The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet [Hardcover]

Pamela Compart M.D. (Author), Dana Laake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 2006

The best kid-friendly recipes and guide to the gluten-free milk-free diet for ADHD and Autism.What it is. Why it works. How to do it.

The Centers for Disease Control reports significant increases in Autism and ADHD - both affecting primarily boys. The CDC estimates that 1 out of 175 children (age 4 to 17) currently have Autism (300,000). Before 1985, Autism occurred in less than 1 out of 2000. ADHD is much more common in that it affects 4.4 million U.S. children (age 4 to 17).

Common to both of these conditions is the negative impact of certain foods - especially milk products and glutens such as wheat(and to a lesser degree - soy and corn.) One of the challenges that parents face is coping with children who have picky appetites and crave the very foods that affect their behavior, focus and development. The other challenge is finding ways to get their children to eat healthy foods and improve their nutritional status.

The uniqueness of this book is that it not only provides gluten-free milk-free substitutes and recipes, it provides successful suggestions for feeding the picky eater. The authors share details about just how and why the diet works. The specialty ingredients are explained and extensive sources provided. There are also testimonials from the parents and from the children themselves.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Compart, Pamela J. & Dana Laake. The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet. Fair Winds: Quayside. 2009. c.352p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-59233-394-3. $24.99. Kessick, Rosemary. Autism & Diet: What You Need To Know. Jessica Kingsley. 2009. c.96p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-84310-983-9. pap. $14.95.Strickland, Elizabeth. Eating for Autism: The 10-Step Nutrition Plan To Help Treat Your Child's Autism, Asperger's, or ADHD. Da Capo. May 2009. c.256p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7382-1243-2. pap. $17.95. HEALTH Autistic spectrum disorders continue to be a major topic in the news. This mysterious group of developmental disorders still has no known cause, but those who have them seem to have a high incidence of digestive problems. Dietary interventions often lead to improved functioning. These three books offer information about diets and recipes that appeal to children. Strickland, a registered dietitian specializing in ADHD and autism, offers the most detail, explaining the importance of good nutrition for development and discussing food allergies and the use of special diets, vitamins, and supplements. Compart, a developmental pediatrician and Laake, a registered dietitian, cover the gluten-free, casein-free diet and its use in treating both ADHD and autism. They explain what the diet is, why it works, and how to transition a child onto it. Kid-friendly recipes make up the book's core. There is also a resource list. Kessick, a British autism advocate who has an autistic son, presents the shortest book, which features a brief history of dietary intervention in treating autism and material on the implementation of a special diet at home and at school. Her lists of ingredients contain gluten, casein, and other potentially dangerous additives. Buy based on preferred focus.--Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L. - "Library Journal, May 1, 2009" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Pamela Compart, M.D., is a developmental pediatrician and a functional medicine physician in Columbia, MD. She is the founder and director of HeartLight Healing Arts, Inc., an integrated health care center providing comprehensive traditional and complementary medicine services for children and adults. http://www.heartlighthealingarts.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press; 1 edition (November 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592332234
• ISBN-13: 978-1592332236
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book, average cookbook October 5, 2007

By Willsmomstacie

Format:Hardcover

This is a great primer on the science behind the GFCF diet and several other alternative diets for kids on the spectrum. I learned a tremendous amount from it and even identified an enzyme deficiency in my own child because of it. However, the cookbook portion leaves a bit to be desired from my perspective. I was looking for something to help me with feeding a 2 1/2 year old and this is most definitely not geared towards toddlers. Perhaps it would be good for feeding a family with middle-schoolers or older, but for the little ones, there is surprisingly little. Additionally, some of the items that are labeled in it as "soy-free" call for items that have soy in them. I don't regret buying it because I'm sure someday I'll end up using the recipes, but I still have yet to find a toddler-friendly GFCF cookbook.

88 of 93 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource! January 8, 2007

By my GFCF kids

Format:Hardcover

I am still a bit of a novice when it comes to cooking GFCF, we have only been following this diet for a few months now, but this book makes it easy to create meals and snacks that my children will eat. The Wonderful Waffles recipe is better that anything you will find in the freezer section of your local grocery store-GFCF or otherwise-and there are lots of tips & tricks to get more nutrients into your kids. Not only are the recipes good, the info presented on the diet is done in an easy-to-read format. It is all explained in great detail, how it works and why it works. Also, at the top of each recipe, there is a key that shows which allergens are present, a real time-saver for those of us dealing with multiple food sensitivities-you know at a glance. Overall, I am happy with my purchase, I would recommend it to others, especially if you are just starting out on the GFCF diet & need some guidance.

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps it should be 5 stars... May 31, 2007

By E. Barber

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

...but one of the cookie recipes called for Oat flour -- That's one of the forbidden, gluten-containing grains! Must be a typo.

Otherwise, this book is wonderful. Packed with the latest information, substitution rules, and a lot of recipes. The only recipe I've tried is Cinnamon Pancakes and they were fabulous. Although I'm a pretty good cook and can make up things pretty well, I've found that with gfcf baking it's best to follow a recipe and not improvise. With a lot of searching on the 'net you can find other recipes and information, but this book is really informative. And incidentally, the diet appears to be working -- my autistic son is feeling better and acting more like a normal 3-year-old after just 1 week, and I have to admit to feeling more clear-headed and attentive. Though it's a little tough getting started, it has been well worth the inconvenience. So if your child is ADHD or autistic, get this book, and if possible, transition your whole family to the diet. It can't hurt and is very likely to help.