Helping My Mother Cope With Autism: Gluten Free

As the mother of a son recently diagnosed with Autism, it has been put upon me to find a way to help him (as well as the rest of our family) to cope with some of his symptoms.

There is no cure for Autism, but you can break down the disorder by all the parts which make up your own child's collective issues, and try to treat them one by one. My son requires additional help with his speech, therefore he sees a speech therapist. He needs help with his motor skills, so he also works with an occupational therapist. Having Autism, he lacks many social skills- so this is an area he needs to work on as well. He also suffers from eczema, from occasional digestive problems, and there are behavioral issues which create additional problems. So for all of those things, we have chosen to seek out help by trying the (possible) effectiveness of the Gluten Free diet.

Quickly, the Gluten Free diet is a diet which is completely free of foods made from, or containing, wheat, rye, barley and commonly, oats. Gluten is a serious problem for people who suffer from Celiac Disease, which is an autoimmune disorder of the small bowel. A life-long diet free from gluten products is the only effective way to treat this disease.

Many parents of children on the Autism Spectrum have put their kids through a barrage of medical testing, to see if their Autism-related symptoms are being caused by other health problems. During these tests, some parents learn that their children are in fact sufferers of Celiac Disease. If not CD specifically, they perhaps have other issues, which have led to skin problems, like eczema, which can be a sign of a food allergy. In my son's case, there is not yet any known food allergy, and my son is not known to have Celiac Disease. However, there are parents who swear by the fact the Gluten Free diet has lessened disruptive behaviors, has increased speech, has eliminated bowel problems, and so on. So my husband and I figured it couldn't hurt to try it.

After consulting with my son's Developmental/Behavioral pediatrician (who said we were welcome to try out the diet if we so wished), the next step was to figure out how to go about starting it. My aunt sent me a link to a very helpful website which boasts "GFCF in 10 Easy Weeks ". The process they advocate seems very simple, and is for those people (such as myself) who obviously would prefer time to adjust to the diet, instead of diving in head first.

One of the less desirable facts about this diet is the cost. Organic foods in general, tend to be more expensive. I don't know why, but this seems pretty standard as far as I can tell. If you're going to buy the gluten free baking products, and attempt to make cakes and cookies or things like pancakes (from scratch), beware that flours don't come cheap. Cereals, soups, frozen goods.. all pricey. But there is a way to at least start off with some help!

Take a pen and piece of paper with you to the grocery store, and write down the brand names you find in the organic food section. Especially if you think your family has a need or want for a particular type of product. Look on the label to see if they list a company website (most do). When you get home, you can go to their site and check to see if they offer gluten free products. Write them an email, or use their feedback form, and ask for any product information and coupons (or even free samples) they might be willing to send. While you're there, look to see if they offer any coupons online. Also, some sites will send you coupons if you register for their newsletter.

You can also try looking at your favorite grocery store's website, and see if they offer a gluten free product list. Many do. (If you can't find one directly off their site, try to "Google" it. It might be easier that way). You can go down that list and do the same thing- check out the brand names, find their websites, and since you know they offer gluten free products, ask them for any coupons and/or product information they can send you. I was quite fortunate to have one company (Nordic Naturals) send me a great deal of information regarding their studies on Cod Liver Oil, and the benefits it has in children with Autism. Although they did not send me any coupons, they did send me a nice sized sample product.

You might be thinking to yourself "What the heck do I write?!" Here's a suggestion. Keep a form letter handy, which might go something like this:

"Hello there!

I'm writing to you, because I discovered that you may offer some gluten free food choices that would be perfect for my family.
I'm curious if you offer any product info, or if you have any coupons you'd be willing to send? I'd greatly appreciate your help!"

Feel free to change the letter as needed, to make it more specific to each company. Express interest in a certain product of theirs you've heard of, or perhaps tell them your thoughts about a product you have already tried. Most companies want repeat business, and will at the very least respond to your email with a "thank you for your support".

Here's another suggestion for saving some money as you get started. If you have a Whole Foods market anywhere near you, check it out. Even if you buy only a couple of items to begin with, (and they do have an isle that is "gluten free"), they offer a Mambo Sprouts coupon booklet at the cash register. These are all organic foods, although not necessarily gluten free. It gives you yet another "list" of companies to write to, for more coupons. I believe that Whole Foods (and the store Wild Oats) also carries a publication called Kiwi Magazine, that is known for including some really great coupons. It never hurts to pick one up on your way out the door!

Take note that regular grocery stores do offer organic food sections. My local Kroger is great, because they frequently put a lot of things on clearance. Just last month, I found a $5+ jar of peanut butter on clearance for $0.99! It was a great way for me to try out a new product. That's something else for you to consider. You might not like everything you taste on this diet. I'll spare you the details of the frozen breakfast burrito my husband and I tried last weekend. UGH. But you live and you learn. I am finding some really great products that my entire family can enjoy, and have gotten some help from the companies in question, in the process. Oh! Some products, such as the "soup cups" by Fantastic Foods, actually have coupons inside their cardboard packaging. Make sure to look before you discard them!

There are many websites out there willing to offer advice, tips, you name it. In fact, there are forums which list companies offering gluten free products, so that you can do pretty much what I mentioned above- write for coupons, ask for samples, find out when they have promotions running, and so on. If you have a need to go "gluten free", there is no reason why you should have to go broke to pay for it.