treating ADHD with diet!!

[caranlee]

sorry first time so haven't got the lingo sorted :)!!
my son has been diagnosed with ADHD they want me to put him on ritalin i have refused, i don't feel he is bad enough. anyone tried diet as a treatment any advice? from what i have read i need to go back to basics and cook from scratch which i would be happy to do as i could stop buying processed foods which i hate feeding my children, but my son is a really fussy eater and will only eat chicken nuggets and chips etc i can't do sauces on his foods he has a thing about texture and won't eat fruit and veg. i can get him to eat iceburg lettuce and cucumber so they are a meal staple. i have tried hiding veg in foods and he knows. i have gone to the convient way of cooking as i always thought at least he is eating something, but now school want him on ritalin so i feel i need to do something. anybody gone through it with a fussy eater any ponters or sites they found useful or even recipes all would be appreciated :)

I found fedup.com.au helpful, has info on mums who've experienced noticeable reduction in symptoms of ADHD, autism,tantrums, bedwetting, rashes, hyperactivity and more with reduction of food additives.
1st you could try only using additive free(282, 281,etc) bread and preservative free milk (need to research on internet which brands as I only know ones in Australia) I think there's a site whatsinyourbasket.com too?
U could stop buying nuggets/chips (its OK he will be so much better off, though he WILL complain, which is hard for you). There is probably flavour enhancer and/or MSG (620-625, 631,635, yeast extract 637,HVP etc) in the nuggets which causes hyperactivity and natural yellow(annato,180b) in the chips which causes headbanging/tantrums in many children.

Keep presenting him with additive free food, though expect him to refuse, just keep calm, let him refuse, try again next meal/snack time with another additive free meal and his hunger will eventually ensure he does not starve- he will be OK and feel so much better in time/though will protest. Need to allow 2 weeks-a month to see changes in his food preferences and you should see a great improvement in his symptoms too.

Main additives to avoid nasty side effects are:
colours102,104,110,122,123,124,127,129,132,133,142,143,151,155,160b
preservatives200-203,210-219,220-228,249-252, 280-283 in bread
synthetic antioxidants310-12, 319-321, BHA,BHT
flavour enhancers 620-625,631,635,yeastextract,HVP
flavours-avoid strong

P.S. u can give additive free treats like plain Smiths/Kettle chips (check website as some plain brands have antioxidants in oil they cook chips in), plain additive free bought biscuits , plain additive free icecream (peters original vanilla in Aus),

thank you! i think i am just going to have to bite the bullet and do it. as you say eventually he will get used to the fact that nothing else is on offer :)

Dd1 was on an additive limited diet for many years, I found it difficult to keep her additive free but I did my best.

She was also dairy free, I did find a big difference in her behaviour/impulsivity when she had been eating junk.

She is 23 now and self regulates, she can use and abuse food/drinks to give her a buzz when she needs it

We make our own chicken nuggets BTW, Dd3 loves to help and despite being a fussy eater [she has ASD] she enjoys eating home cooked nuggets.

The choice to medicate rests soley with the individuals who have parental responsibility for a child e.g MUM & Dad. Noone else! Please tell school this politely, as they are really overstepping the mark.

School are entitled to express an opinion, but that's it - an opinion only. They are not qualified to even recomend meds, having NO medical or neurodevelopmental training whatsoever. Don't be bullied - we'll support you!

My Mum used to work in a school/LA where considerable pressure was brought to bear on some parents. On rare occasions a child ended up zombified not for the benefit of the child but to reduce the need for 2 full time TAs (& therefore the cost) down to just one. Kid didn't learn sweet FA as a result. There were other cases where MEDS was the right route to take, and it was as if a light switch went off in a child's brain, leaving them able to concentrate and participate socially for the first time.

If you go down the meds route, then be really clear exactly what benefit you expect the meds to give your child & what you cannot accept (side effects). Everyone is so individual that a descsion to medicate should be based ONLY on the parents and medical experts views, not on a school budget iyswim.

My sibling was medicated as a child, and will be for the rest of her life. She's a very extreme example. Without the meds she has no chance of a normal life, with them she's achieved a helluva lot. Diet is not enough for everyone, but it's given me a lifelong interest in the subject.

A good place to start is with the book "The Brain Food Plan" by Robin Pauc
www.amazon.co.uk/Is-That-My-Child-Brain/dp/0753512955/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347379563&sr=8-1 as he also recs some great supplements that can help. His advice seems to help a LOT of children on the dietry front.
There's something in all the research on Omega oils too.

Cooking from scratch can be fun - my DS and his mates particulary like home made pizza (they help as kneading bread is a great destresser) and popcorn nights.

Ineedalife - I also use foods for "buzz" at times. The stories of my misspent youth high on cola are legendry

Diet can help hugely.

Look at the GAPs diet, that's a very popular choice and has dramatic effects for some kids.

If the GAPs diet seems too much start with gluten / dairy free.

If you can get him tested to see if he's intolerant to any food.

You should also try giving him the following supplements:

• Omega 3
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• B6
• B12

Some people have huge success with 'behaviour balance'.

wow! thanks for the amazing comments. decided to faze out the "crap". going to try him on gluten and diary free diet. and try some supplements. at the end of the day we have nothing to lose but get healthy and hopefully have a DS that will sleep and be slightly less manic :) @bochead will read that thx very much