I have to admit that as a nutritionist and a mom, I’m a bit obsessed with lunchboxes and finding the perfect non-toxic lunch containers for my daughter (and myself). I own and have tried many. While all of my choices at home are BPA-, phthalate- and lead-free, I’m still not thrilled with plastic options. I’m uncomfortable that they may find out that they are not as non-toxic as they think they are. I try to avoid as much plastic as I can for this and many other reasons.
As such all of the products and lunchboxes here are BPA-, phthalate-, lead-free, and the food and beverage containers are also plastic-free. Planetbox is our family favorite. It has held up for years. It’s easy for little fingers to open. It has individual sections and there are no containers or lids to lose.
Here are some of the best choices for non-toxic options. Let us know your favorite!
Stainless lunchbox system with carrying case and place for water bottle. Be careful as not all of the compartments are water-tight although you can get waterproof containers that fit inside for yogurt, apple sauce, or anything liquid. This is by far my favorite lunchbox system. My daughter has had this same lunchbox going on the third school year. Three years for a lunchbox is amazing! It’s very durable. There are thin ice packs to go with it and a carrying case.
Finally a glass water bottle that doesn’t break, and no more metal tasting water! Glass water bottles with a silicone sleeve. 9 oz bottles fit well into most lunch boxes. Even better, these are Life Factory’s baby bottles with a solid cap so they can be reused after baby is older or purchased new if you’re just discovering them. They also have 12, 16 and 22 oz sizes with straw, sport, and screw on tops.
If you can’t take glass to school or you want your beverage to stay insulated (from either the cold or the heat), this series of water bottles is one of my very favorites. We own several, including: one with a flip lid for hot beverages like coffee, and a couple with screw tops for water.
Reusable Sandwich Bags and Clingwrap (Plastic-free)
LunchSkins – These reusable storage bags are dishwasher-safe and resealable. They come in different sizes and are easy to open and close. They have a grease-proof and moisture-proof lining that helps keeps food fresh.
Abbego – Like a peel or rind, this wrap protects and breathes. It extends the life of foods by shielding it from air, light & moisture, while letting off-gas escape. And each ingredient comes from the earth!
What food to put in your lunch box
And, what about what to pack inside those lunchboxes? A special diet doesn’t have to mean boring or mean sandwiches everyday!
Here are some creative alternatives that can be adapted for any diet:
Packing school lunches doesn’t have to be another chore for you or boring! I know it can be tricky not feeling like you are stuck in a rut with the same things over and over again. With a little planning and creativity, your child can have delicious, allergen-friendly lunches every day of the school year. In fact, if you want a downloadable resource, I also have a list of 50 lunch box ideas for you.
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Download our handout on GFCF and Grain-Free Lunches
There are a lot of children on special diets. In our Nourishing Hope community the following diets are very helpful for kids with ADHD, Autism, and Neurodevelopmental Delays…
GFCF Diet
Paleo Diet
Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
GAPS diet
But for parents new to special diets, some of the most common questions I get when I suggest a gluten-free/casein-free or Paleo diet are,
“What is my child going to eat?”
“How do I pack lunch on a special diet?”
One of the challenges of school lunch is that we parents are not there to supervise and make sure/encourage they eat all of their lunch.
Many of you know it can be tricky. They will eat the same meal at home but then when they are at school the might not. On the other hand, if we give them the foods they love that are not as healthy “just to get them to eat” they avoid all of the healthy stuff and only eat the junk.
Being the mother of an elementary school child, I have been experimenting for a couple of years on what’s best to put in my daughter’s lunch box that is healthy and delicious.
And I’ve settled on a strategy that works best for us…
A Paleo lunch box
For example, if I feed my daughter a sandwich sometimes she will eat just the bread and not the meat/protein. If I put crackers or a sweet treat, she may eat them but not the vegetable and protein.
There are a couple ways we handle this, most often I do not make a sandwich (unless it’s a tuna or salmon salad sandwich which she tends to love and eat the protein).
I also avoid including the treats, which requires her to eat the healthy choices available. If I do include a treat, I tell her she needs to eat the meat and vegetable or I won’t serve the treat on the next special occasion.
This combination of nutrition and parenting techniques works well for her.
What I do most often choose from several categories of food (protein, vegetable, fruit) and put a Paleo style lunch together. This way we avoid the bread, starches, and sugars and focus on the healthy food.
Choosing to implement a gluten-free and dairy-free diet for you or your child with autism can be beneficial in many ways. Reports from parents after implementing a gluten-free and dairy-free diet include improvements in areas such as cognition, receptive and expressive language, development, skin conditions, as well as reduction in behaviors, improved sleep, decreased ear infections and digestive symptoms, and more.
If you have heard there is no science behind a gluten-free and dairy-free diet for autism, it’s just not true.
Maybe you’ve wondered why you haven’t heard about an autism diet and the science if there’s something to it. Well, this article is for you.
Thousands of anecdotal reports from parents plus the existing scientific data shows that following this diet can help children with autism. Understanding the impact of an autism diet plan is especially important in determining if this option is right for your child.
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is another term for the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale, and products made from them. Gluten plays a crucial role in helping different foods maintain their shape due to it acting as “glue” that holds everything together. You can find gluten in various foods, such as soups, pasta, baked goods, cereals, processed meats, dressings, and sauces.
Exposure to gluten can also come from what is called “cross-contamination.” This is when a gluten-free food is prepared, heated, fried, or placed with foods that contain gluten. Common sources of cross-contamination include French fries that are fried in the same fryer with gluten containing foods like breaded chicken or fish patties, as well as toasters, cutting boards, even knives.
Have a separate toaster, cutting board, and knives for gluten-free cooking/prep and thoroughly wash all surfaces. The more sensitive the individual is, the more they will react to these cross-contamination situations.
Thoroughly researching the different foods that contain gluten and possible risks of cross-contamination is important before implementing a gluten-free diet for autism.
Dairy / Casein
The topic of dairy can be confusing so let’s start with the basics. Dairy is a term that refers to all animal milk and milk products, and is made up of different components. For example, lactose is the milk sugar; whereas, casein is a type of protein in milk.
Just as with gluten, you can have cross-contamination with dairy, so use the same cross-contamination precautions regarding cutting boards, counters, etc.
If something is made from dairy, unless it says casein-free be careful to ensure that it does not contain it. Often the terms dairy-free and casein-free are used interchangeably. When reading labels, we often assume dairy-free means casein-free (which theoretically it “should” be), however, some companies label their products as “dairy-free” when really they are lactose free, so always read the ingredients to be sure.
Also, a product can be casein-free but still contain lactose or even dairy fat. The challenge with casein-free foods is that there can be trace amounts, or there can be other components in the dairy that can cause problems, such as the milk sugar (lactose) or another protein. Many times people have a harder time processing the casein protein rather than the sugar or fat from dairy, but at least in the beginning, removing all components of dairy gives you a good look at whether there are reactions.
And in addition to the differences between the various components of milk itself, there are differences between different types of milk. A2 beta casein milk and camel milk, for example, but for the purpose of a dairy-free/casein-free diet (especially at the beginning) there is no animal milk of any kind included.
