Special Diets for Special Kids Reviews

• Interested in GFCF for autism? Don't miss this book.

  
  By AEIY1029SMOBN on 2000-03-18
  I agree with the other positive reviews, which well outline the contents of this book. I almost considered not buying it myself. I figured it might be starting to outdate and I could find lots of good information on my own... THANKFULLY, I went ahead and splurged! I refer to the resource often and hope Lisa Lewis will write more.

  I am the fortunate mother of a child who dramatically improved on this diet before other interventions could be put in place. There are strong indications that the GFCF diet, promoted by Lisa Lewis in her book, is propelling my child through the other intensive interventions he now receives. I don't recall the book promising it could be easy - it certainly is not. However, this book will help parents learn and hopefully implement the diet with motivation, creativity, and objectivity.
  
  

• Answers at Last

  
  By A2M66S05KKNSWC on 2001-12-01
  I'm a professional who works with autistic kids, and I can tell you from experience that what works for one child will not necessarily work for another. Some children improve so dramatically with this diet, and especially with this diet and the drug nystatin, that I encourage all curious parents to try it. However, don't invest all your hopes in it, or stop other therapies, whether they be ABA, or anti-anxiety medications, when you try the diet.

  Autistic behaviors as well as degree of expression fall across such a wide spectrum, that I have always believed no one single cause would ever be found. I believe however, that this diet, and the theory of casiomorphins, glutomorphins, and yeast overgrowth, is the answer to one type of autism.

  This diet, and its history of discovery by persistent parents, is no less than another tale of Lorenzo's Oil.

  The only drawback to this book is Lewis' personal story. She talks in such vague terms of her son's behaviors and "improvements," that the reader has no picture of what is happening, and whether it's dramatic enough really to credit the diet.

  However, the diet, the recipes, the resources are brilliantly presented. Everything a parent needs to start and maintain the diet is here. You won't find yourself, wondering, doubting, or second guessing, because the coverage of the actual diet is quite clear and complete. I wish there were some kind of Pulitzer for reference books, because I would nominate this one.
  
  

• Great Resource To Implement A Gluten- & Casein-Free Diet

  
  By A3QRIH271YH9ET on 2000-02-25
  I disagree tremendously with the negative review listed for this book. The author never implies the diet will work for everyone and is the sole therapeutic answer. In my opinion, if you are even THINKING of implementing a gluten-free, casein-free diet for your child, this book is a must. Not only does the author provide a thorough review of the literature & studies done on relevant treatments for autism, & defines many of the terms so readily used, she offers a ton of GREAT, KID-FRIENDLY recipes (great for ANY kids that need to be dairy- and gluten-free, regardless of the reason). The author presents the information without bias, allowing the reader to form their own conclusions whether the diet would be helpful. And while, yes, the diet may be difficult to implement (since casein and gluten are so pervasive in our foods), it offers a SAFE, alternative approach that we have seen work for MANY, MANY people in conjuction with other therapies. And as a medical professional, I was more skeptical than most that there could be any link with food & behavior before I heard and saw it for myself over and over and over first hand. If I had a child with autism I would CERTAINLY TRY this. I would have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
  
  

• Important Autism Resource

  
  By on 2000-02-25
  My eight year old son went on the gluten-free/casein free diet a little over a year ago. A member of my support group had highly recommended _Special Diets for Special Kids_ by Dr. Lisa Lewis. I'll always be grateful that she did! My little boy immediatley showed more awareness. Before going on the diet, we were unable to get him potty-trained; within two weeks of starting the diet, he achieved toileting control on his own. He increased some in expressive language, but in receptive language he improved tremendously. Dr. Lewis clearly explains the testing options available to help parents make an informed decision about whether the diet might benefit their child. She emphasizes that this diet is not a guarantee or cure but could possibly improve a child's life. Reading her book is like talking to another mother of a special-needs child who is offering the experience of what worked for her. After going on the diet, learning definitely become easier for my son. Dr. Lewis also lists every imaginable resource to help in the appendices. After reading the book and trying to properly implement the diet, we continue to receive support from ANDI, the group co-founded by Dr. Lewis. This group offers the latest information and new recipes to help with dietary intervention. The procedure has not always been easy, but seeing my son emerge as he has, has made it worth the extra effort.
  
  

• GFCF Dietary Therapy-A Valuable Intervention!

  
  By A370O3KVEOIMFD on 2000-02-28
  I highly recommend Lisa Lewis' book, "Special Diets For Special Kids". The book offers a valuable overview of this dietary intervention which has helped to improve the lives of many, many children.

