Special Diet for Children With ADD

Prescription drugs, usually Ridilin, are the common course of treatment Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). There is a controversy, however, over this kind of medication in children. Not only do some people not buy the ADD diagnosis, many others don't believe medication is the answer. Often times, just changing the child's diet can help the child's brain and body function properly, and thereby help eliminate and/or minimize the side effects associated with ADD.

Things to Avoid

• One of the first things a child with ADD should avoid in his diet is sugar. Most children with ADD do not maintain normal blood sugar levels, which may contribute to the cause or increase of some ADD symptoms. Sugary foods and drinks to avoid include Kool-Aid, soda (even caffeine-free varieties), cereals and junk food. Similarly, your child should stay away from simple starches, which rapidly turn into sugar and enter the child's blood stream quickly. These include white bread, things made from potatoes and white rice. Also, your child should avoid fruit juices. Thought by most to be healthy, but in reality, they contain a lot of sugar, albeit natural sugar, but it's still sugar.

  Second, a child with ADD should not eat dairy products. Not only may your child be unknowingly allergic to milk, it may be slowing the absorption of magnesium. Lack of magnesium can cause symptoms similar to ADD.

  Eliminate MSG, caffeine, food colorings, preservatives and Nutrasweet. Fried foods should be avoided as well. Of course, there will be times when your child will eat some of these foods, but limited exposure should be the goal.

Things to Eat

• Eat whole grains, especially for breads, which are a staple in most children's diets. Look for 100 percent whole grain, not 100 percent whole wheat, which may still contain high-fructose corn syrup. Eat brown rice. Choose sweet potatoes over white potatoes.

  Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Raw are best, but cooked will do if your child will eat them. For breakfast, skip the cereal and pancakes and eat eggs, whole grain toast or even a little bit of breakfast meat. At fast-food restaurants, go for the grilled chicken. Bring your own whole grain bun if you can, but if not, get out the knife and fork, and toss out the roll. Your child can get a salad, if she will eat it. Go for the blue cheese or Italian salad dressings.

  Have your child with ADD eat lots of protein, like lean meats, chicken and eggs. And finally, have him drink lots of water. It may take some getting used to, but many children will happily drink plain water if that is there only option.