Autism and Diet
The signs of autism in children can be wide-ranging, such as avoiding eye contact, delayed language skills, sensitivity to sound, repetitive behaviors, and obsessive interests. Additionally, children with autism often have physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, constipation, sleep challenges, and rashes. And while these symptoms are not considered part of their autism diagnosis according to the DSM V, there is plenty of research showing that children with autism struggle with these symptoms as well.
Following a therapeutic diet plan based on the unique needs of the child can potentially reduce, or in some cases even alleviate, both the autism symptoms as well as the physical ones. The body and brain are connected, and as you heal the body you improve health, learning, mood, and behavior.
After we talk about the basics of what a gluten-free and dairy-free diet is, I’d like to share the science of WHY an autism diet like this works.
Tips to Consider for an Autism Diet Plan
While a gluten-free casein-free diet is not the only “autism diet” out there, it is the most popular. So for the purpose of this article I will call this diet the “autism diet.” However, I’d like you to know that my nutrition philosophy is about personalized nutrition (what I call BioIndividual Nutrition), where there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the diet and nutrition plan is tailored to the individual needs of the person.
However, since there are so many negative reactions associated with gluten and dairy, and because people see such beneficial results, it’s the first therapeutic diet I most often suggest to people when getting started.
Here are a few tips to consider if you are thinking about implementing an autism diet plan:
Safe and Effective
Dietary intervention can be something families can implement immediately. Parents are largely in control of what their child eats daily and can have a big influence on the progress that can be made from a gluten-free and dairy-free diet.
Improving your child’s food intake: Removing the harmful stuff and things devoid of nutrients and adding nourishing food over time has no down side. Nutritional intervention is a safe and effective strategy.
In fact, here is a video from Dr. James Adams, PhD on nutritional intervention and our published study.
Identify Gluten and Dairy Products in Your Child’s Diet
This elimination diet removes all gluten and casein protein from your child’s diet and that isn’t always an easy task. But with a little planning and follow through you can do it. Thoroughly reviewing your child’s diet is the first step in determining which foods to eliminate and which ones to leave alone.
However, gluten is also found in non-food products, such as Play-Doh, hygiene products, and it’s also in the adhesive on stickers and stamps. So be sure to think about the various ways your child may come in contact with products that may contain gluten.
How to Start a Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Diet
Most people choose from two different approaches for implementing a gluten-free and dairy-free diet. For example, you can choose to “dive in head first,” or you may prefer to follow a gluten-free diet first before progressing to dairy-free foods or vice versa. Either one of these approaches can work, as it’s up to you to determine the best option for your child and family.
I urge parents to be realistic in the time it will take to get familiar with all of the sources of gluten and/or dairy. Changing the way your child eats often means changing the way you cook so make sure you give yourself ample time to become familiar with all of those sneaky gluten or dairy ingredients. In fact, in the GFCF diet implementation process I teach parents in my step-by-step nutrition program, the first half of the steps are things to help you get prepared before you even begin the diet.
While it may seem daunting at first, it does get easier over time, especially with the right support.
Don’t Forget Soy-Free
Gluten and casein proteins are very inflammatory to the gut, they are two of the most common food allergies/intolerances, and they form opioid compounds when not fully digested.
Soy also has these characteristics. So when implementing a gluten-free and casein-free diet, I almost always recommend removing soy as well. Technically speaking, the diet I recommend is a GFCFSF diet, However, because wheat and dairy are the main staples in the modern western diet and because it’s pretty easy to avoid soy, for simplicity I tend to refer to it as a GFCF Diet – though it’s really GFCFSF – gluten-free, casein-free, and soy-free.
What Can Your Child Eat While On An Autism Diet Plan?
Following a gluten-free and dairy-free diet gives your child the flexibility to choose from various foods, such as chicken, red meat, fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts/seeds, beans, rice, potatoes, and anything that doesn’t contain casein or gluten. As you begin, you’ll start to notice there are many naturally gluten-free and dairy-free foods already in you or your child’s diet.
Reading food labels carefully is vital to avoid accidentally giving your child foods with gluten or casein proteins, as these ingredients are sometimes “hidden” in packaged products.
Potential Benefits of Following a Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Diet
Implementing an autism diet plan can potentially offer a wide range of benefits for your child. As mentioned above, improvements can be varied and include receptive and expressive language, enhanced cognition, better sleep cycles, less hyperactivity, improvements in constipation, and a decrease in disruptive behaviors. Consistently following an autism diet plan can offer immense benefits for your child.
The Science Behind a Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Diet
Understanding the science behind an autism diet plan is important.
Many well-meaning friends, family members, therapists, and even health practitioners, may try to steer you away from this approach. Most often it’s from lack of knowledge, so the more knowledge you have the more you can advocate for your child and stay motivated in the face of any negativity. It will also help you speak more knowledgeable with your healthcare professional so you can know when they have an important medical point or when they are being dismissive because of their own lack of scientific understanding.
As we discuss the science behind gluten and dairy, in addition to the multitude of effects gluten and casein can have on the brain directly, also pay particular attention to inflammation–both in the gut and brain. Inflammation is at the root of most diseases and disorders. Inflammation of the brain is found in autism, as well as other neurological conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and more. It can cause many of the symptoms of autism. Additionally in the gut, inflammation affects our ability to digest our food properly and prevents us from absorbing the nutrients we need for our brain to function.
7 Science-Based Reasons Gluten and Casein Negatively Affect Autism (and the Research Behind It)
1. Opiates from Gluten and Casein in Autism
Did you know that certain long-chain peptides are very similar in structure to natural opioid-binding peptides? Gluten and casein are two such proteins. In fact, gluteomorphin, also known as gliadorphin, is the name of the opiate peptide formed during the (partial) digestion of gluten and casomorphin is the opiate peptide of dairy.
These peptides can enter the bloodstream for a few reasons. One of the first reasons is that the body needs adequate enzymes to break down these proteins and specifically an enzyme called DPP-IV. Children with autism have been shown to have lower DPP-IV activity. [1]
Another way these peptides can get into the bloodstream has to do with something that is called “leaky gut.” Leaky gut is a condition where the intestines become permeable, allowing things from the gut into the bloodstream, and leaky gut is common in autism. [2] When that happens, these peptides can bind to opiate receptors in the brain and create a whole range of issues such as high pain tolerance and even feeling foggy or disconnected. It can also create addictive-like behaviors to foods with these compounds. Many parents report that their child prefers to eat mainly foods with gluten, or dairy, or both. And this is also why when removing these from the diet, there can be symptoms like withdrawal. And some families report that their child’s restrictive eating improves once the gluten and dairy are out of their child’s system!
Here is more research on the opioids in foods and how they affect autism symptoms:
Gluten and casein cause opioids excreted in urine, which affect behavior in autism. This study states, “A gut-to-brain axis is both possible and probable” [3]
Epidemiological studies have linked the consumption of A1 beta-casein with neurological disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia [4]
Exorphins (gluten-morphins and casomorphins) are found in the urine of people with autism [5]
Gliadorphins and casomorphins can affect the neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system (CNS) and result in the social impairment seen in autism [6]
Opioids cause inflammation in the gut and brain. They also affect the brain directly, causing many symptoms including pain, irritability, anxiety, foggy thinking, and other symptoms common in autism, as well as addiction to gluten and dairy foods.
