ADHD and Food

[ConcernedGrandma]

Hi. This is day 1 on this site. My 9 year old grand daughter has a problem with stealing other kids snacks or lunches. Her medication has appetite suppressant in them. She is zoomed in on food and cant take her thoughts off of it. School has her separate from other kids at snack and lunch time its so bad. She does not act this way at home. She can have 2 snacks at school but she will get into some ones back pack and take their snack and then lie to the point of tears that she brought it at home. As an ex coach, I have tried running her, which she hates, sitting on her bed without interaction for entire afternoon, taking privileges away and you name it, we have tried it. Even tried extra snacks at snack time and all that did was cause a rapid increase in weight, which triggered her bed wetting again. Endocrinologist said that too much food in stomach pushes on her bladder causing bed wetting. Anyone out there have this same issue and had success in something they did? Yesterday she got detention just for asking for food for the 3rd time this week and today principal called because this time she stole bag of Doritos out of another child's bag.

[Pennywink]

Wow - that is troubling. What medication is she on, and how long has she been on it? Is there anything else going on at school that may trigger her acting out? My son had a tendancy to hide & hoard food before we started medication, but it has waned since we've been on it. Hopefully with some more details we can help you find some options.

[Onthemove1971]

Welcome to the group, many of our children struggle with impulsive behavior.

I have a few suggestions: it would be a great idea if she sees a psychiatrist ( if she is not already) who can help you better understand what is driving this behavior. They can advise you on medications that can help her.

Does she eat a regular meal? Or do you see "food issues" at breakfast, lunch a dinner. I am no food expert, but does she eat really fast or not eat?

Make sure she has a IEP/504 educational plan, if eating/stealing is part of her ADHD she should not be suspended for this. The school needs to provide training/supervision of her to help her better understand these are things not allowed. This can be done by simple role playing stories, picture books... the school psychologist can help with this.

Also, I recommend you listen to the Podcast ( these are small shows in an App) you just download an Podcast reader then search for the Podcast " "Parenting with ADHD" and there is one on punishment.

What is important is to learn how to connect the punishment to what the child did wrong. When a child does something ( steal snacks) they are communicating something and to understand what they are trying to tell you, then punish to that. Often times it is better to reward, than punish. If this is impulsive behavior then medication helps cut down on the behavior.

I know it is frustrating but finding the right tools to help will really make a difference for her/you.

Take care, we are here for you any time.

[RichSeitzOceanNJ]

Punishment is the last thing you want to do and using physical activities like running as punishment just makes a bad connection between exercise and punishment. On the other hand using physical activities as rewards is a really good thing. If she doesn't steal any food today you and her will play a game, go somewhere, etc. Look up "Pax GBG" for ideas on appropriate rewards and how to use them. Many people are against rewarding behavior that is "expected" but the research is clear that appropriate/timely rewards work! Rewards are difficult to use correctly at times because kids learn to "game" rewards (raffle tickets for doing good things are almost useless).

Also if the meds are supposed to be suppressing her appetite, either they aren't, or there's something else going on besides being hungry so the suggestions above are good. Could be psychological or biological/medical.

Blood work may be needed to see if she is missing nutrients that are creating cravings. Dietician may help. Recent research shows Omega-3 helps ADHD symptoms in children who are deficient in Omega-3.

Pax GBG in schools solves the conundrum of how to address negative behavior without rewarding it with the attention that is often being sought. The physical activity group rewards using a timer actually train the brain in self-regulation/self-control by providing practice in self-control (coaches know practice is better than speeches), something no other strategy does. Used with groups there is no stigma and no highlighting the individual or stigmatizing. Pax helps everyone but especially those who need it the most without identifying them. Cited by two US Surgeon Generals and numerous National Academy of Science, Engineering & Medicine reports, listed on every Evidenced-based best practice registry and provides a proven PBIS strategy with 40 years of clinical studies. Washington State Cost/Benefit registry show rates of return of $64-$120 per dollar spent on Pax GBG.

[Aspen797 in reply to RichSeitzOceanNJ]

Thanks for this info. This “Pax” sounds really helpful—I’m going to look it up. Is it a district wide program where you live?

[RichSeitzOceanNJ in reply to Aspen797]

Yes, in about five schools. Here's a copy of another response I made .

