Research shows that families often say they are not using diet any more after using diet for a few years. On further questioning they are still careful about many things, but have found enough foods they like. That is the trick! Gradually find some allowed biscuits, sandwich fillings, main meals and desserts that suit your family lifestyle.Obtain help from wherever you can. Ask older folk about plain family fare. Discuss diet with other people using diet. Use plain recipe books often from … [Read more...]
Birds and bees are fussy too!
At talks to the Society for Growing Australian Plant meetings I have listened to speakers talk about animals, birds and insects being attracted to particular plants, even to some plants in one area but not to the same plant in a nearby area. What attracts them? Or, even more interestingly, what caused them to not feed from those they choose not to use. People tend to think of their food from plants as being completely safe. Most plants not eaten are poisonous, or so low in nutritional content … [Read more...]
I ‘stink’ something!
It is interesting just how supersensitive some children are! One little girl was reported by her mother to notice smells in particular. She disliked smells to the extent that she noticed all smells as negative because of their strength in her awareness. So instead of saying “I smell something” she said “I stink something”. We can listen to what children are saying and say how cute it sounds. and we can learn to be aware that they may be telling s something important about how the world affects … [Read more...]
How long before an elimination diet helps symptoms?
People often wonder just how long they should stay on an elimination diet to see if it is any help. Some good research has shown that time to symptom improvement is almost always by four weeks, with only 2 in 100 taking eight weeks. Parents can feel supported by this research too. Why is this research important? It stops people expecting results after two or even one week, and so missing out on an improvement that may happen, or supporting those who think diets may take months to show … [Read more...]
The dietitian was no help to me!
“The dietitian was no help to me! I needed to have my story and symptoms understood, a diet that was clear, with eating plans to suit all of my family, with recipes we can manage easily, and foods we liked, as well as a good commercial food list, and most of all I wanted the symptoms to get better. Diets should be easy shouldn’t they? Those with allergy tests can have clear diets. Why not those on a low chemical elimination diet?” I have heard this comment at public meetings about managing … [Read more...]
A dedicated mum had to deal with not declared additives
Alternative health supplements should not say their products have no artificial additives and then pack them with very strong natural flavours and salicylates. A dedicated mum had to deal with the reaction this caused. Hi Joan, we have been continuing to manage diet for our two delightful but challenging boys with ADHD-type symptoms. Discovering mistakes along the way and working to sort through them. We have come across some oppositional type behaviour due to inconsistencies with our … [Read more...]
Diet and Mental Health in Children
Sometimes we read articles that highlight one, or just a few aspects of diet and mental health, so maybe one gets emphasised as a necessary nutritional addition to what is thought of as good nutrition in children at that time. We may even see it translated into a product such as HiQbread with added essential fatty acids [EFAs]. Reading the article "Diet and Mental Health in Children" by D Tomlinson, H Wilkinson & P Wilkinson, in Child and Adolescent Health Vol 14, No 3, 2009 148 … [Read more...]