Many people choose to avoid wheat or gluten in their diets for one reason or another.

Some may have celiac disease, which is a gluten intolerance which damages the small intestines. Others find they just feel better when they avoid gluten or wheat. No matter what your reason, getting used to eating a gluten free diet may take some time, especially for family members who may not have any problems with wheat or gluten or who enjoy foods with these ingredients.

Wheat is fairly recognizable in bread and pastas but some people have never heard of gluten.

Gluten is a protein commonly found in wheat and barley and this is what can cause severe discomfort and illness to those who are unable to digest it properly. Gluten can be found in your everyday breads, pastas, baked goods, and even packaged foods.

When someone in the family needs to follow a gluten free diet, it’s wise to prepare the same foods for the rest of the family as well. Cross contamination in the kitchen is very common when trying to prepare different meals for different family members. When you’re preparing gluten free foods in a kitchen which has unsafe foods, all it takes is using the same spoon in both pots for cross contamination to occur. Basically, you have exposed the gluten free foods to the harmful gluten proteins, just by using the same spoon.

Gluten free breads and pastas do have a different taste than the breads and pastas most people are used to. The textures are different as well. For the person with the gluten intolerance, it will become fairly easy to stay away from those favorite foods simply because they don’t want to risk becoming sick.

Others in the family may have a more difficult time because they don’t have the same digestive problems. The pain or discomfort is not a motivating factor for them as it can be for the family member who is required to avoid these foods.

To ease the entire family into eating a gluten free diet, start with baby steps and explain as much as possible why you’re making changes, depending on the ages of your children. Expose the children to one gluten free meal a day and explain that daddy can’t eat their regular macaroni and cheese because it makes him sick.

Children of every age can understand the sick feeling and may even start asking dad before he eats if his food will make him sick.

Kids love to snack so have them try some flavorful gluten free crackers. Chances are they’ll love the crunchiness of a gluten free cracker just as much as their old cheese crackers. This is also a great opportunity to encourage your family to snack on fruits and vegetables since they are naturally gluten free.

Sometimes family members will be resistant to trying new, gluten free foods, just because many people oppose change. However, for the health of your family member whose health depends on eating this gluten free food encourage cooperation in this endeavor and enlist everyone’s help for finding tasty gluten free recipes the whole family will enjoy.

Tags: gluten free, gluten free diet, gluten free recipes