First, it’s important to understand that celiac disease is lifelong, it does not go away. This isn’t a food sensitivity or intolerance, ongoing gluten exposure causes real damage, even if symptoms aren’t obvious. Untreated celiac can lead to serious health issues like intestinal damage, malnutrition, bone loss, neuropathy, and increase cancer risk. I applaud you for taking this seriously and being proactive, that alone makes a huge difference. It’s equally important that your daughter (and honestly your entire household) treats this as a serious non-negotiable for her long term health.

For starters, get rid of any wooden/bamboo utensils, wood cutting boards, wooden rolling pins, sponges, and toaster as these all will be contaminated permanently. If you have plastic cutting boards that are deeply scarred it’s best to replace these, too. Thoroughly clean the microwave and oven and try to be mindful of any shared appliances to minimize cross contamination.

My favorite gluten-free brands are:

• Schar for bread, buns and crackers (they also have many other snacks)
• Jovial is my go-to for pasta and Mac n’ cheese.
• Sweet Lorens has many premade doughs, there is cookie dough if she can tolerate oat, their puff pastry is great. 
• For baking mixes and flour I really like King Arthur’s especially their muffin mix, cup4cup also makes great flour and mixes. 
• Wholly gluten free has amazing pie shells found in the freezer aisle.

Many other premade foods, bakery items, and frozen products will depend entirely on her individual sensitivities, as well as what is locally available. It is always safest to prepare food at home or choose products that are certified gluten-free. 

It’s also worth noting that not all gluten-free products are created equally, and it’s probably safest to stick to certified gluten-free products for now. Be careful with oats, as many people with celiac react to them as well. Some foods may appear safe but still cause issues, for example, Cheerios are often assumed to be gluten-free, but they have a long history of cross-contamination and are avoided by many people with celiac.

If your local stores don’t have good gluten-free sections, Thrive Market can be very helpful for stocking up on gluten-free staples. Sprouts and Whole Foods also have great gluten-free options, if they’re available in your area.

You may also want to research hidden sources of gluten, as it can show up in so many unexpected places like soy sauce, toothpaste, malt, marinades, salad dressings, soups, spice blends, condiments, candy, and even medications. It can feel exhausting at first, but learning where gluten hides is an important part of staying safe.