2. Zonulin and Its Role in Leaky Gut in Autism
Another advantage of implementing this diet is that gluten is known to trigger zonulin. Zonulin is a protein that modulates the permeability of the GI tract, and causes it to “unzip” or open, also known as,”leaky gut.” Studies show zonulin has been linked to gut permeability in autism, [7, 8] as well as many chronic inflammatory disorders (including autoimmune, metabolic, digestive, cancer, and neuroinflammatory). [9]
An increase in gut permeability can cause heightened reactions to other food components in the intestinal tract for children with autism. This can result in constipation, diarrhea, inflammation, food allergies/intolerances, or trouble concentrating. Since the gut and brain are connected, when the gut is unhealthy, the brain can’t function optimally.
We know individuals with autism have a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) issues. In fact, here is a blog I wrote about this almost a decade ago. And in a study by Dr. James Adams, the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms has been linked to the severity of autism symptoms. [10]
The above study on zonulin from 2021 [8] showed that serum zonulin was significantly higher in children with severe autism than controls. This suggests the missing link from Dr. Adams on the correlation between GI severity and autism severity may possibly be related to increased intestinal permeability.
Kids following a gluten-free diet have a much lower intestinal permeability than those who consume gluten.
3. Inflammation to Gluten and Dairy in Autism
IgG antibodies to foods create inflammation in the body and in the gastrointestinal tract. In autism, researchers found high titer IgG antibodies to gliadin (gluten) in 87% of individuals with autism (as well as 86% of of those with schizophrenia) and high IgG antibodies to casein in 90% of people with autism (and 93% of schizophrenic patients). [11]
In another study, elevated inflammatory markers (cytokines) to gluten were found in people with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) who had GI symptoms. [12]
Inflammation as a result of gluten and dairy can create issues in the gut and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, gas, and pain. And in turn, this can cause systemic inflammation that affects the brain, as well as the negative effects caused by not breaking down our nutrients properly to get the nutrition our brain and body need.
4. Mast Cell Activation in Autism
Mast cell activation and high histamine levels are common in autism, and research suggests this activation leads to inflammation in the brain (and locally in the gut) and is a possible cause in the development of autism. [13]
Food allergies, as well as gluten and casein intolerance [14], can cause histamine release. High histamine in turn can contribute to gastrointestinal disorders [15] and high acid levels in the stomach and GERD. And conversely histamine can increase food allergies.
Gastrointestinal disorders and high histamine in autism lead to increased symptoms and severity of ASD.
5. Increased risk of Celiac in ASD
Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to gluten, where the body attacks the lining of the digestive system, causing severe digestive symptoms, as well as additional health conditions. While much of what we see in autism is non-celiac gluten intolerance, there is also an increased risk of celiac disease in autism.
Research shows that people with ASD are more likely to carry the HLA gene with the HLA-DRB1 *11-DQB1*07 structure, which increases the risks of celiac disease. [16]
6. Gluten, Casein, and the Glutamate Connection
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter and some children (and adults) with autism are more sensitive, and their brains are more responsive to the effects of glutamate. That can result in more hyperactivity, irritability, restlessness, anxiety, migraines, seizures, and many more symptoms. Recent studies also show that elevated glutamate is often found in people with autism. [17]
Gluten is 25% glutamate by weight, and casein is 20%. Hence, gluten and casein in a diet can increase glutamate levels. And in sensitive people or those with high levels of glutamate such as those with autism, these foods can exacerbate neurological symptoms, including irritability, stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity. Glutamate can also cause inflammation in the brain and gastrointestinal system. [18]
Limiting the intake of gluten and casein in a diet can help reduce symptoms related to autism.
7. Dairy and Cerebral Folate Deficiency
Some children with autism have a condition known as Cerebral Folate Deficiency. In this condition, folate is not able to be transported properly into the brain because of autoantibodies to the folate receptor, and there are not adequate levels of folate in the brain. This can lead to irritability and sleep problems, low muscle tone, slow head growth, loss of bodily movement, speech complications, and seizures.
One study showed that 75.3% of children with autism had folate receptor autoantibodies. [19]
Studies show that soluble folate-binding proteins in milk can cross react with folate receptors, increasing autoantibodies to folate receptors making this problem even worse for kids with autism by further decreasing folate to the brain. Conversely, studies show a dairy-free diet can reduce folate receptor autoimmunity in cerebral folate deficiency syndrome. [20]
A milk-free diet decreases folate receptor antibodies and autoimmunity.
Scientific Studies Showing Improved Symptoms and Positive Results from Gluten-Free Casein-Free (GFCF) Diet
Above I’ve shared the underlying factors that cause gluten and dairy to be a problem for people with autism. Below I share the growing scientific literature on the efficacy and benefits of a gluten-free and dairy-free diet.
91% of Children with Autism Improved Behavior, Speech, and/or GI on GFCFSF
Research suggests that ASD may be accompanied by inflammatory immune responses, and that this may predispose people with autism to be more sensitive to the protein in wheat, dairy, and soy. Sensitization to these dietary proteins then leads to inflammation of the digestive system and exacerbates negative behaviors.
This exciting study resulted in 91% of the children showing clinical improvement that was observed by therapists/teachers/parents following implementation of a casein-free, gluten-free, and/or soy-free (cf/gf/sf) diet. Improvements were seen in GI symptoms, speech, autistic behavior, less hyperactivity, better focusing, and improved night time sleep. [21]
4.5x Developmental Age and 6.7 pts IQ from Diet and Nutrition Intervention in Autism
This is a study I am particularly proud of because I was a part of it! Our study showed a 4.5x increase in developmental age as well as a 6.7 pts increase in non-verbal IQ. The study involved individuals aged 3-58 years old implementing a dietary intervention of a healthy gluten-free, casein-free, and soy-free diet; along with a multivitamin/mineral formula, essential fatty acid supplement, digestive enzymes, and a couple of additional nutritional interventions studied over one year. You can see my full write up on the study here.
In addition to improvements in development and IQ, major areas of improvement where seen across the board in included a reduction in autism symptoms and GI symptoms, improvement in language, focus, anxiety, and more. [22]
Reduced Autism Behaviors, Increased Social and Communication Skills with GFCF Diet
This report reviewed existing scientific literature and found consistently positive results with a GFCF diet for autism. The literature included papers where groups of children were studied, as well as individual case studies.
Researchers found there was an overall reduction of autism behaviors, increased social skills, and communicative skills.
They also noted that autism traits reappeared after the diet had been broken. [23]
Development Was Significantly Better For the ASD Group On a GFCF Diet
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a gluten and casein-free diet for children with autism and on urinary opioid peptides associated with gluten, gliadin, and casein. The study found that the children who were on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet had better development than the controls. [24]
Given the prevalence of impaired social interaction, communication, and imaginative skills in autism, this study shows how powerful dietary changes can be!
