For the past five months, Saturdays have been spent getting up super early to set up for the crowds at Richmond’s Gleadell Street markets. Three Ducks has a temporary stall in this wonderful community market, in addition to the online shop, and I’ve been revelling in the customer contact, if not always the weather!

It was particularly challenging last weekend, due to the tropical deluge occurring during set-up and the ongoing downpours to scare everyone away. Plus, the 5.30am start is now in darkness... so I’m saying a slow farewell to summer...

This rainy day seemed to be one for questions. Most noticeably from people newly diagnosed or catering for gluten free family and friends.

Chatting with one mum with a three year old daughter who was diagnosed as gluten free at Christmas time, I realised the challenge breakfast creates, especially for parents. Not having been a cereal fan before being diagnosed as a Coeliac, I was really lucky to quickly embrace delicious mueslis like Brookfarm and the Unexpected Guest, but what about for kids?

I hadn’t really stopped to contemplate what you do with a child who’s not only just exploring the world of food, but also a restricted diet. They’ve already got their changeable likes and dislikes – only ‘orange’ foods this week, a unexpected loathing of peas, etc – so how do you combine that with serving up a gluten free diet as well?

This mum and I spent quite a few minutes talking about easy ways to make gluten free rice puffs tastier (try drizzling with honey and bake for a few minute in the oven), and I even suggested those brekky staples, pancakes and crepes, which also freeze well.

But it got me thinking about what I love about being in the kitchen – and that’s being able to taste and mix up different ingredients and discover the results.

Kids love experimenting, too. So how about letting her daughter create her own muesli? We talked about putting out some bowls of rice puffs, coconut, nuts and other gluten free grains like amaranth and quinoa for her to play with. It might seem time consuming or inconvenient at first, but it’s an easy project to share with your kids, that I hope appeals to their sense of fun and exploration and has good results (maybe even creating a little chef!).

When I’m back at the market this coming Saturday, I'd be delighted if this mum’s got a success story for me. I’m also on the lookout for other breakfast ideas just for kids – so let me know what’s working for you.

PS If you’re after breakfast inspiration, we’re also stocking a sensational gluten free seeded bread, fruit loaves and banana bread at the markets – so stop by to say hi if you’re in the neighbourhood.