One question I often get on Instagram is, “Do your kids eat everything you post?” The short answer is no — and that’s fine with me. Another frequent question is, “Are your kids vegetarian?” Again, the answer is no, and I’m comfortable with that too.
I started Healthy Gluten-Free Family because my son requires a strict gluten-free diet due to celiac disease, and because he genuinely enjoys trying new foods and exploring the dining experience (see The Young Celiac Chef). He’s the child who wants to sample new flavors and variations of his favorite dishes. With celiac disease, though, we must ensure his food is prepared without cross-contamination, so he can’t just grab anything from any restaurant or deli.
I’m always cooking new dishes and introducing different flavors so he can try them in a safe environment. Exposure matters. Sometimes he loves a new recipe and devours it. Other times he finds it too spicy, or he likes the smell but isn’t sure about the taste. Occasionally he simply doesn’t like it — and that’s okay. My goal is to give him the chance to try new foods safely so he recognizes them and can decide for himself.
Regarding the vegetarian question, my boys are omnivores. I tend to share mostly vegetarian meals, but we regularly prepare simple chicken or steak for them. There are a couple of reasons I post more plant-based dishes:
1. I’ve eaten a mostly plant-based diet by choice for years because it works best for me. My husband, while an omnivore, also prefers a mostly plant-based diet for his personal health reasons. So most of our cooking naturally leans toward vegetables and plant-forward meals.
2. The boys don’t like waiting for food to be photographed. I’ve gotten used to eating my own meals cold while I shoot photos, but they don’t want to wait — understandably.
Keep in mind I’m feeding two growing boys: a tween and a teen. They’re always hungry and often reach for the next thing. On any given day they might eat what I post along with several other snacks. If you follow my Instagram Stories, you’ll see my son often loves eggs and bacon for breakfast. Both boys enjoy chicken and beef as well. While that isn’t my personal preference, I’m relieved my child with celiac disease likes these simple, real foods. They are among the easiest to prepare gluten-free and free from cross-contamination, which makes dining out and traveling much simpler for him.
Because my son is curious about new foods, I’ll keep cooking both his favorites and many new flavors and ingredients. I’ll continue to serve vegetables he doesn’t always eat, and sometimes my husband and I will savor a dish while the boys have something different. This approach might not suit every family, but it works well for ours.
Family meals are a balance of preferences, health needs, and practicality. We prioritize safe gluten-free cooking for my son, create plant-forward meals because that’s our daily habit, and accommodate the boys’ appetites with straightforward proteins when they want them. Sharing our food and the stories behind it is part of why I love this project — and why I’ll keep posting a mix of familiar favorites and new flavors for everyone to try.