Is Gluten Free the Way to Be?

Contributed by

Anna Albritton, MS, RD, LD 

Circumstances that warrant maintaining a gluten free diet and tips and tricks on eating gluten free during upcoming holidays. Hint—lots of label reading involved! The beloved Reese’s isn’t always gluten free…read on to find out more!  

If someone approached you and asked you what gluten actually was, would you know? Many surveys show that most individuals don’t. Gluten can often be portrayed in messages from the media as being “harmful.” But is it?  

Gluten, a protein found in wheat, isn’t harmful to most individuals. For individuals with celiac disease, gluten is harmful to the body—specifically the small intestine. Like type 1 diabetes, celiac disease is also an autoimmune disease. Furthermore, celiac disease is carried on a gene that also increases our risk for developing type 1 diabetes. Consequently, approximately 10% of the T1D population also has celiac. For the population without type 1, prevalence of celiac is only approximately 1%. Currently, researchers are striving to find a cure or medication for individuals with celiac. At this time, following a gluten-free diet is the only remedy to be found.  

Different from gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergy, celiac disease can cause extreme gastrointestinal discomfort, unexplained low blood sugars, and weight loss. The only treatment for celiac is to avoid gluten altogether, however this can be tough when dining outside the home, or even when participating in upcoming Halloween festivities. Below, find some tips and tricks to enjoy your Halloween treats while avoiding gluten! 

• Know that the FDA mandates the labeling of gluten-free foods.  
• Always check the label, even if the food or candy is a “usual favorite” for your child. Holiday candy ingredients can often differ from their “regular” counterpart products. Reese’s is an all-time favorite gluten free candy, however beware of the seasonal shapes (i.e. pumpkins)—they aren’t gluten free!  
• Go online to candy companies’ websites, such as Hershey. Many post lists of FDA-certified gluten-free candies (along with carb counts!).  

• Mars doesn’t keep an online list of gluten-free products but instead urges consumers to read labels.  
• See the link below for an up-to-date, comprehensive list of gluten free Halloween candies.  

2016 Gluten Free Halloween Treat List 

Bottom line, Halloween is a time for kids to be just that…kids. Enjoying “everything in moderation” is a healthy part of leading a balanced life, even for children with type 1 diabetes. If your child has celiac disease, separate the gluten-free candy from the rest. Or, buy gluten free candy and swap your child’s favorite gluten-free candy for their Halloween stash!  

For more information on celiac disease, please visit the websites of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org), Celiac Foundation (www.celiac.org), and Beyond Celiac (www.beyondceliac.org).