Founder & President
Julie Matthews is an internationally respected autism diet and nutrition specialist. As a Certified Nutrition Consultant, Julie provides diet and nutrition intervention guidance backed by extensive scientific research and applied clinical experience. She has been a Defeat Autism Now! Practitioner for nine years and has helped thousands of children worldwide through her public education programs, conferences sessions, private consultations, her blog, web site and Facebook group. Julie is on the nutrition faculty at DAN!, serves on the scientific advisory panel of The Autism File. and is an honored member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).
Julie is author of “Nourishing Hope for Autism,” an award-winning parent and clinicians guide to the fundamentals of autism nutrition, dietary implementation and supplementation. Julie is also the creator of Cooking to Heal™, an autism education and cooking class program that provides public education in cities across the country as well as in-home resources for parents who cannot attend events and would like support as they are implementing diet from home.
Julie presents at the leading autism conferences in the US and abroad, hosts multiple radio programs, writes for autism publications, and teaches Cooking to Heal™ autism cooking classes. She supports parents, nutritionists, and physicians worldwide from her private practice in San Francisco. She provides nutritionist training through her private practice and through programs provided by Autism Research Institute throughout the year. Julie is a graduate of Bauman College and University of California, Davis. She has worked in the field of nutrition for over a decade.
Julie Matthews Introduction
Julie Speaks about her book
Julie’s Nutrition Philosophy
Food and Nutrition for Childhood Disorders
GFCF diet? SCD? GAPS diet? Body Ecology diet? Low oxalate? Feingold? Failsafe? FODMAPS? Paleo? GenoType?
Parents often ask, “Which diet do I choose? They’ll say “My friend’s child is doing great on THIS diet… or is THAT right diet for me?”
Many diet practitioners and books specialize in a single diet, advocating one particular approach. Through my years in nutrition consultation, and study of the varied biochemistry seen in children, I’ve learned that there is no “one size fits all” approach to healing diets. A diet that best suits one person’s condition can be a less effective choice for someone else.
In order to know WHICH particular dietary strategy an individual should follow, it’s important to have an understanding of biochemistry and the role of food, nutrition, and supplementation in the restoration of health and well-being. In my work with autism, ADHD, and healthy children, I understand, apply and customize the varied dietary strategies, aiming to identify a most suitable diet for a specific individual based on their unique biochemical needs–I call this a BioIndividual NutritionTM approach.
I’ve synthesized years of autism nutrition research and clinical experience in my book, Nourishing Hope for Autism. I explain the scientific rationale for dietary intervention and give a 12-step guide for nutrition intervention. Nourishing Hope explains all the different diets, including when and why for each – so you can make the best choice for your child and ensure good nutrition. To help parents cook nourishing meals, I created Cooking To Heal. It’s a nutrition and cooking class on DVD, and my Cookbook where I label recipes by compliance with the top 5 autism diets. I’ve made it easy to learn, and to layer multiple dietary principles for those evolving their approach and improving effectiveness.
Nutritious foods are the foundation for all healing diets. My philosophy embraces good nourishing food for everyone, regardless of which “diet” you are doing. Grass-fed animal foods and ghee, pastured eggs, fermented foods, bone broths, organ meats, and vegetables contain essential nutrients for growing children. Of course, always avoid food allergies/intolerances and artificial additives, and reduce sugar. It is also helpful to consider intolerances to certain food substances/chemicals: gluten, lectins, oxalates, phenols, salicylates, amines, and more.
Changing diet is a step-by-step process toward greater health. As you seen improvements, you will be inspired to learn and add more.
Wishing you the best on your nutrition journey,
Julie Matthews
Certified Nutrition Consultant