From Kate Wilde:Dietary Interventions
Hello everyone!
There is so much great information about dietary interventions for Autism on the web.
The link below will take you to a page were the most recent and common dietary interventions are listed and described in an easy and informative way.
http://www.nourishinghope.com/page.php?f=u
For those of you who have yet to explore dietary interventions for your children, this page is a great starting point. Here at the Autism Treatment Center of America, we feel that it is not only important to create a non distracting external environment for our autistic children, but also to nourish their internal environment .
What our children eat matters!
Food effects how our body and brain develop and function, thus effecting how able we are to focus and interact with the world around us.
Enjoy finding out about how you can help your child through diet.
love to you and your lovely children.
Kate
There is so much great information about dietary interventions for Autism on the web.
The link below will take you to a page were the most recent and common dietary interventions are listed and described in an easy and informative way.
http://www.nourishinghope.com/page.php?f=u
For those of you who have yet to explore dietary interventions for your children, this page is a great starting point. Here at the Autism Treatment Center of America, we feel that it is not only important to create a non distracting external environment for our autistic children, but also to nourish their internal environment .
What our children eat matters!
Food effects how our body and brain develop and function, thus effecting how able we are to focus and interact with the world around us.
Enjoy finding out about how you can help your child through diet.
love to you and your lovely children.
Kate
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
8:19 AM
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Friday, January 8, 2010
Dietary Interventions
From Kate Wilde: Here at the Autism Treatment Center of America we believe that your child's diet is incredibly important to their overall health and well being. We feel that it is important to get your child tested for possible allergens such as Gluten, Casein, Corn and Soy. We also believe that it is important to be careful about how much sugar your child has in their daily diet.
Often times our children on the autism spectrum can be very picky eaters. If your child's diet consists mostly only the above named allergens and sugar then this may be a sign that your child has a potential intolerance to the very things they are eating.
If you are wanting to change your child's diet, by eliminating either, gluten, casein, corn, soy or sugar below are a couple of pointers that may help the transition go smoother.
1. Start only when you are completely ready, if you have doubts, your child will sense this, and wait until you give in and give them that chocolate cookie. It is important that you are prepared to go the distance.
2.Educate yourself about other foods you can over your child, there are many online resources such as gluten and casein free recipes you can access.
3.Make sure that the food you do not want your child to eat is nowhere to be found in your house. Remember your child is very intelligent, if it is in your house they will find it.
4.Explain to your child why you are changing their diet and how it will help them. Do this even if your child has yet to begin to talk to you, we believe without a doubt that your child can understand a lot of what you are saying, even if they cannot or do not verbally respond to it.
5.Have plenty of the new foods easily available to your child in bowls around the house, so that they can get used to new smells and the new look of their food, and they can easily try it when they are hungry.
6.Believe that your child will eat this yummy new food.
With love to you all
Kate
Often times our children on the autism spectrum can be very picky eaters. If your child's diet consists mostly only the above named allergens and sugar then this may be a sign that your child has a potential intolerance to the very things they are eating.
If you are wanting to change your child's diet, by eliminating either, gluten, casein, corn, soy or sugar below are a couple of pointers that may help the transition go smoother.
1. Start only when you are completely ready, if you have doubts, your child will sense this, and wait until you give in and give them that chocolate cookie. It is important that you are prepared to go the distance.
2.Educate yourself about other foods you can over your child, there are many online resources such as gluten and casein free recipes you can access.
3.Make sure that the food you do not want your child to eat is nowhere to be found in your house. Remember your child is very intelligent, if it is in your house they will find it.
4.Explain to your child why you are changing their diet and how it will help them. Do this even if your child has yet to begin to talk to you, we believe without a doubt that your child can understand a lot of what you are saying, even if they cannot or do not verbally respond to it.
5.Have plenty of the new foods easily available to your child in bowls around the house, so that they can get used to new smells and the new look of their food, and they can easily try it when they are hungry.
6.Believe that your child will eat this yummy new food.
With love to you all
Kate
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
7:27 AM
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Thursday, January 7, 2010
From Becky: Bread substitute!
