Hi, lambertfan! My granddaughter is on the spectrum. She was diagnosed at about 2 years old (she's 8 now). I looked into dietary issues then, and all I could find out was that gluten and casein were things to avoid. That is a fairly restricted diet, and unfortunately, my daughter-in-law was not too favorable. Are there foods you want to avoid?

Bibi- careful with those diets. There's no evidence that gluten free or casein free diets are helpful to those with autism (for example: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=2860) and there is evidence that such a diet can actually be harmful because autistic children often thinner bones than non-autistic kids and calcium deficiency from skipping out on dairy will make this worse. (http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2008/nichd-29.htm)

No need to worry--she eats everything in sight! Loves fresh vegetables and fruit, milk, yoghurt, but doesn't like meat that requires a lot of chewing, no nuts, except peanut butter! She received a diagnosis of PDD-NOS. She is 5'3" at eight years old. Looks like she will hit 6+ feet in her teens. Like most who have family on the spectrum, I wished for something, anything that could make her better. I have accepted her for the wonderful, bright, cheerful person that she is. No one is perfect, and everyone deserves love and acceptance!

my step daughters both have special needs. Aliena was 4 and diagnoised with PDD/NOS but later diagnoised with Autism Spectrum Disorder, but has a huge list of either illness or other combined type issues that makes her issues different. She's now 13 and Jennifer is 9 1/2 she has the autism tendancies but she's mentally delayed with ADD and other issues too. Now, when I got the girls 6 years ago, they were on a raw type of diet but wasn't eating. And my sister in law had loads of issues with their diet and the girls were under weight because she put them on a gluten free and raw diet. The girls were so thin and would barely eat. It was soo odd that they would just not eat. So When I got them I didn't follow the diet because I needed to see what worked for them with out household. Plus I wasn't advised by a doctor to do so. So I started with things that I knew they liked and went from there. But I did find out that celiac runs in my husband's family and had the girls tested, and they are good. The don't have celiac. Matter of fact, they don't have a lot of food issues other then one child has the underlining issue and one had it right up front called Sensory Intergrate Dysfuntion. Jennifer has a swallowing issue & feeding issue and because of the SID, She can't taste or feel her food a lot of times. It's the brain's wiring and it can be a very frustrating and weird issue. Today she may love crackers with peanut butter and want it all day long. Tomorrow she may say, she doesn't like it and cant get her to swallow it. Aliena has it too but it doesn't affect her quite as much. They also pocket food and that's another issue we work on But...all in all. Aliena gets to eat plenty of carbs because she's very thin and she literally runs it all off. They also get plenty of dairy too. But my kids are really healthy and active since I take care of their diet. They aren't allowed to have aspartame items. It's the one big thing that I totally avoid. We watch different types of foods because Jennifer has a choking problem. But we don't avoid the gluten free for the girls, I may avoid a lot for myself, but they don't can celiac disease, their grandmother does. But they aren't affected. You can have your kids tested to see if they have it or if it's totally neccessary. But I've read things that if you don't have to avoid eating gluten free, don't. But check with your physician on finding out out to work with a dietician, to help you work around or with the eating issues that you struggle with each day. Each hospital should have a program with a dietician to help with making plans and meals to suit the diets in your house. Good luck.

My 8 year old son has Aspergers, we do not follow the gluten & casein free diet as it is way too restrictive. He is an excellent eater, texture is an issue for him, he only started eating bread and potatoes about 2 years ago, he does not like any traditional "kids" foods like hot dogs, m&c or french fries but will eat sushi til the cows come home, he is a very adventurous eater as long as he lies the smell and texture of the food.

I have worked previously with kids with different special needs each child is different and so are all their needs/preferences etc..just relax and love and enjoy all the good things..My dd was born with bilateral clubfeet then at age 5 diagnosed with ADHD/Depression/Anti Social then about age 8-10 years she was given another cute label could be bi-polar can't tell just yet..Well let's just say she could tear up a classroom real quick. She had lots of issues in the classrooms and she was on this pill and that pill until she was 12 she went off all meds with the understanding she was in control of making the right choices...She is now 19 graduated from HS and full time in college..:O)

My 10 yr. old son has Asperger's syndrome. He is very picky about food texture and smell. We have not done the gluten free diet.

Not really, I like food to much lol. Especially breads. I have looked into the restrictive diets, seemed to work on some kids, some saw no difference. I wonder if some is effects of all the chemicals they add to our food.

@ everyone, thanks for answering my blog. I don't find many ppl who understand this. Hope to hear from you again

hello again, do any of your kids with autism have eating rituals? my daughter wont eat the crust of bread, but don't want it cut off. she eats them from the inside out. she takes her cheese or peanut crackers apart beofre eating them always. she smells everything.