GFCF Diet Troubles

By: Dr. Julie A. Wilczynski, ND, CNC

            Diets are often recommended and followed for many different reasons; weight loss, blood pressure regulation, and diabetes to name a few. When we make dietary changes for our children on the Autism Spectrum and are often presented with unwanted weight loss and muscle wasting and are left wondering what are we to do next? Do we stop the dietary intervention? Do we force our children to consume foods that cause emotional outburst? Do we become stricter and “food enforcers” or do we become more lenient and allow for the consumption of some poor quality and “acceptable” foods for a short time just to get something into our children? The decision firmly rests upon the shoulders of each child’s parents, but I can give you some knowledge to help you formulate the best decision for your child and your family.

            The Gluten Free / Casein Free Diet (GFCF) is often recommended to aid with digestive malfunction and/or leaky gut and food sensitivities and allergies. A Gluten / Casein Free diet is a restrictive diet which entirely eliminates the intake of specific protein found in: wheat, oats and barley and dairy and some soy. The relationship between gluten, casein and autism was first articulated by Kalle Reichelt, M. D. in 1991, based on studies showing a correlation between autism and increased urinary peptide levels.

            Some tips and tricks to assisting in assimilating the GFCF dietary protocol include:

• Make foods look similar to what your child is used to: GF/CF Chicken Nuggets or Pancakes and moving the food to the non-GFCF containers (yogurt for example after thoroughly washing container)
• Make this dietary change a family endeavor: cook with rice pastas, GFCF bread crumbs, try two vegetable meals and omit the starch, use olive oil instead of butter
• Have GFCF cooking utensils and pots and pans: pans can hold on to foods no matter how diligently you clean them
• Try to make school lunches special: use cookie cutters, send hotdogs in a thermos
• Include your child in the shopping: if they pick it they must at least try it

            On limited diets we need to add additional nutrients to make up for the foods not being consumed. It is always best to look for natural sources of nutrients, “foods first,” I always say. But when we are faced with sensory induced picky eaters we need to think outside the box. Fruit and vegetable smoothies can be a great avenue to assist in getting additional protein and supplements into our children. If your child is not a smoothie fan, you can try pureeing, ensuring that you are removing all stray lumps as texture is often an issue and then mixing in a bit of protein powder and liquid supplements.

            My son was a huge fan of UltraCare for Kids, it contained no dairy, gluten, soy, corn or egg but was loaded full of vitamins, minerals and protein. One serving contained 8 grams of easy to digest protein. I always got the vanilla as it was easier to change it into different flavors if it wasn’t already pre-flavored. We even used it to mix with peanut butter and freeze into logs. I would cut off an inch of the protein and peanut butter log for Michael as a treat.

            Some things that I have learned from personal experience have been to make sure to listen to my son’s cues. If he seems interested in a food that he never ate before I will allow him time to touch and smell it even before I ask him to taste it. We also learned early on that our son felt very comfortable with applesauce and peanut butter. Both were always on hand when a new food was being introduced. As he learned to enjoy the new food he would use less and less of the applesauce and peanut butter. He also benefited from lunches and dinners with his best friend. I used to love getting a phone call from Shannon’s mom telling me all about how Michael loved a new food that she had prepared, how he ate all of his vegetables, even when he would say “no thank you”, instead of “no YUCK!”

            I will admit with some embarrassment that over the years there has been some bribery. If he tried a new food he would get a small toy, if he cleaned his plate it would be something of his choosing. I have to say I am very proud of my son. He has come a very long way, from being a very self limiting eater to eating just about anything we put on his plate Carrots are still a struggle, though he ate them all today when I told him they would give him good football eyesight!

            The diet can be daunting, journaling is necessary to track progress and to help in recording mistakes, and testing is always a good idea to aid in tracking positive progress. We do this with a specific goal in mind, to heal the gut and give way for healthier, happier children.

            Next month more on GFCF implementation. What tests should be preformed, what supplements should be considered and which foods to eliminate and in what order.

Julie is a Traditional Naturopath working out of a wellness clinic in Grove City, Pennsylvania and her own office in Butler, Pennsylvania. She is the mother of a child diagnosed with High Functioning Autism. Julie can be reached for question or comment at Julie@OurSpecialGarden.bizland.com         www.ourspecialgarden.bizland.com and 724-407-8017.