Anatomy of an Intentional Calendar

Ah, September is upon us. Fall is here the weather is changing, and Starbucks keeps telling me I need pumpkin and caramel. Our days are getting shorter, the adventures of summer are coming to an end and more consistent routines quickly gives way to over scheduling and stress. Homework! Sports! Doing ALL the things!

I'm focusing on being very intentional with my time and energy month as I re-visit my family's launch pad and calendars. First things first... let's all take a moment to manage our expectations. Take 2-3 big belly breaths and remember:

Normal is a setting on a dryer

Comparison is the thief of joy

I'm stepping into my superhero alter ego here: Super Good Enough Mom.

I can do it all sort of good enough. I can do some of it great. I can love myself by remembering I don't need to do everything perfect to be a pretty damn good mom. Breakfast for dinner is fun, not lazy. 

Now that we remember we don't need to do ALL the things...let's talk calendar.

I'm posting a photo of our calendar below so you can get an idea of how I have created an intentional schedule that honors not only what I HAVE to do, but what I WANT to do.

Identify goals for the month for each family member, then be thoughtful about the commitments you make. Are they in line with your intentions? If not, practice saying no without guilt. This month, I'm going to focus on accepting opportunities to rest and rejuvenate, and opportunities to be inspired by ambitious people. My son is starting a premier basketball league and I've committed to getting him to practices and games. Other commitments need to balance these priorities. 

Be clear on what is optional. Include the things you'd like to do if you had the time on the calendar too. This helps you see the ways you could fit them in. Do some research and find things in your community you could decide to attend without a lot of planing or making arrangements. Note on your calendar which items you've actually committed to. (My commitments have a red dot.) Be selective in making commitments, then stick to your best intentions. Leave some space to accept some of those opportunities.  

Build in authentic celebrations. I get teased for being the queen of "Yay!" in my house. That's because I've learned that all work and no play makes Kellie a dull girl. I look for opportunities for dance parties, movie nights with popcorn and fancy dinner for no reason. Scheduling one little "Yay!" helps me grounded in fun. These aren't other people's parties (unless their party is truly a fun celebration for you), nor overdone dinner parties that bring pressure. Just small moments of gratitude and fun.


Hoping this help! I hope you will make time to nurture yourself and celebrate life. Leave a comment below telling me about your adventures!

xoxo
K 

Adventure Bites and GoogleFu: Cherimoya

 

Have you had cherimoya? We picked this up at the natural market this weekend to try. It's a bit like a cross between a pear and a banana. It's got a soft creamy texture and it's delicious. They do have a lot of big seeds, and I read that the seeds are not edible, so that make it a little difficult to eat. 

According to my good friend Google, the cherimoya has many health benefits. I'm a little suspicious about the heath benefits of fruit that's traveled so far before it reaches my lips, but I'll play along: 

Health benefits of cherimoya: 

• Very sweet and pleasant flavor annonas contain an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals

• The fruit has calories equivalent to that of mangoes. 100 g of fresh fruit pulp provide about 75 calories. It is, however, contain no saturated fats or cholesterol. It characteristically contains a good amount of dietary fiber (3 g per100 g) that helps prevent absorption of cholesterol in the gut. The fiber also helps protect the mucous membrane of the colon from exposure to toxic substances by binding cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.
  

• Cherimoya contains several poly-phenolic antioxidants. Among them, the most prominent in annona family fruits are Annonaceous acetogenins. Acetogenin compounds such as asimicin, bullatacinare...etc are powerful cytotoxins and have been found to have anti-cancer, anti-malarial, and anti-helminthes properties.
  
  
• It is very good in vitamin-C. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
  

• In addition, cherimoya fruit is a good source of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). 100 g fresh fruit provides 0.257 mg or 20% of daily-recommended levels. Pyridoxine helps keep-up GABA neuro chemical in the brain. High GABA levels calm down nervous irritability, tension, and headache ailments.
  

• Further, it has a well balanced sodium-potassium ratio. A good potassium level in the body helps control heart rate and blood pressure, and thus, counters the bad influences of sodium. It also contains more minerals weight per weight than many common fruits like apples, rich in copper, magnesium, iron and manganese.

Source: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/cherimoya.html

Sounds great, except this part right here:  "powerful cytotoxins and have been found to have anti-cancer, anti-malarial, and anti-helminthes properties." (record stop). Wait, what?!. So this stuff has toxins in it? Isn't snake venom a cytotoxin?

