Starting a New Diet for Gab

Last Sunday, after attending a free seminar (Autism: A Perfect Storm) by Dra. Comia, a DAN! doctor, we have decided to put Gab on GFCF diet.

GFCF diet means Gluten-Free, Casein-Free diet. Gluten-Free means eliminating food sources containing gluten like wheat bread, oats, chips, cakes, well almost anything made from wheat, barley, rye, bran, etc. Casein-Free means eliminating food sources containing milk and its product like cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc.

I checked out most of the groceries near our place for GFCF products available, i think the nearest that has many products is in Landmark in Trinoma, but the prices are way too expensive. Ate Cynthia, told me that it can be cheap if i know how to read labels and identify the ingredients that should be in the list. Yeah, it took me an hour or so, moving from one aisle to another, checking every label of snacks, flour mixes, juices, milks, and even tomato sauces for their ingredients. It was quite interesting to know that some of our snack delicacies are actually GFCF (like banana chips cooked in coco oil with coco sugar)! I also realized that most of the foods i cook for luch everyday are GFCF (like tinolang manok, adobo, etc.)!

One thing i became aware about also is that our local small enterprises are trying to compete with big manufacturers already by producing organic versions of our basic kitchen staples like vinegar and sugar. Quite interesting huh!

I knew already that i will be quite challenging to change Gab's diet 'coz he got addicted already to eating ice cream, clover chips, oheya chips, piatos, yogurt, etc. for snacks. I bought different flavors of LiteChoice's Rice&Oats (P26) in apple-cinnamon, veggie-asparagus, and santa fe-bbq. I also bought a pack of banana chips(P31) and LiteChoice's Rice Pops (P18) in cheese flavor. He hasn't tried out the snacks yet 'coz there's still a pack of Bread Pan in his snacks corner :)

But anyway, Gab's foolproof GFCF snacks fried camote and fried banana (both cooked using coconut oil) will always save his afternoon snack tijmes if ever he won't like the goodies i found *wink*.

Another challenge we have to win is his addiction to ice cream. Gab has a very keen sense of hearing and he can hear the Selecta kart's sound or the Sorbetes bell sound even if we turn the TV volume up. Result? Tantrums! So last night, I and my maid made a bunch of ice candies made from Berri 100% pure orange juice + Rice Dream's rice milk in vanilla + coco sugar & fresh mashed mangoes + Rice Dream's rice milk in vanilla + coco sugar... instant GFCF dessert for those kids who love cold treats! :)

GFCF diet could be challenging but i know my family can find ways to adapt it quite well.. so maybe after a few days or weeks, i'll keep you guys updated with other GFCF goodies we moms can make from our local ingredients here.