How do I Get a Child With Autism to Eat a GFCF Diet?

A GFCF diet, also known as a Gluten-free Casein-free diet, is used by a large number of parents and caregivers of autistic children. According to Dr. Leslie Carter's article on AmericanMentalHealthAlliance.com, "The Gluten-free Casein-free diet helps gastrointestinal problems found in 50 to 70 percent of people with autism." Autistic children have a strong reaction to food sensitivities due to an overwhelmed immune system. "The presence of toxins produced from certain food additives can have a negative impact on an autistic child's speech and behavior," states AutismWeb.com. It is important to slowly eliminate food that an autistic child is allergic to and introduce healthy alternatives.

Instructions

1

Slowly remove all foods from the autistic child's diet that contain wheat, rye, barley, spelt, milk, sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. These types of foods often lead to allergies and gastrointestinal problems in autistic children. Read food labels carefully before serving to your children.

2

Introduce food for a GFCF diet by eating the foods in front of your autistic child. Tell him the food is delicious to make him aware that the food tastes good.

3

Discuss the new food items with your autistic child by using pictures of the desired food items. Have the child practice sorting them and familiarizing herself with them.

4

Move on to real food once your child has gotten used to the pictures. Incorporate them into play and learning activities.

5

Put the new food from a Gluten-free Casein-free diet onto the autistic child's plate. Let him know that he simply has to get used to the new item on his plate.

6

Place the new food item from a GFCF diet onto the autistic child's plate and ask her to touch the item. Assure her that she just has to get used to feeling it.

7

Have the child pick up the Gluten-free Casein-free item from his plate. Make sure that he gets used to handling the food item.

8

Have the child place the item onto her lips. She should get comfortable with this.

9

Make the child take a small bite of the new food and get him to swallow it. Increase the size of his bites over time.