Wheat Allergy Diet

Avoid All Sources of Wheat

In this country, wheat is a common food. This makes a diet containing no wheat one of the most difficult to plan.

If your child has a wheat allergy, he must avoid all sources of wheat protein. The list of foods that must be avoided is long, including breads, buns, muffins, cakes, candy, cereals, cookies, crackers, lunch meats, pastas, pizza, pancakes, sauces, and snack foods.

You must read labels carefully, because many processed foods, such as ice cream and catsup may contain wheat flour.

Read Food Labels

Knowing how to read a food label will help you avoid problems caused by wheat in foods.

 
Avoid foods that contain wheat or any of these ingredients:
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bran                               gluten 
bread crumbs                       kamut 
bulgur                             matzoh, matzoh meal 
couscous                            (also spelled as matzo) 
cracker meal                       pasta
durum                              seitan 
farina                             semolina 
flour (all-purpose, bread, cake,   spelt 
  enriched, durham, graham,        vital gluten
  high gluten, high protein,       wheat (bran, germ, 
  instant, self-rising, steel         gluten, malt, starch) 
  ground, stone ground, pastry,    whole wheat berries 
  soft wheat, whole wheat) 
----------------------------------------------------------

 
Ingredients that may contain wheat protein:
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flavoring (natural and             starch (gelatinized, 
  artificial)                         modified, modified food
hydrolyzed protein                    starch, vegetable) 
soy sauce 
surimi 
-----------------------------------------------------------

Use Wheat Substitutes

You can substitute products made from oats, rice, rye, barley, or corn. These substitutes may be available in your grocery or health-food store. You may also buy flours made from these grains to use in your recipes.

Other good sources of safe foods are specialty foods for people who must also avoid gluten-containing grains (wheat, oats, barley, and rye). These foods may be found in health-food shops or ordered from mail-order companies.

Provide Missing Nutrients

Because this diet is very restrictive, give your child a daily vitamin pill. Have a dietitian check your child's diet from time to time.