Your child’s food-related illness may be caused by food allergy, food intolerance, or a similar condition (collectively known as ”food sensitivity”). The symptoms may begin immediately after eating the food, or there may be a delay of several hours or days before symptoms become apparent. Once started, the symptoms can continue for a few hours, and up to several days. The obvious way to avoid an allergic or intolerance reaction is to avoid the offending food(s). The problem is to find them, and after identifying the culprits, avoid them and still provide your child with a healthy, age-appropriate diet. This is where we can help you.
Unfortunately there are no tests, including traditional skin or blood tests, that can, on their own,, precisely identify your child’s culprit food, or foods. Allergy tests for foods are indicators only. The only way to accurately identify the foods responsible for any symptoms is an elimination and re-introduction diet. The principle of such a diet is that symptoms should improve if the offending foods are avoided for 2-4 weeks and should recur when they are eaten again.
Your child’s food sensitivities management program will start with a review of his or her pertinent medical records, usually sent by the child’s physician or other health care provider; analysis of your child’s food and symptom records provided by you; and consideration of the results of appropriate medical tests for your child’s food-related condition.
There are 3 phases to the dietary approach to identifying the food or foods that may be causing your child’s problems.
During this phase you will record the severity of the symptoms your child is experiencing. You will also record all the foods and beverages that your child consumes. Do not alter his or her diet at all during this phase. The length of this phase will depend on how frequently your child gets the symptoms. If they occur every day then one week will be sufficient. If they occur less frequently then it may require longer.
Based on the foods and symptom records, allergy tests, relevant medical records and your observations, an elimination diet that avoids the foods and food additives that are likely to be contributing to your child’s symptoms will be individually formulated for your child. You will be provided with detailed information on the foods that your child can eat, with sample meals plans and recipes that you can easily follow. The diet will as closely as possible conform to your child’s choices in foods and will be nutritionally complete.
After about 4 weeks on the elimination diet, an assessment of the results of your child’s response to the diet will be made. This will be based on a second dietary record, which you will keep for the last week of the elimination phase. If it is considered appropriate, you will be provided with detailed instructions for reintroducing each individual food component that your child has avoided during the elimination phase. You will be instructed on how to observe and record any adverse reactions that your child experiences.
Your child’s final “maintenance diet” will be developed after you and he/she has completed the reintroduction phase. The diet will avoid all of the food components that caused symptoms during the reintroduction phase, and will provide all of the nutrients your child’s body needs from alternative sources.
Before your first consultation, please complete the Registration form, and the two important questionnaires:
Please send the completed forms to me before our first consultation, by email attachment, fax to: 250-377-3248, or mail to 2016 High Canada Place, Kamloops, B.C. V2E 2E3 Canada.
The initial fee covers three sessions: the initial consultation, which takes a minimum of an hour and a half, and two follow-up calls, which normally last up to an hour each.
The fee can be paid by cheque, Mastercard or Visa. My services may not covered by provincial or state Medical Plans, but some insurance companies do pay for dietetic services through extended health benefits.
A mutually convenient time can be arranged for you to phone me for your first consultation session, which will be conducted by Skype, or phone by contacting me at vickerstaffhs@shaw.ca
Please complete the Registration form and return all completed questionnaires to me by email attachment, fax : 250-377-3248, or to the following address:
| Dr Janice Joneja 2016 High Canada Place Kamloops, B.C. V2E 2E3 Canada |
Children Food and Symptom Record