Significant Improvement in Autism and ADHD Symptoms in Children with ASD on the GFCF Diet
This study was a two-stage, 24-month, randomised, controlled trial with 72 Danish children (aged 4 years to 10 years 11 months) assigned to diet (A) or non-diet (B) groups. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) were used to assess core autism behaviours, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) to ascertain developmental level, and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – IV scale (ADHD-IV) to determine inattention and hyperactivity. At 12 months, there was a significant improvement to the diet group scores on all autism, behavior, and ADHD scales measured. Because of the improvement in group A, group B was also assigned to the diet midway through the trial! The results suggest that dietary intervention may positively affect developmental outcomes for children diagnosed with ASD. [25]
GFCF and Keto Diets Improve Autism Symptoms
One study compared the GFCF diet to the Ketogenic diet for autism. Both diet groups had significant improvement in autism symptoms. There were some differences–one diet showed better results in behavior, while the other diet group had better scores for cognitive awareness and sociability. If you want to see more on this study, you can check out my GFCF vs. Keto write up. In summary, the results of this study showed that they are both good diets to improve symptoms of autism, depending on the individual needs of the person. And this study highlights another example of how the GFCF diet can benefit individuals with autism. [26]
Closing Thoughts
Following a gluten-free and casein-free diet can help alleviate autism symptoms.
Creating an autism diet plan in advance can help you implement a GFCF diet smoothly and successfully.
Making these adjustments to your child’s diet can improve their symptoms of autism while also offering additional health benefits.
In fact, parents in my Nourishing Hope for Healing Kids program complete surveys at the end of the program. In the families that participated, 88% had improvement in their autism symptoms. Additionally, a majority had improvements in picky eating, cognition, play skills, expressive language, comprehension, attention/focus, aggression, GI symptoms, sociability, and more. This step-by-step program helps families implement a healthy GFCFSF diet along with additional personalized dietary strategies and nutritional supplementation
The encouraging news is that dietary intervention for autism can be an effective way to make dramatic improvements in your child’s health, learning, and behavior! The GFCF diet is a great intervention on your road to nourishing hope.
I didn’t realize how much I love bees. It’s really a new affinity I have gained in recent years.
As I have gotten more and more into gardening, I have realized the importance of bees. I could have tons of tomato or squash flowers but if they don’t get pollinated by bees, they don’t produce fruit.
And when I heard about the decline of our bee populations (and the use of so many pesticides), I became more appreciative of bees.
But I didn’t really realize it.
It was actually my good friend, Terri Hirning, who gave me a mason bee house for my birthday that had me realize that I love bees.
You know how sometimes it takes a friend reflecting something back to you for you to notice. That’s what happened here. Apparently, I had been talking about them a lot and taking photos and videos (in slow motion).
I had never heard of a mason bee house. So I did some research.
Actually my house works for both mason bees and leafcutter bees.
Why Leafcutter and Mason Bees are Special
Mason bees are active in the early spring and pollinate fruit trees, and leafcutter bees are around late spring to summer and pollinate summer fruits and vegetables.
Mason bees and leafcutter bees do not produce honey.
But they do something else very special…
Leafcutter bees (and mason bees) have almost 100% pollination rates, compared with honey bees who’s pollination rate is around 3%. (Honey bees are wonderful too! Don’t get me wrong. I love them all.)
This means that virtually every flower a leafcutter bee lands in, it will pollinate.
This is because of how different bees carry pollen. Honey bees carry pollen on a little structure (a type of “pollen basket”) on their hind legs, so there is not much loose pollen to spread from one flower to another. Leafcutter (and mason) bees, on the other hand, carry pollen on the hairs on their abdomen. As they go from one flower to another they easily pollinate each flower when the loose pollen falls from these hairs. I like to think of leafcutter bees as doing a belly flop onto each flower they encounter.
Mason bees and leafcutter bees are solitary bees. Each female is her own queen… in other words, she lays her own eggs. So there are no worker bees to guard the queen, and therefore they are not aggressive, and tend to be very gentle bees unless handled. And their sting is much more mild than a honey bee or wasp.
Mason bees use mud to lay eggs in long holes, tunnels, or reeds. Leafcutter bees cut out circles of leaves and make cocoons out of them. They also lay their eggs in tunnels. Although the size of the holes they prefer is a bit different. Notice the green cocoon the leafcutter bee made in our bee house.
As with other bees, they forage for pollen (protein) and nectar (sucrose and water) for food and to use for food for their eggs.
Why have leafcutter and mason bees?
5 Reason to Raise Leafcutter and Mason Bees
Fun for Kids and Families
Increase the Yield in Your Garden
Good for Bees and the Earth
Help Children Be Less Afraid of Bees
Teach Science
1. Fun for Kids and Families
It’s fun to set up the bee house and watch the bees emerge from cocoons. They crawl out of their hole and fly around doing their job of pollinating on day one. My daughter and I love to find them in the garden and watch them work. We get a kick out of seeing the leaves with a circle cut out, knowing they are hard at work laying more eggs. We also like to watch them come in and out of their nesting holes carrying leaves and going back out to forage for pollen and nectar.
2. Increase the Yield in Your Garden
Leafcutter and mason bees can significantly increase the yield of crops. Leafcutter bees were introduced in the United States in the 1930’s by alfalfa farmers for this very purpose. Many farmers have discovered mason bees after seeing the amazing yield of their neighbor or friend who had mason bees.
3. Good for Bees and the Earth
Our bees need all the help they can get. Between pesticides and colony collapse, the more we can take care of bees the better it is for ourselves, the bees, and our planet. Be a steward of nature. It’s fun and rewarding.
4. Help Children Be Less Afraid of Bees
Certainly, a healthy fear of bees is reasonable. And for those that are allergic to bees, I’m not suggesting getting solitary bees, or any bees for that matter.
With that said, having an irrational fear of bees isn’t helpful. The more calm we can be the better. My daughter has never been stung by a bee, but every time she was around them she panicked. Now, she loves bees. She is excited to watch them and be around them.
5. Teach Science
Bees are a great teaching opportunity. You can teach children about: pollen and nectar, pollination, flowers and fruit, the importance of pollinators, the types of flowers that attract bees the most, and how to protect bees.
It’s a fun experiment. I love science and kids learn most from hands-on experiences and opportunities to experiment. They will love having bees.
It’s also a great way to teach photography and videography. Here are photos from our garden. Our bees love our chamomile flowers. Notice the fluffy pollen on her tummy (notice she doesn’t have green eyes, and females have a more pointed abdomen).
See how this male has distinctive green eyes. He just emerged from his cocoon and is ready to launch.
How to Raise Mason and Leafcutter Bees
Supplies
Bee house
Nesting materials
Bees
Optional items: Bee pheromones
Setting up Your Bee House
Bee house
You can make or buy a bee house. Make sure your house has a depth of around 7 inches so that you have room for a roof and a place for bees to walk and stand.
I have two bee houses. One bee house I got from my good friend, that I mentioned above.
You can also make a bee house or use a can to place tubes or reeds. Make sure your bee house has a roof and a bit of an overhang for rain.
