There are some good rice/corn based pastas that I enjoy - but it means cooking, rather than opening a box :-)   I suppose for mac & cheese tho, she could just substitute some rice macaroni & use the cheese sauce mix from the box.  Need to just be careful not to cook the pasta too much or it gets mushy.  Many large grocery stores now have a 'healthy' section, or gluten-free section, or organic section - that's where these can be found. 

Corn chips are a good snack; popcorn too!   No licorice tho - amazed me to discover it's mainly wheat!  Rice cakes with peanut butter & jam/honey spread on them are quick & crunchy at breakfast instead of toast. 

I find there is a growing variety of gluten free baked products - bread, hamburger buns etc.  The vary widely by brand - some are VERY dry and crumbly - bah.  I like the brand name Aiden's if you can find it - excellent hamburger buns!   I have yet to find a good gluten-free tortilla for fajitas tho.  I did find a recipe & made some once that were of good texture & tasty, but haven't done it again - you're reminding me to maybe get busy!

Major supermarkets such as Sobey's, Independent, Zehrs, Metro, etc. have sections with gluten-free products.  I really like the brown rice pastas especially the penne and rotini.  As Corolla states best not to overcook.

Gluten-free lasagna is also available.

If she likes pizza, O'Dough's makes a kit with 4 square meal-sized crusts - white or flax.  They come with 4 packets of sauce, then you can add your own toppings. 

These are in the freezer section and are less expensive than purchasing one pizza - I buy a box of four for $10.

O'Dough's also makes buns and rolls.  Some of the other nut butters are nice, such as almond and hazlenut for rice cakes or buns.

Glutino makes a variety of breads - found in frozen section.

I'm fortunate to be able to purchase my breads, rolls and cookies from a gluten-free bakery.  Depending on where your niece lives, this may be something she can check out.

I tried a variety of gluten-free chips available at the local drugstore and they were aweful.  Check the label, but I think Kettle, Miss Vickers are gluten-free.

Covered Bridge are for sure.  Covered Bridge are made in a factory near Hartland, NB, and are very tasty.  I brought home a supply when we were in NB last summer.

I wasn't aware that some chocolate bars contain wheat...bummer.  Have to check the ingredients in chocolate, but think the dark is OK.

There are some great recipes on the internet now....depending on who is doing the cooking....if her mom, good to check out.

It's in Smarties and licorice too!

GF is VERY expensive :(

Can I ask seeler why she would try Gluten Free when she could try vegen.- under Doctor's advice, I think,

My family thanks me for eating gluten-free .  Gluten free is not expensive though.  I couldn't afford expensive.  I just don't eat grains.  Substituting more raw veggies for grains is very very affordable.  Once you get into eating a few more nuts, also, you can have that lovely texture without the discomfort of any grains. 

Once in a while you can substitute a gluten-free flour and create some thing, but it is interesting that the more that I eat gluten-free and paleo, my partner and I begin to refer to anything baked like that as "fake food".

Dark chocolate is very o.k.

Indeed it is jlin!!

Wheat free and gluten free are different.

When weight loss is the goal, using gluten-free substitutes isn't the best option.  They often have lower levels of nutrients, and have increased amounts of sugar.

When it comes to a health issue, what is it?  If someone is celiac the first step isn't to cut out gluten.  In order to get a proper diagnosis gluten needs to be consumed, otherwise the tests are likely to show a false-negative.  If it's a mild intolerance, my immediate reaction wouldn't be to cut it out completely.  That can lead to further sensitization.  It's probably best to check with someone who specializes in that more like a RD who focuses on intolerances or a gastroenterologist to discuss amounts that should be consumed.

I think Crazyheart makes a good point above.  Is your granddaughter under a doctors care, and how was a decision made to go gluten-free.  Your granddaughter may have other intolerances, eg. lactose.  Best to consult a professional and be tested before proceeding.  There are other elimination diets that might help.

As chemgal stated, going gluten-free is not a way to lose weight.  Some people actually experience weight gain because of higher carbohydate levels.

As far as I know she is not under her doctor's care in this undertaking.   I'm not sure where the idea came from.  A few years ago she did go vegetarian for a few months (I remember her eating a tofu burger for Christmas dinner one year).  Her mother considered it a fade that teenage girls sometimes try - being sensitive to the suffering of animals.

I do know that she is sensitive about her weight.  She is big-boned - takes after her father who is heavy-set.  Although right now she's only ten pounds or so over heer ideal weight, I think that she will always need to watch her weight. 