GoogleFu to the rescue.....more research needed. I read several reports and research papers, but the best explanation was found in a well sourced post on the 30 Bananas a Day site. (I am NOT recommending the 30 bananas a day approach to dieting.)

"The cherimoya fruit skin and its crushed seeds are toxic; ingestion of either is discouraged except by those well familiar with their medicinal qualities. The seeds have been used for insecticides while a dilution of the skin can induce paralysis.

The dried flowers are used as flavoring in snuff in Jamaica while rural Mexicans sometimes use a dilution of the seeds to induce vomiting or defecation (Morton). The pulverized seeds are also used to kill lice and treat parasitic skin problems. The skin can also be brewed into a tea for treatment of pneumonia.

Source: http://www.aihd.ku.edu/foods/cherimoya.html

One of the common internet myths that I wanted to take an opportunity to dispel was the idea that a Cherimoya can kill you if you eat the skin and seeds. According to Mr. Ruskey, the skin is tannic but not poisonous. The seeds of the Cherimoya do contain alkaloids, similar to a number of other plant seeds, and while you could do a fair amount of processing to collect the alkaloids, accidentally swallowing one seed won't harm you. Lucky for my readers, I recently swallowed a Cherimoya seed and I am still here typing this post (or am I....?) so rest assured that Mr. Ruskey is indeed correct in his analysis.

Source: http://www.uncoveringfood.com/2009/04/deliciously-divine-uncovering...

The hard seeds are toxic, but can be swallowed whole with no ill effects.

Source: Morton, J. (1987): Custard apple. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.

So there you have it folks. Adventure level: 9- May cause paralysis.

Today's adventure bite led me to some new learning and a reminder to know thy food. 

Kellie 

Make It Happen

 

Hiya! It's been a long while, and I'm excited to say that I'm feeling grounded in my work again, both in education and holistic health, and ready to get back to writing, coaching and teaching. I've been working on a lot of projects, and now I'm almost ready to launch my updated website and new community workshops. Stay tuned for that.

I've been busy! In January I finished a graduate certificate in Preschool to 3rd Grade Executive Leadership from the University, and now I'm studying Public Administration at Fort Hays State University to finish up my Masters degree. I've also found my dream job, as a Prenatal to 3rd Grade Campus director of an amazing early learning center that is showcasing high quality early learning while partnering with a top notch elementary school. Together we're aligning our instruction and eligibility practices to ensure that children in our neighborhood get equal access to programs designed to support diverse learners and eliminate opportunity gaps. 

I've been continuing my health and positive parenting education as well, completing certifications in Positive discipline and allergy elimination. I'm designing some really great classes and curriculum for parents who want to develop a peaceful home and practice healthy habits. Please contact me for coaching in person or via Skype, or for community workshops and parent groups. I'm really excited for what the new year brings!

Finally, I'm working on a variety of meal plans for an amazing online program developed by a friend and fellow coach, Michael Roesslein who is incredibly inspiring and knowledgeable.

Primal90 is a 12-week online-based course which is going to feature 22 educational videos, in addition to 30+ video segments with well-known doctors, researchers, practitioners, trainers, chefs, farmers, and authors from the natural health world including Dr. Terry Wahls, Dr. Daniel Kalish, and Stefani Ruper.  In addition, there will be dozens of guides, checklists, worksheets, shopping lists, meal plans, and other tools to help members successfully implement everything they're learning.

The co-creators of the program are Joe Rignola, FDN (Wellness Punks), Diane Kazer, FDN (Kazer Wellness), and Michael Roesslein, MS, FDN, CHEK (Natural Evolution Holistic Health).

 

You can register for free here: http://bit.ly/1whCJpP for a month of FREE tools and video interviews with leading health experts. I'm learning so much and it's really re-energized my own health journey. This is different from all of those health summits you've seen before. No more trying to listen to a bunch of videos at once. This is available free all month. Watch one video every day and then stay tuned for the full program if you are so inclined- and get access to all 9 meal plans I'm creating :)

I hope you enjoy.

