Strategies for a Successful Mealtime

Strategies for a successful mealtime offers parents, caregivers, and teachers help and hope for making mealtimes more successful for children on the autism spectrum with eating difficulties. Written by a speech/language pathologist with almost four decades of experience working with children with a variety of disabilities, this 132-page book details a program that can help children with a sensory-motor disorder overcome their aversions to the use of utensils and textures of foods.

The book covers typical feeding development from birth along with the oral movement components that make feeding possible and causes for concern at each stage of development. It then goes on to discuss how the senses are involved with feeding and introduces activities or play that can help desensitize children to the process of eating. A chapter on creating your child's treatment plan and one on sensory activities to do in the home or school precedes the conclusion chapter. Further resources, appendices, and a glossary of terms can be found at the end of the book.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The Picture Cookbook

The Picture Cookbook: No-Cook Recipes for the Special Chef was written for budding chefs with special needs including autism, attention deficit disorder, down syndrome, alzheimer’s disease, illiteracy, advanced or young age. Not only a picture cookbook, this title also takes safety in the kitchen to mind. Detailed instructions for teachers or caregivers are also included.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Visual recipes: A cookbook for non-readers

Visual recipes: A cookbook for non-readers is unique. It's written for those on the spectrum and others with developmental disorders and will foster independence and confidence for anyone in the kitchen. The clear photographs, which include all of the small details that a person with autism or a nonreader needs to be successful, are easy to understand. The book features 35 recipes grouped into the following categories: breakfast, lunch, side dishes, snacks, desserts, and drinks. The recipes consist of picture-based directions, and each step is framed for visual clarity. Simple text directions also accompany each step, and the importance of safety is highlighted. -from the book description

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Mobile App Monday - Awesome Eats™

Want to make learning about nutrition fun and engaging? Check out Awesome Eats™. This game will allow you or your child to sort, stack, pack and plate a rainbow of fresh-from-the-garden foods.

In each level you’ll stack and sort fruits, veggies and whole grains across wacky contraptions to win stars and score big points! Be on the lookout for thieving birds and tap to shoo them away for extra points. -iTunes

For more information about this app, please visit:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/awesome-eats/id504890965?mt=8

Autism: exploring the benefits of a gluten- and casein-free diet

Autism: Exploring the Benefits of a Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet offers parents, teachers, and other education or health professionals an easy-to-read alternative to sifting through the combined science. Written by leading experts in autism research, food, nutrition and dietetics, the book cuts through the jargon to offer readers a no-nonsense, accessible and authoritative overview of how diet might affect some characteristics of autism, and provides a range of useful recipes and handy hints for making mealtimes fun for children with autism and related conditions who are embarking on such a dietary change. -from the book description

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

A Gluten-Free Birthday for Me!

Some folks on the spectrum find eating a gluten-free diet beneficial to feeling their best. A Gluten-Free Birthday for Me! can help kids understand that eating gluten-free doesn't mean an end to the fun of a birthday party. With bright and charming illustrations and sweet text, this book is a celebration of being gluten-free.

Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this book or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Feeding your child with autism

Book Description:
Feeding Your Child with Autism thoroughly discusses feeding disorders in children and explains the types of supports families can use at home, as well as what professional help they should consider. The authors, experts in feeding issues and disorders, stress that regardless of the type of behavior exhibited, it's important to identify the underlying root cause and tailor a treatment plan using ABA methods.

Want to learn more? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Enzymes for Autism

The CeDIR library now has three books by Karen DeFelice, educator, author, and mother of children with neurological and sensory dysfunctions. DeFelice and her family have worked to dramatically improve their conditions using enzyme therapy.

• Enzymes for Digestive Health and Nutritional Wealth: The Practical Guide for Digestive Enzymes
• Enzymes: Go With Your Gut: More Practical Guidelines For Digestive Enzymes
• Enzymes for Autism and Other Neurological Conditions

Want to check them out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find these books in a library near you.

Autism: A Practical Guide to Improving Your Child's Quality of Life

Looking for a success story on improving the quality of life for children with autism? Autism: A Practical Guide to Improving Your Child's Quality of Life might be what you're looking for! Through their own experience with their son who was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of two, the authors provide information on getting a diagnosis, nutrition, treatments, and more.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

CeDIR Citings -- Focus on Nutrition

The latest issue of CeDIR's newsletter, CeDIR Citings, has been released, and its focus is on nutrition. With Fall coming on, our thoughts turn to comfort foods, and this issue is packed with resources. Whether it's library books or websites on nutrition or information on the difference between food allergies and intolerances, you'll find it in this issue.

To read this latest issue of the newsletter, visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/newsletters/CeDIR_Citings_1011.html

To see a list of past issues, visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=2316

Gluten-free kids

New from Woodbine House comes the book, Gluten-free kids: Raising happy, healthy children with Celiac Disease, Autism, and other conditions, which is the second edition of Danna Korn's book, Kids with Celiac Disease: A family guide to raising happy, healthy, gluten-free children. This new edition was re-titled due to the benefits of a gluten-free diet for many people, not just those with Celiac Disease. This book is full of practical strategies and tips to help people adjust to and enjoy eating gluten-free.

Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this book, or tryworldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

"Picky Eating" and Autism

Registered Dietician Denise Reynolds published an article today reviewing the findings of several studies over the past year that examined the nutritional habits of children with autism. Here were some of her conclusions:

• Children with autism tend to limit their intake to fewer than 20 different foods and are reluctant to try new foods
• Children with autism may be picky eaters for reasons other than flavor preferences, such as having an aversion to foods touching each other on a plate, having a desire for a specific eating utensil, or performing particular rituals at mealtimes
• Fruits and vegetables are likely to be eaten in lower amounts than recommended, and children with autism are more likely than typically developing children to not meet requirements for vitamins A, C, D and minerals zinc and calcium

You can read the original article here: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1506/picky-eating-common-autistic-children-may-be-nutritional-risk.html. To make sure your children are getting the nutrients they need, check out some of these resources from the CeDIR library:

The Everything guide to cooking for children with autism: from everyday meals to holiday treats: 200 tasty recipes your child will love to eat

Special-needs kids eat right: strategies to help kids on the autism spectrum focus, learn, and thrive

Just take a bite: easy, effective answers to food aversions and eating challenges

Cooking for Children with Autism

The Everything guide to cooking for children with autism : From everyday meals to holiday treats : 200 tasty recipes your child will love to eat by Megan Hart and Kim Lutz is a collection of gluten- and casein-free recipes. The book begins with an introduction to dietary changes, followed by a chapter on how to provide a nutritionally adequate GFCF diet. The recipes section is divided into baked goods, soups, breakfast recipes, salads, entrees (with vegetarian options), snacks, vegetable dishes, desserts, and "odds and ends" like spreads and dips. The recipes do not include pictures, but present straight-forward ingredient and procedure lists with caloric, fat, protein, and fiber content.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

Classic American Cuisine

Classic American Cuisine by Stephanie Hemenway is the latest in the Autism Mom Cooks Gluten-Free Casein-Free series. Hemenway provides gluten- and dairy-free recipes for the retro diner gamut: from fluffy pancakes to savory corn dogs and sweet banana splits. Every recipe is accompanied by a tantalizing full-page photo and provides alternatives for children with soy, nut and corn allergies.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

Treating Eating Problems

Treating eating problems of children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities: interventions for professionals and parents is a two-part book written for caregivers and professionals who work with children who resist normal eating patterns. The first half explains the basic origins of eating problems to parents, teachers and caregivers, while the second offers advice to professionals looking to apply behavioral assessment and design individualized interventions.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

New Study: Gastrointestinal Problems NOT Linked to Autism

A recently published study by Mayo Clinic researchers comparing the medical records of 100+ children with autism against those of their peers showed that gastrointestinal problems are no more frequent in children with autism than in those without. Gluten-free, casein-free, or other strict diets, contrary to popular belief, might not be recommended for children with autism.

An article in the New York Times outlines the specifics of the findings, which imply that the only significant difference between the physical health of children with ASDs and their peers is "pickiness" in food choices. Reports of constipation and other digestive troubles probably arise from imbalanced nutrition stemming from selective eating, which sometimes causes the children to fall short on water and fiber requirements.

The authors of the study recommend against putting children on special diets unless they have been officially diagnosed with celiac disease or lactose intolerance--otherwise, restrictive eating patterns may result in malnutrition.

Eat Right

Special-Needs Kids Eat Right: Strategies to Help Kids on the Autism Spectrum Focus, Learn, and Thrive by Judy Converse gives professional guidance on how to use food as a tool to foster learning and development through nutrition. Judy Converse, a registered dietitian, gives the latest advice about which nutrients and ingredients are good for brain development. This resource guide also includes sample recipes and menu plans.

Interest in this book and live in Indiana? Contact us.

If not, check WorldCat to see if your local library has it.

The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Austism Cookbook

The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet by Pamela Compart, MD and Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LD is not just an average cookbook. The first half of the book explains what it is and how this diet works. It provides scientific reasons why gluten and other associated foods may be harmful for you. The second half of the book has easy to make recipes for busy parents and also includes a section for picky eaters. However, it's not just for kid's, this informative cookbook provides delicious healthy recipes that's great for the whole family to enjoy.

Interested in checking it out? Call us at 800-437-7924. Not an Indiana resident? No worries! Find the copy nearest you with worldcat.org!

Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorders by Kenneth J. Aitken provides information about how dietary interventions can lead to positive effects on the symptoms of children with autism. In his book Aitken provides information about autism spectrum disorders, things to leave out when considering a dietary intervention, digestives differences, information about toxic reactions, and immune responses. Aitken also includes eleven different diets that include information about what the diet is, what it claims to do explains different terms in each diet the reader may be unfamiliar with and much more. Included at the end of the book are resources for parents and teachers on food tables, background history forms, and food diaries, glossaries of terms and even helpful contacts and websites to learn more. Kenneth Aitken gives in depth information of how just changing your child's diet can bring around a positive effect in the child's life.

Interested in this? Indiana resident? Contact us!

Not an Indiana resident? Click here to find this at your local library.