  Ms. Lewis' book provides answers to many questions parents may have about the diet. It is a wonderful resource of information for anyone who is considering the GFCF Diet or has already begun. The book also contains over 150 wonderful recipes that are gluten and casein free.

  Growing numbers of parents continue to report tremendous improvement in their ASD children. They are attributing the GFCF Diet Therapy as one of the most important interventions they have used to help improve the lives of their children. Whether you use this therapy alone or along with other interventions, this book is indispensable.

  Judy DeHart/ Editor, GFCFDiet.com
  
  

• Incredible Resource
  By on 2000-01-17
  If you are interested in trying dietary intervention for your child's developmental delays, then this book is indispensable. I really enjoyed reading it, I learned a lot, and the recipes are terrific. My child has benefited enormously from this diet and I recommend the intervention. I have bought several copies for friends and family members.
  
  
• A Fabulous Resource for Beginning a Casein-free,Gluten-free
  By A2Y18VKTLUWPDA on 2000-02-27
  Having a child recently diagnosed with autism, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone in search of the "how to" of a CFGF diet. Containing explanations of why this diet may be effective, tests and nutritional support, lists of foods the child can and cannot eat, recipes, and so much more! I especially appreciated the list of mail order food companies and web sites where you may obtain the food necessary for this diet. Every professional I have spoken with, including those who have seen my child, have highly recommended this book. It has became my salvation! I cannot thank Lisa Lewis enough for writing such a comprehensive book! If you are a parent with a child diagnosed with autism, this book is a must have!
  
  
• OK peoples ! If you have a child on the spectrum - its time!
  By AW1VD5YR8FREZ on 2002-11-01
  Parents of autistic children, ADD or ADHD kids - you have to do the GFCF Diet thing! IT IS TIME.
  This book by Ms Lewis is a great how to get on this diet with excellent practical advice and good tested/yummy recipes for all the favorites including: CHICKEN NUGGETS, breads and food planning.
  This GFCF Diet is not a fad and it is not a gimic but an excellent way to you help spectrum child feel, do, be the best they can be.
  It all starts with proper nutrition and certain ingredient avoidances. Give it a shot! I highly recommend it and have seen enormous changes in my autistic son so much so that his ATEC went from 89 to 9 and he is now in kindergarten! I highly recommend this book (and Special Diets for Special Kids II!)

  What are you waiting for????
  
  

• Use caution in adopting dietary intervention
  By A3GFJ2UEIV2TAL on 2000-02-21
  I read this and Shaw's book on dietary intervention, and placed my 4 year old daughter strictly on the diet for 3 months. I was desperate to try anything, as are so many parents. Despite what Lisa Lewis tells you, this diet is a real pain, it's expensive, and it inhibits socialization opportunities revolving around food. I had a very hard time telling whether the diet was working or not-- different proponents of dietary intervention will tell you that improvement will happen immediately, or in a few days, or not for a year (!). Meanwhile, the child is developing and acquiring new skills regardless. When I finally took my daughter off the diet she started talking more than ever. My advice: take the time you would spend creating GFCF foods and spend it interacting with your child instead. And focus on proven scientific methods for treating autism, like ABA. By the way, the web sites for dietary intervention haven't been updated in a while-- I'm wondering if the theories behind the diet are not panning out.
  
  
• Excellent source for information
  By on 1999-04-29
  This book fully explains the diets & reasons for them-with recipes too. In the back, author has listed Her web page e-mail address & many other contact resource addresses, phone or fax numbers-web pages- for everything from cookbooks to food companies, organizations, medical info...even alternative treatments organizations. Don't think I-nor anyone- could choose any better book. It's also a quick, easy read.MJJaegr
  
  
• Great Resource!
  By A1ABVP0DV1ZN89 on 2000-11-12
  Lisa Lewis really spells it out with great practical material. Unfortunately so many 'manuals' these days talk in generalities. Not here! This is a step by step method with lots of phone numbers, who to contact, etc. Go for it! Kids really benefit from this!
  
  
• I finally understand how all the ingredients work...
  By A40NUCHM5TZVS on 2005-02-05
  It's one thing to know which ingredients you need to substitute; it's something else to understand exactly what each ingredient does for a recipe and how the substitutes react in different ways. This book is a life saver for people who enjoy cooking and eating, but have allergy restrictions.
  
  I bake bread. For me, understanding how the common flours act and how to compensate for what's missing when you use acceptable allergen flours was priceless. And being introduced to new substitute ingredients--understanding where they're from (so you know where to find them) and how they differ in substance, taste, price and potentially affecting other allergies was a god-send.
  
