TODDLERS ARE USING THE EATING GAME

Yes toddlers are using The Eating Game! The first of 5 age based meal planning charts is for 2 - 3 year olds. Of course the major advantage is going to be that a young child is learning healthy eating habits early enough to hopefully avoid becoming a picky eater! That in itself would be a huge plus.

I believe that a certain number, perhaps a good percentage, of picky eaters are kids who learn that they can be in control using food. Gaining control in your environment is something all kids seek and it is part of normal growth. The key is to allow them to have control while guiding for good choices - often not an easy task!

So The Eating Game was developed with "control" in mind. The way it works is that parents present ample choices and the child is in control of making the choices - they love this! They will be making good choices because the meal planning chart they use requires that they do as they match 4 colors!

The only 2 skills needed to use The Eating Game independently(with the parent present) are: 1) being able to make a choice 2) matching the 4 colors: blue, red, yellow and green. If your child has fine motor delays some assistance may be required.

Using The Eating Game every day to plan healthy meals provides opportunities for growth in other areas of development:

·         language development: learning the names of colors and foods, food groups, meals and snacks, listening and following directions,

·         speech: practicing saying the names of foods, asking and responding to questions

·         practicing skills of sorting and matching as well as following a schedule

·         fine motor skills: picking up food pictures and sticking them on the meal planning charts (velcro buttons)

·         developing a daily routine of planning healthy meals which can be done 1 meal/snack at a time and eventually planning the whole day for tomorrow.

·         helps to develop an understanding of serving sizes and portion control that will perhaps avoid overeating and unnecessary weight gain while ensuring a good nutrition.

The Eating Game was named "a game" by the child it was invented for, as he said "because it is fun!" Learning for young children should always be fun. With this game they win ever time they play too! they will hopefully gain skills that will last them a lifetime.

A GREAT FAMILY GIFT IDEA!

It is that time of year again when we are beginning to at least plan for the season of gift giving! Why not plan to do some family gifts this year. EYECAN CREATIONS can help you with that planning and shopping as long as we can ship by Dec 9^th so you will have delivery on time.

We are sorry this offer is limited to Canada and the USA.

If you purchase an Eating Game (available in English, French and Mi'kmaq) we will give you up to 4 Eater’s Choice Meal Planners (only available in English) free for other family members.

If you purchase a MIY (Make it Yourself) Eating Game Kit we will give you 2 Eater’s Choice Meal Planners free.

If you wish we will gift wrap and send it to the lucky gift recipients! Contact us with this info.

For this special order you must contact us with extra information : ages for the free meal planners and request for gift wrapping with a special shipping address.

Use the online order form http://www.theeatinggame.ca/order_form.htm and we will call you for credit card info or order with PayPal and contact us with needed info.

Will The Eating Game would work for you??

Are you wondering if The Eating Game would help your child improve their eating habits? Here are a few questions to consider…………………….

Does your child self restrict their diet?

Do they like being in control whenever possible?

Have you dealt with the possibility of medical, food allergy, sensory issues related to food?

Have they eaten more foods in their lifetime than they are now?

My theory is that for a lot of kids with autism and not, self restricting their diet to a small number of foods is managable so they always know what they will be eating - no surprises, no changes, a very predictable eating environment.

Does your child communicate well verbally?

Do they like structure and routine?

Do they respond positively to visual support systems?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions I would suggest you ask more questions, find out more about what is involved, how it works.

Become a fan of The Eating Game Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Eating-Game/117743845389 and post your question on the wall.

Look at the photo album http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=117743845389&aid=307264 and read the captions under each picture.

Become Jean Nicol's friend (she is the inventor) at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1489691121 and send her a message.

A Sale at The Market!

