Children as Special Patients 177of this sort poses little or no danger. Arterial damage accrues from years or
even decades of faulty food consumption, not just a few days.
In this situation, the major advantages to be gained from avoiding
deadly foods far outweighs the minor risk – a demographic risk at that –
from consuming suspect alternatives, provided the substitute was clean, wholesome
and did not contain stray residues of banned foods.
I would also permit honey, in small quantities. I emphasize small.
Honey is just another sugar food. Qualitatively, it has nothing much to
recommend it over refined sugar and is not as good as raw sugar. But sugar,
usually from the cane plant, is from the grass family and so most unsuitable.
Honey, by empirical experience, I found to be little trouble.
By permitting honey in small quantities, it was possible to gear up
to certain “treats” that were healthy and persuasive substitutes for candy,
sodas and confections. I will be offering a few simple recipes in a later
chapter for honeyed-treats, such as banana surprise, carob brownies and
peanut butter squares. The psychological value of such rewards, judiciously
used, could have a very beneficial effect on the young patient.
For the same reason, sugar-free jams were allowed. The French
brand Bonne Maman was good and I see it is available in the USA today.
There are plenty of others to track down; just avoid the dishonest brands
which sell “sugar-free” jam, meaning it has corn syrup as a sweetener.
Strictly speaking, these products would all be considered manufactured.
But a good natural jam is made only with the fruit and not with sugar.
Of course, without the sugar, there is no preservative quality and such
conserves must be kept in the refrigerator, otherwise they go moldy. But for
the child’s delight and, considering the remote risk of a reaction, I found it
a worthwhile compromise.
If the child is on a salicylate-free (p. 145) or nut-and-pip free diet
(p. 143), then obviously fruit jams cannot be permitted.
Some treats for kids (and grown ups)
Here are a few delicious treats that are safe for youngsters. You’ll have all
the kids at school queuing up to dip into your child’s lunch box!
I have already indicated that I allow a little leeway for kids. But I
know that adults find these treats great too and can enjoy them, knowing they
are (in the main) safe alternatives to the usual candies and confections.