Your special-needs child might have certain nutritional needs depending on her diagnosis -- either ADHD, autism, allergies or a medical condition that dictates dietary parameters. It can be overwhelming to feed your special-needs child, but a few tips and ideas will help you prepare nutritious meals that meet all of your little one's nutritional needs.
ADHD
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is characterized by difficulty concentrating, inability to focus and impulsive behavior. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, certain foods might help relieve his symptoms and improve his behavior. Elimination diets, which eliminate one food at a time to determine what might exacerbate symptoms, are commonly used with children diagnosed with ADHD. Foods containing artificial dyes, such as certain types of candy and beverages, as well as foods that contain salicylates, found in foods such as tomatoes, berries and applies, are often eliminated first. Children with ADHD should also eat a well-balanced diet filled with lean protein, vegetables, fruits and whole grains to replace the foods they cannot eat.
Autism
Autism is a disorder that can impact your child's ability to make eye contact, form social relationships and learn normally. Certain dietary changes can help your child's symptoms. Lisa Lewis notes in her book, "Special Diets for Special Kids," that children with autism might not be able to digest the peptides in foods that contain gluten and casein properly, which can exacerbate symptoms and cause discomfort. Omitting foods with these substances might help your child feel more comfortable and might also help improve her other symptoms. Plenty of fresh produce and dairy foods are also part of a healthy diet.
Allergies and Sensitivities
Food allergies or sensitivities can threaten your child's health, so vigilance might be required to keep foods your child cannot tolerate out of his diet. Lewis notes that elimination diets are one way to both determine exactly what causes food sensitivities and help prevent symptoms. If you notice your child has a reaction to a certain food, make note of it, then eliminate it from his diet. A severe reaction might involve an allergy that requires immediate medical attention. Rotation diets are also used for sensitivities, which means the food is eliminated for a period of time, then reintroduced to see if the sensitivity has resolved itself. If your child cannot consume a certain food, such as milk, replace it with foods that contain the same nutrients so your child does not become deficient.
Medical Problems
Certain medical problems might make it difficult to ensure your child gets all of the nutrients she needs. Celiac disease is an inability to properly digest gluten, which is present in many grain products. Replace these with other sources of fiber, such as beans, to ensure that your child still receives proper nutrition. Malabsorption problems might make it difficult for your child to digest certain nutrients, so it might be necessary to increase your child's intake of these vitamins and minerals from other foods or supplements to ensure she gets what she needs.
References
- "Special Diets for Special Kids"; Lisa Lewis; 2011
- "Special-Needs Kids Eat Right"; Judy Converse; 2009
