| My son has autism and like many autistic | | | | meal whilst still holding his cards. He requested his |
| individuals his diet had been a major issue. It is | | | | servants to place cooked meats between two |
| getting better though. | | | | slices of bread so things haven't changed much |
| Until he developed autism after his MMR vaccine | | | | since 1762 have they? |
| my son would eat anything. He was a delight to | | | | Of course in Victorian times people used to cut |
| feed. | | | | off the crusts, at least high society did. The |
| However, things changed and for years he literally | | | | poorer working class were just glad of the crusts |
| lived on Hoola Hoops. They are small round potato | | | | and that is where the expression "I'd be grateful |
| rings with very little nutritional value what so ever. | | | | for the crusts" originates. |
| They come in packs and are ideal for | | | | I wonder whether my autistic son has ideas of |
| transportation as they don't crush like packets of | | | | grandeur as he won't eat the crusts either which |
| crisps. I should know as I have often carried | | | | is really strange as he will eat crusty rolls and |
| suitcases full of them when we have travelled. | | | | baguettes. What do you think? Have I given birth |
| The only consolation for that is they are light! | | | | to an aspiring aristocrat? |
| Hoola Hoops are convenience foods and ideal to | | | | The idea of the perfect sandwich differs for |
| put as an extra in a lunch box. They are better | | | | everyone and certainly in Western life they are |
| than crisps because they contain less salt, | | | | an everyday feature. As a snack their popularity |
| colourings and flavourings than most brands and | | | | is only matched by crisps. |
| now, according to the packet, contain 55% less | | | | Apparently chicken sandwiches come top of the |
| saturated fat than they did in 2006! | | | | list with the British and that is certainly one of my |
| Since they were the only things my son would | | | | son's favourites. He also likes ham, pork and beef |
| eat he used to take four packets to school with | | | | so he's a bit like John Montagu really. |
| him every day. As desert he would have a | | | | However, unlike the late Earl he insists on taking |
| packet of Polos. These are round mints with holes | | | | the meat out and eating that first before eating |
| in them. | | | | the bread. He examines every bit before putting it |
| Notice the similarities? Clue - both round with holes | | | | in his mouth and this appears to be quite a |
| in them. | | | | common trait for people with autism. |
| He would eat the same at home, so his staple | | | | It has been explained to me that it is because |
| diet was Hoola Hoops and Polos washed down | | | | autistics do not like different textures in their |
| with fruit juice, never water. We gave him | | | | mouths at the same time. That would explain |
| various vitamins and minerals to supplement . | | | | why my son will always eat his things separately |
| Not any more! | | | | and won't eat things like fruit buns. |
| Over the years we have tried all sorts of things | | | | Sausages are also a nightmare because he will eat |
| with him but by far the most important | | | | the outer skin and then examine every single bit |
| intervention was to de-tox him for mercury. | | | | of the inside before he'll eat them although I |
| From then on his diet improved and since we | | | | suspect that has more to do with the fact at |
| introduced an amazing probiotic he now eats | | | | some stage he may well have experienced a bit |
| sandwiches, amongst other things which make life | | | | of gristle in his mouth and is playing safe! |
| a whole lot easier. | | | | He also squeezes chips before he'll eat them. |
| I am so grateful to John Montagu. | | | | That's fries to my friends across the water and I |
| I'm not sure if you realised but it's 245 years | | | | suspect that's also because occasionally potatoes |
| since the sandwich was first conceived, and it's | | | | can be a bit hard in places. Who knows? |
| thanks to good old John who was the 4th Earl of | | | | Anyway, thanks to John Montagu and probiotics |
| Sandwich, hence the name. | | | | my autistic son has a much better diet, so long |
| John was a bit of a gambler and the sandwich | | | | live the sandwich, that's what I say! |
| was developed in order to allow him to eat his | | | | |