My son was diagnosed almost 4 years ago. His only symptom was the back of his teeth were rotting away. The pediatrician didn't even want to do the Celiac Panel. I had to push and thank God I did.

It is hard at first. It gets easier as time goes by. Everyone else in the family should be tested. Celiac is a genetic condition, he had to get it from one of his parents. Siblings should be tested also.

My son, who has eaten school lunches since his pre-school days, has brought his lunch to school every day since his diagnosis. It is the only way to keep him GF.

GF living had an article about kids who were diagnosed recently. It is in the magazine that is out right now. Please read it. It is uplifting and we could all learn something from these kids.

My son has no desire to cheat. If he has been "glutened" it is accidental. The longer you are without gluten the worse the symptoms will be.

I would advise that all meals be GF and everyone eat GF in the house. It helps prevent cross contamination. The half of the family that isn't GF can have what ever they want to eat as long as they don't eat it here.

I would not push the GF bread on your son. I have never found one that I thought was fantastic. Some are ok, others are just plain awful. What I think taste good you might think taste grainy.

Depending on where you live there might be a sleep away camp for kids with Celiac. My son has gone every year since he was diagnosed. For one week a year these kids are just like all the other kids. It is a great feeling. I live outside of Atlanta and our local one had kids from Florida, Mississippi, Kansas and even California.

You son can do anything other kids can do. My son spent 10 days hiking at Philmont Scout camp in New Mexico. We had to ship all his food out there ahead of time. There was an Olympic Swimmer and a Pole Vaulter (think it was pole vaulting) who have Celiac. If they can be Olympic athletes and have Celiac anything is possible. Google "Gluten Free" and your town or a large town near you. Join the group. There will be people who have the same questions you do. Most people with Celiac help newbies out because we remember what it was like. Join a local R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids) group. Then you will find other people who have kids with the same condition.

Check out El Peto (www.elpeto.com). They are a Canadian company that sells only GF foods.

Ask your doctor if they have a mentoring program. Our pediatric gastro does.

There are groups on Facebook also.

Kids heal quicker than adults. Six months after my son was diagnosed his blood results came back crystal clear. Our gastro also tests his thyroid every year. He has had many years where his thyroid is high (an indication of hypothyroidism). People with 1 autoimmune disease tend to get others.

Good luck and be positive. It isn't the end of the world. Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.

There are GF bagels, we love Udi's. They have hamburger buns and hot dog buns too. Pretty much, if you want it, someone makes it.

So, stick with what he WILL eat then, just use an acceptable GF substitute. Try not to overthink this. Be careful, avoid cross contamination, read your labels (there's the 3 time rule - once in the store, once when you get it home, and again when you go to eat it). In a few years it'll be 2nd nature.

I mean, what would you typically pack in his lunch?

Also, yes - he could get 'glutened' somewhere. It's inevitable. Control things where you can. In all actuality, once he's gluten free, he may start to get symptoms when he's gotten something he shouldn't.