Place your house so it’s facing the south or southeast so it gets morning sun. Bees are cold blooded so they need the warmth from the sun to fly. But find a location where their house can be shaded in the hot afternoon.
Nesting materials
Leafcutter bees are pretty tiny, and they nest in 6 mm holes. Mason bees need 8 mm holes. Wild bees are even smaller than leafcutter bees and use 4 mm nesting holes.
Tubes, reeds, or holes should be 6 inches in length to lay males and females.
There are three types of nesting materials (these are the ones for leafcutter bees, there are also different sizes for mason bees): Cardboard tubes, natural reeds, and wood drilled holes (split in half). Do not use bamboo nor holes drilled in solid wood. Next season’s bees in cocoons can’t get out, and will die. Bees tend to like natural reeds the best.
I really like Crown Bees to get your bees, house, and nesting materials.
Bee Pheromones
This is optional. It’s a spray that helps bees find their way to their new home. Spray it on the nesting materials. InvitaBee Plus+ is the brand I used.
Bee Building Materials
Make sure you have materials for them to build their home.
With leafcutter bees you’ll want plants they can use to make their cocoons. They like broad, flat, smooth leaves, such as rose leaves, lilac, or peas and beans.
Mason bees need mud. You can buy special mud for this purpose. You can also wet your own mud if you have the right native type.
Get Started Today
It’s easy to raise leafcutter bees.
You don’t need any special equipment such as a beekeeping suit or hive. You don’t need a smoker or care for the hive. You don’t need to know how to harvest honey or anything like that.
Almost anyone can raise leafcutter or mason bees.
It’s fun and is a great opportunity to explore nature with your kids. Get started today.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD face difficulties interacting with peers, performing well in school, and getting along with family members at home. Although more research into the multitude of causes of the disorder is needed, studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that there is a link between ADHD in children and diet. Read on to learn more about the role that sugar may play in ADHD symptoms.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts 6.1 million children in the United States alone. Science has yet to uncover the exact cause of ADHD but believes that genetics, environmental factors, and dysfunction of the central nervous system may be involved. Kids with ADHD may exhibit many symptoms, including:
Forgetfulness
Squirming and fidgeting
Excessive talking
Difficulty taking turns
Trouble resisting temptation
Frequent daydreaming
Disorganization
Most often, stimulant medications and behavior therapy are used to treat the condition by mainstream medicine.
5 Ways Sugar Causes Hyperactivity and ADHD
For years, people have wondered if sugar could be to blame for ADHD. Scientific research hasn’t found sugar to be the sole cause of symptoms in a hyperactive child. In other words, children don’t get ADHD symptoms due to consuming sugar alone, and an ADHD elimination diet for kids that is free of sugar is unlikely to resolve the condition overnight. That said, there is some evidence to suggest that sugar may be detrimental for children who already have ADHD. There are several studies and theories on the subject, including:
1. High Glycemic Foods Cause Hyperactivity
Foods such as: fructose, high fructose corn syrup, fruit juice, donuts, bread, and instant oatmeal are high glycemic foods. These are foods that raise blood sugar rapidly. Researchers have found that high glycemic foods can cause hyperactivity in children, and low glycemic foods help to reduce symptoms of ADHD. [1]
2. Foraging Instinct From Fructose Contributes to ADHD
One study published in Human Evolution and Behavior found that a type of sugar called fructose can reduce energy levels in body cells. The researchers observed that this caused the cells to shift into starvation mode and that this could trigger instincts to forage for food to ensure the body’s survival. This hyperactive foraging response causes symptoms of impulsivity, aggression, recklessness, and cravings, contributing to ADHD (as well as aggression and bipolar disorder). [2]
3. Sugar and Low Dopamine Exacerbates Hyperactivity
Low dopamine activity in the brain is a common finding in ADHD. [3] And sugar is known to release dopamine in the brain. [4] Medical research into addiction has revealed that individuals with low dopamine levels may be more prone to addiction, in this case sugar. In a study by Richard J. Johnson, MD, he hypothesizes that sugar significantly increases dopamine, which leads to reduced dopamine receptors and dopamine, exacerbating the low dopamine in ADHD and worsening the symptoms of hyperactivity. [5]
4. Sugar Contributes to Poor Impulse Control
Poor impulse control is a known symptom of ADHD. Researchers speculate that kids with the condition may be more likely to eat sugary foods in excess because they have trouble resisting the temptation to do so. Poor impulse control in ADHD may worsen the ADHD itself because of sugar leading to a vicious cycle.
5. Low Blood Sugar Can Lead to Poor Concentration and Inattentiveness
Sugary foods cause blood sugar levels to increase rapidly and then plummet quickly after digestion, leading to a sugar crash. The more someone eats sugar, the more it can impede the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, and the more the individual craves sugar. As the individual eats more sugar, this cycle continues and can lead to low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can lead to poor concentration, inattentiveness, confusion, nervousness, and irritability. These symptoms can add to the poor concentration and focus someone with ADHD often has to begin with, and may exacerbate other behaviors of ADHD.
Sugar & the Recommended Diet for Children
One thing that is not up for debate is that many children in the United States (and many countries around the world) consume too much sugar daily.
American children consume 81 grams of sugar per day, which comes to over 65 pounds of sugar per year. And a 2017 study estimated that Children in England consume half of their daily recommended sugar intake at breakfast by consuming sugary cereals and eating foods high in carbohydrates, and three times the recommended amount per day.
Sugar-filled beverages account for a large amount of the sugar consumed. Sugar from drinks can add up quickly. And can come from sources that some people don’t think of as unhealthy as they might soda. For example, fruit juice, sports drinks, and non-dairy milk beverages contain around the same amount of sugar as soda. In a study from 2011-2014, 63% of children drank a sugary beverage on a given day. This equaled 143 calories from these beverages, from which virtually, if not, all of the calories came from sugar. [6]
In addition to leading to sugar crashes, sugar is often an empty calorie, meaning it provides no real nutrition for kids. This has led to experts recommending that kids aged 2 to 18 consume no more than 25 grams or six teaspoons of sugar per day for overall health and well-being.
Are Artificial Sweeteners an Option?
No. Parents who are concerned about high blood sugar and hyperactivity in their children may consider using artificial sweeteners as a substitute; however, there is evidence to suggest that this is not a good idea, such as:
Effects on the Digestive System. Some studies have found that artificial sweeteners may disrupt the natural balance of healthy bacteria in the digestive system. It is possible that this imbalance could impact the rest of the body, including the brain, further discouraging the addition of artificial sweeteners in a diet for children with ADHD.
Potential to Spark Cravings for Sugar. Scientists believe that consuming artificial sweeteners may cause a rise in insulin levels in the body, leading to sugar cravings. Although there is also conflicting evidence, some studies have found that people who consume artificial sweeteners are more likely to become obese.
Excitotoxins. Some artificial sweeteners are excitotoxins and can cause excitability of brain cells causing neurological damage.
Tips for an ADHD Diet
Consuming too much sugar has proven health consequences, which is reason enough to limit how much sugar kids with ADHD eat.