 

Kellie

 

 

 

Not Your Imagination: Food Programs Make it Hard to Send Healthy Alternatives to School and Childcare

**Check me out in this week's Paleo Movement Online Magazine, there's lots of other great articles this week! http://paleomovement.com/its-not-your-imagination-food-programs-make-it-hard-for-parents-to-send-healthy-alternatives-to-school-and-childcare/

Healthy Parents, 

I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time about sending your child to our childcare center with gluten and dairy free lunches, Amino acid supplements, and halal meals that needed heating or your child with special needs wouldn't eat. I'm sorry that I wouldn't allow you to share those home-made date brownies with the class to celebrate your child's birthday. I could have been more understanding when you threw those cupcakes in the teacher's face, but she was only trying to follow the rules. We were all just trying to follow the rules. I didn't understand the health benefits you were fighting for, I didn't truly understand the disrespect I was showing for your families' values, and I couldn't figure out how to balance my legal responsibilities and budget with your needs. Your child should have come first. Now that I have a child who gets asthma from dairy and headaches from gluten, I get that. If I could go back, I'd do it all differently. 

 Sincerely, 

A Previous Childcare Director, but first a Mother

Fall is Here

I blogged before about 5 reasons school lunch programs are failing, Now it's September, and for many moms like me that means it's time to get doctor notes and jump through 21 hoops to justify our decision to send kids to childcare, school and after school programs with healthy lunches and snacks (special diets).

When I decided to take control of ManCub's nutrition all day, it was more difficult than filing taxes on April 14th. It required two different doctors, a medication form for our almond milk to be "administered" (no joke!) many guilt trips and snacks for an entire classroom. I provided multiple peer reviewed research briefs, and sent emails to the principal threatening to take more formal action if they couldn't monitor the "share table" to prevent a first grader with a dairy allergy from trading an apple for pizza. (Thankfully, ManCub FINALLY learned to self-monitor after getting sick a few dozen times)

If your child's school or day care participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) you may have noticed they're exceptionally pushy. Ever wondered why the hard stance on fat free cows milk at every meal? I directed a childcare center for a while, and learned a lot as the administrator of the food program for my school. 

 Follow the Dollar

The USDA provides free food and subsidies to schools, childcare centers and adult daycare centers to provide meals throughout the day. The menu must meet USDA requirements for protein, grains, fruits and and "vegetables" (Ya know, like pizza sauce?). Fluid cow milk must be served at all meals and children over two years old must drink fat free or low fat milk. Breakfast must include a grain, a fruit, and milk. Schools can add a protein, but only as an additional item (expense). In CACFP, the meal can not be counted towards reimbursement without a grain, milk and fruit. 

 Center meal planning representatives are given one training on nutritional guidelines by USDA nutritionists and patted on the back for providing healthy meals for growing brains. When I attended my training ( to be fair, it was 2008, and things may have changed since then), it consisted of a notebook with guidelines. Most of the 4 hours was spent reviewing the paperwork for reimbursement and the contractual responsibilities. Childcare centers who participate in the CACFP program create menus that are in line with USDA's guidelines and are allowed to claim up to $3.52 for lunches and $1.86 for breakfast and snack. Programs with evening hours can also serve a dinner.

 It's not chump change. In my school, it added about $150,000 to my annual operating budget that was desperately needed. Hiring a kitchen manager who would comply with the guidelines was critical, and creating policies to require doctors notes for diet changes, and discouraging parents from bringing food from home became a necessary evil.  (If I had known then what I know now, I might have handed all of this VERY differently!)  

 If a child has a food allergy and a doctors note, both programs can make appropriate substitutions and still receive reimbursement IF they still provide the food. If your dietary change is preference only, for religious reasons, or if you provide the food, the meal cannot be collected upon. 

 Milk must be served with the meal in order for the entire meal to be counted, and two brands of soy milk (who paid the money for research to show equivalency) are the only acceptable substitutions. Now you see the motivation to get your kid to the milk trough, no? 

 I recently heard that some schools have even taken to guilt tactics, sending home letters to parents who send their own lunches to let them know that they are costing the school money, and the poor cafeteria workers may not have job security if this trend continues.

 Limiting Options 

In many states, licensed childcare has minimum requirements that the provider must monitor and ensure all nutritional components are provided in a child's meals while at the center.

 Washington's Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers, for example, includes the following requirements: 

(b) Each lunch and dinner meal the child eats at the center must contain:

(i) A dairy product (such as milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese);

(ii) Meat or meat alternative (such as beef, fish, poultry, legumes, tofu, or beans;

(iii) A grain product (such as bread, cereal, bagel, or rice cake);

(iv) Fruits or vegetables (two fruits or two vegetables or one fruit and one vegetable to equal the total portion size required). When juice is served in place of a fruit or vegetable it must be one hundred percent fruit or vegetable juice.

