Funding outcome

In Canada, the gluten free diet has become popular. Yet, children with Celiac Disease on the diet take in excess saturated fat, added sugar and not enough micronutrients. This is a concern as poor nutrition impacts childhood growth and development. Food guidelines can help address these nutrition issues by providing real life examples and support in selecting foods. The study aim is to develop a gluten-free food guide for children & youth. Development will involve health care and patient input and integrating the research on the gluten free diet to direct dietary recommendations. Surveys were given to dietitians, doctors and families to uncover nutrition topics that are important to them. Diet analysis of Canadian children on the gluten free diet will inform food guide content. We will look at what children with Celiac Disease currently eat and compare it to the Canadian Dietary Reference Intakes and check for nutrients that are lacking. A grouping method called cluster analysis will group food items together to show diet diversity and variety in the gluten free diet. This method will identify foods that are eaten in high or low amounts (ie, not enough green leafy vegetables). Using what we know about the gluten free diet in children and youth; we will create test meals that will provide optimal nutrition and will be the basis of the food guide's recommendations. Preliminary results of the surveys with health professionals and families show the need to include school friendly recipes and steps in selecting menu items. Recommendations need to target vitamin D, calcium and iron intake. Health professionals saw plant-based diets as an important area of focus. Current work is focused on the completing the diet analysis and test meal to develop numerical standards for intake.