The Everything Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism: From everyday meals to holiday treats; how to prepare foods your child will love to eat
By Megan Hart and Kim Lutz
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About this ebook
- Crispy Potato Pancakes
- Rotini with Bolognese Sauce
- Barbeque Chicken Pizza
- Creamy Salsa Dip
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Baja-Style Fish Tacos
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
With tips on reading food labels, pleasing picky eaters, and tracking the diet’s success, this essential guide provides the know-how and recipes you need to make this special diet work for the whole family.
Megan Hart
Megan Hart is the award-winning and multi-published author of more than forty novels, novellas and short stories. Her work has been published in almost every genre, including contemporary women’s fiction, romance, horror and science fiction. Megan lives in southwestern Ohio, which is too far away from the ocean. You can contact Megan through her website at www.MeganHart.com.
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The Everything Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism - Megan Hart
THE
EVERYTHING®
Guide to
Cooking for
Children
WITH AUTISM
From everyday meals to holiday treats —
200 tasty recipes your child will love to eat
Megan Hart, MS, RD and Kim Lutz
1114115180Copyright © 2009 Simon and Schuster
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
An Everything® Series Book.
Everything® and everything.com® are registered
trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.
Published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-4405-0021-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0021-3
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0022-0
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C B A
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available from the publisher.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
— From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.
THE EVERYTHING® GUIDE TO
COOKING FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Dear Reader,
Being a parent is tough but rewarding work! It means doing all that you can to make things better for your child. When your child has special needs, this work often includes a variety of different therapies, treatments, and interventions. Many parents of children with autism disorder turn to a gluten- and casein-free diet as one of their interventions.
We know that making changes to your family’s diet can be daunting and often overwhelming. We set out to provide you with tips, information, and a collection of easy, healthy, and economical recipes. Once you have these, you may realize that starting a diet that steers clear of gluten and casein doesn’t have to be that difficult and can even be a fun way to introduce new foods to your family routine.
We hope that you discover you can satisfy all family members’ appetites with great gluten- and casein-free recipes. We have included options for breakfasts, entrees, desserts, and snacks to help you plan your weekly menus. We’ve even tried to provide you with options for special occasions such as holidays and school activities.
We hope that The Everything® Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism provides you with the tools you need to make the transition to gluten- and casein-free eating as easy and fun as possible.
Happy Cooking!
19385Welcome to the EVERYTHING® Series!
These handy, accessible books give you all you need to tackle a difficult project, gain a new hobby, or even brush up on something you learned back in school but have since forgotten. You can choose to read from cover to cover or just pick out information from our four useful boxes.
111411569Alerts
Urgent warnings
111411575Facts
Important snippets of information
111411581Essentials
Quick handy tips
111411588Questions
Answers to common questions
When you’re done reading, you can finally say you know EVERYTHING®!
PUBLISHER Karen Cooper
DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION Paula Munier
MANAGING EDITOR, EVERYTHING® SERIES Lisa Laing
COPY CHIEF Casey Ebert
ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Brett Palana-Shanahan
DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Brett Palana-Shanahan
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Hillary Thompson
EVERYTHING® SERIES COVER DESIGNER Erin Alexander
LAYOUT DESIGNERS Colleen Cunningham, Elisabeth Lariviere, Ashley Vierra, Denise Wallace
Visit the entire Everything® series at www.everything.com
This book is dedicated to all the families that are blessed with a child with autism. As these families know, children with autism are amazing individuals who inspire and challenge us.
Our goal for this book was to provide quality information about acomplicated diet to those families searching for alternative treatments for their child. Specifically, Megan dedicates it to Nikki, Matt, Sammy, and Maddy. Kim dedicates it to Jason and all the kids from Steve Lutz’s classes at Agassiz School in Chicago.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to everyone who inspired us and helped this project be successful. Thanks again to our amazing and supportive husbands. Andy was a super dad and husband who planned many outings for himself and Mason so mom could work on the book, he kept the supply of caffeine up in the house, and acted as technical support with some computer issues! Steve was the taste tester extraordinaire, entertainer for the children, and supreme cheerleader.
Our children, Evan, Casey, and Mason, kept us levelheaded and laughing throughout this book. They also acted as great taste testers for these kid-friendly dishes. Immense gratitude and love to our families. Specifically, Kim’s amazing sister, Laura, and her many parents: Ilene and Jeff, Jeff and Alice, Kenny and Silvana, Eileen, and Barbara. Megan sends love and thanks to her parents and Andy’s parents: Marlene and Paul, Roz, and Russ and Barb. She thanks all her wonderful siblings and their families, Maureen, Kathy, Dan, and Anne. Megan also wants to thank her godmother, Sondra, who taught her all the secret family recipes. Thank you to all our extended families, in-laws, nieces, and nephews who have also provided us a tremendous amount of love and encouragement.
Thanks to our many friends who encouraged us, provided us with support, taste testing, child care, and input into the creation of this cookbook.
Thanks to Gina Panettieri who brought us this exciting opportunity.
