Giving Up Grains

My Collin

 Collin is our 8 year old who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 20 months. I have learned and constantly learn so much from this child. Much of which involves food as Collin has been on a gluten free, casein free diet since he was 2 years old. 

The diet brought about many positive things like SLEEP and focus and a happier boy and family all together. In Novemeber 2009 I attended a Robb Wolf Paleolithic Solution seminar  which lead me to the decision that our entire family needed to eat gluten free. As a side note I had another child who was 3 now who had been a REALLY tough baby due to not sleeping and a lot of throwing up and fussiness. Ryan could not tolerate milk and I eventually took him off gluten as well. Anyway, our whole family ate gluten free for a year. After that year passed I know there was still something not right with our son's diet. Collin had been off dairy, off soy and off gluten for years at this point but his belly was distended and his bathroom trips were not regular or normal! I asked my husband if he wanted to attend Robb's seminar as he was coming back to Atlanta agin. He said yes and he went to Robb's Seminar in October of 2010 and came home with Robb's new book "The PaleolithicSolution:The Original Human Diet". He had also had a short conversation with Robb about Collin and Robb stated that we needed to get Collin off the other grains.

So here I was once again about to take a huge chunk of Collin's diet away. No gluten free pretzels, gluten free toast, gluten free crackers, gluten free ice cream cones. No more popcorn, gluten free cupcakes or potato chips. But we did it and it was fine. KID ARE REALLY ADAPTIVE. So many people say to me "I could never do what you do because my kids would never agree." Well they do. It was really only about three day of suggesting other options at any request for crackers, chips,popcorn ect. So now our entire family eats a grain free diet. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen trying to" paleofy" recipes or dream up new snacks for the kids which is why I started this blog. We have all seen posative results in eating a grain free or Paleo-ish diet and Collin looks and feels better and better. I hope these recipes and information help others who think they can't do it. Your really can, and nothing makes me more happy than when we are in the market and my just turned 5 year old says "Mom, I need a healthy snack. Can I get some beef jerky and a bowl of cut up fruit?" True story!!!

Collin is still autistic but the changes in his focus and behavior have been major all due to proper food choice. I am very happy that our family has chosen to eat for a longer healthier life.

Thank You Robb Wolf

The Nutrition Certification was awesome.It really confirmed a lot of decisions that we have made regarding our diet. I knew I was doing the right thing by taking gluten and casein out of Collin's diet and not feeding Ryan cow's milk and then later taking gluten out of his diet too. But now I better understand  the WHY! I also have taken out vegetable oils. There has been a small uprising due to the fact we are having no more potato chips or corn chips in house any more but it is all OK now. My head was spinning with all the information Rob Wolf provided but I what made the biggest impression on me was the case studies he presented. The before and after pictures and statistics of people just like you and me. People who had switched to a diet of meat, vegetables, nuts seeds, little starch no sugar and had life changing results. He presented us with pictures and statistics of people that had high triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, ADD or ADHD, plantar fasciitis, back problems and many other disorders I have never heard of. Once these people switched to a diet of meat,vegetables, nuts,seeds, little starch,no sugar, these symptoms went away. Needless to say I am very excited to start this process with my family.So. I have made my grocery list and have quite a few new recipes. I will keep you updated!!! [caption id="attachment_47" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="CrossFit Nutrition Certification Atlanta, GA November 2009 by Robb Wolf"][/caption]

Nutrition Certification

I am getting Nutrition Certified tomorrow in Atlanta. This certification is going to be the starting point in which our family is going to EXCLUDE grains from our daily  diet. Our son Collin  already eats gluten free and casein free due to a diagnosis of autism 5 years ago.Our other son Ryan has never been able to tolerate cow's milk and is now gluten free as well although he is a typical child with no diagnosis. This nutrition certification is led by Robb Wolf and put on by CrossFit. I am very excited to lead my family to a daily intake of meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, little starch, and no sugar. This blog is a journal of our experiences on this journey. It will be a daily update of the input of food and outcome of what happens to our bodies.