Cucina di Becca

GFCF cookbook review

This is the first cookbook that I got after getting advice from Luca's teacher to try a gluten-free, casein-free diet: "The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook; the ultimate guide to the gluten-free, casein-free diet".

Here is some of their description about why these foods cause ADHD and autistic symptoms. I have seen this reasoning other places - seems to be the accepted logic. However, there are no scientific studies that have supported these diets; just lots and lots of anecdotal results. (By the way, we don't think that Luca is ADHD or autistic! The diet was a suggestion to help with some of his explosive behaviors)

"Many children with ADHD or autism have problems with their intestinal lining. The type of food that causes the most problems is protein, specifically proteins from milk, wheat and soy...during digestion, not all of the amino acid chains are completely digested. What results are residues of short chains of amino acids called peptides. The peptides should not be absorbed unless the gut is damaged, and therefore too permeable or leaky."

They go on to say that these peptides can cross the brain and send a signal which can cause a short circuit in brain functioning. They feel like this is the cause of the abnormal behaviors. They also address the common thought about opiate-like effects of these foods. I have seen behaviors in Luca that look like this -- as if I gave him an opiate. It is sudden, short lived and very intense. It is also very irregular. So, I was convinced that it could be resulting from diet. I was also convinced, after reading this book, more than ever that blood testing for allergies was not going to be helpful.

We took on the GFCF diet for about three weeks. This book really freaked me out -- suggesting that we needed to get rid of all sauces, such as ketchup, mustard, etc. as well as lunch meat (salami is always in our fridge) and such things as chocolate chips. I was very thankful for Whole Foods, which has some amazing substitutes and every kind of flour imaginable.

This cookbook has a couple of great recipes -- one for waffles & one for veggie muffins, that I use regularly. I haven't tried too many of the other recipes. I mostly felt like I needed help with snack foods, as doing meat and veggies and fruit for our meals was pretty easy.

Most days, I am convinced that reducing sugar (and therefore processed foods as well) is the biggest contributor to calming Luca down. Bill left out a box of Honey Nut Cheerios on the table this morning, so Luca had a bowl with rice milk. It is so hard to tell a five year old that they can't have food that you let them have before. We had a crazy, crazy day. He was yelling in our faces a lot, in sort of a cheerful but really annoying way, and he even choked and punched Mimi for no reason. He wasn't angry. He actually said that he did it because he was feeling too hyper. It could have been the gluten, or it could have been the sugar. Hard to say. I like to think that I can control things with diet, but frankly this may just be our cross to bear. I am convinced that there is no magic bullet, but I hope to help Luca feel good in his body. He definitely didn't today.

Overall, this is a great book with lots of helpful information. I don't make claims that it is scientifically correct.

Happy Spring!

Bye, bye Sally

I can't really believe that February is over. So, I will say goodbye to Sally Fallon for now...my final comment on Nourishing Traditions is that it is bible for healthy eating and the chemistry of food. The recipes, however, are hit and miss. Jen also made a great observation about seasonal eating -- zucchini soup? Yeah, guess it is for chilly days in early fall. Very early fall.

And I forgot to pass along some funny recipe titles:

• Sweetbreads on toast
• Grilled kidneys with hazelnut butter sauce (you would almost eat that one, huh?)
• Heart kebobs
• Brain omelet

Uugghh. Maybe I will try organ meats NEXT February.

I decided that instead of my plan to review Julia Child and her buttery, creamy recipes, ...sadly off limits for now...that I would review my four new cookbook discoveries. I am starting with Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook. She is a deceptive mamma, hiding vegetables everywhere she can. I borrowed this book from my friend Katy who made these amazing egg souffles with squash puree. They were so yummy...

(by the way, we are enjoying the benefits of our new diet...much calmer household, and we all feel better. I am adding that because I have been moaning and groaning in my posts )

Some thoughts on this cookbook so far: (I have only tried two recipes -- grilled cheese with butternut squash puree hidden within and macaroni and cheese again with the clever squash puree tucked away)

• Yes, it is a marvelous idea to hide veggie purees in food for kids. I have thought a lot about this - not only because of the obvious health benefits but because we want our kids to slowly become used to the tastes of veggies that are harder to eat by themselves. I appreciate this cookbook because she doesn't rely on the easy sweet ones - potatoes, carrots, peas, corn - but instead focusing on beets, spinach, broccoli, squash, cauliflower, etc.

• OK - but how much? Is it really that impressive if you get 1/2 cup of beet puree into an entire recipe of pancakes? Yes, some is better than none...here is the flip side - she adds an equivalent amount of squash puree and cheese for the grilled cheese. Even I thought it was too heavy on the squash taste. A caveat -- we are using goat cheddar, so it isn't really too yummy to eat grilled cheese anyways.

• She uses the trans fat free tub spread margarine...yuch...along with quotes from her nutritionist about how healthy these meals are. When are we all going to catch up to the nutrition gurus who repeatedly tell us that giving up sugars and processed foods is much more beneficial than giving up fat? Sally helped me embrace butter and coconut oil, as well as animal fats. I am sold.

• Last one -- the cuteness. Be prepared for lots of cute little quotes with cute little cartoons from her kids and, of course, her famous husband Jerry. "Oh, I can't taste a thing! These grilled cheese sandwiches are to die for!" Umm...no. You can taste the veggies, which I think is a GOOD thing.

I am trying some recipes this week and will report out. I am impressed with her descriptions of how to store the purees in your freezer. It is really a good idea - but it doesn't matter if the kids won't eat the food. So, we will put her to the test...stay tuned...