HELPING CHILDREN WITH CELIAC DISEASE

Sometimes as an adult it is difficult to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle and live with Celiac's. However, making that transition as a confused child is often worse. I remember in elementary school feeling almost embarrassed when I was trying to explain to kids why I ate rice cakes instead of bread, and the looks I would get. This might be a silly example of feeling out of place due to Celiac's, but sometimes it is hard as a child when you feel so different from those around you. I did not fully understand why I couldn't eat certain things and was often sad when going to birthday parties, or sleepovers, and other special events that often led to everyone eating delicious gluten-filled snacks. And if anyone ever called what I had as a "disease" opposed to an allergy, other kids often grilled me with awkward questions, or would ask me if they would catch it. So if you have a child who has Celiac's or who is trying to make the transition to a gluten-free diet, I want to recommend a helpful book I discovered at my local library. It is entitled, "Eating Gluten-Free with Emily: A Story for Children with Celiac Disease." It is written by Bonnie J. Kruszka, and illustrated by Richard S. Cihlar. I think this is a great book for children, as well as a great tool for parents, giving them some good ideas on how to help children cope with various scenarios that will inevitably come up.