Doesn't Mean You Should Eat It!
By Lisa Ackerman
As a parent coming up on our five-year anniversary of the GFCF (Gluten Free/Casein Free) diet, along with low carbohydrates/sugar, allergy elimination and the rotation of food families, I often find myself cringing at what folks actually feed their kids -- not just the typical families eating gluten and casein like there is no tomorrow, but families like ours -- GFCF families and their hungry, sugar-munching, carbo-loading special needs children.
I know I should never judge another family, I try to remember "You have to walk a mile in another person's shoes" to understand their life, but the concern is just this: Because the food is GFCF doesn't mean you should eat it! And especia ll y feed it to your child!
Yes, there are a lot of foods that meet the requirements with no gluten or casein. Products like: Coca-Cola and other sodas, traditional Gummy Bears, hamburger patty from McDonald's, old fashioned hot dogs, Starburst candy, Lays potato chips, Jell-O, sugar-laden GFCF cookies, just carbohydrates - no protein in sight, and the like. The problem with these foods is they offer no or little nutritional value and often for special needs children (especially those with autistic enterocolitis and immune disorders). Foods like these can play havoc on an already damaged digestive system.
Feeding children these items "once in a while" or for special occasions like a birthday party is not the problem. It becomes a problem when these GFCF food items that have little or no nutritional value are fed to special needs children on a daily basis. The goal is to work towards more healthy, organic food with a variety of choices, instead of the no nutritional value choices for our children!
This is easy to get started! Once you have been on a GFCF Diet, SCDiet or other related diet for six to twelve months, it is time to look at the labels again. What is your child eating?
Here are some suggestions on a new healthy "add to your GFCF diet" regime:
Step 1) RE-CHECK LABELS: Anything with more than three syllables or an ingredient you cannot pronounce should be ELIMINATED! (An exception would be zucchini!) Examples of NEW NO-NOs are: Monosodium glutamate, any "dyes," preservatives like compound butylated hydroxytoluene, sulfites, nitrates, etc!
Step 2) GO ORGANIC! If you cannot afford to do so for the entire family, please do this for your special needs children! From vegetables to fruits, meats and bath products!
Step 3) SKIP THE PACKAGED REFINED PRODUCTS! If it comes with a "character" on the package or has lots of plastic and cardboard - try something else! Buy some of your kids favorite stickers and a seal-a-meal and make your package with something you are proud to feed your child! Refined packages are convenient but often poor sources of nutrition.
Step 4) BAKE AND MAKE IT YOURSELF. Take old favorites and make them at home! Try fresh ingredients and freeze the extras for quick meals later on. Where to find the time? I used to work full time and BAKE everything for my child. Know this - time can be found. These efforts of cooking, packaging and freezing sometimes well into the early hours of the morning -- when David Letterman and Conan O'Brien had already called it a night -- are worth it. I can tell you, even on little sleep, I felt better about what my child was eating when I knew what the ingredients were. It is habit to now quadruple a favorite recipe and freeze batches in individual baggies - ready to reheat and serve. Once a week I pick a recipe, cook and freeze it -- that way I have plenty on hand during the busy times of the week.
Step 5) TRY ALTERNATIVE SWEETENERS! Special needs bellies do better using maple syrup or honey. Maybe try a little Xylitol for those kids that need to cut back on sugars! Whenever I bake, I ALWAYS CUT the requirement for sugars in HALF, especially when using natural sugars like maple syrup or honey - they have a stronger flavor so you can use less.
STEP 6) UNDERSTAND SUGAR INTAKE: Some children become different "beasts" when fed a diet of too much sugar - even natural sugar sources. Become familiar with your child's intake level. The sugar grams can add up over the day. It is recommended that special needs children go "low" on refined sugar and carbohydrates (which turn into sugar). Experiment with going no sugar then low sugar to see what affects your child's behavior both positively and negatively. Each child is different as to their intake and what daily gram number of sugar intake works for them.
STEP 7) TRY SOMETHING NEW! Ever try a new GFCF item like spaghetti squash, rice pasta? Walk down the aisle of your health food store and locate five new things. You may have five new failures at your house, but you may discover a new favorite! Get out of your own rut and try some new foods for your kids!
The biggest emphasis should not just be gluten and casein-free but chemicals, additives , dyes, SUGAR, and preservative-free, too. These can do just as much damage to our children as gluten and casein and then some. This damage typically demonstrates itself in the following ways: the stools (with either diarrhea or constipation), their gut (distended stomachs and gas), surges in erratic behaviors, sleep disturbances, spaciness and more. It is worth the effort to provide your child with some clean, healthy alternatives.
If you have a picky eater, do not fret! Read how to get picky kids to eat!
When they eat healthier foods, our kids will have better sleep, behaviors, stools and performance! It is our goal to make good food choices for our kids and help expand their food repertoire with these good choices. Happy eating!
Web resources:
 |
 |
 |