LeT's woRk WiTh tHaT

Reality check from Appetite Solutions

The holidays are fun right?  For most of our families with kids that have sensory processing disorders etc. not so much fun over here in our world.

Parents have to deal with trying to make other family members happy and end up making the one who needs the most attention VERY 
UN-happy.  

OK so don't feel like you have to please everyone else during the holidays and do things like....
1.  Dress your child in the most uncomfortable clothes he/she can barely stand to begin with just to make someone else happy seeing that child in those clothes.
2.  Stress over the fact that another family member is pointing out what your child is doing wrong and making suggestions on how to handle that behavior.  
3.  Make your child go through a sensory disaster just to make another family member happy, because you know how it's going to end and now repeat number 2. This can be a viscous cycle until the ultimate meltdown of the century.

I just want to encourage all our families to do what is comfortable for our children and don't go out of that safety zone for others, especially during these stressful holidays.  
The only thing you need to remember to do is have a plan A & B & C before you leave the house with your partner or caregiver and roll with the punches.   

and one more thing......
let's hold off on trying new foods until after the first of the year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family at Appetite Solutions,
Michelle, Sherman, Brooke and JP Buff

Nothing done well is done once

This journey of appetite solutions is not a one time, one size fits all gig.  If you are beginning your journey then please remember that "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.

Need a phone consultation?  Call me 828-443-7858
visit my new website at www.michellefbuff.wix.com/appetitesolutions 

  

A Child's View of Sensory Processing

Brain Highways: The Proprioceptive System

Brain Highways: The Vestibular System

Fear vs. Anxiety - What's the difference?

ICE ICE BaBy

Safe play equals trusting relationships

Did you know that Sensory input through safe play can lead to experiencing a new food

Appetite Solutions idea #207

1.  Place ice cubes in warm water. 
What does this do?
The ice cubes change the temperature of the water which in turn the child has to adapt to that change internally. Your brain has been through this change before and locked in what if feels like for the water temperature to change abruptly so you actually  know what it's going to feel like because of that locked in input.  Now your child who may have sensory processing disorder has to experience this type of input over several occasions before it can be locked into their brain.
  
  What your brain already knows you have to teach your child to remember that feeling.  Input from their hands goes through their entire body and each cell is recognized for them so, it takes time after time to adapt and to understand what is happening and to be able to control that sensation with their brain takes many opportunities.   Once that happens then the child is in control of the situation and their brain will act accordingly when seeing the same set up in front of them.  You may begin to talk about it at that time with your child.  You may say things like, "remember the water is warm now and it will turn cold when we put the ice in".  

This simple idea if introduced several times can lead to building up to experiencing a new food.  How you ask.  
Simple:  When the child's brain is trained in this particular adaptation then you may build from this play.  You can introduce pieces of frozen fruit, because now the sensory input will be different for your child.  The frozen fruit will change the temperature of the water which the child's brain is already adapted to and the body will follow through while the brain leads so to speak. (the child will be fine with the temperature change because it's been introduced so many times now that the brain has caught up and is leading the body as it is supposed to do when adapting to temperature changes etc.)  A different sensory input will be experienced with the frozen fruits.  Remember we are playing safe with your child at this time and they are in control and learning to be in control with the new foreign object in the water. Imagine; depending on what fruit you select to drop in the water you already know what it's going to feel like between your fingers but your child doesn't so no instruction is needed just opportunity here.  Once the child gets to experience this adaptation several times then there may be lots of opportunities for your child to smell, touch the fruit to his lips or face, or even taste with their tongue.   

Ahhhh the powers of ice........who knew?.................  I did!

Modern Family or Norman Rockwell?

Modern Family
Yes!

Norman Rockwell
No!

Modern Family or Norman Rockwell?

Our family is with out a doubt the Modern Family.  It's not for lack of trying to be a Norman Rockwell painting but alas we finally seen it for what it is.  The Modern Family is how our family works best especially with a child who has a limited appetite.  We may dream and linger awhile in the Norman Rockwell painting but we live and stay in a Modern Family picture when we eat.  That child who has the limited appetite is not smiling, waiting patiently and watching their manners as Mom brings the turkey to the table.  No that child is stiming, anxiety levels are on the rise and is wondering where his favorite food is for crying out loud!

When introducing a new food to your child who has a limited appetite please remember that it all starts with the picture in your head.  If you are thinking Norman Rockwell you are setting yourself and your child up for failure.  If you are thinking Modern Family you and your child have a chance to push forward.  If your picture in your mind is doused with noodles stuck to the wall, crumbs on the floor, sweet face covered in ice cream, lap wet with water from the water cup that bounced off the table because fingers were way to slippery to hold on to it, well then you my friend are on your way to success! 

 I salute you from one Modern Family to another.  



  

7 Senses?

Most children who have a limited appetite demonstrate 7 different senses. Let's break them down and how you can better understand your child.