(3) When meals are not provided by the center you must:

(a) Notify parents in writing that meals they provide for their children must meet the daily nutritional requirements;

(b) Provide adequate refrigeration for keeping potentially hazardous foods (such as meats of any type, cooked potato, cooked legumes, cooked rice, sprouts, cut melons or cantaloupes, milk, cheese);

(c) Refrigerate foods requiring refrigeration at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less and keep frozen foods at 10 degrees Fahrenheit or less until they are cooked or consumed.

 

This is often interpreted as supplementing meals sent from home to meet the nutrition guidelines. As with any compliance statutes, there is room for interpretation. If a parent sends a lunch of cookies and chips, most centers would offer a fruit, vegetable and milk to supplement, because they genuinely want children to be healthy and ready to learn.  (As you can imagine, teaching a room full of three year olds is a lot easier when they have eaten a  nutritious ow sugar meal!). How about when a parent intentionally packs a grain or dairy free lunch? What about vegetarians or those who follow a kosher or halal diet? When is it no longer appropriate to tamper with the lunch sent from home? What are parent's rights to decide their child's menu? There isn't much guidance on these grey areas. 

 Most childcare centers I've worked with avoid this complex situation by participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and NOT ALLOWING food from home to be brought unless there is a documented medical need. In compliance with nutritional and food safety requirements, food from home is discouraged. Food to be shared with other children must be store bought or cooked in a licensed kitchen. Families who cannot afford to buy treats are put at a disadvantage, and families who wish to send special diets without medical documentation have an uphill battle. 

 What's a Parent to Do? 

 As a parent in this awkward space, you have a few options for how to handle this situation. If your child attends public school (Or a private school that participates in the NSLP), you can simply pack the lunch, and ignore the guilt letters. However, be sure to also pack snacks and make the teacher aware of your preferences. Be sure to have a plan for birthday parties and other class parties that involve food. A letter to the teacher and nurse stating "under NO circumstances should my child ever have..." is suggested. For an allergy, you should go ahead and get that doctors note with an allergy plan to keep on file with the school. This provides you with some additional rights and will help you advocate for your child's needs. (This is the part where you might have to just take a deep breathe and get that medication form for almond milk signed). 

 Find out your school rules about lunch room trading, and be sure that your child understands your expectations of them. Teachers often have planning time and their own lunch during children's lunch period, and may not be able to supervise. I went to school and introduced myself to the volunteer cafeteria supervisor, flashed a mug shot of my child, and shared his allergy plan with her. I then pleaded with her, mother to mother, to help me keep him from trading for food that would make him sick. 

 You can get those doctors notes, write an allergy plan, and request the school provide substitutions. This works well for minor allergies like oranges. Work with the school nurse or the childcare center director to get the right forms they need to be in compliance. Many will say "Homeschool!" and that would certainly be another way to avoid this situation. If you have the means, lucky you, I fully support home schooling. 

 If your infant or young child is in childcare, start by understanding your state's minimum licensing requirements and meal requirements, then work with the director to find flexibility in the interpretation. Or, find a smaller center or family provider who isn't enrolled in the program and avoid this problem all together. 

 I've learned that it is best to be compassionate, patient and educational. The mother of a child with special needs once showed up on the first day of school with a pamphlet for me about her child, highlighting his smile, his strengths, and his needs. It made me sad that she has learned this to be necessary, but I also appreciated her taking that time to help me understand why that special diet was so important. My child's teachers have been much more helpful once they understand that although milk will not cause an immediate reaction, it makes him miserable in a few hours, and without dairy we've been able to keep him off all of the inhalers and steroid creams for eczema. 

 Equity Issues

There are some glaring equity issues underpinning all of this. Most of those forms, minimum licensing requirements, and guidelines are available in English only, even when many providers are not native English speakers. Parents with lower literacy levels may have a difficult time navigating the requirements. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunches often have less options because there is a financial need to access the school food programs. Meeting the school nurse, volunteers, and getting doctors notes can require a lot of time off from work and transportation. Cultural preferences for meals are not as easily understood, and often seen as optional preferences when staff do not have enough training in cultural competency or just plain old empathy and open mindedness. Families in rural areas and "food deserts" often have less access to gluten free alternatives packaged to send to school.