  And the authors understanding of the need to eat healthfully as well as allergenic was incredibly on-point. It was hard enough to get a handle on other health and eating issues without being slammed by the food allergies. The author helps to address these concerns as well.
  
  For the amount of information presented, it's incredibly easy and light reading. She puts it in laymens terms and makes it easy for ANYone to understand. Another plus for those of us already overwhelmed with information to navigate! Her addenda is full of information for those of us without the benefit of stores nearby and even recommends OTHER cookbooks. Overall, this is an author clearly interested in helping families eat well and obtain accurate information. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
  
  
• Special Diets for Special Kids
  By AHYF4TC2OP90Q on 2002-02-06
  I am researching diet/supplementation suggestions for my son who has Sensory Integration Dysfunction. This book was written well and was easy for me to follow although she does discuss scientific processes. It provided some possibilities for me to consider as to why my son behaves the way he does. The diet recommends a gluten free/casein free diet for Autism and related developmental disorders. The diet will be what I try last in my search to help my son because of its potential labor intensity. I am hoping we are successful with supplements. If you are searching for information about the link between Autism/SID/related delays and diet this is a good overview. The resources and websites have been very helpful.
  
  
• Good resource for starting the gluten/casein free diet
  By on 2002-06-15
  This was an excellent start to understand the gluten/casein free diet for children with autism and other special needs. The background information was a little complicated for people who are not in the medical field. However, the basic steps were concise and easy to follow. I especially like the recipes in the back of the book and use them often. There is also excellent resources and contact information in the book. These dietary interventions should be tried by every autistic person. It has changed my son (and my)life! Thank you Lisa Lewis!
  
  
• WOW!!! SO THANKFUL FOR THIS BOOK!!
  By ADI8KUG92L3KK on 2005-06-25
  Before we started this miracle diet, our four year old daughter was unable to understand much of anything we said to her. We had to gesture and point like we were speaking a foreign language. This diet allowed our daughter to begin understanding within a matter of days. She also started making eye contact almost immediately. Her chronic diarrhea ended. Instead of being zoned out she started playing and fighting with her two year old sister. She started saying words instead of just repeating what she heard. She started picking up toys and pretend playing. She was finally able to begin potty training. This book taught us how to begin the diet. It was tough at first but now after 5 1/2 months our family is pretty comfortable with it. This book provides all the information you need to suceed. Good Luck to You!!!!
  
  
• the must-have book for the gf/cf diet
  By A2X6S7521VCDQB on 2002-04-26
  There is so much information in this book I studied it for a year before my boys started the diet. I use it daily for all of the recipes. This book makes the diet more do-able than it sounds and much less scary.
  
  
• A must if you are thinking of going GF/CF
  By A1KG0N5O8N40LT on 2005-08-19
  A great resource, informative and with creative and exciting recipes - makes a very difficult diet just that little bit easier. If you are considering GF/CF for your child then this is one book that has to be in your kitchen
  
  
• The one to get you started !....
  By A2KO6WC09OGUJR on 2006-03-23
  This book is about the "why" and the "how" of the gluten free casein free diet recommended for autistic kids.
  
  It's great !! It's easy to read yet complete, is full of tips and has lots of recipes (easy to do and tasty).
  
  Implementing this diet is not exactly funny or easy at the beginning, this book will lead you every step of the way and give you great hope that you can live normally with this diet.
  
  Afterward everything falls into place ! With this book, you can do it !
  
  
  
  
  
• "Awesome! This is definitely one I'll share with others."
  By A3O51B5PVIO7U6 on 2006-06-19
  This is an awesome book for parents of children with eating challenges. It is easy to follow and has given strategies on how to work with such limited food choices.
  
  
• A must for the gf/cf diet
  By A22881MRUIUZSH on 2006-11-17
  This book is a must if you are starting the gf/cf diet. It haves the basics of why the diet works and then some great easy recipes that will help you realize how easy it can be to cook gf/cf. My kids especially love the bread recipe and wouldn't let me go back to the pre-made bread they were eating. I would recommend getting this book before you start the diet or while still in the early phase. It will make it so much easier!!!!
  
  
• Satisfied customer
  By A1I32QS3K2YDY0 on 2006-03-01
  The author's story was touching there was lots of good info about the diet. However, I am not much of a cook, so the recipe section is overwhelmingly time consuming to me. Way to many steps invloved in the recipes.
  
