Gluten-Free Diet Chart for a 10kg Indian Child with Celiac Disease
A strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment for a child with celiac disease and must be implemented immediately to prevent malnutrition, growth failure, and other complications. 1
Key Dietary Principles
Foods to Strictly Avoid
- All products containing wheat, rye, barley, and non-certified oats
- Common Indian foods to avoid:
- Wheat-based rotis, chapatis, parathas, puris
- Semolina (suji/rava) products like upma, halwa
- Regular atta (wheat flour) products
- Packaged snacks unless certified gluten-free
- Soy sauce and many commercial spice blends
Safe Foods to Include
Breakfast Options
- Rice-based idli or dosa with coconut chutney
- Poha made from flattened rice
- Rice porridge (rice kheer) with jaggery and nuts
- Moong dal cheela with vegetables
- Jowar or bajra porridge with milk
Lunch and Dinner Options
- Rice with dal and vegetable curry
- Jowar/bajra/rice rotis with vegetable curry
- Khichdi made with rice and moong dal
- Rice pulao with vegetables
- Fish/chicken curry with rice (if non-vegetarian)
Snack Options
- Fresh fruits (apple, banana, orange)
- Roasted makhana (fox nuts)
- Roasted chana (chickpeas)
- Rice crackers
- Homemade laddoos with rice flour and jaggery
Sample Daily Diet Chart for 10kg Child
Early Morning (6-7 AM)
- 100ml milk with turmeric (optional)
Breakfast (8-9 AM)
- 1 small bowl rice idli (2 pieces) with coconut chutney OR
- 1 small bowl poha with vegetables and peanuts
Mid-Morning (11 AM)
- 1 medium fruit (apple/banana/orange)
- 5-6 almonds (soaked overnight and peeled)
Lunch (1 PM)
- 1 small bowl rice
- 1 small bowl dal
- 1 small bowl vegetable curry
- 1 small bowl curd/yogurt
Evening Snack (4-5 PM)
- 1 small glass buttermilk with cumin powder OR
- Rice crackers with homemade chutney
Dinner (7-8 PM)
- 1 small jowar/bajra roti
- 1 small bowl vegetable curry
- 1 small bowl curd/yogurt
Bedtime (9 PM)
- 100ml milk (optional)
Nutritional Considerations
Preventing Deficiencies
- Include iron-rich foods: dark green leafy vegetables, jaggery, legumes
- Calcium sources: milk, yogurt, ragi, sesame seeds
- Protein sources: lentils, dairy, eggs (if acceptable), fish/chicken (if non-vegetarian)
- Vitamin B sources: legumes, dairy products, nuts
- Vitamin D: sunlight exposure for 15-20 minutes daily
Weight Management
- Regular monitoring of weight is essential as children with celiac disease often present with poor weight gain 2
- Target appropriate weight gain according to Indian Academy of Pediatrics growth charts
Important Precautions
Cross-Contamination Prevention
- Use separate cooking utensils and toasters
- Clean cooking surfaces thoroughly
- Store gluten-free foods separately
- Avoid bulk bins where cross-contamination may occur
Label Reading
- Teach caregivers to identify hidden sources of gluten in packaged foods
- Be cautious with spice mixes and processed foods
Follow-Up Care
- Regular follow-up with pediatrician and dietitian is essential but adherence is often poor 2
- Monitor growth parameters and nutritional status
- Consider periodic assessment of vitamin D levels
- Assess dietary compliance through interviews and possibly antibody testing
Practical Tips for Indian Families
- Replace wheat flour with rice flour, jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), ragi (finger millet), or commercially available gluten-free flour blends
- Use besan (gram flour) for pakoras and other traditional recipes
- Prepare traditional Indian sweets with rice flour, besan, or nut flours instead of wheat
- Explore traditional South Indian cuisine which is naturally rich in gluten-free options
Remember that strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is crucial for intestinal healing, proper growth, and prevention of complications in children with celiac disease 1, 3.