GFCF Diet & Food


Several presenters said doing the GFCF diet was a first step for everyone. At least try eliminating casein for 3 weeks, and gluten for 3 months, and look for improvement. The GFCF Diet Group had a booth and I got a change to look at the Starter Pack which includes a lot of information on the diet, 3 week menu, shopping lists and other stuff. It certainly would have helped me when I attempted it. My opinion is that it is well worth the money. You can see a list of the contents at their site. The regular list moderators Judy deHart and Cara Lewis were not able to make it and so some of the California GFCF group were at the booth. Even though they were there at the last minute, they were very helpful and gave good
guidance to those considering the diet, new to the diet, and on the diet asking about questionable foods (okay, I admit I was eavesdropping). I didn't hear any pushiness or things suggesting the parents "just weren't doing it right." That line always bugs me. They also had a new Cookbook and a Parents/Professional Resource booklet, among other things. Karyn Seroussi was with the ANDI booth right next to them. The ANDI booth had examples of their newsletter and explained about the organization. http://www.autismndi.com/ They were not hiding the fact it is very difficult but said there were many resources for assistance. There is also a program where you can find people in your local area to help you on the GFCF diet.

Ms. Roben's booth was giving out gummi samples and goodie bags. The gummies were intensely fruity...really fruity. They do have artificial colors so that is out for us, but the taste was good. There were sample's of Darifree vanilla and chocolate drink. Definitely better than most soy and rice drinks (except Almond Breeze Chocolate, we like that). The bag has a sample of the gummies, gorilla munch cereal, a 100% fruit strip chewy (which had no artificial and was very good and fruity), pretzels and a couple other things I just can't remember. 

For the next two booths, let me preface this by saying in general I do not like GF baked goods. Out of about 80 GFCF foods I have tried, I can list all of the ones I like on one hand, so I am not the best judge on this, and please get other opinions. This may be helpful if you have a very picky child. Ener-G Foods makes GFCF baked goods and other things. They had samples of two new breads, a raisin bread and a 6-grain bread, and vanilla cookies (when I passed by). I didn't like any of it because it had a slimy, gritty aftertaste that is characteristic of many GF breads. BUT, if you are looking for a GF raisin bread (with golden raisins) or a new flavor of bread, please do look into these. They are two new varieties. In health food stores and at their website. 

Jay Bigam at Kinnikinnick had a great job. He just handed out samples of about 20 different things all day but wasn't taking orders. People were always there. I REALLY DID LIKE the ginger snap cookies, and another cookie there, as well as the three flavors of donuts. Although I really don't like GF bread, their bread was the best I have ever tasted. The hot dog buns were a good texture and consistency for hot dogs (no aftertaste), and could be used for a bunch of other things. That would be my choice for sandwich bread...like a longer sub sandwich. That could go well in a kid's lunch box. Kinnikinnick is all GF but only SOME is CF, so do check your items carefully. I am thinking Jay only had GFCF there because he knows of the GFCF diet. The strictly GFCF line is called Alta. There are some yeast free, egg free and sugar free things too.  If for some reason I HAD to be exclusively GF, I would just order from them and call it a day. Now, to count the GF things I like, I will need at least two hands.

I did not get to the Glutino booth (sorry). I probably missed something else - check the DAN list of exhibitors.

Special Foods: Talked to them a little...the foods are very unique and expensive.

Before I left home, my husband and I were betting if the conference would serve GFCF food or not. We bet not. We were right. Breakfast was provided each day. Piles of wheat bagels with assorted cream cheeses. Coffee with cream, whole milk, and skim milk. If any of the other meals were GFCF I had a tough time telling. I joked with the GFCF food vendors that at least the conference organizers could have let them put out a table of GFCF bagels and muffins with a sign "Provided by..." I said this was a conference that was promoting the GFCF diet as a first and important step. Both Ener-G Foods and Kinnikinnick said their companies would have donated food for FREE! Any amount... for FREE. Since some of the parents are on the diet with their kids or for themselves, they were asking where they could get something to eat. I was happy with the selection but did find it
ironic. This may be something to mention to the DAN folks if you are interested in having some GFCF selections next time around.

The conference does take a ton of work and it did go quite smoothly and was FULL of information. They did a good job, really.

Submitted by Karen from the autismandenzymes  Yahoo Group.