What is celiac disease?

Another CD-friendly flour is Vinifera, a new Canadian product made from leftover grape skins from Niagara-region wineries. Vinifera is high in fibre and antioxidants and adds colour and flavour to gluten-free baked goods. To use, you can replace about one-quarter cup (50 millilitres) of gluten-free flour with one-quarter cup of Vinifera for every two cups (500 millilitres) of gluten-free flour used.

Oats, once considered off-limits for those with CD, are now deemed safe to eat as long as they have not been cross-contaminated with wheat (that is, grown in the same fields, shared in containers or processed in the same facilities as wheat). Two Canadian companies now grow uncontaminated oats: Cream Hill Estates and Only Oats. Both sell their products online and through specialty shops.

More gluten-free products, such as baked goods, pizza doughs and pastas, are now available to consumers. These gluten-free foods are usually made with white rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour and cornstarch – all of which are low in B vitamins, fibre and protein. Case suggests you look for products enriched with riboflavin, thiamin, niacin and iron or made with more nutritious flours such as amaranth, beans, flaxseed, quinoa and teff.

To develop a healthy gluten-free diet, Case recommends two steps.

1. Visit a registered dietitian who has expertise in CD. To find one in your area, contact the CCA or go to the Dietitians of Canada website.

2. Learn how to identify sources of gluten in foods, and find a local CD support group so you’re plugged into the latest news and product information.

Celiac disease and kids
Helping a child with celiac disease feel like a normal kid is a tough challenge for parents. Children with CD can't eat birthday cake, sandwiches, pizza or hotdog buns, making it hard for them to fit in with other kids. Dale Franklin, whose son Wade, now 15, was diagnosed with CD at age six, says people were afraid to have Wade in their home for fear of doing something wrong. But once she educated his teachers, friends' parents and other family members about CD and Wade's needs, they were more at ease. "People aren't unkind on purpose, it just scares them," she says. Dale also spends extra money on gluten-free snacks, such as granola bars and cookies, that look and feel like ones for regular kids. "His emotional well-being is as important as his physical well-being," she says.

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