Here are some more Gluten, Casein and sugar free ideas.
Question: What is shaped like a burger bun and is 10 times more tasty and nutritious for our children?
Answer: A Portabello Mushroom
A tasty addition to a burger instead of using a bun is to use two Portabello mushrooms brushed with olive oil. Put them on the grill, place your burger inside and voila!
Question: What is shaped like a burger bun and is 10 times more tasty and nutritious for our children?
Answer: A Portabello Mushroom
A tasty addition to a burger instead of using a bun is to use two Portabello mushrooms brushed with olive oil. Put them on the grill, place your burger inside and voila!
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
6:32 PM
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
From Becky: Diet - more ideas!
Hi,
Recently I was looking for something gluten/casein and sugar free with a soft texture that I could use us a thickener or a dipping sauce and I found........ Hummus.
Look at the ingredients if you are shopping for Hummus but I have found several tasty brands that just contain chick peas, tahini, garlic and olive oil. I enjoy them to dip veggies in or as a salad dressing and I had a great dinner last night of steamed fish with lemon hummus on it.
Enjoy!
Recently I was looking for something gluten/casein and sugar free with a soft texture that I could use us a thickener or a dipping sauce and I found........ Hummus.
Look at the ingredients if you are shopping for Hummus but I have found several tasty brands that just contain chick peas, tahini, garlic and olive oil. I enjoy them to dip veggies in or as a salad dressing and I had a great dinner last night of steamed fish with lemon hummus on it.
Enjoy!
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
7:14 PM
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From Becky: More GF/CF/Sugar Free
Delicious Dessert!
Many children that I work with at The Autism Treatment Center of America enjoy eating sweet, sugary foods.
I have discovered an absolutely delicious dessert that you can find in Health Food Stores. It's totally gluten, casein, sugar and soy free and has a lovely creamy texture like ice cream. It's called Coconut Bliss and I just ate some for dessert.....yummy!
Many children that I work with at The Autism Treatment Center of America enjoy eating sweet, sugary foods.
I have discovered an absolutely delicious dessert that you can find in Health Food Stores. It's totally gluten, casein, sugar and soy free and has a lovely creamy texture like ice cream. It's called Coconut Bliss and I just ate some for dessert.....yummy!
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
7:02 PM
1 Comments
Friday, December 18, 2009
From Becky: Diet Tips take 3
More Ideas to spice up a gluten/casein and sugar free diet:
Mustard
Mustard is great because it's the only condiment I have found that doesn't contain sugar and sugar products, wheat or dairy.
You can find all kinds of different mustard's at the grocery store. Always check the labels because some do contain sugar.
I use spicy brown mustard as a dipping sauce. This is great if your child is used to eating lots of sugary condiments such as ketchup, steak or barbecue sauce. It makes for a sweet and interesting substitute.
I Make my own salad dressing out of mustard, olive oil, vinegar and garlic. I keep whole garlic cloves in the bottle so they don't fall out when pouring and just keep topping up the other ingredients to taste.
You can also use mustard as part of a marinade or when cooking to thicken meat or vegetable juices.
Yeah for mustard!
Mustard
Mustard is great because it's the only condiment I have found that doesn't contain sugar and sugar products, wheat or dairy.
You can find all kinds of different mustard's at the grocery store. Always check the labels because some do contain sugar.
I use spicy brown mustard as a dipping sauce. This is great if your child is used to eating lots of sugary condiments such as ketchup, steak or barbecue sauce. It makes for a sweet and interesting substitute.
I Make my own salad dressing out of mustard, olive oil, vinegar and garlic. I keep whole garlic cloves in the bottle so they don't fall out when pouring and just keep topping up the other ingredients to taste.
You can also use mustard as part of a marinade or when cooking to thicken meat or vegetable juices.
Yeah for mustard!
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
6:15 AM
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Thursday, December 17, 2009
From Becky, more ideas for GF/CF Sugar Free Diet
At The Autisn Treatment Center of America, we work with many children on specific diets. Here are some more ideas to keep cooking interesting for you and your kids.
Some food ideas that I use as my "Saving Grace" when following a gluten, casein and sugar free diet.
Coconut products.
Coconut oil - It's sweet, creamy and delicious and can be used in marinades for meat and vegetables, to saute with or in cakes or breads.
Coconut milk - when cooking rice, substitute half or all the water with coconut milk to make for a delicious variation on plain rice.
Unsweetened coconut flakes or shredded coconut. I use the shredded kind as a subtitute for grated cheese, fantastic sprinkled on top of meat sauce.
If your child likes breadcrumb procucts, such as chicken nuggets, dip the chicken pieces in egg first, then almond or soy flour, and finally shredded coconut before baking or shallow frying. You can also use it to coat fish.
Enjoy
Some food ideas that I use as my "Saving Grace" when following a gluten, casein and sugar free diet.
Coconut products.
Coconut oil - It's sweet, creamy and delicious and can be used in marinades for meat and vegetables, to saute with or in cakes or breads.
Coconut milk - when cooking rice, substitute half or all the water with coconut milk to make for a delicious variation on plain rice.
Unsweetened coconut flakes or shredded coconut. I use the shredded kind as a subtitute for grated cheese, fantastic sprinkled on top of meat sauce.
If your child likes breadcrumb procucts, such as chicken nuggets, dip the chicken pieces in egg first, then almond or soy flour, and finally shredded coconut before baking or shallow frying. You can also use it to coat fish.
Enjoy
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
2:08 PM
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Friday, December 11, 2009
From Becky: Gluten, Casein and Sugar Free Treats!
From Becky: Is your child, or your family on a Gluten, Casein and Sugar free diet?, if so, here are some yummy treats that you can make if you or your child have a sweet tooth.
Orange Pudding
1 cup of pureed cooked carrots
1 cup of pureed cooked pears
1 tablespoon of nut butter (almond or cashew)
Blend together and enjoy
Green Pudding
1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon nut butter (almond or cashew)
1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
Blend together and enjoy
Delicious!
Orange Pudding
1 cup of pureed cooked carrots
1 cup of pureed cooked pears
1 tablespoon of nut butter (almond or cashew)
Blend together and enjoy
Green Pudding
1 ripe avocado
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon nut butter (almond or cashew)
1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
Blend together and enjoy
Delicious!
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Inspiration, Son-Rise Program Staff
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posted by Becky Damgaard, Son-Rise Program Teacher at
8:31 AM
0 Comments
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Start Fresh
What we believe about the people closest to us can determine how we act around them and the opportunities we offer them. This is particularly true with our children. It is easy to become complacent about how much we know our children. After all we have known them all their lives, sometimes we can predict how each of our children will react to certain situations, often we are right. This we then use as evidence that what we believe about our children is true. However our children are changing and growing everyday.
Here are the Autism Treatment Center of America we believe that parents are the best resource a child has, the best people to help their children. One of the first things we help our parents to do is to look at their child with fresh eyes, as if they had never meet them before and set aside any preconceived ideas and beliefs that they have about what their child will or will not do.
How many time have you said about your child, " Oh, he won't do that", "Oh, he does not like hats", "Oh, he can't draw", "He'll never eat that." Maybe you have had previous evidence that he has not done those things, but now it has become hard and fast fact that is now immovable.
At the Son-Rise Program Intensive we have a wonderful family and their 8 year old daughter with autism. We were told that she does not like vegetables and will not eat them, that she has not had a carrot since she was 18 months old.
Monday lunch time our talented child facilitator Kim Korpady offered her a carrot. Now, Kim did not know that she did not like carrots, and believed without a doubt that she would eat the carrot - and she did! Then she ate another one, then another one, then some cucumber, then some green beans!!
Because her family believed she would not eat vegetables they did not offer them, when clearly she had changed. Think of something today that you have not offered your child recently because you have had previous experience that they did not do it or like it, and offer that thing again.
I f they do it - cheer them; if they do not do it - offer it again in a few days, and then again in a few days - do not give up offering. Keep your mind open to the belief that one day your child might just want to try this activity.
Maybe today will be the time your child decides to try it.
Have fun offering things to your lovely children.
With much love
Kate
Here are the Autism Treatment Center of America we believe that parents are the best resource a child has, the best people to help their children. One of the first things we help our parents to do is to look at their child with fresh eyes, as if they had never meet them before and set aside any preconceived ideas and beliefs that they have about what their child will or will not do.
How many time have you said about your child, " Oh, he won't do that", "Oh, he does not like hats", "Oh, he can't draw", "He'll never eat that." Maybe you have had previous evidence that he has not done those things, but now it has become hard and fast fact that is now immovable.
At the Son-Rise Program Intensive we have a wonderful family and their 8 year old daughter with autism. We were told that she does not like vegetables and will not eat them, that she has not had a carrot since she was 18 months old.
Monday lunch time our talented child facilitator Kim Korpady offered her a carrot. Now, Kim did not know that she did not like carrots, and believed without a doubt that she would eat the carrot - and she did! Then she ate another one, then another one, then some cucumber, then some green beans!!
Because her family believed she would not eat vegetables they did not offer them, when clearly she had changed. Think of something today that you have not offered your child recently because you have had previous experience that they did not do it or like it, and offer that thing again.
I f they do it - cheer them; if they do not do it - offer it again in a few days, and then again in a few days - do not give up offering. Keep your mind open to the belief that one day your child might just want to try this activity.
Maybe today will be the time your child decides to try it.
Have fun offering things to your lovely children.
With much love
Kate
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:25 AM
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
For the Love of Vegatables.
Tips to help your child eat vegetables.
1. Love vegetables yourself. If you do not like them why would your child.
2.Demonstrate this love by eating vegetables yourself in front of your child. Do this with relish as if you were eating your most favorite dish. While you are doing this, just focus on how great it is for you to eat the vegetable, at this stage do not offer it to your child. Our children can smell a "trick' a mile away, it is important that you sincerely do like eating the vegetable, so pick one you like. If you are only doing it to get yourself to eat it, they will pick up on this and move away.
2.Put bowls of the food you would like your child to eat, within easy reach around the playroom while you are working with your child. If you are not working with your child in a playroom you can do this in the living room, or in the kitchen. It is important to make these food accessible, and plentiful. The more familiar your child is with the food the more likely they will investigate it.
3.Present the vegetables in different ways, for instance a carrot tastes and feels different when it is raw as opposed to cooked. You can mash, stew, boil, steam, chop into tiny pieces, or make it into the shape of a train. Be creative with how you cook and present them.
4.While you are working with your child, stop every now and then, and munch with great gusto from one of the bowls.
5.Whenever your child looks at a bowl of new food, touches the bowl, or the food, or indeed take a bite himself, celebrate, celebrate, celebrate him.
6.If the food your children usually eat, such as chips, chocolate, cookies are also available, then obviously they will choose this over the new healthy choices. So the important thing is that you only offer the choices you want your child to eat. Its common sense, if your child fills up on cookies then they will not be hungry enough to try the new food.
7. Be persistent and enjoy the process of offering new foods.
1. Love vegetables yourself. If you do not like them why would your child.
2.Demonstrate this love by eating vegetables yourself in front of your child. Do this with relish as if you were eating your most favorite dish. While you are doing this, just focus on how great it is for you to eat the vegetable, at this stage do not offer it to your child. Our children can smell a "trick' a mile away, it is important that you sincerely do like eating the vegetable, so pick one you like. If you are only doing it to get yourself to eat it, they will pick up on this and move away.
2.Put bowls of the food you would like your child to eat, within easy reach around the playroom while you are working with your child. If you are not working with your child in a playroom you can do this in the living room, or in the kitchen. It is important to make these food accessible, and plentiful. The more familiar your child is with the food the more likely they will investigate it.
3.Present the vegetables in different ways, for instance a carrot tastes and feels different when it is raw as opposed to cooked. You can mash, stew, boil, steam, chop into tiny pieces, or make it into the shape of a train. Be creative with how you cook and present them.
4.While you are working with your child, stop every now and then, and munch with great gusto from one of the bowls.
5.Whenever your child looks at a bowl of new food, touches the bowl, or the food, or indeed take a bite himself, celebrate, celebrate, celebrate him.
6.If the food your children usually eat, such as chips, chocolate, cookies are also available, then obviously they will choose this over the new healthy choices. So the important thing is that you only offer the choices you want your child to eat. Its common sense, if your child fills up on cookies then they will not be hungry enough to try the new food.
7. Be persistent and enjoy the process of offering new foods.
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Kate
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posted by Kate Wilde at
5:02 AM
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
New Foods, Yum Yum
Good afternoon.
As a lot of you know, here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we have a program called The Son-Rise Program Intensive . It is a program where a child diagnosed on Autism Spectrum comes with their parents for a week. We work with their child each day using The Son-Rise Program principles, and teach the parents how to work with their child using The Son-Rise Program, to help their child grow in all areas of social development.
While the child is here they often do things for the first time, whether it is saying new, or even their first words, lengthening their interactive attention span, or hug their parents for the first time.
This week with have an adorable 6 year old boy with curly blond hair. He was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2.
He loves many things, particularly staring at the walls, picking his mouth and laughing while running around the room.
One of his challenges is eating new foods. Like a lot of Autistic children he is a very picky eater, he likes, pork sausages, ice cream, soda, popcorn, and various juices, and that's it.
We have been working with him now for three days spending our time loving him, joining him as he stares at the wall, picking our lips as he picks his, and celebrating every move he makes towards us.
Today he drank water for the first time, and ate his very first blue berry, HOORAY!!!
Monday morning I had suggested to his lovely Mom that we put water in the playroom to drink, instead of all the soda. She replied, "Oh he won't drink that", and then stopped for a moment and said, "But you know I have never even tried".
So we put water into the playroom and encouraged him to drink it with the energy , excitement and enthusiasm of the Son-Rise Program, and today just three days later he is drinking water and enjoying it!
If you catch yourself thinking, "Oh he won't do that", concerning something with your child think twice.
Because if you never give your child the opportunity to do something they have never done before, then they won't even be able to try.
Now because this Mom tried something new, and persisted with presenting it, her child will enjoy the health benefits of water for the rest of his life.
With the economy the way it is, it will also be cheaper on the purse.
Enjoy your time with your lovely children.
As a lot of you know, here at The Autism Treatment Center of America we have a program called The Son-Rise Program Intensive . It is a program where a child diagnosed on Autism Spectrum comes with their parents for a week. We work with their child each day using The Son-Rise Program principles, and teach the parents how to work with their child using The Son-Rise Program, to help their child grow in all areas of social development.
While the child is here they often do things for the first time, whether it is saying new, or even their first words, lengthening their interactive attention span, or hug their parents for the first time.
This week with have an adorable 6 year old boy with curly blond hair. He was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2.
He loves many things, particularly staring at the walls, picking his mouth and laughing while running around the room.
One of his challenges is eating new foods. Like a lot of Autistic children he is a very picky eater, he likes, pork sausages, ice cream, soda, popcorn, and various juices, and that's it.
We have been working with him now for three days spending our time loving him, joining him as he stares at the wall, picking our lips as he picks his, and celebrating every move he makes towards us.
Today he drank water for the first time, and ate his very first blue berry, HOORAY!!!
Monday morning I had suggested to his lovely Mom that we put water in the playroom to drink, instead of all the soda. She replied, "Oh he won't drink that", and then stopped for a moment and said, "But you know I have never even tried".
So we put water into the playroom and encouraged him to drink it with the energy , excitement and enthusiasm of the Son-Rise Program, and today just three days later he is drinking water and enjoying it!
If you catch yourself thinking, "Oh he won't do that", concerning something with your child think twice.
Because if you never give your child the opportunity to do something they have never done before, then they won't even be able to try.
Now because this Mom tried something new, and persisted with presenting it, her child will enjoy the health benefits of water for the rest of his life.
With the economy the way it is, it will also be cheaper on the purse.
Enjoy your time with your lovely children.
Labels: Diet - Biomedical, Kate
Read more!
posted by Kate Wilde at
8:43 AM
0 Comments
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