Mashed Tators

Cook the tators in a half water half gf/cf chicken stock
Drain well
Start to mash using salt, pepper, a sprinkle of onion powder and a splash of soy milk (look into other options then soy...maybe potatoe or rice)

Update....

Since it seems to me that the hardest thing to give up will be the dairy, I decided to start limiting that now, even though we don't start until January. Emma has been off cows milk (i've been experimenting with soy and rice milk) and pretty much off butter and cheese (a little bit here and there but not even close to the amounts we used to use).

We've started taking the multi-vitamin again (which I was happy to find out could still be used) and I'm waiting for the calcium suppliment to come in.

Today was the first time (in months and months) that Emma asked to wear her big girl underpants which we got through about 5 hours with no accidents....and she even for the first time said she had to go potty!! I've also noticed that Em is alot more vocal (and understandably vocal not just her babble) and she seems to be following directions alittle better. We'll see how she does in daycare this week.

The more I read and learn about the GF/CF lifestyle, the more things make sense and the more I feel that I'm on the right track with this.....

Link to remember (kept hearing about it but forgetting to look at it)...

http://www.gfmeals.com/default.asp

Also I found a Rice Milk that I got in chocolate and vanilla (I forget the name but will post it later so I don't forget). I tried the chocolate and was pleasantly surprised. It tasted like watered down (or weak) regular chocolate milk.

I've decided to start trying things now so that a. its a slower progression for both of us into the program and b. i'll have a starting point as far as products and brands go so that I can make things that I know Emma will like which will of course make all our lives easier!

Edit: Rice Dream: Rice Drink is the name. I also tried the vanilla and again it tastes like vanilla milk but weak or watered down. I also gave Emma soy milk on Sunday and she seemed to like that better then the Rice. I also found soy yogurt so I got a container of Strawberry Bananna for her to try and see how she likes that.

The First Post......an introduction

My daughter who is 3 1/2 was diagnosed with High Level Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder on April 1, 2008 (about 2 months before she turned 3). She's been in early intervention and is now in a special ed program in the morning and a day care in the afternoon.

I took her off dyes in March (a couple of weeks after she had ear tubes put in both her ears for chronic ear infections) and she has really come a long way in her progress. But lately I've noticed that she seems to have hit a wall in her progress. Previously she would have a brain spurt (as I like to put them) and then 6 or 8 weeks would go by until another one hit.

We are now going on 9 weeks since her last spurt and while I have been looking at trying the GFCF diet for sometime I didn't really think she needed it until recently. The more I read about the diet now the more I realize that this might be a factor in helping her get that boost she needs.

I've also come to realize the amount of commitment, time and learning this entails....hence the reason for this blog. I would like anyone who has done the diet (or some variation of it) or knows someone who has to feel free to offer any hints...receipes....shops (or websites) or whatever encouragement they want to offer.

I will also be using this to track Emma's progress (physically, intellectually and mentally) and hold any info that I might want again (like receipes or the such...since I usually tend to lose them when I write them down).

So welcome to my next great adventure....hope the ride is worth it!!