Dante Carrillo
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet designed to improve behavioural problems in children by removing food preservatives, colours, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods. It was popular in the 1970s as a treatment for ADHD, but its effectiveness has been questioned. The diet was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold, a paediatrician and allergist, following research in the 1970s that linked food additives with hyperactivity. The diet is based on the elimination of salicylates, artificial food colouring, and artificial flavours. The Feingold Association provides resources such as cookbooks and shopping guides to help families implement the diet. However, it's important to note that the diet restricts many healthy foods, and most medical professionals advise against restrictive diets for children except in specific circumstances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To improve behavioural problems in children by eliminating food preservatives, colours, sweeteners, and salicylate-containing foods. |
| Target group | Children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other behavioural issues. |
| Foods to avoid | Artificial colours, sweeteners, preservatives, and salicylates. |
| Specific preservatives to avoid | Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tert-Butrylhdryquinone (TBHQ). |
| Foods containing salicylates | Almonds, apples, apricots, berries, cucumbers, pickles, plums, oranges, peaches, tomatoes, tangerines, and grapes. |
| Feingold Handbook | A guide to using the Feingold Diet, containing recipes, tips, and solutions for parents. |
| Feingold Foodlist & Shopping Guide | A list of over 13,000 brand-name products that are acceptable to use on the Feingold Diet. |
| Cost | Can be costly due to the limited selection of foods and the need to prepare meals from scratch. |
| Effectiveness | There is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of the Feingold Diet, and it may be difficult for people to follow. |
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What You'll Learn
The Feingold Handbook and other resources
The Feingold Handbook is a comprehensive guide to using the Feingold Diet, which outlines strategies for achieving success with the diet as quickly and easily as possible. It includes practical tips and solutions gathered from parents who have implemented the diet since the Feingold Association's inception in 1976.
The handbook covers a range of topics, including adapting the diet for different ages, gaining your child's cooperation, meal suggestions, maintaining a diet diary, finding affordable food options, ingredient substitutions, time-saving techniques, holiday tips, collaborating with teachers and other professionals, handling social events, and managing reactions. It also discusses other additives, such as gluten and casein, and provides recipes and ideas for additive-free meals and beverages.
The handbook can be purchased as a book or downloaded as a PDF from the FAUS Shop. The PDF version comes with additional resources, including a 300+-page Foodlist and Shopping Guide, access to a members-only Facebook group, product alerts and updates, and unlimited support through various channels.
The Feingold Association also publishes an annual Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which is a list of over 13,000 brand-name products that are free from unwanted additives. This guide helps individuals and families make informed choices when shopping for groceries and personal care products.
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Eliminating food preservatives, colours, sweeteners and salicylates
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold following research in the 1970s that appeared to link food additives with hyperactivity. The diet was popular in the 1970s as a treatment for ADHD, but its effectiveness has been questioned. It is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
The diet eliminates artificial colours, sweeteners, substances known as salicylates, and three preservatives: butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tert-Butrylhdryquinone (TBHQ). Salicylates occur naturally in foods and are found in aspirin. Dr Feingold believed that people allergic or sensitive to aspirin may also be intolerant of salicylate-containing foods.
The diet also restricts many healthy foods, including certain nuts, fruits, and vegetables. It is important to note that most medical professionals agree that children should not be on restrictive diets except in rare circumstances and only under medical supervision. The diet is intended to be followed for life and can be costly and difficult to maintain.
To follow the diet, your child must eat only from a strict list of approved foods, completely avoiding others. The Feingold Association publishes a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which contains a list of more than 13,000 brand name products that are acceptable for the diet.
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Shopping for Feingold-friendly foods
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that requires the removal of several food items from your meals. These include food dyes, artificial flavourings, fragrances, and preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tert-Butrylhdryquinone (TBHQ). Salicylates, which are naturally occurring compounds found in some fruits and vegetables, are also to be avoided.
- Read Labels Carefully: When shopping for groceries, it is important to read the ingredient labels carefully. Look out for artificial additives, colours, and sweeteners. Check for ingredients such as Yellow No. 5, Red No. 40, Green No. 3, and Blue No. 2. These are common food dyes that are best avoided on the Feingold diet.
- Avoid Preservatives: The diet also requires the elimination of certain preservatives. Check ingredient lists for butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). These are commonly used preservatives that are best avoided or replaced with natural alternatives.