Find natural community leaders to help advocate, interpret and speak up! When healthy food access is addressed as a parental right for one family, it must be addressed for ALL families. Let's grow this movement in solidarity. If you are privileged enough to read the forms, learn the legal requirements, take off time, drive to school, get the doctors notes and provide the foods...please don't forget to use that privilege to speak out for those who may have even more of a struggle than you do. If you homeschool, remember that there are many who are unable to do so and are faced with some tough challenges. Support community programs that address food scarcity with locally farmed foods. Get involved and don't get shut down. Awareness and action are key. 

 May you all have a healthy and happy September! I'd love to hear from you on your journey. Please share in the comments if you've found ways around these challenges. As always, I love hearing success stories of healthy happy children who's diets have improved behavior or disability. 

In Solidarity, 

Kellie 

Real Foods Build Better Brains

**Check out Paleo Movement Online Magazine, where my article below was first published August 9. http://paleomovement.com/real-food-builds-better-brains/

Food is preventative medicine,  economic investment, education reform and resource development. Food is community strengthening.

Our most primal instincts tell us that babies are precious and miraculous: requiring fierce protection.  Science confirms this: the first 5 years of brain development are the most rapid and easily impacted. In the first few years, synapses are growing at a rate of 700 connections per second.

I've been sitting in a conference for early educators and school leaders for the past few days.  We are discussing brain development and the importance of positive early experiences for children.  I can't stop thinking about what's missing from this conversation in our nation.

First, parents should understand brain research, and be honored and respected as brain builders.  Secondly, we should be having a national discussion about how the food we feed young children impacts their brains.  We should be talking about the future of young brains, and why the return of investment for growing healthy children is higher than any other investment we could ever make in our society.  There should be no question of removing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) from the market and creating equal access to healthy foods in all neighborhoods.

The healthiest brains are those that are well fed with experiences, positive interactions and good nutrition.  Feeding babies breast milk and introducing young children to real foods that their ancestors ate helps brain development for children to reach their highest potential.

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”  ~Thomas Edison

We have an epidemic in the United States of children who are both obese and malnourished at the same time as a result of an abundance of low quality foods.  While our children may not look like the emaciated children on National Geographic, there is clear evidence that lack of nutrient dense diets are contributing to the rise in disease, learning delays and mood disorders.

From the Urban Child Institute:

"A proper balance of nutrients in this formative period is critical for normal brain development.2,3 Shortages of nutrients such as iron and iodine can impair cognitive and motor development, and these effects are often irreversible. Similarly, there is growing evidence that DHA, an essential fatty acid, is a key component of the intensive production of synapses that makes the first years of life a critical period of learning and development. Many other nutrients—choline, folic acid, and zinc, to name just a few—have been linked specifically to early brain functioning.4,"

Building Blocks for Brain Development

Young brains use certain proteins and fats to build new connections and protect fragile pathways.  Amino acids and fatty acids work together in the brain to build new proteins and fats that are critical in cognitive repair and development.  Just like the building blocks children play with, nutrition needs balance for strength.

Examples of precursors include:

Aspartic Acid, used to make aspartate;

Choline,  used to make acetylcholine;

Glutamic acid, used to make glutamate;

Phenylalanine, used to make dopamine;

Tryptophan, used to make serotonin;

Tyrosine, used to make norepinephrine

These neurotransmitters play an important role in hormone balancing, moods, memory, focus, and learning.  When these important precursors aren't available, the brain is not able to build enough connections.  Neurological and mental disorders may occur when this fragile balance is upset.  Many traditional foods such as high quality meats, fish, and eggs contain precursors (starting materials) for neurotransmitters.  Some can also be found in nuts and seeds, but may need to be paired to achieve the same effects.

A diet of nutrient dense foods is a mother's best tool for creating healthy brain.  It's not surprising that the most important micronutrients for healthy brain development are found in traditional foods our ancestors ate.

Iron helps in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelin, a critical component of brain growth. Iron deficiencies can lead to lower cognitive function and social problems, and are often found in children with attention deficit disorders or autism.  The best source of dietary iron is heme iron, found in high quality organ meats, turkey, beef, chicken or fish.  Non heme iron is found in broccoli, spinach and dried apricots and is less efficiently absorbed by the body; pair it with foods high in vitamin C such as oranges or strawberries to increase absorption.

