Research has indicated that children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) take in less calcium than their developmentally “typical” counterparts (Herdon et al, 2009 & Shearer, 1982). Although this may be due, in part, to the fact that some parents have elected to place their child on a gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet as an intervention for ASD, researchers found that even still, ASD children made fewer food selections from the dairy group, thus took in less calcium than non-ASD participants.

Calcium plays a major structural role in the teeth and bones, but is also a key nutrient in neural transmission, muscle contraction, and blood clotting. Parents of children with ASD and those of children on GFCF diets should be aware of the potential for decreased calcium intake. Some foods with appreciable amounts of calcium and that would fit into a GFCF diet are: spinach, dried figs, chickpeas, broccoli, brazil nuts, dried apricots, almonds, pistachios, sesame seeds, parsley, onions, cabbage, kidney beans, mussels, prawns, and oysters.

Now the trick is getting kids to eat most of these items! Spinach salad with strawberries and vinaigrette, hummus with steamed broccoli for dipping, almond butter (providing there is no nut allergy!), baked beans (incorporating the kidney beans and onions), and coleslaw come to mind.
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