0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page i EATING FOR AUTISM 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page ii This page intentionally left blank 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page iii E A T I N G F O R A U T I S M T H E 1 0 - S T E P N U T R I T I O N P L A N T O H E L P T R E AT Y O U R C H I L D’S A U T I S M , A S P E R G E R’S , O R A D H D Elizabeth Strickland, MS, RD, LD with Suzanne McCloskey Recipes by Roben Ryberg A MEMBER OF THE PERSEUS BOOKS GROUP 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page iv Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Da Capo Press was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters. Copyright © 2009 by Elizabeth Strickland, Suzanne McCloskey, and Roben Ryberg All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. For information, address Da Capo Press, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142. Composition and design in 11.5 Garamond by Cynthia Young. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Strickland, Elizabeth, 1956– Eating for autism : the 10-step nutrition plan to help treat your child’s autism, Asperger’s, or ADHD / Elizabeth Strickland with Suzanne McCloskey ; recipes by Roben Ryberg. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-7382-1243-2 1. Autism in children—Diet therapy. 2. Asperger’s syndrome in children—Diet therapy. 3. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—Diet therapy. I. McCloskey, Suzanne. II. Ryberg, Roben. III. Title. RJ506.A9S775 2009 618.92'858820654—dc22 2009001366 First Da Capo Press edition 2009 Published by Da Capo Press A Member of the Perseus Books Group www.dacapopress.com NOTE: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. This book is intended only as an informative guide for those wishing to know more about health issues. In no way is this book intended to replace, countermand, or conflict with the advice given to you by your own physician. The ultimate decision concerning care should be made between you and your doctor. We strongly recommend you follow his or her advice. Information in this book is general and is offered with no guarantees on the part of the authors or Da Capo Press. The authors and publisher disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book. The names and identifying details of people associated with events described in this book have been changed. Any similarity to actual persons is coincidental. Da Capo Press books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the U.S. by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, or call (800) 810-4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail [email protected]. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page v This book is dedicated to my children Jacob, Jessica, and Jackson. I carry each of you in my heart. Thanks for sharing your mom over the years and making it possible for me to help so many other children. 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page vi This page intentionally left blank 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page vii CONTENTS Preface, ix Acknowledgments, xii Introduction: Understanding the Autism-Nutrition Connection, 1 PART I: THE PLAN Step 1: Transition Your Child to a Healthy Diet, 9 Step 2: Make Sure Your Child Is Getting Enough Basic Nutrients, 22 Step 3: Choose a Daily Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement for Your Child, 42 Step 4: Increase Your Child’s Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake, 52 Step 5: Resolve Your Child’s Feeding Problem, 61 Step 6: Heal Your Child’s Gut, 79 Step 7: Identify and Treat Food Allergies, 91 Step 8: Consider Putting Your Child on a Special Elimination Diet, 103 Step 9: Try High Dose Vitamin B with Magnesium, 119 6 Step 10:Explore Additional Supplements, 128 PART II: GLUTEN- AND CASSEIN-FREE RECIPES FOR KID-FRIENDLY FOODS Beverages, 148 Breads and Muffins, 151 Breakfasts, 162 Cakes, Cookies, and Desserts, 166 Condiments and Sauces, 183 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page viii Crackers and Snacks, 187 Everyday Meals, 192 Microwave Baking, 198 Soups, 203 Vegetables and Sides, 206 PART III: NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Appendix 1: Choosing a Registered Dietitian, 213 Appendix 2: The Best Dietary Sources for Protein, Fiber, and Calcium, 216 Appendix 3: RDA or AI and UL for Vitamins and Minerals, 222 Appendix 4: IEP Nutrition Goals and Objectives, 227 Appendix 5: Data Collection Forms, 231 Appendix 6: Nutritional Detoxification Plan, 237 Appendix 7: Laboratory Test, 241 Glossary, 243 Resources, 253 Bibliography, 257 Index, 279 0738212432_FM.qxp:PB: 7 x 9.125 2/12/09 2:26 PM Page ix PREFACE Since earning my bachelor’s degree in dietetics and my master’s degree in nutrition twenty-five years ago, I’ve spent my professional career providing nutrition therapy to children who suffer from all kinds of health issues—from developmental disabilities, metabolic disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders to food allergies, feeding problems, and chronic illness. During this time, I’ve seen a dramatic and encouraging shift in the public’s perception of nutrition. People are taking more personal responsibility for their health and the health of their children. Parents are becoming increasingly proactive about safeguarding their children’s health. They are questioning the overuse of medica- tion and searching for safer, effective, natural alternatives. They’re beginning to under- stand that healthy foods, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids, herbs, and nutraceuticals play a huge role in maintaining their chil- dren’s health and supporting their ability to heal. Now the bad news—I’ve also seen an alarming increase in the rate of many serious health conditions, such as autism, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, asthma, food allergies, and obesity in our children. Twenty-five years ago, autism was rare; now 1 in 150 chil- dren are diagnosed with the disorder. ADD and ADHD are sweeping the country, with more than 2 million children diagnosed. Between 5 and 10 percent of schoolchildren are diagnosed with learning disabilities. Asthma is reaching epidemic proportions, af- fecting more than 6 percent of kids in the United States. More than 12 million children and adults suffer from food allergies, and the numbers continue to rise. I was particularly moved by the rising rate of autism in our kids, and about fifteen years ago, I began to focus my practice on treating kids with the condition, as well as related disorders such as Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder–Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), ADD, and ADHD. First identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins University, autism remains the most puzzling childhood disorder. To this day, no one knows what causes autism, how best to treat it, and why some kids recover while others do not. This means that treating autism is literally like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. There is no “cookie cutter” approach. Every child is unique and responds to a different variety of treatment approaches. Therefore ix