Table of Contents

I. The Benefits of Processed Food Addiction Recovery in Children. Parents and practitioners alike are generally unaware of the long list of benefits that accrue to children who are being fed a clean food plan. Parents are dedicated to doing the best they can with children so educating parents about the wonderful benefits of keeping a clean household can be highly motivating. Get the right list of benefits in this module.

II. Adapting the DSM 5 Addiction Diagnostic Criteria to Children. As shocking as it may seem, children's behavior can conform to the 11 DSM 5 Addiction Diagnostic Criteria. Adults easily describe childhood behaviors around processed foods the include unintended use, failed attempts to cut back, cravings, time spent, and all of the other DSM 5 Addiction Diagnostic Criteria.

III. Cognitive Impairment in Pediatric Processed Food Addiction. Like all addictions, processed foods gradually erode frontal lobe functions in favor of increasing activation of the limbic reward centers.

IV. What to do? It is surprisingly easy for parents to create a safe food environment at home. Specific strategies for sequencing the withdrawal of adults then children are given. Involving children in identifying non-addictive foods that they like reassures them that they will still have enjoyable food.

V. Managing Relapse. Children can be taught to associate painful physical, emotional, mental, and behavioral consequences with processed foods. Even so, like adults, under intense cuing, children can lapse and become sick. Parents need support for consoling children under these circumstances.

VI. Managing Adult Food Pushers. Children can be taught to fend off many sources of processed foods. However, parents still need to negotiate with other parents the fact that their children may bring their own foods to events. Specific strategies and proven scripts provided in this course are the keys to success.

Sample Lesson Topic:

Saving Food-Addicted Children #1. The Withdrawal Syndrome in Children

Many parents and health professionals want to protect children from all kinds of harm. But processed food addiction is missed and is thus allowed to flourish right under the noses of protective, conscientious adults. Parents see their children as 'picky-eaters' and miss that all they're eating is addictive substances dressed up as food. The greatest barrier can occur as soon as a parent becomes determined to feed their children better. The child refuses to eat at all. As the days pass, the child can become hysterical over the absence of processed foods. Parents report that children throw themselves on the floor crying vigorously. They call their parents names and tell them that they're the worst parents ever. This goes on for 2-3 days and the parent caves in. Or the parent that did initiate the change sneaks processed foods behind the determined parent's back. ...If these people had been educated about what the processed food withdrawal syndrome looks like in children, they would have toughed it out. They would have known that it is a four-day syndrome. They would have comforted their children through the intensifying cravings, headache, and irritability even rage. However, since most practitioners are not educated in the withdrawal syndrome, they're unable to prepare parents and support them. So parents miss getting to know the true, sober child. They are saddled with a tired, foggy, irritable, oppositional child. They are subjected to non-stop nagging for processed foods and expensive trips to fast food outlets.