, or alternatively, obesity

Celiac Disease, an intolerance of gluten (a protein in wheat and other grains), affects 3 million Americans, according to National Institutes of Health . Aside from the accomanying painful and potentially dangerous symptoms, the opportunity of giving our child (or ourselves) the gifts of ease, calm, and confidence is just as important. How frustrating for the child to be provoked to outbursts of frustration, merely from the handful of fish crackers eaten at a playdate?
A thoughtful and consistent change to your child's diet may be the key to his or her (and your) peace of mind.

Here are some kid-approved recipes from The Unassuming Foodie:

• Bruschetta Style Brown Rice Fusilli This super-easy, gluten-free, lower-carb dish strikes the perfect balance, and is a surefire hit at large gatherings.
• Pizza for Everyone Rather than using sausage or pepperoni as a topping, the protein is used as the crust. Your choice of veggies are tucked neatly inside and your favorite cheese(s) marry this substantial, easy, rendition of the deep-dish delight.
• Red Beans with Cumin and Sausage It's a tough economy for foodies. The simple solution: take basic staples and pair with trusted seasonings for a meal that is satisfying, comfortingly familiar and utterly nutritious.
  

For more info: This article is the first in an upcoming series of recipes. Check back for the entire series, including links for soups, salads, chicken dishes, and desserts.

Read Q&A with Rebecca: My Gluten-free Toddler

Parenting 101: Possible dangers of children taking ADHD meds The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety warning recently about a possible association between the use of stimulant medications for... Keep Reading »