When starting any diet there are some risks, especially when beginning a diet that is very restrictive. Although the Dr. Feingold diet does not restrict very many types of foods, it is inflexible on the point that all foods containing offending additives or compounds be completely eliminated from the diet. This can limit the availability of convenience and processed foods especially, although many other foods are forbidden as Page 319 well. It is important for all adults to get a balanced diet that follows the United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid guidelines, but this is especially important for children. Not getting the right amounts of vitamins and minerals each day can have negative effects on a child’s growth and development. This may be a concern for children on the Dr. Feingold diet because stage one limits many child-friendly fruits such as apples, oranges, and grapes.
One problem some families may find when on the Dr. Feingold diet is that it is very time intensive. For adults who go on the diet there are significant amounts of time required to learn all the rules of the diet, and to learn to identify the various forbidden additives in all of the forms in which they may appear on labels. For parents putting a child on the diet, the time required is even greater. Not only must the parent learn to identify which foods are allowable for the child, but the time must be taken to educate the child on this complicated issue as well. This is especially true for older children who may make more of their own eating decisions outside of the watchful eyes of their parents. Children have to learn which foods can be eaten and how to read labels. They also need to learn coping skills to be able to explain to other children and any adults who might be offering them food (such as their friend’s parents) which foods are not allowed. It may be a! dvisable also to go over some skills to help children explain to friends and classmates why they are on a special diet in a way which is not upsetting or embarrassing to them. Many people also choose to make chidlren’s teachers, babysitters, and others aware of the new diet which can take time as well.
Although there are no specific studies investigating the social effects of the Dr. Feingold diet on children, there are many pieces of anecdotal evidence illustrating some of it possible negative effects. One concern for some parents may be that being an such a strict diet, that has to be followed all of the time including at school and at friends’ houses, children may feel different than their peers. It can be very hard for children who feel or seem different than those around them, and other children might not understand why they cannot have the same candy, or have to eat special meals brought from home. Another issue brought up by some people who were on the diet as children is that it puts children who do give into temptation (and there are many temptations for children on this diet) into a very difficult position. Because the Feingold Association maintains the diet must be followed exactly at all times to be effective, children who have eaten something forbi! dden must decide whether to admit it or lie to their parents. It can also put children and parents into an antagonistic relationship because often if the diet does not cure the disease or disorder, it is assumed that it is because forbidden foods have been consumed. This can lead to a negative spiral of accusations, guilt, and anger. These problems certainly will not occur with every child in every family, but it may be something that parents considering this diet for their child or children would want to consider.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:53 am
There are so many points in your description that should be addressed, but I will just select a few.
“limited availability of convenience and processed foods”
The Feingold Association publishes books and pamphlets that tell which processed and convenience foods are okay to use; we also list acceptable foods at major fast food restaurants. Instead of the Duncan Hines cake mix with artificial flavor, we use the one without. Instead of the Kraft Mac & Cheese with the neon yellow dye, we use the one with the white cheddar. We show families how to find all they foods they enjoy including candy, ice cream, soda, cookies, etc., and most are available in their local stores.
“not getting the right amounts of vitamins and minerals…” While we encourage families to remove fruits like apples, oranges and grapes for a few weeks, there are other fruits that are excellent sources. Apples and grapes, for example, have hardly any vitamin C, while grapefruit, kiwi and watermelon are excellent sources. The apples, etc. can be reintroduced and tested after the first phase.
“very time intensive…to learn to identify which foods are allowable..”
No, it doesn’t take much time since the non-profit Feingold Association does all of this research. The member need only look in his Foodlist book to find all the brand name foods that are acceptable…there are thousands of them.
“the time must be taken to educate the child on this complicated issue..”
Our kids are pretty smart. Once they recognize that if they eat the jelly beans from the convenience store they feel miserable and act miserably, but if they eat the natural jelly beans Mom gives them they feel fine, do better in school, don’t get yelled at or fight with their friends. Since we don’t take away the foods they like, compliance is seldom a big issue.
“such a strict diet that has to be followed all of the time”
No, once they have become established on the diet, most families test out all sorts of other foods. Because a child’s comfort level is so important, we suggest stratigies for ‘planned cheats.’ Some children don’t have to be very careful about sticking to their diet; others find that they do. It’s an individual thing. As a rule, the longer they stay on the diet, the less sensitive the child is. I used to tell my kids to go ahead and eat the birthday cake, but not to select the piece with the big purple rose. Skipping the Kool-Aid was not an issue; they thought it was gross.
Many kids find that they can be very relaxed about their diet, but they prefer to be stricter when they have exams at school.
The children are given control over what they choose to eat and most of them would rather feel good and function well. Once they learn that most of the additives that are eliminated are made from petroleum, it’s not hard for them to say no.
“The child must decide whether to admit [cheating] or lie…” First of all, they don’t have to “admit” since it quickly becomes apparent to a parent if the child is reacting. We recommend that parents not be harsh if a child decides to eat something he knows will cause problem…just as a good parent will not go ballistic if a child makes a mistake of another sort. Kids make mistakes; we all do. But even before the parent took any action to discipline unacceptable behavior, the child most likely would be experiencing symptoms that are distressing to him. Kids stay on the diet because they find they have a lot to gain; if additives trigger explosive behavior or bed wetting or asthma attacks or bad schoolwork or prevent him from having friends, he is likely to be very motivated.
Occasionally a parent misuses the information and recommendations we offer, so in the hands of a neurotic mom, for example, the Feingold diet could be presented as some awful thing. We do what we can to encourage parents to use good judgement, but we cannot prevent someone from taking rational advice and misusing it. Just like good parents teach a child to wash his hands a few times during the day, a neurotic parent will want a child to wash his hands hundreds of times, and instill an irrational fear of dirt.
If you want to find out what the Feingold Diet is really like, from families who use it, please contact the Feingold Association at http://www.feingold.org.