Is your family considering making a movement toward a gluten-free lifestyle? Maybe you’re considering it out of necessity or as a commitment to a healthier way of life. It doesn't take a psychology degree to know that food can be a tough subject to tackle, and persuading children and other members of the family to give up gluten is not always easy. When you consider that gluten is in many favorite foods like cake, cookies, crackers, bread, and pasta, along with many processed food items, it is easy to understand why family members are reluctant to embrace this dietary change. Here are some tips to make the transition easier.
Educate the Family
Approaching a necessary dietary change as a practical health matter is the best way to start a conversation about gluten-free living. Focusing on the positive aspects of the change instead of what the family will be giving up is critical for putting a positive spin on the transition. Describing gluten-free dietary choices as "tasty" instead of simply "healthy" is a better way to get family members excited about new menu options.
Replace Comfort Foods with Gluten-Free Alternatives
Recipes abound for classic favorites. If your family realizes that they won't have to give up pizza, cookies and macaroni and cheese altogether, the change will be less traumatic. Emphasize how delicious the new diet will be by backing up the claims immediately with proof. Research has found that many people assume that "healthy" foods will be tasteless. It is better to focus on how great items taste, instead of talking about how healthy the substitute foods are.
Be a Role Model for Your Children
Parents are the most influential role model for children. After a big announcement about new dietary changes, it is critical that both parents embrace the diet immediately as role models for the family. Even though children may feel obliged to complain some at first, if they see both Mom and Dad eating delicious new meals that fill up the house with wonderful aromas, then they are likely to respond with an open mind.
Emphasize All Favorite Foods that are Gluten-Free
Have a list handy of all the families favorite foods that will not be effected by the new diet. Ice cream is always an acceptable peace offering once you tell the kids that regular cake is off limits. Writing these foods down in a book for kids is a great reminder of how many foods are on the diet. Steak, peanuts and fruit are a few favorites that many people respond to with a smile.
Plan Substitutes for School and Holiday Celebrations
Talking to teachers and finding out about any upcoming events where cake, cupcakes or other forbidden foods will be served is a great way to circumvent a bad situation. Off to bake some gluten-free cookies for your child to take to class to share for a special occasion. Getting your kid involved is an excellent way for them to see the event as a positive way to share their gluten-free goodies.
Forgive and Forget
When your teenager decides to cheat and eat something he shouldn't, don't get upset. Expect this to happen, because it will. It is natural for teenagers to test the boundaries. All any parent can do is educate a child about what he should be eating to feel good, providing the information and support to make good choices. The good news is that a child will usually feel so bad after they cheat, that they ultimately realize that the cheating is not worth it.
Spousal Encouragement
Appeal to your spouse's desire to be a good role model for the kids. If your spouse is not gluten intolerant and wants to have an occasional gluten snack away from the family, then that's fine. Adults are going to do what they want. A responsible parent will want to do the right thing for the family, without sacrificing their image as a role model.
Conclusion
The hard part of any new diet is the psychological transition. All a parent can do is provide education about the "why" and the "how" of this diet, making it easy and fun for the family. Playing interference for birthday parties and other events to ensure your child is not left without birthday cake is also important. Planning is the key.
"Allison Gamble has been a curious student of psychology since high school. She brings her understanding of the mind to work in the weird world of internet marketing with psychology degree".
Educate the Family
Approaching a necessary dietary change as a practical health matter is the best way to start a conversation about gluten-free living. Focusing on the positive aspects of the change instead of what the family will be giving up is critical for putting a positive spin on the transition. Describing gluten-free dietary choices as "tasty" instead of simply "healthy" is a better way to get family members excited about new menu options.
Replace Comfort Foods with Gluten-Free Alternatives
Recipes abound for classic favorites. If your family realizes that they won't have to give up pizza, cookies and macaroni and cheese altogether, the change will be less traumatic. Emphasize how delicious the new diet will be by backing up the claims immediately with proof. Research has found that many people assume that "healthy" foods will be tasteless. It is better to focus on how great items taste, instead of talking about how healthy the substitute foods are.
Be a Role Model for Your Children
Parents are the most influential role model for children. After a big announcement about new dietary changes, it is critical that both parents embrace the diet immediately as role models for the family. Even though children may feel obliged to complain some at first, if they see both Mom and Dad eating delicious new meals that fill up the house with wonderful aromas, then they are likely to respond with an open mind.
Emphasize All Favorite Foods that are Gluten-Free
Have a list handy of all the families favorite foods that will not be effected by the new diet. Ice cream is always an acceptable peace offering once you tell the kids that regular cake is off limits. Writing these foods down in a book for kids is a great reminder of how many foods are on the diet. Steak, peanuts and fruit are a few favorites that many people respond to with a smile.
Plan Substitutes for School and Holiday Celebrations
Talking to teachers and finding out about any upcoming events where cake, cupcakes or other forbidden foods will be served is a great way to circumvent a bad situation. Off to bake some gluten-free cookies for your child to take to class to share for a special occasion. Getting your kid involved is an excellent way for them to see the event as a positive way to share their gluten-free goodies.
Forgive and Forget
When your teenager decides to cheat and eat something he shouldn't, don't get upset. Expect this to happen, because it will. It is natural for teenagers to test the boundaries. All any parent can do is educate a child about what he should be eating to feel good, providing the information and support to make good choices. The good news is that a child will usually feel so bad after they cheat, that they ultimately realize that the cheating is not worth it.
Spousal Encouragement
Appeal to your spouse's desire to be a good role model for the kids. If your spouse is not gluten intolerant and wants to have an occasional gluten snack away from the family, then that's fine. Adults are going to do what they want. A responsible parent will want to do the right thing for the family, without sacrificing their image as a role model.
Conclusion
The hard part of any new diet is the psychological transition. All a parent can do is provide education about the "why" and the "how" of this diet, making it easy and fun for the family. Playing interference for birthday parties and other events to ensure your child is not left without birthday cake is also important. Planning is the key.
"Allison Gamble has been a curious student of psychology since high school. She brings her understanding of the mind to work in the weird world of internet marketing with psychology degree".
I 'almost always' eat gluten free. It's not the family that gives me a hard time, for most of what I make them is gluten free and they're used to it. It's the other social eating that is so difficult. Even if you've never been tested for a gluten intolerance but it just makes you feel better to eat gluten free, why does that fact seem to be so offensive to everyone else??
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