I have been reading up about Autism since my son has been suspected of being on the spectrum. A week ago I took my son Bronson to see a consultant who told me she won't be sending him for a ADOS assessment because that would be a waste of my time, she could clearly see he has ASD. With all the health visitors, speech therapist, paediatricians and specialists, I was so confused and scared. Would my son be ok, will he lead a full life and be accepted by his peers and another people.
The more I was reading the more I saw articles about the Casein Free Gluten Free Diet and its links to Autism. I read and read about how many studies there were and what the CFGF Diet entailed. I was shocked at how many parents reported a difference in their child's Autism symptoms, they reduced or disappeared! Some didn't report any changes but if this could help my son in anyway, even if it did mean a healthier Diet, then I was willing to give it a try.
I wasn't liking what I was reading when I saw about withdrawal symptoms!
I looked at what my son wouldn't be able to eat and the list was endless
Wheat, Rye, Spelt, Pasta, Bread, Cake, Oats, Milk, Butter, Yogurt, Cream, Ice Cream, Cheese, Processed meat such as sausage or hot dogs, Some jarred sauces, Some tinned beans, Some margarines, Chocolate The list goes on.
I was going to have to read the labels of everything I buy, ask every time I go to a restaurant and make my own bread. I was shocked to see how much Gluten Free Bread cost! The whole gluten Free Isle of the shop was shocking. So I looked online and found alternatives to flour, a good one was Gram Flour which is made from chickpeas.
I was going to have to prepare all meals carefully and make sure there was no contamination of Casein or Gluten, a good way to do this is: If Bronson can't have it then I don't have it either. It was going to be so hard! But this was for my child so I am going to be strong.
The alternatives and making sure he got everything he needed
I found the obvious alternatives like almond milk and hazelnut milk, even coconut milk. Alpro have a great selection of some of these as well as yogurt alternatives and butters that are good for the diet. I learnt it was like following a vegan diet juts with fish and meat added in, only cutting out dairy, but he could still have eggs.
I also learnt my son could have Dark chocolate Enjoy Life brand which can be found on amazon. This meant no Easter Eggs, or Chocolate in his stocking at Christmas. I know he will find this hard as he gets older and wants to eat what other kids eat, which upset me, but it was for his own good.
I could make bread and cakes from Gram flour, I am still looking up recipes for different things to make.
Including home made sausages, shop bought sausage is bound with bread and gluten. Home made can be bound with egg. I didn't need a sausage maker and intestine right away, I could make them to look more like a Seekh Kebab to start with. I could always get a sausage maker and visit a butcher for the skin and maybe some lessons in making my own. The same can be done with fish fingers made with Gram flour bread instead of just bread, burgers and other foods that so many supermarkets stock.
I also learnt that I would have to substitute Vitamins and every day Iron, Protein and Fibre. This could easily be done by giving Dark green veg and fruits, oily fish, red meats, nuts etc.
The first Shopping list
I was looking on all the supermarket websites looking at their alternatives, prices and even if they stocked hat was needed at all.... I was going to have to do two shops at two different stores.
And pray I had enough money for everything I needed. Some of the products were so expensive and when I thought about it, people sometimes need this.... what if you are allergic to gluten? you haver to buy this stuff and pay though the teeth, it didn't seem fare.
Checking labels was so hard, looking for anything that says it may have something in he cannot have, surprising what does contain it though, even lunch meat like ham and chicken.... since when does everything have gluten in? I never noticed what I was eating before.
He starts his new diet soon, I feel awful saying diet with my son... it makes me feel funny like I'm going to be starving him or something. I have been looking at recipes all day, checking and double checking all the things I will need, my lists, my notes etc etc. I hope Bronson will be ok with all these changes the only thing I can see him having a problem with is milk, he still has a bottle of milk before he goes to bed, he cries when he doesn't. I am looking forward to trying it to though, I feel bad eating something that he isn't allowed so I am going to stick to it as much as I can (the pub ale will be the only exception).
Helpful links
https://www.facebook.com/gfcfdiet
http://community.autism.org.uk/
http://www.autism-diet.com/index.htm
http://celiacdisease.about.com/od/theglutenfreediet/u/TreatmentPath.htm
http://www.livingwithout.com/resources/casein_free.html
http://realsustenance.com/