Contents
Introduction
1. Autism and Diet
Autism 101
The Medical Community and the Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet
The Connection Between Autism and Diet
Response to the Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet
Popular Dietary Changes
2. Good Nutrition on a Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet
Special Concerns for Special Children
What Can My Child Eat on the GFCF Diet?
What Does My Child Need to Avoid on the GFCF Diet?
How to Read Food Labels
Starting the Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet
How to Tell If the Diet Is Working
3. Strategies for Success
Feeding Your Whole Family
Talking to Family, Friends, and Schools about the GFCF Diet
Making the Most of Convenience Foods
Feeding Your Child When You’re Out and About
Holidays and Special Occasions
4. Homey Baked Goods
Blueberry Apple Muffins
Cinnamon Soy Cream Cheese Muffins
Corny Cornbread
Zucchini Muffins
Sweet Potato Muffins
Cornmeal Pizza Crust
Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Strawberry Cranberry Muffins
Basic Crepes
Maple Cinnamon Crepes
Old-Fashioned Biscuits
Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
Mixed Berry Muffins
PB & J Muffins
Spicy Pumpkin Muffins
Pie Crust
5. Soup’s On!
Gluten-Free Noodle Soup
Lentil Soup
Taco Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Cream of Potato Soup
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
Minestrone Soup
Split Pea Soup
Creamy Corn Chowder
Turkey Chili
Vegetable Rice Soup
White Chili
Garlic Broth with Tomatoes and Spinach
6. What’s for Breakfast
Banana Soy Yogurt Milkshake
Blueberry and Banana Soy Yogurt with Crispy Rice
Granola
Blueberry Syrup for Waffles
Breakfast Pizza
Cantaloupe Papaya Smoothie
Fresh Fruit Slush
Fruit Kabobs
Mixed Fruit and Soy Yogurt Smoothie
Oatmeal with Cinnamon Apples
Orange Pineapple Smoothie
Peach Raspberry Compote
Pink Soy Milk
Strawberry Applesauce
Strawberry Banana Soy Yogurt
Strawberry Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Strawberry Topping
Sunflower-Seed Butter and Banana Smoothie
Tofu Scramble
Tropical Fruit Smoothie
Good Morning Pancakes
Crispy Potato Pancakes
Skillet Breakfast
Fresh Mushroom Scramble
Spinach Omelet
Veggie Omelet
Breakfast Potatoes
7. Sensational Salads and Slaws
Avocado Summer Salad
Chicken Salad
Citrus Fruit Salad
Citrusy Rice Salad
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Fruit Salad
Green Salad with Mock Caesar Dressing
Lemony Rice and Asparagus Salad
Mango Coleslaw
Quinoa and Bean Salad
Roasted Potato Salad
Tabbouleh Salad
Tofu Salad
Traditional Potato Salad
Black Bean Slaw
Veggie Slaw
Wild Rice Cranberry Salad
8. Enticing Entrees
Baja-Style Fish Tacos
BBQ Fish
Barbecue Meatloaf Muffins
Beef Brochettes
Broccolini with Meat and Rigatoni
Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Chicken and Rice Noodles
Easy Baked Chicken
Baked Honey Pescado
Horseradish Brisket
Farmer’s Pie
Pork and Beans
Chicken Corn Bites
Shepherd’s Pie
Taco Dinner
Rotini with Bolognese Sauce
Savory Rice and Sausage
Crispy Potato-Crusted Chicken
The Best Roasted Turkey
Sesame-Crusted Chicken Breasts
Chicken Nuggets
Fish Baked in Papillote
9. Vegetarian Entrees
Arroz Verde con Frijoles Negro
Barbecue Tofu and Quinoa
Black Bean Cakes
Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Caribbean Baked Risotto
Cheesy Polenta with Roasted Vegetables
Corn Cakes with Black Bean Salsa
Italian Eggplant
Lentils and Brown Rice
Lentils with Spinach and Quinoa
Lentil-Stuffed Green Peppers
Mixed-Vegetable Stir-Fry
Brown Rice with Creamy Tomato Spinach Sauce
Quinoa Primavera
Split Pea Curry
Tofu Spinach Lasagna
Vegetable Tofu Pot Pie
Shells with Marinara Sauce
Macaroni and Cheese
10. Sandwiches and Snacks
Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Black Bean Roll-Ups
Caribbean Dream Boats
Creamy Spinach Mini Pizzas
Eggy Boats
Pizza Toast
Hummus and Mango Sandwich
Pinto Bean Burgers
Pinto Bean Roll-Up
Quesadilla with Tomato
Secret Beef Burgers
Tofu Avocado Spread
Tofu Bites
Turkey Cheese Roll-Up
Veggie Roll-Up
Zucchini Yacht
Spicy Meatballs
Curried Chicken
Fried Polenta Squares with Salsa
Homemade Potato Chips
11. Vegetable Sides
Vegetable Baked Risotto
Apple-Roasted Carrots
Hawaiian Sweet Potatoes
Cauliflower and Potato Mash
Creamed Spinach
Frosted Cauliflower
Orange Beets
Grilled Summer Vegetables
Herbed Broccoli
Honeyed Carrots
Maple Acorn Squash
Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
Mashed Sweet
Potatoes
Roasted Potato Rounds
Potato Smash Up
Roasted Carrots
Roasted Winter Vegetables
Spaghetti Squash with Italian Herbs
Sweet Potato Fries
Veggie Stuffing
Stuffing for Roasted Turkey
Pumpkin Risotto
Mixed Vegetable Kabobs
Chapter 12. Desserts
Blueberry Sorbet
Broiled Pineapple and Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
Sweet Potato Pie
Apple Pie
Vanilla Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Frosting
Vanilla Frosting
Cherry Apple Coconut Rice Pudding
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Hot Chocolate
Lemon Raspberry Ice Pops
Limeade Sorbet
Mango Honeydew Sorbet
Orange Coconut Sorbet
Apple Pear Crisp
Pineapple Coconut Rice Pudding
Strawberry Cantaloupe Sorbet
Vanilla Maple Rice Pudding
Vanilla Raspberry Sorbet
Chocolate Nut Clusters