Best kept secret: got a paragraph or two in two US Surgeon General's reports that nobody reads but was highlighted in the US SG's interview on NPTV that nobody saw on Thanksgiving Day 2017. Also appears in several voluminous NASEM (National Academy of Science, Engineering & Medicine reports. The reports are free online but they also sell these 500+ reports in book form, so again, few people read them. I attended a NASEM committee meeting on violence and asked if they ever heard of Pax GBG and one panel member got very excited, "Oh yes, that's a great program! Here it is in Appendix G."

As a county grants person trying to stop delinquency, incarceration, and drug abuse, I first came across a reference to 50% reduction in drug abuse using GBG. I did a ton of research, found the old GBG and the new Pax results. I got some funding to do a pilot program training teachers for free. Had about 30 volunteers one summer and from seeing these few teachers using Pax by themselves in their own classroom, five schools eventually adopted Pax for the entire school. Still a lot of resistance and misunderstanding. Every school, every principal, every teacher, has their favorite behavior mod system. Pax works as a behavior mod program but the results go way beyond classroom control. Sill schools are reluctant and too busy keeping up with Federal/State mandates. Pax is a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention System) and a Best-practice program that changes school culture and climate, is trauma sensitive, culturally appropriate, induces"grit" and whatever other fad of the year. My was a teacher of 30 years when I asked her to go to the training. "Not another $%!$!^$#%^@# behavior mod system being shoved down my throat!" said the love of my life. But it rained that summer day so she came and fell in love with Pax. It saved her sanity. She used it in PE and health classes.

Pax is not a curriculum, it doesn't take time to do, it saves teachers time and best of all... it makes teaching and learning fun for both the teacher and the student. Kids want to go to school. They want to be on time. They want to play the Pax Game. They want everyone in the class to win. they help each other, they don't make fun of others or look down on them. It's not just for special kids, it's for everyone.

[Aspen797 in reply to RichSeitzOceanNJ]

Wow. It sounds like a hidden gem. Do you know how the program addresses Tier 2 or Tier 3 interventions or is it a primarily tier 1 program? I couldn’t find specifics online. I would like to encourage our school district to move beyond tier one...

[RichSeitzOceanNJ in reply to Aspen797]

It is, in my non-expert opinion on tiers, primarily a tier 1, but there are aspects of tier 2 and tier 3 built into it. The comprehensive training by Paxis Institute includes many advanced methods of handling particularly resistant students, that I think would be above tier 1, but the purpose is to avoid focusing on any one individual. That said, Pax has several options: A student who deliberately spleems could become his own team; unannounced games can be played; games where only one student is the "hero" and if that student wins, everyone wins (secret hero), allowing the teacher ways to address more difficult children. Contact Paxis Institute for much more detailed analysis. [e-mail] or [e-mail] can answer the question better than I can.

The power of Pax is that it doesn't focus on negative behaviors but it has the most impact on those who need it the most. One teacher can implement Pax or an entire school. It is more powerful the more it is district wide. Quieting an entire cafeteria in 10 seconds or less using Pax techniques is amazing to see. Specials - PE, Art, music, etc all benefit from having all classroom teacher trained in it. Specials should be trained in it but sometimes their training is delayed. I have emails from specials who were grateful and said how much they benefited from it before they were even trained. My wife was a PE Health teacher who used Pax techniques in all her classes, even CPR. One day the PE teachers were told by admin to stop using whistles in gym because a student was "sensitive" - can you imagine gym teachers without whistles? Well my wife pulls out her Pax harmonica and problem solved. Giving away a Pax secret but it may be worth it if you can get some school or teacher to try Pax. Contact Paxis and tell them Capt. Jack Spleem sent you.

[anirush]

MY grandson used to crave sweets before we got his anxiety under control. This is something I don't think your daughter can control right now. Isolation and punishment aren't going to help if she cannot control her impulses. Her psychiatrist is not concerned about this behavior?

The school also needs to be aware that this is not something she is doing purposely.

[oakmom]

Like others have said, definitely don't use punishment, from either you or the school. ADHD kids respond so much better to positive rewards. Check out books by Ellyn Satter about how to help your granddaughter to eat. ellynsatterinstitute.org/

Please beware of forced food restriction as well. My mom was a huge fan of that and all it did was give me an eating disorder.