diet and autism/adhd

[knat]

My dd (4.7) has autism(although still investigating as to where on the spectrum likely to be aspergers/high functioning) and adhd. I've read a couple of things about diet especially with regard to adhd and the cutting out of gluten. I would like to try changes in her diet but bread features quite heavily as lunches tend to be toast with something, bread with meat, cheese etc (won't eat sandwiches) and just wondered what other's experiences were and how you accomodated it into everyday meals. She is due to start school in September and will take a packed lunch so this is again a consideration as to what to provide if cutting out gluten etc. Thanks

I've been researching this too as DS (3,AS) has horrendous bowels. But I don't think it would be fair if the whole family didn't join in to some extent and I'd rather not do that on my own iyswim. So I'm asking for a referral to a nutritionist/dietician/whatever at our next 'team meeting'.

there is a good book. Diet interbvention and autism by Marilyn le breton.
You can read up on the basics.
Bread is difficult as it is hard to find a good alternative. But remember that the stronger the craving for the food groups the more likely it is that the child has a problem. When I started my DS2 had cut down to about eight foods all of which were based with bread pasta biscuits, and dairy.
if you are going to do it you have to pull those foods.
but for my DS2 it is literally life changing so very much worth it

that is intervention of course

Big effect on my ds1 too.

BUt imo if it's going to work you see an effect quite quickly.

thanks everyone. Got the book - very interesting. Now planning change in diet. how did you do it? My hardest thing will be lunches as she usually has bread,cheese, ham etc or crackers or something on toast? Also breakfasts might be tricky. I've enquired about some gf breakfast cereal. Anyone have any recommendations or ideas?

I think evening meals will be ok generally as gf pasta etc is easier to get hold of.

Thanks for the recommendation it was well worth it

my dd1 is also gf/cf and we've seen huge improvements. She's just more in this world.

what types of cereals are you after? dd1 eats gf porridge (was a replacement for weetabix) and then has a bowlful of a range of gf cereals that we've intro'd since the diet change, so cornflakes etc.

We took all dairy out of her diet for a couple of weeks, then took all gluten out over a few days (changed breakfast on day one, lunc on about day 3 then tea after that). We only staggered it as otherwise it would have been a huge range of new foods all introduced at the same time. On the whole, we had no problems with the change - I'm not sure that dd1 even noticed that she now has gf pasta, as we are careful to buy the same shapes etc.

good luck with starting - it seems daunting before you do, but then just becomes another one of the things you do, really.

thanks silverfrog good to hear more positive stories. dd doesnt really eat porridge - where did you get your gf cereals from? What things do you do for her lunch?

have just answered your other thread re: where to buy foods!

lunch for dd1 is the same as tea, so she has fishfingers/pasta/rice etc. she will not eat bread at all (and wouldn't before gf) so sandwiches are out for us, unfortunately - makes packed lunches a complete nightmare!

she used to eat scrambled egg/omellettes (how do you spell that?!) but won't anymore.

I also used to break up bread and stir it into soup for her, but this doesn't really fill her up anymore.

thanks silverfrog. DD loves bread and crackers so will probably gf ones and give them a try. Packed lunches are what i'm worried about although i suppose she could have a cold pasta dish (like pasta salad?) as a change one day.

Thanks for the advise.

Ds2 has gf/cf pasta warm in a food flask for his packed lunch.

I only regret not starting the diet sooner, the effect was so huge for him. It's been 5 years for us now and it does get easier. Good luck!

that's what we do for dd1 - send her usual mal in to be heated, or send her with a flask. gf pasta is not the best for sitting around, though, and does get a bit manky. she also has things like shepherds pie etc, and will eat crackers etc (just not enough of them to have as a meal) and fruit bars/gf cereal bars. and of course smoothies/raisins also help fill her up...

rice cakes are good for lunchboxes. You can put home made chicken nuggets in a flask too.

Also try to think of different idea s as trying to replace all the favoured foods can get really carb based ( as they have been doing gluten and dairy so obsessively ).

GF pancakes are good for breakfast as you can add fruit. I tend to add a bit of almond flour to many baked recipes as it gets a little protein in.