Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 132:  Testing for Food Allergies and Food Sensitivities

On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.

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Help with Food Issues

A Note from Nicole: PhD Commencement Ceremony

Idea of the Week:  Dinner by Candlelight

Feature Article: Testing for Food Allergies and Food Sensitivities

The Horizons Team Recommends:  Learn as We Grow

Allergen-Free Recipe of the Week: Banana Bread

Upcoming Events:
Horizons Events, Teleseminars & Workshops

Hi Everyone,

This week has been a flurry of activity so far as I prepare to attend my PhD commencement ceremony in Miami this weekend, followed by a week of vacation with my family in Orlando. I always forget how much work it is to pack for a family of 6, but I am trying to find joy in it knowing that packing means vacation is just around the corner!

Thanks to all of you who have given such great feedback on the new Simple Solutions Video Series I created at www.AutismTransformation.com. I’m glad so many of you are finding it helpful in your daily life with your child. If you haven’t yet checked it out, feel free to access the videos while you can.

This week’s feature article is the third in a series by Erin about nutrition. This week she covers the types of testing available for food allergies and sensitivities. Very important and helpful information!

Have a fabulous week!

Looking to the horizon,

Dinner by Candlelight

You don’t always have to go to a fancy restaurant or have a romantic meal to enjoy a candlelight dinner – it may be fun to have dinner by candlelight with the whole family. Turn down the lights and light the candles. Have some music playing in the background and see what the kids think about this variation to dinner.

Testing for Food Allergies and Food Sensitivities

By: Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP

In a previous article, I provided a description of the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities. In this article I will discuss testing options for both. In brief, a food allergy is a sudden onset of symptoms following the consumption of an intolerable food substance. The reaction can sometimes be life threatening. A food sensitivity is a reaction to a food substance, is usually not immediately life threatening in nature, and is not seen until hours or even days after eating the intolerable food.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the differences between food allergies and food sensitivities, how do you determine whether your child has an allergy or sensitivity? There are blood tests that can be done to detect both. When a parent goes to their mainstream medical doctor and expresses a concern about a possible food allergy, the doctor will often run a food allergy test only. This is because many people still do not have a good understanding of the difference between an allergy and a sensitivity. The following explains the difference between two types of tests that can be used to determine food allergy or food sensitivity.

Read more …

Learning as
we Grow

You’ve Been
Asking For It – The Resource for Applying Principles of Remediation in
School Settings is Finally Here!

This long-awaited book is written for parents and
professionals who want to be more effective in their work with students
who have neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.

You will learn how to:

• Identify the core features of neurodevelopmental disorders
  that create communication, learning, and relationship challenges for
  your students
• Shift from a mindset of working around deficits
  (compensation) to correcting the root issues that create obstacles for
  your students (remediation)
• Modify your communication to promote your students’
  communication and thinking abilities
• Identify the unique strengths and obstacles of each student
  in order to determine appropriate placement and programming
• Achieve meaningful outcomes for students that allow them to
  reach their greatest potential

Banana Bread

Whether you have just started a special diet with your child or you have been following one for years, it can be difficult to come up with what to serve. We decided to try to make that just a bit easier by providing you with a new allergen free recipe each week.

While it is impossible to meet every person’s unique food sensitivity needs, we hope you will find these recipes helpful and delicious. Please feel free to adapt the recipes to meet your needs and taste buds; we do it all the time.  Enjoy!

Banana Bread
(no gluten, milk, soy, corn, or nuts!)

Recipe taken from page 118 of “The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook.” Written by Pamela J. Compart, M.D. and Dana Laake, R.D.H., M.S., L.D.N.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup dairy-free vanilla pudding mixed with 1 teaspoon xanthan gum

Get the complete recipe…

Please join us!

• Teleseminar

  9 Amazingly Simple Ways to Calm Your Anxious Mind with Food, Nutrients and Lifestyle Changes – with Trudy Scott.
  (Horizons Families Only)

  January 19th from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern

• Horizons Family Fun Event – Bounce Party

  (for Horizons client families only)

  January 29th

• Teleseminar
  Fitness and Movement for Individuals with Autism and Other Special Needs Teleseminar – Suzanne Gray from Right-Fit
  (Horizons Families Only)
  February 17th from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern
• Horizons Mom’s Day

  (Horizons families only)

  February 19th from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• Rhythmic Movement Training Levels 3 and 4

  Hosted by Horizons

  See http://www.rhythmicmovement.com for details

  February 24th – 27th

• Michigan Council for Exceptional Children annual convention in Grand Rapids

  Nicole and Erin will be presenting

  March 3rd & 4th

• It’s Your Time Conference at GVSU in Grand Rapids

  Nicole and Erin will be presenting

  March 5th

• Autism Society of Wisconsin Annual Conference

  Nicole will be presenting

  April 14th – 16th