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

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.

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.