Elimination Diet - The first week

So we're now almost a week into our Failsafe elimination diet and it's going well. I've been cooking a lot more snacks, biscuits, muffins etc, as before we started the diet the boys would just go and help themselves to a piece of fruit or two. Before we started the elimination diet a batch of biscuits (Anzacs for example) would last 3-4 days and I'd ration them out. Now I'm lucky if they last one day!!!

I've also noticed a big reduction in our shopping bill, we would easily spend $50 a week on fresh fruit and vegetables. It seemed very strange to be filling the trolley with food we wouldn't normally eat, white sugar (instead of honey or rapadura), wheat flour (instead of coconut flour, buckwheat, quinoa etc), canola and sunflower oil (instead of coconut or macadamia oils).

As I've said before, we're not coming at this from a standard, packaged food diet. We have long been eating whole foods, making most of our foods from scratch and buying lots in bulk through coops (I currently have an unopened 5l bucket of coconut oil sitting in my store cupboard. I've since learnt that coconut products are very high in salicylates ... oops!!).

Behaviour wise, we've had a rough couple of days while everyone detoxes. The boys have been great in terms of not eating the foods they used to eat. No major tears or upsets over not having something (apart from Master 2 crying because he wants sultanas, but he's two and doesn't really get it.)

But about everything else, it's like walking on eggshells around here. Master 6 has been the worst, getting super cranky with his brothers, angry and frustrated with both of us grown ups when we call him out on being mean or bossy. If things don't go his way then it's the end of the world! Master 5 hasn't been too bad, but there have been snappy moments and major tears and yelling.

Both big boys have big, dark circles under their eyes, not sure what that is about, but Master 6's arrived straight after lunch on Day 1 and haven't gone anywhere.

Concentration (which is a big thing with Master 6 at school) hasn't changed much, but it's early days. I'll be having chats with both the big boy's teachers this week to let them know what we're doing and why, and also to ask them if they can keep an eye on any changes they see. I'm confident that they'll stick to only eating the food I send for them as the school has a strict no sharing policy and they are well supervised at eating times.

We only have four more days until school holidays and then the real fun will start - sticking to the diet while attending birthday parties, playdates and movie outings!!!

Why Now?

Going Failsafe is something that I have been thinking about for a while now, probably around three years. It was at this time that a friend of mine "went Failsafe" with her family due to one of her children's sensitivities and I thought it may apply to Master 5 (then about 2). I filed it away in the too hard basket, but over the years "Failsafe" has kept popping up and I've kept thinking about it.

Just last week I was chatting to a friend about Master 5's behaviour changes since he started school and she mentioned Failsafe. I started googling a bit and that afternoon there was an article in the school newsletter saying that Sue Dengate was doing a series of talks in the area! The universe has spoken, we are listening! Now is the time!

Master 5 has always been up and down with his emotions, when he's happy - wonderful but if he gets upset or something doesn't go the way he was planning it to - look out! He's always been a big lover of routine. He likes to do things in a certain order. But recently, most definitely since school started, his reactions to when things don't go his way are getting bigger, more emotional. He's dissolving into tears when a seemingly minor thing is different. There are tantrums of gigantic proportions, yelling, the whole box and dice. At school, he's ok. It makes me wonder if he is using up all his flexibility at school and is just too tired to hold it all together at home. His teacher has said he is often day dreaming and not completing the tasks set.

Master 3, while not the same lover of routine has his big brother, has his own behavioural quirks. He is loud, boisterous, emotional and prone to using his hands and body to do the talking for him. He has taken to yelling when things don't go his way and then being physical too! He is very physical with Master 1, I feel like I'm constantly yelling to "Leave him alone!!!".

So now is the time. Well not right now ... next week. Monday the 14th May. That is the date as it is Master 5's birthday on Friday and we're having a little party for him at the park that afternoon. Then it's the family celebration on Saturday and then Mother's Day on Sunday.

Monday. One week to get ready, get our heads around what we can and can't eat!

D-Day is coming. Or should it be F-Day?

A Bit of Background

So, the first post and I think a bit of background and stage setting is needed.

We are a young family of five, Mum, Dad, Master 5, Master 3 and Master Almost-One. Yes, three boys! Life is busy, chaotic, cuddly, noisy, rough, affectionate and tumble! Most of the time I love it, sometimes it drives me bonkers!

Our kids have always been ... interesting. Loving, amazing, lights-of-our-lives but interesting none the less.

Master 5 is the king of routine, he knows exactly what needs to be done when and if there is even the slightest change to the norm he'll let you know about it. He's a smart little guy, just started school, but has a tendency to daydream and not get stuff done. He likes doing what he likes doing but if there's something else to do, well no thanks.

Master 3 is just one jumping, rolling, bumbling, loud bundle of boy. As a baby he never (literally, never) slept. If he slept for more than an hour at a time it was a rare occasion that left Mr Failsafe and I wondering if he was still breathing. He's still not a great sleeper, but we do have the occasional sleep through perhaps even in his own bed! Why walk if he can run? Why use normal speaking volume if he can yell?

Master 1 (well, almost one, he's one is 3 weeks) is just a delight, almost walking, almost talking, almost sleeping, almost almost almost. He follows his big brothers around with a look of determination that belies his teeny tiny size.

And us? Mr and Mrs Failsafe? Mr Failsafe is a mid-thirties professional, working long yet flexible hours in an office in the big smoke. Mrs Failsafe is an early thirties ex-teacher, stay at home mum, trainee breastfeeding counsellor with the ABA. Life is busy!

Tomorrow I'll post a bit about why we are going Failsafe and why now!

Thanks for coming on this journey with us!