The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles [Paperback]

Joan Guthrie Medlen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0978611802 | ISBN-13: 978-0978611804 | Publication Date: August 7, 2006 | Edition: 2

This one-of-a-kind book is the first to provide information, strategies, and tools to promote healthy living for people with Down syndrome, their families, and those who support them. Using her knowledge and expertise as a registered dietitian and experiences as a mother of a son with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and celiac disease, Joan Guthrie Medlen has blended intricate science with practical use to create a book that is indispensable. Medlen encourages parents and professionals to start teaching healthy habits early, yet stresses it is never too late to make changes. The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook describes the connection between healthy lifestyles and nutrition for people with Down syndrome and hands-on strategies for nutrition education. Chapters cover: . Introducing food textures and new foods. . Creating successful mealtimes. . Strategies for weight management. . Ideas for fitness and exercise. . Cooking and menu planning. . Activities for nutrition education that with accommodations for all students. Using visual cues and tools to teach and create healthy, independent lifestyles. The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook is the perfect tool for parents, teachers, and professionals to create general nutrition education and wellness activities for anyone. The nutrition concepts described and offered in activities meet or exceed learning standards for nutrition in most states for general education.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is well written, person-centered, and health-centered. -- The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability

About the Author

Joan Guthrie Medlen, is a registered, licensed dietitian and holds an Advanced Certificate in Adult Weight Management from the American Dietetic Association. Joan focuses her wide array of activities on nutrition and wellness coaching for people of all ages and stages.

She is the Clinical Advisor for Health Literacy and Communications for Special Olympics Inc. Healthy Athletes Health Promotion Program. Joan serves on a number of advisory boards including the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, The National Down Syndrome Congress, and the National Down Syndrome Society. She writes for a variety of publications, including Disability Solutions, book chapters about healthy living for people with Down syndrome, and presents workshops for parents, professionals, and people with Down syndrome and developmental and intellectual disabilities around the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Phronesis Publishing; 2 edition (August 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978611802
• ISBN-13: 978-0978611804
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Health

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource!, October 30, 2003

By 

K. Omori (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

I have read several books on Down Syndrome, and this is one of the best. It has so much information, and is easy to read. The easy to use 'tools' offered in this book are great. Suggestions in this book will be helpful throughout a lifetime. While my child is in his late teens, it is still helpful for us, in preparing for his adult life. I also enjoyed reading about the younger children, and thinking 'I remember that, and I wished I had this book then'. I would recommend this book to parents, educators, and any other professionals also.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Geat Book, January 13, 2007

By 

J. Moist "homeschool mom" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

Don't let the long (boring) name fool you, it is a GREAT book! As our daughter is getting older (she is 16,) she is taking control of her diet. I can't be with her all the time, so I have to teach her to eat healthy. This might sound simple, but it isn't. Well meaning relatives offer her foods she shouldn't eat, and others don't know that she has some 'nutritional issues,' like Celiac Disease. Our daughter has to know what she can and can't eat, as well as portion control. The DSNH not only has information for me as a parent, but it has worksheets and teaching activities for our daughter to help her learn healthy eating habits and good fitness activities. Did I say that it is a GREAT book? We copy off the worksheets and post them on the fridge, so our daughter can track what she eats during the day to make sure that she has 'hit' at the necessary food groups and water intake goals. She even has her fitness goals for the week.

The book covers nutritional information and needs from birth through adulthood. Section three is the one that we are working on right now: Teaching Healthy Choices to Encourage Healthy Lifestyles. It has everything from menu planning, to cooking and fitness. It's full of readable and understandable information for me and hands on learning for our daughter. That is a great combination if you ask me!

Our daughter will be the one in control of her own cooking, fitness activities and health in a few years. This book will help me help her to make a smoother transition to become a more independent and healthy adult with Down Syndrome.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook, November 7, 2003

By 

Joan Guthrie Medlen "Editor, Disability Solut... (OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

Posted for, Brian Chicoine, MD of the Adult Down Syndrome Center

The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook is an outstanding resource for people with Down syndrome throughout their life span. It contains excellent information and practical suggestions for people with Down syndrome and their families. A wide variety of topics are addressed from general nutrition to nutritional intervention for diabetes mellitus, celiac disease and other health issues.

The book is well written, person-centered, and health-centered. It is beneficial when read cover-to-cover as well as when saved for use as a reference book. In addition to the writing style, the pictures make it a valuable education tool for people with a wide variety of reading abilities.

I highly recommend this book for people with Down syndrome, their families and anyone who wants to help them with their nutritional goals.