Beat the Wheat

 The formidable "wheat free" diet. Is it beneficial to avoid this seemingly harmless grain in young children? What about babies? When do you introduce wheat, and how much? What if my children are not allergic to wheat?
There are 2 aspects to consider in this complex discussion: Quantity and Quality (how much and what type)
How often does the food you give to your children contain wheat? Weetbix, sandwiches, pastas, cereals, biscuits, snacks etc ... What type of wheat is it? plain, white, processed or is it wholemeal, stone ground, organic etc ...
The old (and rather outdated) Healthy Food Pyramid suggests that we eat plenty of wheat and grain products, but more and more people are developing digestive illnesses related to high wheat consumption. I have found that the delayed introduction to wheat in babies (between 10-12 months) and a gradual introduction to a variety of wheat free grains both beneficial and healthy. The reason for this is to avoid engaging the babies immune system via the digestive tract, and to avoid those upset tummy's and windy nights.