The proper response to bullies is: a) tell the school they must not tolerate such behavior, and the kids who do it must be disciplined; b) teach your son how to deal with such people, because the world is full of them and he can’t run away every time.

Don’t focus on the lunch. The lunch is not the problem. Bullies will taunt you for anything: clothes, mannerisms, you name it. There is no pleasing them, so don’t try.

Steak and salmon are pretty expensive, but try cheaper cuts of meat (chuck, etc.) and other kinds of fish (if he’ll eat canned tuna, try sardines or mackerel). Also, I have to wonder are you getting enough fat in the diet? If you cut out dairy, all those calories will need to come from somewhere else.

I’ve landed on this site whilst trying to research effects of paleo diet on children in conjunction with calcium deficiency. I thought I would feedback to you my experience in case it helps with future research and for feedback to and hopefully from from other families in my position.

I am a coeliac and so is my son now aged 8 (diagnosed at age 4). My daughter has also just been diagnosed (age 3). The effects of being a coeliac were chronic and debilitating but life changed about 2 weeks into a gluten free diet. The only thing that didn’t go away was my daytime tiredness. It was much improved but gradually has crept back. The only other remaining problem was recurring sinusitis. Quite extreme mood swings affect both my son and I even on the gluten free diet.

The reason I’m writing is that I pulled myself off dairy about 4 weeks ago and I have never felt better. I am contemplating pulling the children off but was initially worried about calcium levels. I started the children on a paleo diet yesterday. The 8 year old is rebelling – the 3 year old is young enough to eat anything to please me and I’m following the advice by throwing out any temptations. Both children have previously eaten a huge amount of dairy, particularly cheese sticks and full cream milk and also (yes bad mother) peperami as snacks in lunch box. I had to move my son from his former school because he was bullied about his ‘gluten free – weird’ lunch box. The pressure of trying to give him a ‘normal’ looking lunch box has made me slip into habits and I woke up in a cold sweat recently realizing that I am feeding my children processed crap in their lunch boxes (ps lunchbox always includes raw veg and fruit also – but its the last to be eaten).

My son’s only enjoyment is milk and cheese with gluten free crackers. The rest of the time he lives on fillet steak rare , salmon, fresh veg (I’m lucky he eats most) and jacket potatoes with butter and or beans and cheese. Also cauliflower cheese a favorite – see my dilemma?? My main problem is that he won’t try new foods and his main staple diet is boring and expensive! I don’t know what I would do if he suddenly went of steak or salmon but the time is coming I’m sure. My daughter loves bread and pasta so paleo will be a challenge – at least my son doesn’t like bread, rice or pasta anyway.

Initial questions:

An occasional potato with butter ok? I am trying to ease him into the diet and its an easy fix for other parents to give him on a play date. Butter seems to be debatable so I’m sticking with it in moderation and cutting it out of cooking.

Tinned tuna and mayonnaise if I cut out the sweetcorn? This is a lunchbox favorite of his.

My son suffered from extreme constipation even on a gluten free diet and was on laxatives every day under the care of a gastroenterologist. After research I put him on 150mg effervescent magnesium supplement every day and the problem amazingly cleared up – but it comes back if I take away the supplement. He is now, however zinc deficient and I am really confused about the dangers of single supplementation i.e. the magnesium is causing a zinc deficiency – what will introducing a zinc supplement do -and how much should I give? He also has a congenital kidney problem so I have to factor in not over stressing the kidneys when I supplement. Do you have any helpful resources on this topic? Do you recommend a calcium supplement for kids who are dairy and gluten free. Bone density is always flagged up as a concern for coeliacs.

I would be pleased for any feedback or comments on the above.

Thanks
coeliac mum

I just recently started to cut all grain products and Milk off my diet it’s being a struggle by far my question to you both is this. How do you feel about drinking a protein shake post-workout? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Tony