the Autism diet part #1 ~ Going Dairy Free!

(I am not a professional dietitian, nutritionist, doctor, or medical care worker of any kind.. I'm a mom, and I know my children's health, and any recommendations I have are geared towards my family's particular circumstances, we receive support from a dietitian, pediatrician, holistic nutritionist, friends on the spectrum, and ABA specialists.)

Everyone in our household has a sensitivity to dairy. However, we do live on social assistance, in an undeveloped area of town, and have very picky diets. 'D' would drink his milk with rice krispies (after a few years of being dairy-free, it was our only solution to get enough calcium and protein into him regularly). 'A' would eat cheese on his pizzas daily. SO and I use milks and creams in our hot beverages, and the occasional bowl of cereal, not to mention baking!

The boys are very picky, and as is often the case with autism, quite stuck on the very foods that are causing them harm. We also deal with gluten sensitivities, insoluble fibers to be precise, sugars, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, fluoride, and even certain fruits and vegetables.

How to go dairy free, without experiencing sudden changes, arguments, and negative withdrawal symptoms (if any are present);

• use water or alternative milks in baking whenever possible
• try small portions of various alternative milks to see which ones your family member(s) take to
• offer alternative menu options that don't involve milk, use positive reinforcement
• take a mental note of any behaviour or digestive changes 

Alternatives to cow's milk

• rice milk
• soy milk
• almond/nut milk
• hemp milk
• oats milk

Buying milk from a grocery store is always a risky business. bovine hormones It is said to be helpful in children but only for those with specific genetic mutations. The alternative milks contain active ingredients that extend shelf-life, change natural textures, colours, and flavours. You are actually buying very little quality milk, but with a long list of additives. It can be the healthiest option to make your own milk as you need it. By the time you have gone through the above steps to reduce dairy, you'll probably find you have limited need for milk in your life and smaller home-made portions will be easy to keep up with.

Any seed, nut, or grain can be transformed into a milk. They generally keep for a couple days in the fridge.

Too much work, money, time???

1. First of all, don't stop buying cow's milk until you are sure you no longer will use it. Reduce the frequency and start to slowly supplement your family's milk supply with soy milk (often the simplest and inexpensive next step from dairy).
2. A cost-effective way to not radically change your family's life, is to slowly reshape your habits and grow with change, without suddenly injecting new things confusing or causing ill-ease with your autistic family members. Transition to soy milk
3. This milk has the next-greatest amount of nutrients (whether artificial or not) to dairy. If you are coming from a primarily vegetarian situation, where your children don't eat enough meat and fish, I would suggest following steps 2 and 3.
4. As you are going dairy-free try to find the significant naturally present nutrients in milk. Provide supplements and increase fruits and veggies to maintain a relatively functional routine.
5. Soy milk is a persistent allergen especially to autistic individuals, so in my family this dairy-free business isn't done until we are successfully consuming the same nutrients elsewhere.
6. From soy milk, try the different flavours, chocolate and vanilla. Once your loved one has acquired a taste for these sweet flavours you can go to almond milk, hemp milk, or rice milk. 
7. Rice milk is generally just sugar water, hemp has the most nutritional value without allergens.
8. currently 'A' the milk-consumer of the house is drinking almond milk. If we find any nut sensitivities we will move on to whole oats, hemp and rice milk. 
9. the goal is to move away from dairy entirely, or using milk as a familiar form for new nutrients and beverages.