EYECAN CREATIONS Publications

at

Pictou Weekend Market – Sept 10, 11, 17, 18

The Market is on the waterfront in Pictou, NS across from the Ship Hector

An addition to my Eating Game Market Booth this year has been tables devoted to Autism Awareness. It has been a wonderful experience for me to have met folks from around the globe! I met folks living with autism, those having an autism connection, many grandparents with grandkids having autism and folks who wanted to chat to increase awareness. My intent was to also have this space offer books and products that might be helpful to all living with autism (not for profit effort)

There are only 4 market days left for this season. For these 4 days (10 am – 5pm) I will offer these books and products at a reduced rate since I will not have this booth next season. Everything will be on sale.

 You decide your sale price at either for 15% off  OR  no tax.
(for individual product pricing see https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150285227694261 )

The books available are:

·         Autism Awareness in a Positive Light https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150252565104261

·         Autism Tomorrow http://autismtomorrow.com/

·         Autism: Medical, Nutrition & Affordability

·         Autistic Child’s Behavior http://www.drheathermackenzie.com/about-my-book.html

·         Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration http://specialchildren.about.com/od/sensoryintegration/gr/buildingbridges.htm

·         Connor’s Gift http://www.amazon.com/Connors-Gift-Embracing-Autism-this/dp/1456330705

·         Ellie Bean the Drama Queen http://specialhappens.com/2011/04/28/ellie-bean-the-drama-queen-by-jennie-harding-%E2%80%A2-a-book-review/

·        Curvy Herbie http://www.explodingpenproductions.com/wst_page5.html

·         Little Squares With Colors http://vickie-ewell.suite101.com/little-squares-with-colors--what-you-can-learn-from-autism-a373283

·         Mother Cub Magic – The Cookbook http://mothercub.com/cookbook/

·         My Friend With Autism http://www.autisable.com/742374316/book-review-my-friend-with-autism---written-by-beverly-bishop/

·         My Little Brother is a Little Different http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/my-little-brother-is-a-little-different---an-autism-story/16365563

·         Not Just Spirited http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-review-not-just-spirited-by-chynna.html

·         The Autism Acceptance Book http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/266289.The_Autism_Acceptance_Book

·         Thinking in Pictures http://www.grandin.com/inc/visual.thinking.html

·         Raising a Sensory Smart Child http://specialchildren.about.com/od/sensoryintegrationbooks/gr/sensorysmart.htm

·         Reaching and Teaching http://www.drheathermackenzie.com/reaching-and-teaching-the-child-with-autism-spectrum-disorder.html

·         Bucktooth Rabbit - How Being Teased Hurts http://www.theeatinggame.ca/bucktooth.htm

·         Bucktooth Rabbit – Small But Mighty

·         Revealing the Hidden Social Code http://bit.ly/n6EdLW

·         My Social Stories Book http://specialed.about.com/od/teacherstrategies/fr/reviewsocialstories.htm

·         Indigo Ocean Dreams (CD & 4 books) http://audioforbooks.com/books/indigo-ocean-dreams-lori-lite/

Other products available are:

·         The Eating Game & The Eating Game MIY Kit http://www.theeatinggame.ca/new/newsletter.asp?article=29

·         Kid Companions http://kidcompanions.com/store?gclid=COTWn86vhqsCFUTc4AodS0V2zw

·         Easy Daysies http://shop.easydaysies.com/

·         Knot Genie http://www.knotgenie.com/store.php

·         Autism Dolls http://www.etsy.com/listing/73175432/gracie-for-autism-awareness-handmade

·         Autism Ribbon Pins, Pens, Tote Bags, Licence Plate Frames http://www.cnaf.net/fundraisers.html

Why Is This All He Will Eat?

If a child restricts their preferred food choices to a limited number of foods then they always know what they will be eating, mom/dad never run out of this food and maybe even give it on demand since they are very concerned about the child's limited diet ~ now there is a plan, meals are more predictable.

