Small Slice

Let's look first at your child's behavior

 Does your child ask for sweet foods all the time?

 Does your child have unexpected meltdowns that turn into tantrums or tears?

 Is your child impulsive?

 Does your child have a very short fuse?

 Is your child wildly dramatic and goofy?

 Is your child restless and in motion all the time?

 Is your child known as a motor mouth?

 Does your child have a hard time paying attention?

 Does your child lock into a task for a long time and forget to do anything else?

And check your child's health:

 Does your child have lots of allergies?

 Does your child still wet the bed?

 Does your child have persistent ear infections?

 Is your child overweight?

Does your child come home from school exhausted?

 Has your child been diagnosed with diabetes?

 Has your child been diagnosed with ADD or ODD?

And finally, and perhaps most important are the emotional clues:

 Does your child cry at the drop of a hat?

 Does your child go from being absolutely charming to pouting and moody?

 Does your child have low self-esteem even though he or she is smart, skilled, and capable?

 Does your child feel alone, isolated, not a part of the in-crowd at school or in the playground?

If you checked three or more boxes, you are in the right place. Your child will benefit from a change in diet. If you checked many boxes, do not be alarmed. The more boxes you checked, the more dramatic the results you are going to get by changing what and when your child eats. You may have simply assumed that you have a moody child, or a little goofball who bounces around with motor mouth turned on. You may have just figured these things were a part of your childπs personality or personal style and never considered that there was a biochemical basis and that they are connected. The truth is, all of these symptoms can be rooted in your child's biochemistry. The degree to which your child displays them is very connected to what and when she eats. You may be stunned at the positive changes in your child's behavior as you change the food.

From Little Sugar Addicts, ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2004

Hi!  Hello!  These are my kids!  All three of them! This doesn't make me happy.  I'm not done reading these books yet, but I can tell you that the information inside isn't news to me.  I've had the knowledge all along, but I haven't applied it faithfully, because I tend to think I'm special, and don't have to follow dietary rules unless they are convenient.  I mean, I'll make good choices most of the time, but when I'm presented with an "easy" choice, I'll often leap at it.  Especially when it comes to the kids. 

After my temper tantrums on Sunday, and a frank discussion with my husband and kids, we are going to have to make even more drastic changes to our eating.  I'll post this week's menu late this afternoon.