And now, research is showing what parents and clinicians have seen for years: sugar can cause or exacerbate hyperactivity and other symptoms of ADHD in children (and adults).
If you would like to reduce the amount of sugar in your child’s diet, follow these tips:
Focus on Protein and Fat. Including healthy amounts and types of protein and fat to the diet of children is important to ensure they have the building blocks they need for growth, energy, and cognitive function. Protein and fat make kids feel fuller for longer and can cut down on the urge to snack on sugary foods.
Start Slow. Take small steps in changing your child’s diet. Suddenly cutting out all sugar from your child’s diet can be stressful for all of you. Instead, identify the largest sources of sugar from your kid’s diet and find healthier alternatives. Making one or two changes at a time can help children adapt to the change.
Try Diet Eliminations. An ADHD elimination diet can help you identify foods that could be worsening your child’s symptoms. With this approach, you remove the suspicious food from your child’s diet, keeping a log of what they eat and what symptoms they exhibit. After a few weeks have passed, analyze the data. If you don’t notice any change in your child’s symptoms, try eliminating another food. Once you have identified potential triggers, slowly reintroduce them to your child’s diet and see if symptoms return. This will help to establish a link between the food and your child’s behavior that you can share with their doctor.
As we’d discussed today, sugar can be detrimental for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We also know that a low sugar diet is helpful for ADHD for many additional reasons, including for maintaining normal blood sugar levels which has many health benefits. If you want to learn more on how sugar can impact health and how to reduce it in your child’s diet, here is another article to get you started.
The good news is hyperactivity and ADHD symptoms can improve, and the solutions you have in your own kitchen can help.
If you were hoping that summertime – a time with no school, fresh air, sunshine, and exercise – would help your child feel better and improve their behavior…. but it hasn’t, then salicylates might be your challenge.
Salicylates in Food
Salicylates are naturally-occurring food chemicals in fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods like herbs, spices, nuts, etc. In the 1950’s and 60’s, Dr. Ben Feingold observed that artificial additives and high salicylate foods caused hyperactivity and other symptoms in some children. Biochemically, salicylates are a type of “phenolic acid” or “phenol.” Phenols need to be broken down in the body, i.e. “detoxified,” which occurs through a process called sulfation.
For children with salicylate sensitivity, summer can be particularly challenging because so many of the abundant summertime fruits are very high in salicylates, a high salicylate food list include:
Grapes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Most melons including watermelon
Peaches
Nectarines
Plums
Apples
Red bell pepper
Cucumbers and pickles
Tomato sauce
Zucchini (with peel on)
Cinnamon and spices
Almonds
Honey
Many of these foods are delicious and plentiful, children eat quite a bit more during summer than any other time. The resulting increase in salicylate consumption can cause a child’s body to become overloaded, and cause physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.
Salicylate Symptoms
Symptoms vary by individual, but some of the most common salicylate sensitivity symptoms are:
Red cheeks and ears (not from the heat)
Hyperactivity
Irritability
Defiant behavior
Aggression toward self or others
Bedwetting and day-wetting accidents
Sleeping challenges
If you’d like more information on how these foods can cause behavior challenges, along with the foods to avoid and those to eat, see my post on salicylates and behavior challenges.
Chlorine in Swimming Pools
Chlorine from the swimming pool is another summertime stressor. Your child doesn’t even need to drink the water, just soaking in a chlorinated pool will cause it to absorb into the body.
Chlorine is processed by the same sulfation pathway as salicylates in fruits. Sulfation requires proper methylation and transulfuration, as well as adequate sulfate (sulfur) and many other needed nutrients.
Each of these stressors (the fruit and chlorine) will deplete the sulfate and detoxification pool further, making each that much more difficult to handle. After working with many children with autism in my nutrition practice, I’ve found that most react poorly to chlorine from swimming pools. Add this fruit consumption to chlorine from swimming pools, and a child can fairly easily hit “overload.” Crying, meltdowns, increase in stimming, and hyperactivity can result.
Food Additives
Junk food with artificial food additives are more plentiful during summer. Artificial additives such as artificial colors (red 40, blue 1 and yellow 5), flavors (such as artificial strawberry flavor and vanillin) and preservatives (BHA, BHT and TBHQ) are strong phenols–and require the same biochemical processes.
If you don’t consume these, good for you. You shouldn’t.
In the average American family, however, blue-colored sports drinks on hot days, cotton candy from the beach boardwalk or fair, shaved ice or blended slushies from the amusement park are all too common occurrences (sadly). Alone they are known to cause hyperactivity, combined with these other stressors and they can be particularly problematic. Learn about food additives to avoid.
Summer 2021 High Salicylate Food Substitutes
I hope this summer is better than ever. Here are some ideas to get you off to a good start. The following foods high in salicylates and for lower salicylate substitutions.
Please note: it might not be that you or your child can’t have ANY high salicylate summer fruits and veggies, it might just mean you have to pay attention to the amount and limit it (along with avoiding all artificial additives. Also peeling certain fruits and vegetables can lower salicylate levels.
Instead of This ======> Try This
Instead of blue sports drink ======> try a natural electrolyte drink like this organic coconut water
Instead of artificial flavored and colored candy ======> try a natural one like Yum Earth, they have a variety of natural candy options
Instead of shaved ice ======> try to get your own shaved ice machine and use organic pear or another natural juice to flavor
Instead of popsicles with high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors ======> try and make your own with these silicon popsicle molds or try Ruby Rockets (they have veggies in them)
Instead of ice pops with high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors ======> try and make your own with these reusable ice pop molds
Instead of high salicylate fruit ======> try pear or mango
Instead of cucumber ======> try peeled cucumber
Instead of zucchini ======> try peeled zucchini
Instead of lots of salicylate fruits ======> try a small serving
What Can You Do?
Avoid food additives. Firstly, if your child eats artificial additives, cut them all out.
Identify salicylate intolerance: If you want to determine if your child may have an intolerance to salicylates, start by simply observing your child within the hour after they eat, and before bedtime—making correlations with high salicylate consumption. The best way to determine salicylate intolerance is to avoid high salicylate foods for a period of time and observe any improvements, and then add them back and see if you notice a reaction. You can also try digestive enzymes such as No-Fenol by Houston Enzymes to help the body process polyphenolic compounds.
Try a low salicylate diet trial. There are two diets that I like that address this: The Feingold Diet and The Failsafe Diet. The Feingold Diet is a smaller list of salicylates to avoid—it includes many of the big offenders (but misses some) and is easier to do. The Failsafe diet is much more comprehensive, but more complex and restricts more foods.
Determine swimming pool solutions. The best part about having your own swimming pool you can choose a less toxic sanitizing option. While I’m not a expert at this, you can Google and research: salt water chlorination, ionizers, ozonators, and more. At public pools, these other options are not usually available, though you can ask around about any public pools that might use them (as some do).