1.  Visual  (I see it but that doesn't mean I'm going to eat it) 
2. Touch (I'm afraid to put that in my mouth so I need to experience it with my hands first.  If you let me do this then I begin to desensitize through the safe touch my body needs to learn to except this new food)
3. Smell (I may not eat just because I had to smell it cooking)
4. Taste (This is the MOST scariest sense when talking about a new food that I have, so be patient with me as I explore with my other senses until I feel safe and comfortable actually tasting a new food)
5. Hear (I may need to have silence while experiencing a new food) It is hard for me to try and listen to your commands while using my other senses at the same time to experience a new food.  Shhhh! Let me explore with out sound.)
6. Proprioceptive (My body in space.  I have to move, so you may see me tapping my foot, fingers or touching a lot of different surfaces.  That's me self regulating and understanding where my body parts are at in space.  Let me move while experiencing a new food so I can continue to remind myself to be calm.)
7.  Vestibular (my sense of balance and my sense of space with in an environment.   My sense of space and balance is off so I will need to use my hands, fingers etc. to remind myself that I am balanced in space.  Let me stim so I can remind myself to be calm.                                 www.facebook.com/appetitesolutions

Changes don't come knocking

Where are you on your journey with your child with a limited appetite?  Our family has been through our journey going on 13 years now.  Coming up with ideas on how to get JP to eat different foods throughout the years has been interesting, exhausting and overall, inspiring.  I have been where you are now; at the bottom, on the ledge, steps away from just quitting.  I don't know where it came from, that voice within me saying, "This is not your fight to quit; it's your son's." There is NO way I'm quitting when it comes to my son.  I was just talking with a neighbor the other day about how one of his family members, who is in her late 70's, still only eats french fries.  This conversation just proves to us that if we do not move into our child's comfort zone and stir things up a little bit (lovingly and with support) then don't expect change to come knocking on its own.  I'm here to help, guide, direct and support your family's limited appetite journey. 

Contact me at michellefbuff@att.net or message me on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/appetitesolutions or call me at 828-443-7858

If you have a venue where I can conduct a 1 hour presentation on how you can get started with your journey in appetite solutions for your child, your fee will be waived for providing the venue.  Contact me today and let's get started.

1 hour presentation is $20.00 a person.  This is a very good way to get started with information, share experiences, and is also economical.  

Are you ready?

With respect and kindness in my heart, I know who I'm speaking with.

I understand your anxiety.
I understand your hesitation.
I understand your anger.
I understand your doubtfulness. 

Now let me speak to the other side of you. 

I know your desire to help your child.
I know your power that you have within you.
I know your willingness to explore different avenues.
I know you're stronger than what you think you are at this very moment!

Tears come from your mental anguish and physical state.
BUT.............................................................................................................

there will come a day when those tears become a visual sense of your past struggles and your journey. 

Your child's improvement depends on you and that's a lot to hold on your shoulders.  Sometimes it's easier to let things go on the way they're going.  

I need you to understand that you are the strongest person in your child's corner.  You are the ON and OFF button.  I need you to understand that you have the CONTROL.  

When you are ready (really ready) your child will be ready to deal with what ever you put in front of him. 

It's my job to guide as well as educate you in this journey of your child's limited appetite.

Your child is always READY it's you he/she is waiting on.   

  Are you ready?

      

Growing Appetite

What does JP eat now you ask?  Here is a list off the top of my head.

• steak                                                     
• hot dog                          
• liver mush                      
• bologna                          
• sausage                         
• pork chop                        
• hamburger                    
• chicken                           
• fish                                 
• BBQ                               
• bacon                              
• soup
• cabbage                           
• spinach
• greens
• cheese
• ice cream
• cake
• brownies
• cookies
• chips
• crackers
• pretzels
• raisins
• onions
• carrots
• broccoli
• potatoes
• salad
• spaghetti
• eggs
• pineapple
• plums
• strawberries
• grapes
• oranges
• apples
• cinnamon rolls
• bread
• biscuits
• corn bread
• rolls
• zucchini
• squash
• corn
• green beans
• beans
• peas
• slaw



oh yeah............ and bananas   

The Change in Me

Change is something that can come easily or hard depending on how you are feeling that particular day.  After giving myself an internal "pep talk" it was time to get started on my son's journey of experiencing different foods.  I began to research on how I could help with his limited appetite.  Where were all the "how to" videos?    I laughed at some of the things I read; only because in my mind it was laughable and not what JP would consider a reasonable offer of beginning his journey into a world of the unknown, unsafe and unpredictable!  Here are a couple of the ideas that I can remember,

1.  Put some other kind of chicken nuggets into a McDonald's chicken nugget box so I could trick JP visually.    (and there it is............laughter)

Really?  Still this was the day of change and I was feeling confident on this particular day so what the heck, I tried it.  JP on the other hand was not amused nor was he going to take this "change" lying down.  Well he did technically lie down on the floor in full on meltdown mode, but other than that he just wasn't ready for change that particular day.  

2.  Try putting another french frie on his plate along with the McDonald's french fries.

Okay, I was optimistic about this one I'll admit.  I came through the door with JP's McDonald's bag looking all smug and handed him the french fries. Inspector #12 suddenly appeared before me and as he took the french fries out of the bag he dumped them on his plate and looked, smelled, touched and picked up the impostor and gave it a good sling towards the floor.  With a look of disgust he sit there and made sure all of the tiny pieces of the impostors fragments were no where to be seen on the almighty McDonald's french fries.    

In The Beginning

The beginning I'm referring to is when JP was three years old.   The food of choice and on the menu almost every day was chicken nuggets.  My day brightened when he discovered he did like french fries from McDonald's too.  Now we had what I considered a meal of sorts, I mean really there were two different foods on the plate.  Let's not forget the sugary drink that made it all go down easier.  I can't remember the exact day when I stopped suddenly in the kitchen and pictured JP as a grown man eating chicken nuggets and french fries, but I realized something had to change.  And that change was Me!