Mrs. Leeper's Wheat-Free/Gluten-Free Beef Stroganoff

Any parent of an autistic child has undoubtedly heard of the benefits of a gluten-free diet. It seems daily we hear another parent who joyfully explains that one thing or another has "cured" their child.

In theory, it may seem like a wonderful idea. But when your children's dinner goes half-uneaten and all you can hear is, "Mom, this is gross," and "I want real macaroni and cheese!"-you begin to hit the brick wall that is the gluten-free diet.

There are many substitute foods available, including rice and corn pastas, breads, flour, nut crackers, gluten-free cookies, treats, pizza dough, and even some frozen foods. Only a few of them actually have similar tastes and textures as the regular foods, and pretty much all of them are horribly expensive. To make matters worse, autistic children are notoriously picky eaters. Not to mention the logistic nightmare of cooking if you have more than one child (or a spouse) who abhors being on a diet.

If you're like me cooking is not your strong-suit, and you don't have the time or patience to make everything from scratch. Therefore, most of your dinners come from quick-fix boxes and ready-made mixes. In all my experimentation of various gluten-free foods and brands I have found one great-tasting, fast-fix, (relatively) inexpensive dinner my entire family enjoys: Mrs. Leeper's Wheat/Gluten-Free Beef Stroganoff.

Mrs. Leeper's Beef Stroganoff comes in similar packaging as Betty Crocker's Hamburger Helper. The preparation, nutrition facts, and cooking time are nearly identical (a pound of hamburger or tofu and a small amount of water, milk, and butter are needed). The sauce is creamy (not runny) and very delicious. The pasta (made from rice) has a hearty texture and taste. It is almost impossible to taste the difference between this product and the "normal" beef stroganoff. The box comes with suggestions on extra toppings, depending on your own tastes. Not only do I recommend this dish, I even prefer it over the regular Hamburger Helper.

I buy Mrs. Leeper's Beef Stroganoff at my local Meijer's grocery store in the special diet section. It can also be found in health food stores or ordered from online health food websites. If you are unable to find this product in your local store, simply ask the manager to order it for you. With the epidemic of autism (and other disorders) lately and parental interest in new treatments (such as the gluten-free diet), any grocer, large or small, should be willing (and in my opinion, has an obligation) to stock at least some special diet foods.

Mrs. Leeper's is distributed by American Italian Pasta Company out of Kansas City, Missouri. The pasta is a product of Italy and the sauce of the U.S.A. This company also sells Mrs. Leeper's Beef Lasagna, Cheeseburger Mac, Chicken Alfredo, and Creamy Tuna-though Beef Stroganoff is my personal favorite.

You will pay approximately $3 to $4 for this product, which is slightly more expensive than Hamburger Helper. However, just by visual comparison it is obvious Mrs. Leeper's produces more servings per box.

In your quest to navigate the difficult and uncertain world of autism/celiac treatments and gluten-free diets, Mrs. Leeper's Beef Stroganoff should provide you, and your family, a welcome respite!