DO YOU HAVE THIS "GAME" AT YOUR HOUSE?

This program was developed for an autistic child who named it a "GAME" because it was fun! As a parent, caregiver or teacher, I am sure you have observed how attentive children are when playing games that are fun. Further observation would confirm how much children learn when playing games. 

This "game is no exception. In fact, children like it to be part of their daily routine! They have fun using lots of colorful visual supports - no reading or writing required and no verbal response required either. The focus is on making food choices from the healthy food pictures you present. Your child will plan their meals and snacks for the day that later they will look forward to eating ~ it was their choice remember! They are learning how to make healthy food choices, with your support of course as you are the purchaser right. 

The Eating Game is changing lives ~ kids having fun planning and eating healthy meals and snacks, being in control of the food choices using a structured, highly visual system that creates a predictable eating environment. Parents like the results and there are "no more mealtime battles"! 

Invented in Nova Scotia, Canada for a child with autism but it is being used by many who are not on the spectrum around the globe. 

Imagine the benefits of this "game" for your child and family. What do you think would be the greatest benefit for you?

AN APPETITE SOLUTIONS ADVENTURE

Hello, my name is Michelle Buff and I am a Food Consultant with Appetite Solutions specializing in children who have limited appetites. I help parents by teaching them creative ways to get their child to experience new foods; which in turn helps create a healthier diet. 

I am excited to be a part of The Eating Game Advocate newsletter giveaway for the month of October.  I will be giving away a coupon for 70% off my 1-hour phone consultation fee of $100.00.  This means if you are the winner then you receive my 1-hour phone consultation for the reduced rate of just $30.00! Please visit me at http://michellefbuff.wix.com/appetitesolutions

www.facebook.com/appetitesolutions and

www.appetitesolutions.blogspot.com

This journey of appetite solutions is not a one time one size fits all gig.  If you are beginning your journey then please remember, "Nothing done well is done once."  It takes many failures to succeed in your child's appetite solutions.  There is no magic wand, potion or a secret treatment.  

Each child is different in their way of processing and objectively going through with a plan of action that involves them undertaking such a whole new way of thinking.  Something new is not allowed in their routine and if it is then it needs to be scrutinized and broken down for entry so to speak.  You know what?  That's perfectly OK!

I mean do we expect our own child/children to except something new in their lives when we ourselves are basically the same way?  The quick answer is "yes." But if we slow down and not only recognize but except this way of thinking then we can begin that journey you have been talking about with experiencing a new food.

Let me break it down for you in a manner that which you will understand.  Not only is your child a literal thinker but he/she also has a brain that is programmed to think a certain way.  It is your job to re-program that way of thinking.  Begin with simple steps so the both of you are comfortable and see success.

Simple steps 

1. Expose the child to the new food in a verbal sense.

2. Keep a food journal

3. Learn about sensory input and output

4. Expose the child to the new food in a sensory      friendly and safe environment

 Remember this.....Nothing done well is done once.

I wish you well in your adventures.

To sign up for The Eating Game Advocate, a free monthly e-newsletter and your chance to win at this and all our monthly draws go to http://theeatinggame.ca/

THE AUTISM FOOD CLUB

The Autism Food Club provides the practical implementation of dietary intervention. The organisation aims to turn scientific research around food and diet into tasty plates of food for the whole family with a specific focus on the autism spectrum & related developmental conditions. Although targeted at the autism spectrum, anybody will benefit from these fantastic recipe ideas and simple scientific explanations.

Why?

Various lines of evidence have suggested that the use of a gluten- and casein-free (GFCF) diet may improve some of the more life disrupting aspects of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) at least for some. Coupled to an increasing volume of recent research reports highlighting some of the potential mechanisms accounting for a dietary effect, the requirement to translate research findings from ‘bench to kitchen’ has never been more important. The Autism Food Club (www.theautismfoodclub.com) bridges that gap.

Some of the most recent reviews of the evidence surrounding the use of the GFCF diet for autism¹ whilst not wholly confirmatory, highlight how for some on the autism spectrum, dietary intervention may be an important addition to other educational and behavioural interventions. Positive changes to areas of attention and hyperactivity and communication represent some of the more commonly reported observations

How?

A few years back, a fortunate moment led to the meeting of a dietitian, a chef and an autism researcher. Our ideas are simple: translate the science around dietary intervention for autism into something readable for everyone and offer a range of tasty, balanced and easy to make recipes which are gluten- and casein-free.

Where?

Find us on our website www.theautismfoodclub.com or come and interact with us on our Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/theautismfoodclub ) and Twitter 

( https://twitter.com/AutismFoodClub ) pages. Routledge’s have also published our book “Autism: Exploring a gluten and casein free diet: a practical guide for families and professionals” (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415727634) which is full of recipes, background of the science and then an in-depth look at the science and steps to undertake a gluten- and casein-free diet.

All the best 

The Autism Food Club team Elouise, Mark and Paul

1.    Whiteley P. et al. Gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for autism spectrum conditions. Front Hum Neurosci. 2012; 6: 344.

THE EATING GAME ADVOCATE

MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS

Every month since January 2014 The Eating Game Advocate, our free monthly newsletter, has had a draw for a different giveaway.

January the Giveaway was a Success Box  

In February the Giveaway was a set of Video Modelling DVDs

In March Mari Nosal gave away a set of her autism publications

In April Easy Daysies gave away 2 Gift Certificates

In May the Giveaway was discount gift certificates for subscription boxes

In June The Kitchen Classroom gaveaway 2 cookbooks

In July EYECAN CREATIONS Publications gave away an Eating Game

In August we gave away an autographed copy of Sending You Sammy

This month we will giveaway a publication from The Autism Food Club

With these monthly Giveaways we are hoping to increase the number of subscribers to the Eating Game Advocate, a free monthly newsletter delivered to your email address. It is easy to sign up to be a subscriber at https://www.facebook.com/TheEatingGame/app_100265896690345 on facebook or on our website at http://www.theeatinggame.ca.

The newsletter includes information about eating disorders and challenges, ideas to improve your child's diet, info about The Eating Game, recipes and fun food ideas, resources, book reviews and more.

On this blogs page to the right you will find links to websites for all our past giveaway sponsors. Please consider being a blog follower/member.

If you have any ideas/suggestions for future monthly giveaways or newsletter topics please leave a comment.

BANANABOY AND THE EATING GAME

BananaBoy is a superhero created to battle the rising statistics of obesity in Canada and along the way has met some other superheros, real ones.

Teaming up with Jean Nicol and The Eating Game was a great decision for both of us. BananaBoy's crusade to teach kids the importance of eating healthy foods aligns with The Eating Game's focus on balance and moderation. Together we are making a difference in our province of Nova Scotia and beyond.

A food revolution is happening everywhere and people are noticing. Different people are using their talents and passions to make a difference in many communities which is amazing to see. This month, in partnership with The Eating Game, I am giving away a signed copy of Sending You Sammy to one lucky newsletter subscriber.

You'll enjoy telling your kids about BananaBoy and his friends and love their excitement for choosing healthier foods from The Eating Game menu for every meal.

Notice a difference when you encourage healthy choices.

Thanks for reading and signing up!

Sarah Butland

JULY 2014 GIVEAWAY

This month the Giveaway will be an Eating Game. This will be the original Eating Game, ready to use and presented in a 3 ring binder including 5 planning charts and over 200 food pictures.

You will also receive a bonus offer of up to 63 additional food pics of your choice and a Skype session with Jean Nicol, the inventor, to help you with getting started! This bonus will be available to the winner who has read this blog posting and contacts us at jean@theeatinggame.ca for further instructions!

To be in the running for a giveaway you must be a subscriber to The Eating Game Advocate, a free monthly newsletter. It is easy to subscribe at http://www.facebook.com/TheEatingGame/app_1002658960345 or 

http://www.theeatinggame.ca

You will be entered for the giveaway every month until December 2014. Don't delay, sign up today!

HOW IT CAN WORK FOR YOU

THE EATING GAME

These photos with description, explain the components of The Eating Game and how it works. It is presented in a 3 ring binder with a copy of Canada's Food Guide, very similar to guide recommendations in other countries.In creating The Eating Game I drew on my education (degree in Nutrition and Education, specializing in Special Education) and my 37 years of work experience as a Special Education Teacher, SchoolBoard Autism Consultant and Early interventionist. For more info and to order your copy go to www.theeatinggame.ca Click on each photo for further explanation. Feel free to ask questions. Modifications can be made too.

I invented The Eating Game for a 6 year old friend, named Ethan, who is autistic. At the time he preferred to always eat hot dogs and rice; oh and he liked pizza too! So I set out to create something to help him to continue to be in control of his food choices but to expand them to have a more varied, healthier diet. I knew it would have to be very visual and offer structure and routine to make mealtime very predictable. When I was finished my creation I knew, from experience and my knowledge of autism, that I had created something that could help many more children who have restricted diets. And so it evolved ~ The Eating Game ~ it worked for Ethan and is working for many others (testimonialshttp://on.fb.me/bpwxvA ) Even after several years of using The Eating Game every day, Ethan would still choose to use it to plan his meals – he liked being in control of the food choices and he liked the predictable mealtime environment it created for him. I would encourage you to check it out. I always hope it will help another child.

The United States granted my Patent # 8,333,593 B2 was granted on Dec 18, 2012; the Canadian Patent in January 2014.. This is a unique invention that can be used by a child to plan meals independently. No other patented invention provided a meal planner that could be used by almost any child, verbal or non verbal, gifted or challenged with delays.

To order http://theeatinggame.ca/our-store/

The Eating Game has 5 meal planning charts that are card stock with 5 mil laminating for: 
2 - 3 years
4 - 8 years
9 - 13 years
Females 14 - 18 years
Males 14 - 18 years

NOTE: I also have adult charts available for males & females 19 - 50 and 51+. Please just ask and I will exchange charts for younger age charts that you wouldn't need.

The chart being used can be removed from the binder for easy use and be able to be displayed daily in a prominent place.




Each meal planning chart has six meals:                               

Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Supper
Snack
The four colors on the chart refer to the 4 food groups:
Green - Fruit & Vegetables
Yellow - Grains
Red - Meat & Alternatives
Blue - Milk & Alternatives
The number of each color indicates the recommended number of servings for 1 day; the arrangement being the creators choice.
There are also squares to place pictures of water.
Each square has a velcro button.


There are 4 sets of food pictures, over 240 in total.      

They are color coded to match the squares on the
planning charts.
Green - Fruit & Vegetables
Yellow - Grains
Red - Meat & Alternatives
Blue - Milk & Alternatives
Each picture is on 5 mil laminated card stock with a velcro button on the back so that it will adhere to the chart.
Each day you would display only the foods from the 4 groups that your child will choose from to plan their meals for the day. You would begin by presenting any foods they have eaten in their life time that you have on hand that day.

Choosing foods, from those presented by the parent/caregiver, the pictures are placed on the daily planning chart by matching colors to plan each meal/snack for the day. There is now a very visual plan that will make the mealtime environment very predictable. At the end of the day the pictures are removed and the next day can be planned! It is an easy structure for a child to work with and one that remains the same for a lifetime! The routine of planning everyday at the same time will be beneficial to most children and the family. Very quickly, most children will be able to do this independently.

.......................................... Jean Nicol