But I don't know that her weight is the reason for her decision to go gluten free.  She has mild digestive problems - cramps, discomfort, etc.    So whether she heard or read about gluten free, or a friend is trying it, or whatever the reason, she is trying it.  If she continues for any length of time, her mother will check with her doctor or a dietition.  Right now it's more an experiment.  And she finds it hard.  Gradually she will have to start planning her meals and getting gluten free ingredients in the house.   Usually I have potatoes or rice for a gluten free hot meal - but I would find it hard to make a school lunch from the things I usually have in the house if she came to visit on short notice. 

Perhaps a package of rice cakes and some rice or corn cereal should be on my shelf.

Seeler, here's an article:

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-11-14/health/bs-hs-gluten-free-hea...

Based on her family history, it's probably even more important for her to see a doctor sooner rather than later.

If she does need to go gluten free another thing to watch out for is spice mixtures, when the individual ingredients aren't listed.  Things like those flavoured rice cakes still might have gluten.

and many corn cereals hide gluten too...

There is gluten in so much food!

I would like to hear that she is being tested to discover the actual cause of the abdominal distress.  As the grandmother though, this is probably out of your hands seeler.  I seem to recall that grandaughter has travelled through a fair bit of stress in the last few years and I'd wonder if she has Irritable Bowel Syndrome rather than coeliac disease..   

A distant relative was recently tested for Coeliac and said that he heard that eating gluten free was expensive, but he thought he could claim some of the food costs as a Tax Deduction.  I hadn't heard this before and don't know if it varies from province to province.

That's true, it's on the CRA page (chemguy has done taxes for someone where it was done).  A true Celiac diagnosis is needed though.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns30...

Crohns disease seems to run in our family - both Seelergirl and I have it.  Perhaps Granddaughter's digestive problems are related. 

I think that right now sshe is just experimenting to seee if cutting out certain foods (wheat) helps.  Then she, and her mother, will be in a better position to discuss the effects of diet on her health when she has her next check-up. 

If it's not gluten, but wheat, that she's trying to avoid, spelt flour is a real handy thing to have around. You can use it in place of wheat flour with fairly minor adjustments (it absorbs more moisture, so you need to cut moistening ingredients to about 2/3 - 3/4 of original; it's also a bit tricky in pastry because it makes it crumblier and harder to work with). You can also use it to thicken gravies, etc. Comes in white and whole wheat; I confess to mainly using the white because it acts so much like white flour, but it's harder to find (for me, anyway).

I'm also making an assumption that, if she struggles with her weight, that she has banned all soda/pop, particularly the diet ones, from her diet. Also, that she tries not to consume HFCS in any form. I think those two items are absolutely crucial to good health and sensible weight control.

HFCS?

high fructose corn syrup

I was told that one thing about "gluten free" products, especially bread, buns, etc. is that they contain a lot of starches - corn, potato, etc.  So that is a consideration.

Also you can buy coconut flour and almond flour and do your own baking.

As someone whose metabolism/dna allows me to hallucinate on white flour, and am senstive to a variety of forms of grains, I can say that I very much believe in what Beloved has just said.  In fact, there is no reason in particular that our bodies should be able to handle fake food like any form of flour or ground grains built into strange chemical things that resemble some fantasy of food.  Example;  Breads.  Really.  Look at food and then, look at bread.  What is bread?

At any rate, newest research establishes that European descendents from the coastal regions of Europe and the north  of Europe (especially Celts et al) do not have the DNA to metabolise gluten.

I just recently found out that I have tested positive in a antigliadin test which means I am to avid wheat, rye, oat, barley, and other grains with glutens.

I have not tried any gluten free products as I am still at a stage where I am eating only whole foods (other digestive issues).

I did try making some coconut flour biscuits the other day that looked like cookes :) - they were okay, but did not replace buns or bread.

I used to be a big bread eater, so I really miss it.

How is your grand-daughter doing seeler?  Is she still trying gluten free?  How is she doing healthwise?

I read an interesting book called "Wheat Belly" which talks about the wheat of todya.

I think the wheat free experiment was short-lived.  I do believe that she is now trying to maintain a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and cutting back on carbs - including grains.  But not eliminating wheat entirely.   Through the summer she is visiting friends - sleepovers, weekend trips, and vacations.  Tomorrow she leaves for a week with a friend's family - having some fun and experience that her mother is not in a position to provide for her in recent years.  It's difficult to set your own diet demands when someone else's mother is providing the meals.  Pick and choose healthy is the best she can do.   (I am sure that if she had a diagnosed condition that required strict adherance to a diet, those adults inviting her along would make allowances or not include her.)