In time the list of preferred foods may change but still remain limited so the child remains in control of a more predictable environment. Take a look at this list of foods  http://www.theeatinggame.ca/suggested_foods.pdf  and write down all the foods your child has eaten in their lifetime. Add any others you think of that are not on this list. Wouldn't it be nice if they would be eating all these foods now, extending their preferred list? This might be hard to control though. You need a plan......................


Have you heard of The Eating Game - it is making a difference in the lives of many kids and their families. It allows kids to be in control of daily meal planning but provides them with a plan that has them eating a wider variety of foods, a healthier diet and they say it is fun!


The Eating Game is very visual, structured and easily becomes part of a daily routine. It is a ready made visual schedule for mealtimes, a unique patented idea that is revolutionalizing the way some kids eat.

An Exciting New Autism Publication

This new publication, Autism Awareness in a Positive Light, is a collaborative effort to increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorders and those it affects. The book is a collection of prose, poetry and art contributed by an awesome autism community on facebook. This collection was edited and published by Jean Nicol of EYECAN CREATIONS Publications, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. The writings of 20 contributors and for some their art work or that of their children is a tribute to many of the more positive aspects of ASD that need to be shared and appreciated. Even those children with very severe autism bring many moments of joy and pride to their families.

The book has been dedicated to "First Responders", those in our communities who work tirelessly, many as volunteers, to search for those who are lost. This can be an extraordinary task when searching for someone who is on the autism spectrum. THANK YOU TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS. We want to help you learn about autism and we want to tell everyone what a wonderful service and comfort you provide to families at a time of great distress.

Proceeds from the sale of this publication will be donated to the Canadian National Autism Foundation for the purchase of Amber Alert GPS Systems. Families in Canada and The United States who need some support for the initial purchase of the GPS Unit, for children and adults with special needs, can make application to this Foundation for support. For every 30 books purchased funds will be raised to pay for another much needed and very beneficial GPS Unit. There have been 100 books printed; 2 filed with the Canadian National Library, copies given to all contributors and some sold. Can you help us sell the remaining copies which will help purchase 2 GPS Units. Then for every hundred books we sell after that we will raise enough to buy nearly 4 new GPS Units.

Order your copy of this book at http://www.theeatinggame.ca/shopping_cart.htm or before September 18 if you are near Pictou, Nova Scotia drop in to the EYECAN CREATIONS booth at the Pictou Weekend Market to pick up your copy. (click on the title above to order your copy)

After you have a chance to read the book, we would love to hear your thoughts here in a comment or you can contact Jean Nicol through this website http://www.theeatinggame.ca/index.html or at facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/jean.nicol1

Fuel Up Your Kids To Be Winners!

I remember an interesting discussion with kids about eating a good breakfast. They understood when we made the comparison of fuelling up your car when it is on empty. We all understand that energy needed for a car comes from gas, the better the grade the better the mileage, performance and car maintenance.

So it is with a healthy breakfast, refueling our bodies after a lengthy period of fasting – we need to break the fast! The healthier the food, the better the energy, performance and health. This analogy can be extended to relate to planning our diet in general – and of course in the planning of dietary provisions for our children. I believe all parents want what is best for their child:

•the best of healthly growth and development: physical, intellectual and emotional
•the best of energy to actively participate in the day’s activity
•performance that will allow them to become their personal best

As parents you want your child to be healthy and happy, able to enjoy all the opportunities and activities life has to offer them. A child will only be as healthy as their diet is. It is the variety and amount of all nutrients supplied by a healthy diet every day that enables and promotes healthy growth for all body cells, organs and tissues.

A healthy diet, a right for all children should do more than just satisfy hunger. A healthy, balanced diet will optimize their opportunities for:

•mental alertness, intellectual development and learning
•physical growth and strength
•prevention of nutritional deficiencies that can lead to serious health issues
•good weight management
•prevention of the emotional stress of being overweight
•strong teeth and better oral health
•strong, healthy bones, preventing disease in later life
•healthier immune system
•better general health, less illness and infection
•establishing healthy eating habits for life; to prevent illness and disease