Child-not willing to try SCD

[helen]

My 12 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The only symptom she ever experienced was stomach cramps. Before she was diagnosed we discovered she had a lot of food intolerances. After having eliminated these foods, she became syptom free 95% of the time. I would like her to go on the SCD diet because I feel it may eradicate her Crohns and help avoid future complications. \nHowever, she is extremely stubborn and refuses to try it. I have explained the science behind this diet, the success of a scientific trial with children and why it will work and even offered to do it with her but nothing seems to influence her decision.\nThe problem is that she is symptom free most of the time and doesn't see why she should be restricted from more foods than she is already.\nHas anyone else had problems undertaking this diet with children? Does anyone have any tips?

[Yum]

Perhaps you and your child might start by making an SCD recipe, a meal or a dessert that appeals to your child. This may get her to buy in before actually starting the diet. I recommend you begin with the Monster Cookie recipe in Elaine’s book, Breaking the Vicious Cycle. I tried this recipe before committing to the diet, and the cookies were so delicious I was encouraged to finally adopt the SCD. That was 5 years ago. All my friends and family love those cookies. If you decide to do the SCD you will have to learn to cook and bake food that you can share and enjoy anyway, so I think it would be a good idea to try a few recipes, just to see if you could imagine preparing and enjoying SCD meals and treats. Considering that your daughter is well 95% of the time, you may have the luxury of introducing the diet slowly, recipe by recipe until your child is happily compliant.

[Diane]

My son was diagnosed with Crohn's when he was 20. When we started SCD, it was challenging at first but easier for him that all of us follow the diet, to not allow tempting "illegals" in the house, even when hosting family parties. I am not sure of what other food intolerances your daughter has, but I found Rochel Weiss' "A Taste of Wellness" cookbook extremely helpful with not only yummy recipes but information (this forum was unfortunately not available in our early stages). I was determined to keep his diet of foodandtreats as "normal" as possible. I also had him chooseandhelp make a different recipe each week to make it "fun". We still follow a modified SCD/Paleo/Vegan healthy diet several years later even after his symptoms disappeared.

[Tirtza]

I don't have experience with putting one of my children on the SCD (I myself am on it), but I do have experience with putting one of my children (at age 8) on a modified diet due to food intolerances. I needed him to stick to it, even at school and out of my sight. I offered him a motivation-- what worked for him was that I told him it would give him a quarter a day for each day he would stick to it, and that it adds up over time (it really does, but it was worth it for me!). I would pay him at the end of the week for the first few months, then by now it's become more a way of life, and I just give him special things every now and then.\nIt sounds like you have experience with food intolerances, too. What worked for you when removing those foods from your daughter's diet? It may help now, too.