Coeliac Disease for Children | Paediatric Dietitian
Expert dietetic advice and support for children with coeliac disease
If your child is diagnosed with coeliac disease, it can feel overwhelming. Understanding what your child can and cannot eat, avoiding gluten safely, and making sure their diet remains nutritionally balanced can take time.
Whether your child has recently been diagnosed, you want reassurance that their gluten-free diet is nutritionally adequate, or they are continuing to experience symptoms despite following a gluten-free diet. My aim is to provide personalised, evidence-based advice to help you and your child navigate a lifelong gluten-free diet with confidence.
Does any of this sound familiar?
A new diagnosis of coeliac disease in children can raise a lot of questions.
You may be wondering:
what can my child eat?
what can I give them instead of the foods they need to avoid?
will my child be getting enough nutrients?
what is gluten?
what foods contain gluten?
how do I avoid cross-contamination?
do I need to change everything in my kitchen?
how can I manage coeliac disease at nursery, school, parties and when eating out?
You don't have to work it all out on your own. I can help.
Coeliac disease - what is it?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition where eating gluten causes the immune system to damage the lining of the small intestine, which can affect nutrient absorption and lead to a range of symptoms. It is a lifelong condition, and following a strict gluten-free diet is an important part of managing it and supporting your child's health.
A gluten-free diet involves much more than simply avoiding bread and pasta.
A consultation can help you understand how to manage your child's diet safely while maintaining a varied, balanced and nutritious intake.
My goal is to help you feel informed, reassured and confident — while making sure your child has the nutrition they need to grow, develop and thrive.
How can I help?
Together we can:
understand the gluten-free diet and what it means for your child
identify foods and ingredients that contain gluten
review your child's current diet and identify any areas where nutritional intake or gluten avoidance could be improved.
reduce the risk of gluten exposure and cross-contamination
find suitable and enjoyable gluten-free alternatives
identify potential nutritional gaps or deficiencies
explore ongoing digestive symptoms if these continue despite following a gluten-free diet
manage your child’s dietary needs at nursery, school, parties, holidays and when eating out
build your confidence when shopping, cooking and choosing foods
With the right support, managing your child's dietary restrictions can become much more straightforward.
FAQs
DOES MY CHILD need to see a dietitian after being diagnosed with coeliac disease?
1
A dietitian does not diagnose coeliac disease but can provide practical support with implementing a gluten-free diet, reviewing nutritional adequacy and helping you understand how to manage coeliac disease in everyday life, once diagnosed.
Can you help if my child is still having symptoms on a gluten-free diet?
2
Yes. We can review your child's gluten-free diet, consider possible sources of gluten exposure and assess whether there may be other dietary factors contributing to their symptoms. Where appropriate, I can also advise you to discuss persistent symptoms with your GP, paediatrician, gastroenterologist or wider healthcare team.
Can you check whether my child's gluten-free diet is nutritionally balanced?
3
Yes. A dietary assessment can identify potential nutritional gaps and provide practical recommendations to help your child achieve a varied and balanced gluten-free diet.
Can you help me understand what foods are gluten-free?
4
Yes. We can discuss food choices, ingredients, food labelling and practical ways to manage a gluten-free diet when shopping, cooking, eating out, travelling and attending social occasions.
Can you help with nursery and school?
5
Yes. We can discuss practical strategies for managing your child's gluten-free diet at nursery, school, parties and other social situations, including reducing the risk of accidental gluten exposure and helping your child feel included.
Is a gluten-free diet suitable for everyone with digestive symptoms?
6
Not necessarily. Coeliac disease requires appropriate medical diagnosis and management. If you suspect your child may have coeliac disease, do not remove gluten from their diet before appropriate testing has been completed, unless advised to do so by their healthcare professional. Removing gluten before testing can affect the accuracy of some diagnostic tests.
Ready to feel more confident about your child's gluten-free diet?
Book your free discovery call and let's talk about what's going on, what you're worried about and how I may be able to help.