The Kid Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook
It is well-documented among the archives of Slurping Life that my three youngest sons live with a variety of special needs, and among those are ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. We use several strategies in helping the boys learn to live with their challenges.
I have for sometime been contemplating a change to a gluten-free, casein-free diet for the boys, but was completely overwhelmed at the thought. How could we do this? Because let me tell you, the boys are big-time picky eaters due to many food issues...intolerance and sensory issues galore. They each have different food issues and very different likes/dislikes of food. I have been overwhelmed to the point of deciding this diet really could not make that big of a difference...so just forget about the huge undertaking.
Then I read The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook, The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet. I cannot turn a blind eye anymore. We are biting the bullet and starting the boys on a gluten-free, casein-free diet.
Am I still a bit overwhelmed? Yes. But guided by the boys' doctors, The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook and Melinda's supportive articles and recipes, we can do this. This book is not just another cookbook. The first 93 pages of the book explain the basics of how gluten and casein (and other foods) can negatively affect children...physically, mentally and behaviorally. And I saw my boys among these pages.
The book features two parts: "Get Ready! Get Set!" explains how you can accomplish these types of diets and why they work, and "Go'" includes a wide variety of kid-friendly recipes that are all gluten- and casein-free, including simple recipes for dressings, condiments, and sauces. You'll also find recipes that are also soy-, corn-, and egg-free for the child with multiple food sensitivities.
You will learn:
• How food sensitivities differ from food allergies
• How to avoid unsuspected sources of gluten, casein, soy, corn, and nuts
• Ways to "disguise" healthy foods and get rid of junk food
• What to do about the very picky eater
• Tips for dealing with "withdrawal" symptoms
• Lists of substitutes, substitutes and more substitutes!
I had never before truly understood how a gluten-free, casein-free diet could be physically and behaviorally beneficial. After reading this book and scrutinizing the diets of my sons, I now believe that it is very possible they are dealing with some of the issues associated with proteins from milk, wheat and soy.
If you are considering a gluten-free, casein-free diet as a tool for your child living with ADHD or autism (or other challenges described within this book), I think The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook, The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet would be a value resource.
Another excellent GFCF resource is the insight and recipes which Melinda is sharing weekly at 5 Minutes for Special Needs. I have already tried a few of her recipes, and my boys loved the foods.
Trying a GFCF diet is not going to be a simple process for my family, nor a quick fix. It will take commitment and time to find the foods which offend. Introducing new foods which could result in a healthier child will be an even more difficult hill to climb for us, but I am convinced it is one well worth the effort. It is the only way to determine if gluten, casein and soy are culprits which add to the behavioral challenges with which my sons live.
They're my children, and their health and well-being are too important not to give this a go.
(Please, check with your child's doctor before beginning this diet. I am no medical expert, but am simply providing my personal thoughts on the subject and the recommended book.)