Zinc helps the body to metabolize fats, carbohydrates and protein, and is critical in binding proteins to build brain structure.  It also protects against free radicals.  Reach for salmon, pumpkin seeds, garlic, organic beef, and egg yolks.

Vitamin D helps protect the brain by preventing neuro-degenerative diseases and strengthening the immune system.  Food sources include fish, eggs and fortified dairy products.  You might want to add fermented cod liver oil.  This traditional food is also high in omega 3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA

B Vitamins (1,6,9,12) help to modulate cognitive function and moods.  These vitamins support memory, focus and self regulation.  B12 improves cognitive and language function in young brains.  Again, your best sources are leafy greens and animal products such as chicken, fish and organic beef.

Brain-Gut Connections

I'm going to save this complex subject for another post, but there's increasing evidence that digestion and gut bacteria also impact behavior and how the brain works.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recently acknowledged the brain-gut connection and called for further research on links between autism and diet.  Gluten intolerance and yeast may be two big culprits in creating intestinal problems that impact brain development.

 Follow These Five Tips For Healthy Brain Development:

 1. Breast-feed or make formula from real foods.

We know that breast milk is best, but maternal nutrition is important too. Mothers need diets rich in vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates and proteins during pregnancy and breast feeding.  If something goes wrong and your baby can't breastfeed, check out The Weston A. Price Foundation for recipes for infant formula and foods you can make with real foods.

2. Just Eat Real Food

Plan for meals as a family where everyone's plate includes leafy greens, high quality sources of protein and fats, and some varied fruits, nuts and seeds.  Get your carbohydrates from the most nutrient dense sources such as root vegetables.  Avoid processed foods, including chemicals, preservatives, and anything you can't pronounce.

3. Be sure to get enough Omega 3 fatty acids.

Most Americans eat far too many foods high in Omega 6 fatty acids, and not enough Omega 3's.  Omega balance supports healthy brain development, as well as a host of other health benefits. The best source of Omega 3 is wild caught fish.

4. Find a supportive pediatrician.

Look for a naturopath or holistic pediatrician who understands that nutrition impacts health.  Most traditional doctors get very little nutrition information, and what they do get is often from biased texts paid for by food companies and drug companies.  If you are committed to a whole foods diet, you'll want good guidance, and may want to explore supplementation or food sensitivities.

5. Establish good habits early.

Eat together as a family and model healthy eating. Introduce new foods often and revisit foods together as a family.  By encouraging exploration of foods, you can establish good habits at an early age and offset some of the peer pressure that comes later with weekly school cupcakes and candy rewards.

References:

Urban Child Institute: Nutrition and Early Brain Development

http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/articles/updates/nutrition-and-early-brain-development

Daniel L. Coury, MDa, Paul Ashwood, PhDb, Alessio Fasano, MDc, George Fuchs, MDd, Maureen Geraghty, PhD, RDe, Ajay Kaul, MBBS, MDf, Gary Mawe, PhDg, Paul Patterson, PhDh, and Nancy E. Jones, PhDi. Gastrointestinal Conditions in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Developing a Research Agenda, PEDIATRICS Vol. 130 No. Supplement 2 November 1, 2012 pp. S160 -S168

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/Supplement_2/S160.full

Elizabeth Prado and Kathryn Dewey, Nutrition and Brain Development in Early Life, A&T Technical Brief Issue 4, January 2012

http://www.aliveandthrive.org/sites/default/files/file-attachments/Technical%20Brief%204-%20Nutrition%20and%20brain%20development%20in%20early%20life.pdf

Baby’s Brain Begins Now: Conception to Age 3

http://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/why-0-3/baby-and-brain

Nutrition and the Brain

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/nutr.html

Five Numbers to Remember About Early Child Development, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/interactive_features/five-numbers/

Sensory Processing Disorder: Holistic Treatment and Advocacy

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor nor an Occupational Therapist. This writing is for informational purposes only and should not be confused for medical advice. 

I have been working with children with learning differences and challenging behavior in preschools and school age settings for over 15 years. Sensory processing differences are increasingly common in today's kids, yet often mistaken for ADHD. When a child's brain isn't quite firing correctly to process input from lights, sounds, tastes and touches, kids can either be easily overwhelmed and distracted. These struggles- exacerbated or caused by nutritional deficiencies and food reactions- underpin a lot of impulsive behavior at school and home. A child with sensory processing challenges does not need drugs, they need sensitivity, accommodations, and an Occupational Therapist who can help design a routine to re-wire the brain and help children (and families) learn coping skills. Of course we'd all prefer no diagnosis at all, but if your child is truly struggling in school system that requires conformity, a formal diagnosis done by an Occupational Therapist can provide some protections for your child and an opportunity to open a conversation about more individualized instruction. For example, my child's diagnosis allowed me to create a plan with his school that provided accommodations for his need to wiggle, and restricted the teacher from ever taking away his recess as punishment. Diet changes and movement programs don't just help at school. By integrating the nervous system more completely, children can feel more grounded and more able to navigate busy scenes, frustration and change. 

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

From the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation's website: 

Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration."Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. Pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively.

Some children are hypersensitive to certain senses, temperatures and pain. Imagine trying to focus in a room with 5 radios, tuned to different stations. Now add a strobe light and an itchy wool sweater. This is the experience of a child who experiences heightened sensations. For these children, the hum of a fan and the teacher's voice are all mixed up. They are painfully aware of the seam in their socks, the tag on their shirt, and the maddening flicker of florescent lighting. These are the kiddos who get completely hyped up at the big box grocery store and will melt down over a twisted sock. 

Other children are hypo-sensitive (often called under-responders). These kids view life as a full contact sport and don't feel grounded unless they are moving, crashing, bumping or hugging. Imagine living inside of a fog, where nothing quite feels concrete, until you smash into the wall and get a satisfying reminder of where your body is. Children who are under responders are often seek out movement and contact, even to the point of pain. They love to run, jump, spin, crash and wrestle. My son learned to climb to the highest point in any room and jump with a thud to the ground, rolling across the floor with joy. The trampoline rebounder in the living room made it possible for him to stay off of my furniture, but sitting quietly in kindergarten was a different story. It can be very difficult to live with a child who has sensory processing delays, but it can also be a huge relief to finally understand what's going in for them and be able to help.

If any of this sounds familiar, use the checklist here. You'll also want to have someone else complete it (a teacher, babysitter or another family member). If your child has several red flags, observed by more than one person in more than one setting, bring the checklist to your pediatrician. Request a referral for a sensory evaluation with an Occupational Therapist. There, you will be interviewed and the therapist will do a series of games and exercises with your child to get a sense of how well they are able to deal with sensory experiences. 

Nutrition and Sensory Processing

Nervous systems that are not functioning properly are made up of malnourished wires. Bathing them in good nutrition provides the vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that are critical for strong development. Since children with sensory processing challenges are often picky about food textures, it is common for them to gravitate towards unhealthy processed foods. Chicken or the egg? Under responders will sometimes only eat foods that are crunch, sugary or salty, while children who are hyper sensitive will want foods that are creamy and bland. These texture and flavor challenges can make it harder to keep a balanced diet of whole healthy foods. Remove processed foods from the house entirely and gradually introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables, grass fed beef, fish, nuts, and pastured eggs. Deficiencies in magnesium  B vitamins, and Omega 3 fatty acids are common in children (and adults) with SPD, and supplementation can make a world of difference. Find a naturopath who can make recommendations for supplement dosages to strengthen cognitive function. 

SPD is often linked to inflammation from gluten sensitivity or other food allergies. Although it may seem like a nightmare to take away a picky eater's favorite cracker, removing gluten may reduce the tactile sensitivity so that the child may be more willing to try new foods. Try an elimination diet for one month. Remove gluten completely for one month, and see if your child's symptoms improve. You may also want to eliminate dairy. Two weeks seems to be enough to notice if dairy causes increased symptoms or not. In our case, we did elimination diets and learned that gluten makes my mancub absolutely foggy and unable to concentrate, while dairy makes him incredibly irritable. 

Holistic Treatment

In our case, we opted for some occupational therapy paired with a clean diet and supplements. Most children naturally get a steady "diet" of sensory experiences from a very young age that help them to make sense of the world. Crawling, running, digging in the mud, eating, and listening to the sounds of the world help to integrate their nervous system. But for children who haven't integrated the senses properly, a more intentional sensory diet is needed. By planning consistent opportunities and activities, children's senses become more strongly aligned. 

We learned to create a consistent routines that provided frequent opportunities throughout the day to move in appropriate ways that helped him to feel organized and grounded, and get energy out before being expected to be still and focused. New vocabulary to express his needs and very basic exercises like jumping and massage both strengthened the nervous system and built coping skills. He can now recognize the need to move and say "My engine is running way to high, is it OK if I do 10 jumping jacks before homework?". Working with an occupational therapist for about 6 months gave us the opportunity to play with different equipment and experiences (swinging, trampolines, weighted equipment, big yoga balls, scarves, and different kinds of fidgets") to learn about how they impacted the brain, and to figure out what sensory activities were calming, and which ones wound him up even more. Once we designed a home program and started to see progress, we phased out the therapy pretty quickly. Your mileage may vary, and some children need therapy for longer. 

We eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods, with absolutely no dairy and minimal gluten (hypocrite disclosure: although I eat no gluten, it's crept back into his diet due to peer pressure and summer camp snacks. We'll be back on track starting in August, to prepare for school!) We supplement with fermented cod liver oil and a calcium/magnesium tablet. 

I'm happy to report that the Mancub won an award at the end of first grade or having made the highest academic progress in his class. He still gets bored and wants to be the center of attention at all times, but his teacher was adamant that she had never felt the need for any accommodations this year and did not see any symptoms that would indicate sensory processing or ADHD.

School Advocacy: Know Your Rights and Don't be Afraid to Speak Up

Just because it's not ADHD and doesn't require medicine, doesn't mean that Sensory Processing Disorder isn't a real experience. Some will argue that it's simply another learning system, that may be true, but not all schools and teachers are able to individualize lessons and schedules to meet your child's unique learning style. Don't be afraid to use a diagnosis to force the issue of accommodations and individualized classroom environments. A diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder allows a child to have a 504 plan at school for accommodations, but will not hold the child back in any permanent way, or cause a change in placement. 

With a 504 plan in place, Mancub was protected from losing his recess. Really, it was his teacher who was protected from the chaos that would have ensued had she tried to keep my kid inside all day. His 504 plan also allowed him to sit on a stool instead of the rug for group lessons, and hold a fidget if he chose to during large group activities. In some schools these may be common practices that don't require any formal mandate, but if your child's school isn't one of those, contact the principal and ask to schedule a meeting with the 504 team. This will usually include the principal, teacher and a nurse. Bring your sensory evaluation, which will contain recommendations for a school setting. A 504 plan is different than an IEP or Individualized Education Plan because your child will not receive special education services, unless there are other delays and you wish to request eligible services. 

If your child's behavior continues to be a problem in school, either despite accommodations, or because the accommodations are not happening as planned, you also have the right to request that a school behavior specialist conduct a Functional Behavior Analysis. This is a questionnaire that should be filled out by a trained observer who will look for clues as to why your child is acting out. When does the behavior occur most? When does it never occur? What happens right before and after the behavior. What other patterns are noticed? After the FBA is completed, you will meet with a team to plan for how to prevent the behavior and better support your child. Is too much sitting triggering frustration and melt downs? A plan should be created to provide more frequent breaks and teach the skill of waiting over time.

While the FBA and behavior plan is being created, your child is legally protected from suspension or expulsion and may be protected from certain punishments such as seclusion or loss of recess. You also have the right to refuse to medicate your child or discuss other diagnosis such as ADHD. If your child's teacher still believes your child has ADHD, you have a few options. You can politely remind the teacher that diagnosing ADHD is outside the scope of teacher training, and request that you continue working together on individualized classroom strategies, which should be well within the teacher's scope of training. You can also request that the school district pay for an independent full developmental diagnosis with your preferred provider. Again, from the time you contact the school and request formal evaluations and planning, until all results are in and planning is completed, your child cannot face any severe or permanent punishments. I've seen children kicked out of school for something a small as balling their fists and crying out in kindergarten, so having this protection can be useful for an easily frustrated child. 

For more on school advocacy and legal rights, go here

For more information on Sensory Processing , check out these sites:
Sensory Processing Disorder
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/

Sensory Processing Foundation
http://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html

And for more on nutrition and Sensory Processing, here: 

Is SPD The New Black? 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-brod/sensory-processing-disorder_b_1326858.html

How SPD and Nutrition Interact:
http://devdelay.org/newsletter/articles/html/99-sensory-integration-and-nutrition.html

Dr Weil: Sensational Problems in Kids
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400633/Sensational-Problems-in-Kids.html

Tips for Picky Eaters:
http://www.spdfoundation.net/newsletter/2011/10/starlights-parents.html

As always, leave your questions in the comments or my Natural Evolution Facebook Page!!

In Partnership, 
Kellie :)