  
• Couldn't live without this book!
  By A2843500EKO5YB on 2007-03-10
  We have both of these books and I could not live without them. My husband is GF and my 2 yr old is GF/CF (diagnosed on the spectrum) and after being on this diet all of her autistic symptoms went away. I already knew how to cook GF, but this book has given us so many more possibilites to eat normal meals and have fun treats. We made our Christmas cookies from the recipe in here and the icing for them. I recommend these to anyone who needs to eat GF or GF/CF.
  
  
• Must Have for GFCF Kids
  By AMPIM2CPBPGWI on 2006-03-21
  We bought this book right after our son was diagnosed with autism. Great recipes, explanations, etc. The follow up to this book is wonderful as well.
  
  
• Invaluable Reference
  By A2MUMFTWYNCA1R on 2007-01-18
  I bought this book a few years ago and still find it an invaluable reference. After we tried the feingold diet I felt we needed to take it a step further and we went gluten free. The recipies in the book I still find myself opening up to use and sometimes modify, such as substituting brown rice flour for bean flour. Before going on the GF diet, I discovered through a lab test me and my 13 yr old son (PDD now in remission) cannot digest wheat. My 3 1/2 year old I believe avoided any problems or delays by knowledge from this book and our avoiding wheat, milk and additives - gene and stool tests shown he is gluten and milk sensitive as well. Reading Special Diets for Special Kids really helped me suspect this problem in myself and our children which doctors may not have suspected for much longer, as gluten sensitivity is hard to diagnose and often is not found until later in life. I wish I had read this book 13 years ago! I would higly recommend anyone interested in becoming GF to also read Going Against the Grain by Melissa Diane Smith.
  
  
  
• Great Resource!
  By AYKEHVIPAS0V0 on 2007-10-13
  Lisa explains this diet in an easy to understand manner. Since the GF/CF diet is limiting, the recipes do require some time on your part. There are many ideas for simplifying your time spent on this diet. Many great recipes and resource lists.
  
  
• 2004 Writers Notes Book Award
  By A1MJGEYID20VTD on 2005-05-18
  Billing itself as a specialized diet book for special kids-children with Autism and a range of related devel-opmental disorders-this book opens with a candid analysis of the journey that parents must take while diagnos-ing their child's unique set of neurological conditions. One factor involves a society that cannot handle anyone outside the neuro-normal. This author has waged the wars but clearly handles it with dignity and grace, revealing the options and avenues for the most overlooked origin of biofeedback-the food that we place in our bodies every day. Special Diets for Special Kids is a must-have reference for parents grasping for answers.
  
  
• Science + Food = Healthy Kids
  By AKSEP8AP89LZ6 on 2007-10-05
  It's books like this that make me realize organic chemistry really would have been a good class to finish. If I had known then that I would someday have a kid on the spectrum, I would have. This is a fantastic first dive into the science of the gut of ASD kids explaining the hows and whys of the GFCF diet along with lots of other important things like leaky guts and the evils of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. The first half of the book is science class and the second is some great recipes. This is a very important book to own if you're serious about going GFCF - I reference it often. It even includes recipes for holiday dishes like matzo balls and thanksgiving stuffing. My only complaint is the lack of index for the recipes. Other than that, this is a great book!
  
  
• Great GF/CF recipe source!
  By A2HNP8P7DO8WK6 on 2007-10-22
  I recommend this book for the GF/CF recipes. My only problem with the book was there were typos, apparently not proofread very well for spelling. If you want more in depth reasoning behind the diet, I suggest the book Unraveling the Mystery of Autism... by Karyn Seroussi.
  
  
• Book Price Point
  By A1CI1E05WE11BR on 2007-10-22
  Book #1 - Special Diets for Special Kids is available at AUTISM TODAY for $29.95. I don't understand the $92 charge listed by Amazon...when they have Special Diets for Special Kids TWO available for $19.95.
  
  
• Great starting place!
  By A2LYEMVJNK79SV on 2007-11-22
  This was the first book I read before starting the GFCF diet. It gave a ton of information. Some easy to understand, some, I hate to admit, went over my head unless I really had the opportunity to concentrate! The one thing I strongly disagree with is the assertion that this diet is not much more expensive than what you're spending now in cow's milk, etc. It totally is- even if you bake from scratch. All the specialty flours, etc. really add up. The switch to rice milk is a bleep on the checkbook balance compared to the switch to gluten free cooking and eating.
  All in all, I'm very happy with this book. Some recipes are better than others, but the wealth of over all information in this book is great. I would definitely do a search for better prices, though! I found it for around $30.
  
  

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• Special Diets for Special Kids, Two
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• Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism
• Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders