Neurodevelopmental Disorders

S2 | 5. PICKY EATING SERIES: Anxiety, the Nervous System, & Your Child's Complex Picky Eating

 
 
 

My new online course, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Naturally Navigating Picky Eating⁠⁠⁠⁠, for parents of children with complex picky eating (with and without developmental conditions), is OPEN for enrollment!

 

On this fifth and final episode of the Picky Eating Series this week, during the launch of Naturally Navigating Picky Eating, I'm discussing the connections between anxiety, the nervous system, and your child's complex picky eating.

The episode starts with a very brief overview of the nervous system in layman's terms, how it relates to your child's anxiety generally speaking and more specifically with food + mealtimes.

Having a regulated nervous system helps children feel a sense of safety and well-being within their body and environment, which is so needed for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients. We want kids to be in a "rest and digest" state for mealtimes.

I’ll share how you can use external supports, like changing the environment or using diet + nutrition and lifestyle strategies to help support your child's nervous system regulation.

We also cover unique cases that can be related to children with complex picky eating, where pathogens are actually contributing to immune system dysregulation and there's a low-level inflammatory response, impacting the nervous system (in PANS/PANDAS conditions, specifically).

Listen in for a variety of ideas to support your child's nervous system regulation to help bring down their anxiety and improve their relationship with food and mealtimes... Starting with supporting your nervous system regulation during mealtimes.

You can listen directly below or on iTunes, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.

 

If you want to keep learning and receive more guided support to help your child overcome complex picky eating, ⁠⁠LEARN MORE & ENROLL in Naturally Navigating Picky Eating today⁠⁠!

S2 | 4. PICKY EATING SERIES: Is Your Child’s Picky Eating Driving You Crazy? The Importance of Staying Neutral...

 
 
 

My new online course, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Naturally Navigating Picky Eating⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, for parents of children with complex picky eating (with and without developmental conditions), is OPEN for enrollment!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & ENROLL TODAY

 
 

Does your child's picky eating sometimes drive you a little...crazy? I hear this all the time! I know you know you're not alone, don't you? Let's talk about it!

Tying in the concepts from the previous episodes in this Picky Eating Series, I'm sharing the importance of staying neutral in the times when you're feeling the most annoyed, frustrated, and defeated when it comes to your child's picky eating.

Not only am I discussing why the importance of staying neutral during these times (you can likely already infer why it is), you'll also hear me share actionable strategies and tips that you can implement TODAY, at your family's next mealtime!

You can listen directly below or on iTunes, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.

 

If you want to keep learning and receive more guided support on how to bring more ease and joy to your family's mealtimes, ⁠⁠LEARN MORE & ENROLL in Naturally Navigating Picky Eating today⁠⁠!

S2 | 3. Picky Eating Series: How to "Meet Your Child Where They Are" During Mealtimes

In order to “meet your child where they are” during mealtimes, you need to understand where they are... I encourage you to do that by zooming out, becoming an observer, taking an inventory of your child's current accepted foods, look for patterns and start making a plan that gently encourages them to the next "step". Listen in for action-steps and practical examples of how to "meet your child where they are" during mealtimes!

S2 | 2. PICKY EATING SERIES: Instilling Confidence in Your Picky Eater

Does your child have a lot of food and/or mealtime anxiety that's involved with or contributing to their complex picky eating? Unfortunately, that's not uncommon for the children and families that I serve. You're not alone... and there's hope!

In this second episode of the Picky Eating Series, I'm sharing strategies to help you instill confidence in your child when it comes to food and mealtimes. Learn more about how you can decrease anxiety by building familiarity and instilling confidence in your picky eater - Listen in!

S2 | 1. PICKY EATING SERIES: Reframing the Goal of Mealtimes

 
 
 

The podcast is back! AND...

My new online course, ⁠⁠Naturally Navigating Picky Eating⁠⁠, is LIVE and open for enrollment! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & ENROLL TODAY!⁠⁠

 
 

Have you ever wanted to ask, "How do I get my child to eat [whatever food it is]?" -- It's a question I hear all the time!

Instead of asking how to get your child to eat [this or that new food], I'm encouraging you to zoom out and meet your child where he/she is!

In this episode, I'm offering a perspective shift for parents of children with complex picky eating, encouraging a reframing of the goal at mealtimes... Removing so much of that pressure that's placed on your child, on you, on the mealtimes in general.

The goal should always be: A long-standing healthy relationship with food, mealtimes, and their body... and you, as their parent and/or caregiver! Tune in to hear how to develop this with time, consistency, and patience.

You can listen directly below or on iTunes, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.

 

Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Action: It's Okay to Have Mixed Feelings

 
 
 

Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Action...Can they coexist? I believe so!

In Episode 14, I'm covering the diagnostic criteria and rising rates of autism spectrum disorders, as well as the changes in formal diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5.

I'll be exploring various subtypes of autism, and the "communities" within the overall larger community of autism spectrum disorders (specifically the biomedical community, the neurodiversity community, and the traditional behaviorist community).

We'll talk about the difference between person-first language and identity-first language, and how the language we're using within the autism community really does matter... but it might matter differently to different communities within the larger autism community.

I share my own mixed feelings about Autism Awareness Month / day, and offer validation that it's okay for you to have mixed feelings too, if you do.

While there may be differences among the autism communities, I think everyone within the autism community really wants the same thing: For individuals with autism or autistic people, whichever that individual’s preference, to be able to live their best lives and be fully respected and loved.

Let's raise awareness. Let's teach love and acceptance of individuals where they are - always! But let's not forget: There's action to be taken for their individual health needs, and to move this conversation forward as a collective whole.

Push play below and listen in to Episode 14 to learn more!

Mentioned in the show:

BLOG: “Exploring Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders as Whole Body Conditions”

Episode 5: “Exploring Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders as Whole Body Conditions”

TACA Autism Statistics

 

Three Skills All Kids Need Before Developing Language: "Prelinguistic Skills"

 
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In Episode 13 I'm covering 3 prelinguistic skills that all children need to develop before developing language:

1. JOINT ATTENTION; 2. IMITATION; & 3. SYMBOLIC PLAY

This list is not exhaustive of these prelinguistic / pre-language skills but we're highlighting 3 very important ones that you can easily incorporate into your daily routines with your child!

This podcast is for parents of children who are typically developing, have developmental delays, or children who have symptoms or a diagnosis of a known neurodevelopmental condition like autism.

Not only are these skills foundational to language development, they also support social communication skills as well!

Listen in to learn these prelinguistic skills and a variety of examples of how you can naturally weave these strategies into your child's day. Enjoy!

 

Could Your Child’s Physical and Behavioral Symptoms Be Caused By the Food They’re Eating?

 
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Could your child’s physical and behavioral symptoms be caused by the food they’re eating? There are a number of ways that foods can impact children's health, physically and bio-behaviorally.

If your child struggles with complex picky eating, this one is for you!

If your child has developmental delays or a known neurodevelopmental condition, like autism spectrum disorders, ADHDs, speech-language disorders, sensory processing disorders, etc. then this one is for you!

If your child is struggling with a host of chronic health issue symptoms, this one is for you!

Did you know that over half of American children and millennials today have a diagnosable chronic health issue? Food and environmental reactions are very much involved here...

In this episode, I'm sharing an overview of the difference between food allergies, food sensitivities, and food intolerances. We'll cover the most common food allergies and sensitivities, as well as what physical and behavioral symptoms are seen in children with food reactions.

I share what to do if you think your child is experiencing negative reactions to their foods, starting with "cleaning up the diet overall", then navigating food sensitivity testing, and guidance around food elimination/reintroduction diets for food reactions.

Enjoy the episode! I hope that it's insightful and supportive for where you are on your journey!

Mentioned in the show:

Dr. Doris Rapp on The Phil Donahue Show (1989)

 

Gluten Free, Casein Free Diets (GFCF) For Kids with Complex Picky Eating and/or Developmental Conditions - Answering FAQs

 
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Episode 9 builds onto the information shared in previous episodes re: complex picky eating and neurodevelopmental delays and disorders being whole body conditions, as well as holistic nutrition, gut health, gluten free/casein free (GFCF) Diets... If you're new to the podcast and these topics, please go to earlier episodes in this Season 1.

I'm answering frequently asked questions that parents of these children often ask me when they're considering or starting the GFCF diet trial...

How do you know if they're getting or not getting the nutrients that they need? Can GFCF diets create deficiencies?

We specifically explore zinc and calcium and related factors to think about with these nutrients when implementing a GFCF diet.

Is the GFCF diet a lifelong change or temporary? How long until you see results? What would those results and improvements look like?

And lastly, I offer some guidelines and general habits for families to consider embracing during their transition to a GFCF diet with the child(ren) and/or family.

I'm answering all these questions and more. Enjoy the episode and don't forget to check out the resources linked below that I mention in the show!


Mentioned in the show:

My Accompanying Blog: "GFCF Diets, Picky Eating, Autism, & Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders...What's the Connection?"

Organic Olivia Herbal Supplements Line - For Kids & Adults - I use these products personally and with clients for support!