Consider epsom salt topically for support. You can also try Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths or magnesium sulfate cream before or after a swim in the pool—the sulfate absorbs and helps supply sulfate for sulfation/detoxification. This can help a child process the chlorine better, hopefully, creating less (or no) reaction. An Epsom salt bath or Epsom salt cream can also help reduce salicylate reactions too. You can apply cream before or after swimming. Not everyone likes or can take a bath. Showering after swimming and then applying Epsom salt cream can provide similar support to a bath.
In our Nourishing Hope for Healing Kids nutrition program for parents I cover everything you need to know about addressing salicylate reactions and improving your child’s behavior, focus, and mood.
Enjoy your summer and the time with your family! And keep nourishing hope.
Share your family’s experience with salicylates and summertime in our comment section below.
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This is the perfect time to plan your garden. If you’ve seen my gardening posts in the past and you’ve considered a garden but hadn’t planned in time or had the capacity, now’s the time.
Typically, after Mother’s Day signifies the start of most summer gardens. Where I am in California and in other warmer spots, the season starts earlier. But most of you will be able to start your garden soon.
Some of you have written to me with your adventures in your own garden.
Others have said you don’t have a green thumb or you simply lack the experience… that you’d like to try growing something but you don’t know what to grow. And other people live in a big city or in an apartment and don’t have the space.
Today’s blog is about the Easiest Vegetables Anyone Can Grow.
I’ve lived in a big city, in an apartment, in a foggy place with not much sun, and I’ve also had the opportunity to grow vegetables at my family’s home both as a child and adult – so I’ve tried it all.
I’m not a farmer… I’m an average person that simply loves getting my hands dirty and watching things grow. I find it therapeutic to nurture plants. I find it nourishing to grow your own food, and I enjoy the feeling of self-reliance.
So, what I’m going to share comes from practical trial and error, and lots of mistakes.
And the good news is, if I can do it, you can too!!
The Easiest Vegetables to Grow
Zucchini
Zucchini is very prolific. You’ll get so many zucchini you won’t be able to keep up. Last year I had one zucchini plant and it supplied my family week after week. You can get vining varieties like Romanesco or bush varieties depending on how much room you have. Bush varieties require more room but they are easier and less maintenance because they don’t require staking. Vining varieties are great because you can grow upward when space is limited.
There are tons of summer squash varieties. Feel free to try any: zucchini, yellow summer squash, scalloped, patty pan squash in gold, white/light green, or green, or others. Feel free to try any of them.
Here are a couple of my favorite recipes with zucchini (but any summer squash can be substituted: Pickled Zucchini and Zucchini-izza.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes grow like a weed. They will grow all summer until the first frost hits.
Cherry tomatoes are super easy and you get a ton of them – and kids usually love them straight off the vine. Sungold is one of my favorite varieties because they are so sweet (and orange in color).
Early Girl and other early varieties provide fruit earlier in the season, which is nice, especially if your growing season is shorter due to frost or snow. And it gets you off to an early harvest.
Slicing tomatoes are juicy and flavorful. They are great for slicing and eating, sandwiches, and salsa. Varieties include red round tomatoes and large tomatoes may cover a whole sandwich such as Mortgage Lifter, Beefsteak, and Stupice.
Heirloom tomatoes are probably my favorite. They are sweet and beautiful colors and delicious. They are often quite expensive in the store, so growing them at home makes you feel very abundant. However, their skins can be a bit thin and they can crack – once that happens they will start molding on the vine, so you want to watch them and pick them in time. My favorite is the German/Striped German variety. They are a marbled yellow and red tomato that is very sweet and beautiful to slice. There are many varieties: Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, German, and Valencia to name a few.
It’s always good to see if you want a determinate or indeterminate variety. Determinate are more bush-like and you don’t want to prune them because they grow to a “determined” size and pruning means you are cutting off potential fruit. Indeterminate grow like a vine and will continue to grow and grow taller and taller. Indeterminates are great where space is limited, and you want to grow them up a trellis or stake.
Either variety is wonderful, and if you are new to gardening and you have space, pick either variety, make sure you stake them and just let them grow. No need to do much really.
Green beans
Green beans grow easily as well. They are one of our family’s favorite vegetables so this time I planted 36 plants – 24 from seed and 12 from seedlings. I also plan to plant some more seeds part way through the season… this is succession planting. This way you have some growing at different times so instead of a huge harvest all at once, you have a steady supply over time.
Green beans are easy and fun for kids to plant from seed. But if you want to get off to a quick start you can buy seedlings.
Green beans also grow as bush and pole varieties. Personally, I prefer the flavor of pole beans better, and if you want super tender thin green beans without the thicker skin, strings, and large beans inside, try French or Filet green beans and pick them early and often.
Pole beans are fun for kids to pick as they are easy to hunt for them on the vine.
Kale
Kale is great for virtually any weather. They can grow in early spring and late fall (even winter in some places) as they are frost tolerant.
They are also fun to have growing in your garden because you can simply go outside and pick some when you want to make kale chips for dinner – a kids’ favorite.
There are so many varieties. Right now we have five varieties – Lacinato/Dino kale, Curly Green kale, Scarlet kale, Red Russian kale, and White Russian kale.
Lacinato are low oxalate and make great Kale Chips along with a Low Oxalate Kale Salad. And the Russian kale varieties are tender and chopped up great in salads. Although, I use all varieties for any kale needs.
Lettuce
Lettuce grows great in partial shade so it grows well in an apartment or space where light is limited. In fact, in warmer climates it’s great to grow your lettuce in the shade of your tomatoes or in a partially shady spot. It does need 6 hours of sunlight but lettuce doesn’t like scorching heat.
I find leaf lettuce or varieties like Butter Crunch are easier to grow than head lettuce. Or if you grow a lettuce like Iceberg or Romaine you just might find it doesn’t form a “head.” Often you might find that you just harvest leaf by leaf from the head as you go, rather than waiting for the whole head to form – as that can be more difficult for new gardeners.
You can also grow lettuce and kale as micro/baby greens, where you sprinkle lots of seeds close together and you harvest it when the leaves are small.
Parsley
Parsley is easy to grow and very hardy.
In fact, it will grow back for a second year, even after being covered in snow. But it is a two year annual, so it will go to seed after the second year and then be done with its lifespan.
There are curly and flat Italian varieties. Both are great with many nutrients, antioxidants, and health benefits.
You can chop up some leaves and sprinkle them on a fish dish for an added fresh flavor. They balance garlic well, and even freshen your breath. Kids often like to pick a stem and eat it just like that. I like to chop some and add it to a salad.
Growing in Containers
If you find you only have a patio to grow on (for example in our apartment in San Francisco, our south facing side is the front and the backyard is shaded by the building) so it’s better to grow in containers on the porch.
If you try planting straight into the ground, in most places the soil will need to be worked and amended. Sometimes it is too clay-like and the roots will not be able to grow down far enough.
Raised beds are the easiest way to start a new garden. You can buy varieties or build your own.
But if you don’t have the capacity to build a raised bed or tend to your ground soil, or you don’t have the space you need, growing in pots is just fine.
In fact, all of the vegetables I have just discussed: Zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, kale, lettuce grow really well in pots. Also peppers, winter squash, garlic, onions, potatoes, and carrots grow well in pots. Just make sure the container is large enough for the type of plant you are growing. Tomatoes need more room than lettuce, for example.
