Special Diet or Not?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Special Diet or Not?
9
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 2:08pm

Special Diet or Not?



  • Yep, I have an ASD child on GF/CF diet
  • No, my ASD child is not on special diet
  • Yes, my ASD child is on special diet, but not GF/CF


You will be able to change your vote.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 2:10pm
I'm just curious how many of our kids are on specialized diets because of their ASD.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2006
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 2:40pm
Rece is on a dairy free diet. Not so much b/c of any dx, even though we don't have one yet. But he had severe rashes on his bottom for a long time. So we have been dairy free for almost 5 weeks now. I haven't seen a change in behavior but we haven't had rashes for the full 5 weeks!!! I haven't been able to say that since he was at least 15 months old. We are considering trying GF to see if it changes/helps any behaviors.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 3:17pm

Malcolm started out GF/CF when younger, then we added back some glutein but added enzymes, now we do let him have regular pizza a few times a week and he has lots of glutein, but still the enzymes. Other than the pizza, we keep him off milk products almost all the time. He doesn't miss milk. His dad is lactose-intolerant, so it's just a good plan.

When we started him on GF/CF, we noticed a fog lifting from him. Now if he gets too much glutein or casein without enzymes, we don't really notice anything, but the enzymes keep him happy, so why not?

Sara

Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 6:26pm

Weston is on a high fat diet currently. We're trying very hard to get him to gain some weight. He's always been thin, but in the last 2 years we've had some swallowing/gagging and other eating problems. The speech therapist has done a few things and we're back in a phase where he's not having problems (seems to come w/ anxiety and regression). BUT now he's 5'5" and weighs less than 80 lbs. The doctor was very concerned at his last check up so we saw the dietitian and he's now on a diet where he eats things he likes and we're not pushing too many new foods, but he's also getting full fat yogurt smoothies and he's getting full fat milk in his hot chocolate. He's supposed to be eating nuts and other high fat veggies (but doesn't like either of those much). He gets to eat as much meat at a meal as he wants. We're also limiting added sugars because these tend to take the 'hungry' feeling away for him and then he won't eat until he crashes from the sugar high and then he craves sugar again. So, trying to get him to eat complex carbs esp whole grains. Basically, he's on the same diet as I am for hypoglycemia except I get lean protiens and he gets the full fat versions.

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
Sun, 03-30-2008 - 9:11am

Hi Ginny,


Feel free to pop on over to my blog www.gfcfmommy.blogspot.com


I've been writing about other food-related things lately, but I do have lots of recipes posted, see links on the right, and a list of other GFCF parent bloggers.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 03-30-2008 - 7:53pm

Like Sara, We had Mike on a diet for a long time and have been able to relax a bit on it and add in some foods as long as we are careful.

We also use enzymes and probiotics just as good general health for the family.

Mike was on a sugar free organic diet. No addititives, etc. We never went gf/cf because his issues weren't really consistent with those that gf/cf kids are like. However, we noticed his behaviors were very simlar to a kid with diabetes. He also reacted to additives, etc. His behavior is much better on a very natural diet.

He can have some sugars and refined foods now usually without too much trouble, but too much of it in a row (like at easter) and then the old behavior comes back.

I can always tell when Mike is not doing well on his diet when he starts to do these weird things around eating and his sensory system goes completely out of whack. He will refuse to eat for hours then suddenly is very crabby and his behavior calms down if you get him to eat protein. He craves TONS AND TONS of fluids and used to wet his pants and bed. Fortunately we haven't seen that one again. He also gets very explosive particularly if he is "crashing". It is very like a diabetic crash.

We have had him tested for diabetes and he does not have it but we have noticed we have been able to really help him through diet, exercise, etc. We were able to take him off meds with this diet as well. Keeping away from the junk and going natural is somethign I definitely recomend.

Disney08

APOV on Autism
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Sun, 03-30-2008 - 9:06pm

We have been doing GFCF for a few months now.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-10-2004
Mon, 03-31-2008 - 9:11am

Thanks so much for telling your story.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 03-31-2008 - 10:35am

What a great post Ginny!