Which food would be appropriate for a child with celiac disease?

Which food would be appropriate for a child with celiac disease?

• A. Oatmeal for breakfast
• B. Boiled rice with butter
• C. Commercially baked bread
• D. Cream of wheat

Answer: (B)

Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet because gluten triggers autoimmune damage to the small intestine. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, and rye. A plain boiled rice served with butter is appropriate because rice contains no gluten and butter is a gluten-free fat; together they meet the requirement for a gluten-free meal. Oats can be tricky: while naturally gluten-free, they are often contaminated with gluten during processing, and some individuals with celiac disease may still react to them, so they’re not automatically acceptable unless labeled gluten-free and well tolerated. Foods made from gluten-containing grains, like bread made from wheat or cream of wheat, are not appropriate because they contain gluten. So the option of boiled rice with butter best fits a gluten-free diet for a child with celiac disease.

Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet because gluten triggers autoimmune damage to the small intestine. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, and rye. A plain boiled rice served with butter is appropriate because rice contains no gluten and butter is a gluten-free fat; together they meet the requirement for a gluten-free meal.

Oats can be tricky: while naturally gluten-free, they are often contaminated with gluten during processing, and some individuals with celiac disease may still react to them, so they’re not automatically acceptable unless labeled gluten-free and well tolerated. Foods made from gluten-containing grains, like bread made from wheat or cream of wheat, are not appropriate because they contain gluten.

So the option of boiled rice with butter best fits a gluten-free diet for a child with celiac disease.