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EATING FOR AUTISM
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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