Chocolate Coconut Brownies
Golden Marshmallow Treats
Chocolate-Coated Strawberries
Chocolate Pudding
Chapter 13. Odds and Ends
Basic Applesauce
Baked Tortilla Chips
Cinnamon Soy Yogurt Fruit Dip
Trail Mix
Easy Gravy
Guacamole
Hummus
Hummus Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Pineapple Salsa
Refried Pinto Beans
Creamy Salsa Dip
Sweet Sunflower-Seed Butter Dip
Sweet Potato Spread
Tropical Pudding Pie Dip
Yogurt Applesauce Dip
Home-Style Gravy
Avocado Yogurt Dip
Fresh Croutons
Appendix A. Resources for More Information
Appendix B. School Meeting Worksheet
Appendix C. Sample Menus
Appendix D. Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms
Introduction
The incidence of autism is on the rise. Families are looking for traditional and alternative resources to help their child and families. This has led more and more parents to try a gluten- and casein-free diet for their child with autism. Many families report an improvement in autism-related symptoms and behaviors when they have removed casein and gluten from their child’s diet. Casein and gluten are both proteins found in certain foods.
Making the change to a gluten- and casein-free diet involves thinking about food in a whole new way. Planning and preparation are the keys to success. Gather support around you and your family as you embark on this new diet. Accept that it is a complicated diet that will take some time to learn and adapt to. You will make mistakes learning this diet, and that is okay at the beginning! Strategies for success include menu planning, stocking your pantry with essentials, and jumping into the diet by trying out new recipes. Once you have these items accomplished, you will find that the transition to this diet is not nearly as difficult as you might have expected at the beginning.
The Everything® Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism provides a strong foundation for anyone trying the diet for the first time. There is an emphasis on easy-to-find and readily obtained ingredients in each of the recipes. When specialty ingredients are used, they are kept as basic as possible. For example, there are a wide range of gluten-free flours available to experiment with once you have committed to the gluten- and casein-free diet. These flours are fun to experiment with and provide a broader range of options. However, in this book, gluten-free all-purpose flour is used in place of wheat flour for all baking and cooking recipes that call for flour. When you are just starting out, it is easier on your pocketbook and culinary skills if you stick with a basic, gluten-free all-purpose flour. Once you are comfortable, go crazy and experiment with all the fun flours that are available!
Learning to bake gluten- and casein-free involves learning a whole new science of baking. Gluten is the substance in wheat flour that binds
or holds baked goods together. Flour that does not have gluten lacks this binding agent. Therefore, gluten-free baking requires the addition of a binding agent, such as xanthan gum or guar gum. The recipes in this book use a gluten-free all-purpose flour that does not contain either xanthan gum or guar gum. If you are using a gluten-free flour that already has the binding agent included as an ingredient, omit the xanthan gum from the recipe.
In addition to providing you with the tools you will need to prepare nutritious, delicious, gluten- and casein-free meals for your family, this book will also provide you with information about how to read food labels and grocery shop. Learning these skills will help to ensure that what you are preparing is, in fact, free of gluten and casein. It is important to think about all of the ways that gluten and casein can find their way into your child’s diet so that you can be prepared to prevent unintentional exposures. There are tips throughout the book to help you keep a safe food environment for your child. Tips are included that address daily issues such as grocery shopping, cooking and food preparation, handling parties and school, and cleaning up your kitchen and pantry.
All children need a nutritious diet to grow and thrive. When your child is following a limited diet, such as the gluten- and casein-free diet, having access to sound nutritional information is even more important. The Everything® Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism provides basic information that you need to ensure that your child is receiving the optimal nutrition on this diet. Importantly, due to the limited nature of this diet, your child should be monitored by a physician in order to keep track of growth and risks of nutritional deficiencies.
Also because helping to prepare food can be pivotal in getting your child to eat it, this handy cookbook calls out which recipes would be appropriate to cook with your child. You’ll see a chef’s hat icon 16857 next to each recipe name that your child can help prepare.
Best of all, though, The Everything®Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism will bring joy to your kitchen with recipes for comfort foods and yummy treats including Chicken Noodle Soup, Chocolate Coconut Brownies, and the fabulous Taco Dinner. Have fun discovering reinvented versions of