Of course, watering is number one. But don’t forget to fertilize. If you want strong plants and sweet fruits, it’s important to remember to fertilize. I’ve made this mistake before.
With organic fertilizers you can often fertilize weekly or every other week. While I know that seems like a lot of time, so you can choose varieties that release over time like Dr. Earth.
Personally, I find it easier to do smaller amounts of fertilizer more frequently. Because when it’s only once a month, (time goes by so fast and) I forget. This way I just fertilize every weekend and if I miss a weekend or two, no problem.
Two of my favorite organic fertilizers:
Dr. Earth – I mix some in the soil when I plant my starts, and sprinkle some on the top layer of soil.
Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer – I like to use this as the season goes on since it can be “watered” right on top and sink down well since it’s a liquid fertilizer.
Have Fun Getting Started
Gardening is fun, easy, saves money on food, something your whole family can take part in, and a great stress relief (for me!), as well as nourishing for the mind and body.
While getting a vegetable garden started may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. You can start with the things I have mentioned that are among the easiest to grow. Start small so it is not overwhelming. But the most important thing is to start!
A seed pack or seedlings (already sprouted seeds/baby plants), some dirt, a few pots or area in your yard, sun, and water is all you need.
Have fun and please share with me what’s growing in your vegetable garden this year in the comments below!!
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Place all chopped and prepared vegetables and water into a pot. Once water boils, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes. Vegetables should be soft when pierced. Then place an emersion blender in pot and blend until smooth (or place contents in blender and puree). Use in place of tomato sauce as desired.
Wash cauliflower, cut cauliflower chunks off base stem/leaves. Put cauliflower in food processor and process until a “flour.” This will yield about 3 cups of cauliflower.
Put cauliflower in a pot with ¼ cup of water and cook on low for 10 minutes. Place cooked cauliflower (cooled a bit) in kitchen towel (or muslin cloth), twist end closed, and squeeze out water (as much as possible).
Add cauliflower to bowl, and add 3 eggs, salt and pepper – and mix by hand.
Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop mixture onto parchment paper and spread with hand or back of spoon into 6 even and flat circles. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, peel off paper and flip to other side baking for an additional 5 minutes.
Upon serving, heat and lightly brown tortillas in a hot skillet.
I have to admit that as a nutritionist and a mom, I’m a bit obsessed with lunchboxes and finding the perfect non-toxic lunch containers for my daughter (and myself). I own and have tried many. While all of my choices at home are BPA-, phthalate- and lead-free, I’m still not thrilled with plastic options. I’m uncomfortable that they may find out that they are not as non-toxic as they think they are. I try to avoid as much plastic as I can for this and many other reasons.
Stainless lunchbox system with carrying case and place for water bottle. Be careful as not all of the compartments are water-tight although you can get waterproof containers that fit inside for yogurt, apple sauce, or anything liquid. This is by far my favorite lunchbox system. My daughter has had this same lunchbox going on the third school year. Three years for a lunchbox is amazing! It’s very durable. There are thin ice packs to go with it and a carrying case.
Lifefactory
LunchSkins – These reusable storage bags are dishwasher-safe and resealable. They come in different sizes and are easy to open and close. They have a grease-proof and moisture-proof lining that helps keeps food fresh.
For example, if I feed my daughter a sandwich sometimes she will eat just the bread and not the meat/protein. If I put crackers or a sweet treat, she may eat them but not the vegetable and protein.
Gluten is another term for the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale, and products made from them. Gluten plays a crucial role in helping different foods maintain their shape due to it acting as “glue” that holds everything together. You can find gluten in various foods, such as soups, pasta, baked goods, cereals, processed meats, dressings, and sauces.
Research suggests that ASD may be accompanied by inflammatory immune responses, and that this may predispose people with autism to be more sensitive to the protein in wheat, dairy, and soy. Sensitization to these dietary proteins then leads to inflammation of the digestive system and exacerbates negative behaviors.
This is a study I am particularly proud of because I was a part of it! Our study showed a 4.5x increase in developmental age as well as a 6.7 pts increase in non-verbal IQ. The study involved individuals aged 3-58 years old implementing a dietary intervention of a healthy gluten-free, casein-free, and soy-free diet; along with a multivitamin/mineral formula, essential fatty acid supplement, digestive enzymes, and a couple of additional nutritional interventions studied over one year. You can see my full write up on the study 
This report reviewed existing scientific literature and found consistently positive results with a GFCF diet for autism. The literature included papers where groups of children were studied, as well as individual case studies.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a gluten and casein-free diet for children with autism and on urinary opioid peptides associated with gluten, gliadin, and casein. The study found that the children who were on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet had better development than the controls. [
This study was a two-stage, 24-month, randomised, controlled trial with 72 Danish children (aged 4 years to 10 years 11 months) assigned to diet (A) or non-diet (B) groups. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS) were used to assess core autism behaviours, Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) to ascertain developmental level, and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – IV scale (ADHD-IV) to determine inattention and hyperactivity. At 12 months, there was a significant improvement to the diet group scores on all autism, behavior, and ADHD scales measured. Because of the improvement in group A, group B was also assigned to the diet midway through the trial! The results suggest that dietary intervention may positively affect developmental outcomes for children diagnosed with ASD. [
One study compared the GFCF diet to the Ketogenic diet for autism. Both diet groups had significant improvement in autism symptoms. There were some differences–one diet showed better results in behavior, while the other diet group had better scores for cognitive awareness and sociability. If you want to see more on this study, you can check out 
This is because of how different bees carry pollen. Honey bees carry pollen on a little structure (a type of “pollen basket”) on their hind legs, so there is not much loose pollen to spread from one flower to another. Leafcutter (and mason) bees, on the other hand, carry pollen on the hairs on their abdomen. As they go from one flower to another they easily pollinate each flower when the loose pollen falls from these hairs. I like to think of leafcutter bees as doing a belly flop onto each flower they encounter.
American children consume 
Grapes
Zucchini is very prolific. You’ll get so many zucchini you won’t be able to keep up. Last year I had one zucchini plant and it supplied my family week after week. You can get vining varieties like Romanesco or bush varieties depending on how much room you have. Bush varieties require more room but they are easier and less maintenance because they don’t require staking. Vining varieties are great because you can grow upward when space is limited.
Tomatoes grow like a weed. They will grow all summer until the first frost hits.
Green beans grow easily as well. They are one of our family’s favorite vegetables so this time I planted 36 plants – 24 from seed and 12 from seedlings. I also plan to plant some more seeds part way through the season… this is succession planting. This way you have some growing at different times so instead of a huge harvest all at once, you have a steady supply over time.
Kale is great for virtually any weather. They can grow in early spring and late fall (even winter in some places) as they are frost tolerant.
Lettuce grows great in partial shade so it grows well in an apartment or space where light is limited. In fact, in warmer climates it’s great to grow your lettuce in the shade of your tomatoes or in a partially shady spot. It does need 6 hours of sunlight but lettuce doesn’t like scorching heat.
Parsley is easy to grow and very hardy.
