The key to an allergy-free diet is to avoid giving your child the foods or products containing the food to which he or she is allergic. The items that your child is allergic to are called allergens.
A wheat allergy is an abnormal response of the body to the protein found in wheat. Wheat products are found in many foods. In order to avoid foods that contain wheat, it is important to read food labels.
Foods
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Allowed
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Not allowed
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Beverages
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Coffee, tea, fruit juices, decaffeinated coffee, carbonated beverages, all milks, cocoa
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Cereal beverages, coffee substitutes
Beverages made from wheat products: beer, ale, root beer
Instant chocolate drink mixes
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Breads & cereals
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Ry-Krisp, rice wafers
Pure corn, rice, arrowroot, barley, potato, or rye bread made without wheat flour or wheat products
Cornmeal, cornstarch, soybean flour, barley flour, oat flour, rice flour, potato starch, arrowroot flour
Oatmeal, cream of rice, puffed rice, or other cereals made from pure corn, oats, or rice to which no wheat has been added
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Whole wheat, enriched, or white bread, rolls, or bread crumbs
Graham or gluten bread
Donuts, sweet rolls, muffins, French toast, waffles, pancakes, dumplings, bread stuffing, rusk, popovers
Prepared mixes for pancakes, waffles, biscuits, breads, and rolls
Cornbread, potato, or soybean bread unless made without wheat flour or wheat products
Cereals made from farina, wheat, or those with wheat products or malt added
Pretzels, crackers
Semolina, spelt, or triticale
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Desserts
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Custards, Bavarian creams
Oatmeal, arrowroot, rice, or rye cookies made without wheat products
Cornstarch, tapioca, or rice puddings
Water or fruit ices, meringues
Gelatin
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Cakes, pastries, commercial frosting, icing, ice cream, sherbet, ice cream cones
Cookies, prepared mixes, or packaged pudding containing wheat flour
Graham crackers, donuts
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Eggs
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Eggs prepared any way without wheat products
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Souffles or creamed eggs made with wheat products
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Fats
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Butter, margarine, animal, or vegetable fats and oils, cream
Salad dressings or gravy prepared without wheat flour or products
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Any salad dressing or gravy thickened with wheat flour or products
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Fruit
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All fresh, canned, dried, or frozen fruits, and fruit juices
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Strained fruits with added cereals
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Meat, fish, poultry
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Baked, broiled, boiled, roasted, or fried: beef, veal, pork, ham, chicken, turkey, lamb, or fish
"All meat" wieners or luncheon meats prepared without wheat flour fillers or wheat products
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All breaded or floured meats, meats containing filler, such as meatloaf, frankfurters, sausage, luncheon meats, bologna, or prepared meat patties
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Milk & milk products
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Milk, buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, some cottage cheese
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Malted milk, milk drinks containing powdered wheat cereal or products
Cottage cheese with modified starch or other wheat-containing ingredients
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Potatoes & substitutes
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White and sweet potatoes
Rice
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Scalloped potatoes
Noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, and other pasta products prepared with wheat or semolina flour
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Soup
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Clear bouillon, consomme, or broth
Homemade soups made without wheat products
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Cream soups unless made without wheat flour
Soups with noodles, alphabets, dumplings, or spaghetti
Soup thickened with wheat flour
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Sweets
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Corn syrup, honey, jams, jellies, molasses, sugar
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Chocolates, chocolate candy containing malt, candy with cereal extract
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Vegetables
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All fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables, and vegetable juices
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Vegetables combined with wheat products
Breaded or floured vegetables
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Miscellaneous
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Salt, chili powder, condiments, flavoring extracts, herbs, nuts, olives, pickles, popcorn, peanut butter
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Malt products, Worcestershire sauce, gravies thickened with wheat flour
Monosodium glutamate (MSG), meat tenderizers containing MSG, prepared oriental food seasoned with MSG, soy sauce
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Ingredients that may indicate the presence of wheat protein include the following: