Kids Enabled Feeds a Hungry Crowd

The crowd at the second event in the Kids Enabled Brain Health & Nutrition Speaker Series,“What’s Food Got to Do with It?  New Tools for Nutrition,” came hungry for nutritional advice.  Awareness of the effects of nutrition on learning is paramount in helping children succeed and, with Kids Enabled hard at work to create an informed community where all children with learning differences have the resources to reach their full potential, those present were not disappointed.

Participants were served information by a panel of speakers from a variety of fields: developmental pediatrics, dietetics and nutritional education, metabolic, toxicant and nutritional testing, and economic solutions.  The experts gave guidance and information to help families navigate the maze of nutritional options and advice available today.  The audience left with a cornucopia of resources from speakers, sponsors and exhibitors to become more “food-smart.”

Celebrity Sightings

The A-list

The Brain Health & Nutrition Speaker Series is nothing without knowledgeable and thought-provoking speakers, so Kids Enabled chose a panel of speakers with varied backgrounds in nutrition.
Elizabeth Redmond, PhD, MMSc, RD, LD, brought great insight into how food affects the entire system.  Dr. Redmond informed parents of the metabolic, nutrition, and toxin tests available for children.  She also helped the attendees understand what the test results may mean for the health of their children.

You can purchase and prepare all the right foods after arming yourself with nutritionally sound advice, but what do you do if your child won’t eat what you offer?  The nutrients are wasted if they remain on the plate, so we invited a pediatric psychologist to join the panel.  Dr. David Jaquess has been helping children overcome eating behavior issues for 20 years.  He is currently the director of pediatric feeding and pediatric psychology services at the Marcus Autism Center, and he holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University’s School of Medicine.  He offered an encouraging and common-sense message for parents: pick your battles and take it one step at a time.

We made sure to include a registered dietician with over 25 years of diverse experience, Carol Ann Brannon, MS, RD/LD.  Carol Ann earned her BS in dietetics from Carson-Newman College and went to Georgia State University for her MS in nutrition education.  She brought to the panel a wealth of knowledge in pediatric feeding disorders, autism, ADHD, food allergies and intolerances, eating disorders, as well as weight management and diabetes.  She is an expert on the impact of nutrition on brain health.

Last, but not least, Kids Enabled wanted insight from a parent.  Liz Sitton is a working mother of two young boys.  She gave practical advice on how to make smarter food choices without taking out a second mortgage.  She also laid the groundwork for helping parents manage their time in order to realistically make the suggested lifestyle changes.

The Inside Scoop

For a more detailed recap of the day, download the BHN presentations from Dr. Elizabeth Redmond, PhD, MMSc, RD, LD and Carol Ann Brannon,  MS, RD/LD.

Exclusive Interviews

Since the topic of nutrition and brain health can be complex, “What’s Food Got to Do with It?  New Tools for Nutrition” was offered to serve as an introduction and springboard for future and ongoing discussions.  Kids Enabled wanted to highlight some of the more pressing and commonly-asked questions from the event.  Ask more questions by visiting our Help Desk at www.kidsenabled.org/askhelpdesk.php.

Following are the questions and responses from our experts:

Q: What is the “real deal” on food additives (i.e., red dye, high fructose corn syrup, etc.)?

A: The Center for Science in the Public Interest offers extensive but understandable information regarding food additives and how to avoid them. Visit their Web site at http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm.

Q: I know a good bit about the nutritional information given today, but my child still won’t eat the “good food” recipes I prepare.  What do you do when your child won’t eat what you serve no matter what you do?

A: Involve your child in your menu planning and recipe selection.  Begin with foods your child will eat, and then gradually transition to healthier versions.  It is a myth that children will eventually eat anything and that a child will not starve himself.  Quite the contrary, some (not all) children can go hours and days without eating or undereating, which results in slowed growth and lack of weight gain.

An example of gradual transition is when a family refuses to eat brown rice so you add a small amount of brown to the white, gradually increasing the amount of brown you add.  Over time, the family will acclimate to the brown rice.

The key is to gradually modify recipes for children with sensory integration challenges.  Another option is to pair healthy menu items with less healthy favorite foods.  Also, begin with small servings of a food your child does not like: eating one or two peas is better than none at all.

Remember evidence shows that it takes up to 15 to 25 times of offering a food to a child before they will accept it.  Be patient and persistent!  Working with a registered dietitian may be helpful in order to balance what your child will eat with what your child should be eating for optimal nutrition.

Q: What is the Feingold Diet and is it a good choice for kids with learning differences?

A: The Feingold Diet became known in the early 1970s when Dr. Benjamin Feingold, then chief emeritus of the Department of Allergy at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Permanente Medical Group in San Francisco, reported that 30 to 50 percent of his hyperactive patients benefited from a diet free of artificial food colorings and flavorings (AFCA) and naturally-occurring salicylates.  Despite the skeptical criticism, in 1975 a US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare committee concluded that “the evidence taken as a whole is sufficient to merit further investigation into the relationship of diet and hyperkinetic syndrome.”  In 1982, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened a conference to review the early scientific research and advise health professionals and the public regarding diet and ADHD.  Their conclusion was that controlled studies “did indicate a limited positive association between… (Feingold-type) diets and a decrease in hyperactivity.”  The panel recommended further broad research on the diet-behavior connection.

There continues to be a lack of consensus regarding the percentage of children who respond to dietary therapy, to what degree they respond, which sub-group of children is most likely to respond, their sensitivities to artificial food additives and foods, and how to implement diet therapy.  There continues to be a wealth of anecdotal evidence to citing improvement in ADHD symptoms including sleep problems and mood changes secondary to diet therapy.  Preschool children and children that are affected by eczema, asthma, allergies, hives, and hay fever appear to be more responsive to dietary interventions.

Visit www.feingold.org for more specific information on what following the diet entails.

Q: I have seen so many pyramids of food groups in my life that I can’t keep them straight.  What is a good and healthy mix of foods each day?

A: Try the Healthy Eating Pyramid, created by the faculty in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health: whole grains, lots of fruits and veggies are at the bottom of the pyramid, with healthy fats (fish, nuts, seeds), milk and dairy products, proteins from meat, beans and fish heading toward the top.  Visit their Web site at www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/pyramid .

Q: Will my child suffer if we have chosen to be a vegetarian household?  What are good sources of protein to keep the balance?

A: It is possible to raise a child on a vegetarian diet, but I would strongly urge that you work with a registered dietitian, at least to get started, to ensure your child is getting the proper balance of essential amino acids and micronutrients including calcium, vitamin D, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 as these are difficult to obtain through a vegetarian diet.  A vegetarian diet for children is not without nutritional risks unless it is done carefully and with planning. The American Dietetic Association has good information on their Web site: http://www.vegetariannutrition.net.

Q: My family is living paycheck to paycheck, plus the expenses of therapy for our son.  How do we feed our family “brain-smart” and stay within a meager budget?

A: The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org) has a list of the foods (www.foodnews.org) that are the most important to buy organic (those with the greatest amount of pesticide residue) and those that are okay to buy as conventionally grown produce, i.e., the dirty dozen and the clean 15.  Focusing on beans, legumes and buying in bulk can also help.  Planning ahead and making a menu makes a difference.  Check out the Web site for Whole Foods, which offers budget recipes and meals: www.wholefoodsmarket.com .

Q: I am a single mother who works two jobs.  Of my three children, two have learning issues.  How do I make nutritional meals for their brain development when I have no time to give?

A: Keep it simple.  Let the children help with menu ideas, preparation and clean up. Some frozen foods, especially veggies, are still nutritious as well as time-saving. Think outside the box: have breakfast for supper (organic eggs, whole grain pancakes with frozen organic blueberries).  A rice cooker is a wonderful purchase; many come with a basket for veggies so that as the (brown) rice cooks so do the veggies on top.  You can have a Mexican rice entrée by adding salsa, black beans, cheese, seasoning, or make it stir-fry rice with broccoli, carrots, peas.  Set the Crock Pot to cook while you are at work.  Use canned tuna or salmon (rich in omega-3 fatty acids) in a pasta salad.  Try making several meals at a time and freeze them.

Q: I know all about whole foods and the right vitamins, but how do I get my child to buy into the program?

A: Involve your child in menu planning, shopping and cooking.  Talk about how food affects the brain; many children will take a supplement if they know it is for “Brain Power.”  Return to basics and teach your child where food comes from to help him make the connection.  Use analogies (our body is like our car; we would not put “junk” instead of gasoline in our car, so we do not want to put “junk” in our bodies.  Good fuel is whole grains, fruits, veggies, etc.).  You know your child best, so decide what approach would motivate and inspire your own child.  For instance, sports-minded children may be willing to make changes if they know it will increase their performance on the team.

Q: I want to make nutrition a new adventure for our family.  Already the DeKalb Farmer’s Market is fun for us.  How do I carry over this “adventure” attitude when dinner is spinach and baked chicken?

A: Get your children involved in searching for recipes on the Internet.  Visit some ethnic markets (Super H Mart, Asian-Indian markets) and try to have an ethnic meal once a week.  You can carry the theme out by having kids dress up or research the country.  Getting kids into the kitchen is the best thing you can do!  Sign your child up for a cooking camp or class, plant a container garden or find a community garden to join.

Q: How do I know when, or if, it’s time to get my childtested for toxins and nutritional deficiencies?

A: It is best to let your pediatrician be your guide.  There are some signs of nutritional deficiencies you can look for:

• red, scaly skin, especially cheeks
• thin, brittle hair and/or nails
• cravings for non-food items (ice, glue, can be almost anything)
• signs of GI distress: cramps, pain after eating, diarrhea and/or constipation
• moody
• lack of focus
• dark circles under a child’s eyes
• bad breath that will not go away
• chronically poor appetite
• swollen belly
• sleep problems

Q: How do I know that it is my child’s diet that is adversely affecting his learning?

A: Try “cleaning up” his diet and see what happens. The best way to know is to make healthy changes and monitor his performance and behavior.  It is not easy, but what you may learn is worth it.  You need to make changes to a single diet factor or a single environmental factor at a time and to see if each particular factor is having an effect.  For example, you can start with excluding dairy and see what happens.

Q: Is blood, urine or stool testing scary for kids?

A: It can be scary when it is blood work.  Be honest with your child and prepare him by letting him know what to expect in terms he can understand and deal with.  Urine tests are the easiest.  Most have done it the doctor’s office.  Stool tends to be more personal, though it depends on the age; younger kids don’t seem to care so much.

Q: My daughter will only eat carbs.  How do I get her to try proteins and other foods?

A: Begin by adding/combining protein foods with her favorite carbs, such as peanut butter with crackers or hummus with pita.  Add nuts to cereals or make your own trail mix.  Don’t forget that dairy foods are a great source of protein.  You can also enhance your recipes; for example, refried beans are a wonderful way to thicken spaghetti sauce.

A special thank to our sponsors: Brain Balance, Learning Rx, Kids Creek Therapy, Children’s Special Services, Amit, Athletic Club NE, Bright from the Start, Tom Clement, The Language Group, and Pediatric Therapy.  To our exhibitors: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Easter Seals of North Georgia, Gold’s Gym – Roswell, Healthy Foundations, The Howard School, Julia Turner, and Your Nutrition Difference.