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Always bear in mind that the diet may not be the answer. If you pin all your hopes on it, you may see improvements where there are none, and in the long run this could be very damaging to your child. Be careful, also, not to give the child the impression that the diet will ‘make everything alright’. He may be so anxious to please you that he tries extra hard to be good. Psychogenic reactions on food testing can occur just as easily in children as in adults, and if knows he is expected to go wild when he tries milk he may well oblige. Throughout the diet, try to keep an open mind about the outcome, and do not put any ideas into the child’s head about what might happen.
On the other hand, you do need the child’s cooperation, especially if he is old enough to go out and buy sweets or other foods for himself. Rather than forcing the diet on him, you should explain that it might help and ask if he would like to try it. You need to impress on him that it will only work if it is done properly – that there must be absolutely no cheating.
Because food additives are so important in hyperkinetic syndrome, you need to be aware of other ways in which they can be consumed. The colourings in toothpaste are identical to certain food colourings, so white toothpaste should be used. Put any coloured toothpaste well out of reach. Medicines also contain colourants, often in very large amounts, which is why you should try to discontinue syrups and tablets during the diet (as long as your doctor agrees) or get colouring-free alternatives. Try to stop your child from chewing things, and from licking sticky paper or stamps. Bear in mind that there can be additives in unlabelled food such as bread from a bakery, fish-and-chips, other take-away food, and restaurant food eg French fries.
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