Gluten Free Casein Free Diet Help

Find the information you want, the foods your child will eat and the savings your wallet needs

Although the experts don’t feel there is enough solid evidence that the gluten free casein free (GFCF) diet helps children with Autism, there are a lot of personal anecdotes out there, so more and more parents are thinking it’s worth a try. What has others hesitating, is the cost.

As you may have already noticed, GFCF products can be more expensive than their gluten-full/casein-full counterparts. This is mostly due to the GFCF manufacturers being smaller so they don’t have the volume, and therefore the pricing, that a large mass producer can offer. In addition, a more careful manufacturing process is necessary to avoid cross-contamination, they must test for traces of gluten/casein, and raw ingredients for these foods can be more expensive as suppliers who provide these ingredients must follow the same strict regulations.

That being said, there are several tips, tricks and resources for parents on a budget:

· Local and online support groups

· Local food co-op

· Join email lists of manufacturers and retailers you frequent, often they will send coupons and special offers.

· Check the circulars at your local health food store to see what’s on special.

· Make friends with the owner and/or staff of your local independent natural foods store.

· Read online reviews of products you’re considering before heading out to shop – if the general consensus of reviewers says the product is good, your child’s chances of liking it are higher.

· Some products come with a money back guarantee – you may be able to return the product to the store for a full refund if your child won’t eat it.

· Unprocessed meats, fruits and vegetables are naturally GFCF.

· Blogs and websites with some great tips including ways to find coupons and free samples

Recommended GFCF Blogs

http://gfcfmommy.blogspot.com/

http://kathi-gfcf.blogspot.com/

http://gfcfblog.blogspot.com/

http://gfcfrecipes.blogspot.com/

http://www.greenowl.org/IngaSmith.htm

Recommended Websites

www.autismsociety.org

Find a local Autism Society chapter to join for support, and many times GFCF manufacturers will send samples for the meetings.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/gfcfkids/

If you don’t live in an area with an Autism Society chapter or GFCF support group, join an online support group like GFCF Kids.

http://www.gfcfdiet.com/

This is great for basic info on the GFCF diet. They also have some really nice success stories to read from other parents.

http://www.gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org

TACA is an excellent resource with lots of tips on saving money, and just about anything you’d want to know about the GFCF diet. They have even figured out how a family of 4 could afford to follow the GFCF diet on food stamps, complete with meal plans and shopping list.

www.befreeforme.com

Sign up for their newsletter, tell them your dietary preferences, and they will send you custom newsletters with coupons and special offers plus mail free samples to you, all based on your child’s special dietary needs.

www.amazon.com

Once you do find a few favorite products that your child will eat, you can buy them by the case at a discount, with free shipping.

Bakery On Main

It all started in 2003 in the small bakery of a natural foods market on Main Street in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Founder Michael Smulders thought that no one should have to suffer because of a food allergy or other special dietary need, and made it his mission to create products that were good for them but taste like they aren’t. Today, their gluten free casein free granola is made in a 34,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Located just a few miles down the road from the original bakery, the plant maintains the small bakery quality by continuing to bake in small batches.

Bakery On Main sends monthly coupons and special offers to members of its Eat Better Live Better club. Learn more at www.bakeryonmain.com.

BAKERY ON MAIN

CALL (860) 895-6622

OR EMAIL INFO@BAKERYONMAIN.COM