- Choose Natural Alternatives: Opt for whole, natural foods that are free from artificial additives. For example, instead of buying processed fruit juices, opt for squeezing your own juice from fresh fruits. Similarly, choose whole grains, legumes, fresh fruits, and vegetables over processed snacks and meals.
- Refer to the Feingold Association's Resources: The Feingold Association provides valuable resources to help individuals follow the diet successfully. They publish a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which includes a list of over 13,000 brand-name products that are acceptable to consume while on the Feingold diet. This can be a helpful tool when shopping for Feingold-friendly foods.
- Cook from Scratch: Preparing meals from scratch using whole foods is recommended on the Feingold diet. This way, you can control the ingredients used and avoid any artificial additives or preservatives. The Feingold Association also provides cookbooks with recipes for breakfast, snacks, main dishes, breads, soups, and more, which can make meal planning easier.
- Involve the Whole Family: The Feingold diet emphasizes that the entire family should adopt the same dietary changes. This not only provides support and encouragement but also ensures that meals are inclusive and enjoyable for everyone. It is important to note that making significant dietary changes, such as those required by the Feingold diet, should be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
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Preparing and cooking Feingold-friendly meals
The diet also requires eliminating foods containing salicylates, a naturally occurring compound found in some fruits and vegetables. Examples of foods to be eliminated include almonds, apples, apricots, berries, cucumbers, pickles, plums, oranges, peaches, tomatoes, tangerines, and grapes. However, it is important to note that salicylate sensitivity or intolerance should be determined first before completely excluding these healthy foods. Bananas, cantaloupe, dates, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, pineapple, watermelon, beans, broccoli, beets, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, lentils, potatoes, mushrooms, and celery are examples of allowed fruits and vegetables.
It is also recommended to avoid processed foods, sweets, and foods high in salt and sugar, as well as those low in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and folates. Instead, opt for whole, natural foods that can help maintain even blood sugar levels, such as fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
The Feingold Association provides resources to help with meal preparation and cooking. They publish a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which includes a list of over 13,000 brand-name products that are acceptable to use on the Feingold diet. They also offer cookbooks with recipes for beverages, breakfast foods, snacks, main dishes, breads, soups, sides, and desserts. These cookbooks can be a valuable resource for families following the Feingold diet, providing a variety of meal options that are both additive-free and delicious.
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Reintroducing eliminated foods
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold in the 1970s. It was designed to eliminate food additives and various foods to treat hyperactivity and behavioural problems in children. The diet restricts many healthy foods, including certain nuts, fruits, and vegetables, and forbids any foods containing synthetic additives or dyes.
After eliminating the restricted foods from the diet, parents can slowly reintroduce certain foods to see if their child's symptoms return. This is done to identify food intolerances and determine the child's level of tolerance to specific foods. The process involves offering the child small amounts of a previously eliminated food and observing their response. If the response is favourable, parents can slowly increase the amount of that food in the child's diet.
It is important to note that the Feingold diet does not recommend a rigid approach to food restrictions. Representatives from the Feingold Association suggest that families can take "baby steps" into the program and still find success. This flexibility allows for the inclusion of some restricted foods, especially if they are healthy and well-tolerated by the child.
The Feingold Association provides resources to help families navigate the diet, including cookbooks with Feingold-friendly recipes and a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which lists more than 13,000 brand-name products that are acceptable for the diet. These resources can be helpful for families who want to reintroduce certain eliminated foods while still adhering to the principles of the Feingold diet.
When reintroducing eliminated foods, it is important to be mindful of the potential for food intolerances and sensitivities. Some children may be sensitive to dyes, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives, so it is crucial to monitor their response when reintroducing these additives. Additionally, parents should be cautious when reintroducing foods containing salicylates, as these substances can be found in many natural foods such as fruits and vegetables. If a child has a salicylate intolerance, it may be necessary to limit their consumption of these healthy foods.
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Frequently asked questions
The Feingold diet is an elimination diet that was initially devised by Benjamin Feingold following research in the 1970s that appeared to link food additives with hyperactivity. The diet eliminates artificial dyes, flavorings, and certain compounds found in fruits.
The Feingold diet eliminates artificial food colours, flavourings, sweeteners, preservatives, and some salicylates (naturally occurring compounds found in some fruits and vegetables).
The Feingold diet is purported to manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. It was also designed to treat asthma and allergies.
The Feingold Handbook is a guide to using the Feingold Diet and contains the best ideas and solutions found by parents. The Feingold Association also publishes a Foodlist & Shopping Guide, which is a collection of more than 13,000 brand name products that are acceptable for the diet.
