Dietary Solutions for ADHD & the Autism Spectrum

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***I am amending/adding to this review in response to questions asked after I highlighted this product as our Community Prize Giveaway for August. Any changes in the original post are marked in this style below!***

I got to know Jean Nicol, the creator of “The Eating Game” online through twitter. Out of that relationship came the opportunity for me to review her very unique product for you.

As I received my package with “The Eating Game” in the mail, I felt like a kid at Christmas, waiting to tear into it and put it to use with my kids. I really didn’t know what to expect and was surprised at how compact and simple it was to use. The whole package was no bigger than the size of a 2-inch ring binder.

The contents are:

• One 3-ring binder with all other contents:
• Canadian Food Guide (very similar to the U.S. food guide with the same general recommendations)
• Introductory information about how the game was developed, about Jean Nicol, the game creator, and a page of suggestions for how to use the game (all on quality cardstock paper that will last)
• 5 Laminated Daily Planning Charts (1 each for ages 2-3, 4-8, 9-13, females 14-18, and males 14-18)
• 4 Laminated Pages with re-usable Food Picture “Buttons” (1 each for fruits and veggies; water, milk and alternates; grains; meat and alternates)

I also got one copy of the “Eater’s Choice Daily Meal Planner” (which my older son tried out)

• One laminated chart for 9-13 year-old children with a dry-erase pen and eraser (this is to allow older children with verbal/writing/reading skills to write their own chart in words and not use the picture buttons) [Also available in other age ranges.]

***I originally wrote how I tried using this product for all my kids individually, but as I got to use the product more, I realized that it was really meant for us to use all together or for just 1 child. So, I deleted the original text that doesn’t serve you to know how I stretched it. What you need to know is that I figured out how to use it for the whole family together:

We got busy right away putting this to use for our family’s meals. The kids loved having a say in what we were making. I loved that they were able to tell me what they wanted, without complaining when I said no. There was no more “no” answer to give because with this game, they only got to choose from what I pre-selected! ***

The whole point of this “game” is to encourage your children to eat a healthy variety of foods. It’s not actually a game to play like you would play UNO or Candy Land, but a way to plan your child’s meals so that he/she is involved by having a say of what they want within the options you set out for them. I love the idea. I will definitely recommend this product to my clients who struggle with a picky eater due to Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Autism or Aspergers, ADHD or general self-limiting food choices.

Although there are several food items I would like to see not included at all on the food buttons, I realize that many kids are starting from ground zero. I don’t expect my clients to jump overnight from fast- and processed frozen food to super-healthy super-heroes and this game is the perfect solution to get your kids to make the first steps to begin making better choices. **And once your kids don’t eat those items anymore, simply remove them from the options you give!**

Here’s how it works:

• You, as the parent or caretaker, decide from which buttons from each group the child may choose. So, I removed quite a few buttons that we don’t (or can’t) eat because my kids have already long been transitioned out of those food items. **You would also remove anything you don’t have on hand at home to eat or that you don’t want to leave as an option for that particular day.**

• Your child chooses from the buttons you give as options for what they will be eating. Since I have a family of 6, my kids don’t get full autonomy over what they eat. So, I put in a few items myself for the meals I had planned, and they got to help me choose others. My kids always choose from fruits and veggies for snacks and they got to put in those choices themselves. This game is quite flexible and allows for you to make it work for your unique needs and circumstances.

• In the end, you can all enjoy a meal together without fighting, complaining, or refusing to eat anything! Since your child feels like they got what they wanted, they are much more compliant and willing to eat the food you give them!

Here are some things I love about the game:

• Water is included with serving suggestions: Now that my son is in Junior High and has access to vending machines (ggrrrr!!) and sees other kids drink soft drinks all the time, he feels like he has to have juice or Fanta regularly even though we’ve always been regular water drinkers. It has gotten to the point that he would rather not drink anything if I said no to his request. (I can be thankful that he still sticks to his diet “rules” and doesn’t sneak food and drinks that trigger his negative behaviors and meltdowns!) The “Eating Game” helped my son realize that he truly wasn’t drinking enough water. He actually stopped arguing with me about it and drank a glass of water and marked the chart all by himself! For that, I am truly thankful!!!

• The “Eating Game” is flexible for a variety of diets: This was a key factor for my recommendation and approval. Since I work with a variety of children with different types of restricted diets (Feingold program, GFCF, specific food allergies, vegan/vegetarian, and raw food…), I had to know whether or not this game was flexible for all. Because the parent sets out the options for the child, you can simply remove any items that you can’t eat. Those items marked milk, chocolate or strawberry shake, pudding, ice cream, bread, noodles, crackers, pretzel, etc…are general enough to be applied to their gluten- or dairy-free or even raw vegan forms.

• Kids have fun and get excited when they feel like they have control over their food choices! Even my kids, who eat a ton of fresh fruits and veggies every day, have their own limitations and preferences. Just because we used “The Eating Game,” suddenly they were trying choices that were previously refused when offered by me! And that’s just because it was a choice for their chart!

• It’s perfect for transitioning your child to a healthier diet: In the beginning, you can offer a few new foods with some of their old favorites that you are trying to get rid of. As the new items become “the norm,” you can then add a few new choices in while eliminating the old foods you don’t want to include anymore. Slowly but surely your child will be eating better foods and there is no more “You have to eat it because I said so!”

Overall Rating:

So, yes, I love this game. A 10! Two Thumbs Up! I believe it will be very valuable to the many parents who struggle to get their children to eat a healthy variety of foods.

Cost:

This product is a labor of love from its maker. It sells for $79.95 shipping and tax, which is quite high for an eating chart. BUT, it’s NOT just an eating chart. For it’s value in what it does for your special needs child, it is worth every penny. The improvement of your child’s diet is invaluable – especially when it can make such a life-altering difference in our kids with ADHD, autism, and other spectrum disorders!

**My opinion of the price was questioned and it wasn’t clear from my original comment (still included above), so here is what I should have said the first time!:

“If you consider this to JUST be an eating chart, you will think it is overpriced. It is not just an eating chart, but a complete system that simplifies new diet changes and takes the stress out of getting your child to eat healthier. It is more than worth what you pay for and is under-priced for the quality and content it provides.**

If price is a concern for you, there is also a “Make It Yourself” kit that comes with all the content, but you perform the labor of putting it together yourself. That is available at $49.95. You can also purchase the “Eater’s Choice” write-erase pages (without pictures) for individual age groups from ages 4 to adult for only $10. **These, of course, don’t give you the great visual clues that are so great for younger kids or with autism. The full game is best for them.** There is a printable recommended food chart on their website (listed under resources) to use as a guideline for the single charts. [All prices are current at the time of this writing with shipping and tax additional.]

Final Thoughts:

To be fair, I have to say I did not get this game for my own kids who eat very healthy every day and are used to it…I got this game to for the sole purpose of reviewing it to see if it was something I could recommend to my readers!

AND so that I could use it as a giveaway of my soon-to-launch parenting community/forum!! (Provided it was up to my standards in quality, usability, and fitting for unique diets, that is…and I’m happy to say it is!)

If you’d like to have a chance to get these gifts (The Eating Game valued at $79.95, and The Eater’s Choice Daily Meal Planner for Children ages 9-14 valued at $10) keep an eye out for the opening date and simply join the new community and start some conversation. It’s free to join and you could be the lucky winner!