Monthly Board Meeting

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME!

Our Celiac Kids Connection board of directors meets regularly to plan activities and set the goals and objectives for our group. Attending a board meeting is a great way to learn more about us, our activities and how we operate. Meetings are virtual and all members are welcome to attend. We love having your input.

Contact us for the Zoom link.

We hope to “see” you there.

Addressing Anxiety before your Holiday Celebration

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Join our friends at  the National Celiac Association for a discussion about anxiety at the holiday table and how to improve your mental wellness during this stressful time of the year. Dr. Deena Abbe, PhD and licensed clinical psychologist, will be joining us for a discussion and a Q&A session around anxiety and holiday eating. We will also address the stressors felt by those hosting family and friends with special dietary needs.

 

Gluten-Free Candy List Updated for Halloween

Celiac Kids Connection's annual candy list has been updated for 2023.

Our gluten-free candy list, has been updated just in time for Halloween. Please go to our Gluten-Free Candy Guide page to find the list and information on how it was prepared. Again, this year we have included carb count information from JDRF for families living with the dual diagnosis of celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.

We hope you will find this helpful as we look towards Halloween and the holiday season. If you have any questions. all of the candies on our list include contact information for the manufacturer.

Remember, ingredients are subject to change and you should rely on the ingredient list on the product you are purchasing.

Ask Dr. Chang – September 2023

This month’s “Ask the Expert” features Dr. Denis Chang from the Celiac Disease Program, Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Chang answers questions about how eating a little bit of gluten.

Read the answer below or watch Dr. Chang.

Question – My friends hang out at a lot of places that don’t have great gluten-free (GF) options. How much damage would it cause to my intestines if I ate gluten once a month? Would it matter if it was just a little bit vs. a whole meal of gluten?


Dr. Chang –
We know that celiac disease (CD) is a lifelong autoimmune condition where gluten ingestion can lead to damage or inflammation of the small intestine. While we know that a lot of people do a really great job being on a GF diet, we know that sometimes accidental or unintentional exposures to gluten can happen. When it does the body can recover and symptoms of present will get better.

However I’d be concerned if one of my patients asked me if it would be okay to have gluten once in a while. To start, I’d be worried that that once in a while would become twice in a month then three time in a month and maybe even more. We just don’t know what the long term implications are of intermittent gluten exposures in people with CD. We know that there are many complications associated with untreated CD. For those reasons, we recommend avoiding gluten at all times. Secondly, we also know that some people can have symptoms with gluten. This is especially true after being on a GF diet for a while as the body is healing. We know that the amount of gluten that they had can lead to the severity of the symptoms they experience. And so for all those reasons we recommend a strict GF diet.

Yoga for Stress Management – Ages 18 – 22

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Join us to connect with other college and college-age individuals! You will learn strategies to manage stress as well as anxiety and wellness practices to start off your fall semester.

To participate in this program you must be a patient that is followed at Boston Children’s for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and/or Celiac Disease.

No prior yoga experience needed.

Please contact us with questions celiac@childrens.harvard.edu Or IBDCenter@childrens.harvard.edu.

 

College Stress and Self-Management

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Now that you are back or just starting college, it is a good time to think about stress and self-management. Join us for a program led by social work for current college students.

Target Audience:

  • Current college students who are Boston Children’s Hospital patients diagnosed with celiac disease and are interested in learning to manage the disease while at college.

 

Note: This program is not for high school students who are engaged in the college search process. We will not be addressing topics related to looking at or applying to college.

 

Building a Strong Foundation: Celiac Disease and Bone Health

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Join the Harvard Medical School Celiac Education & Research Program and the National Celiac Association for the second webinar in our Fall 2023 “Ask the Experts” series. Speakers will present on selected topics for 60 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A.

Bone health is a crucial topic for both children and adults with celiac disease, as bone can be adversely affected due to the inflammatory process and malabsorption of key nutrients.

This session will:

  • Address the prevalence and types of bone disease in the adult and pediatric celiac populations
  • Testing methods
  • Treatment options, including lifestyle modifications for bone health.
  • The importance of the gluten-free diet
  • The use of supplements, where appropriate.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available.

 

Back to School with Celiac — Setting Realistic Expectations

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Join the Celiac Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and Celiac Kids Connection to review everything you need to know for a safe school year with celiac disease.

During this session we will discuss:

  • Laws and Regulations that Govern Celiac Disease
  • Setting Up a 504 Plan
  • Reasonable Accommodations for Celiac in the School Setting
  • Common Gluten-Free Accommodations in the School Cafeteria
  • Inclusion in Extra Curricular Activities and Field Trips
  • Navigating Complications
  • Q&A with our School Support Team

 

Close Connections in Autoimmunity: Thyroid Disorders and Celiac Disease

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Join the Harvard Medical School Celiac Education & Research Program and the National Celiac Association for the first webinar in our fall 2023 “Ask the Experts” series. Speakers will present on selected topics for 60 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for Q&A,

 

Thyroid disease and celiac disease are closely linked as two autoimmune diseases and commonly occur together. Two experts in the endocrinology field will present current findings and guidance to address challenges for adults and children who are managing both conditions.

 

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): This course (220323-RSS) is approved by the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Continuing Education Department for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™ for physicians, 1.25 contact hours for nurses, 1.25 ACE CE continuing education credits for social workers, and 1.25 CEUs for Registered Dietitians. Instructions for claiming credits will be made available during the webinar and transcripts will be available within 30 days.

 

Family Food Connections Monthly Cooking Class

Francie KelleyLeave a Comment

Boston Children’s Hospital’s Family Food Connections offers monthly cooking classes for families. The cooking classes are free and will feature budget-friendly gluten-free recipes. This is a great opportunity for the whole family to learn new cooking skills and new recipes. There is ample opportunity to ask questions and learn about the food being prepared.

Please note the class time has changed to 1:00 pm

Classes are held via Zoom.

Everyone who registers will receive a link to the recording after the class.