My Personal Journey

Hi, I am Veronica Paris, Integrative Mental Health Coach and mother of two amazing boys that have taught me more about life and love that I have ever expected to learn.

All started when my oldest son’s kindergarten teacher told us that if we didn’t do something our child will NEVER succeed in school. Her negativity sent me to a place of confusion and sadness, how someone who is supposed to be loving and caring for young children could say such things? Did she offer help or solutions? Absolutely NO, it was up to us to do something, but WHAT?!!! I didn’t know what to do or where to go. After a couple of years of looking for answers, we were lucky to find a doctor that was able to explain us what was going on with our child.

I almost forget to mention that it wasn’t easy to find him and that we had to pay a few thousand dollars to get the testing done, unfortunately it wasn’t cover by our insurance company.

So now, with some answer under my belt, the search for the best treatment started. Oh boy! The time, confusion , frustration was overwhelming!!

I worked for many years as a school social worker with kids from early education to middle school, so I though that just behavioral modifications will be the answer, not so much!

After several frustrating attempts to find solution using only one approach, I started looking for something else. I studied homeopathy and health coaching, learning to approach my son’s needs from a different perspective made all the difference. I took my experience as a social worker combine it with my experience as a homeopath, health coach and yoga teacher and created Holistic Dragonfly Child Coaching Program. (Holistic support for kids and family overcoming ADHD , Autism and learning Disabilities)

Baked Bananas

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This is a great option to help boost your children’s  immune system during this cold season.

4 firm bananas
1 teaspoon coconut oil
1-inch piece grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Peel and cut bananas in half, lengthwise.
  3. Oil a baking pan and arrange bananas.
  4. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg and raisins.
  5. Cover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
Notes:
  • Wonderful with chocolate sauce.

Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance

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Constant ear infections, colds and runny noses  was how my son spent his first 4 years of life.  Doctors couldn’t figure it out and they weren’t worry. “It is normal for kids to have colds and ear infections” they will say, but something inside me was telling me that it wasn’t “normal” for a kid to be sick every 3 weeks, to be constantly taking antibiotics ( which by the way eventually cause him GI problems)  for “normal” ear infections.

During a visit to the chiropractor, she mentioned that probably there was something he was eating that was causing all this havoc in his little body.

We tested him for food allergies and everything came out negative, so if it was not an allergy, then what?

As a last resource and honestly a little desperation, I decided to stop giving him milk and eggs (this are 2 of the main allergy causing foods) and VOILA after a week the runny nose stop, eventually no more ear infections and now he only gets the occasional cold!

He was doing so much better, but I was still puzzled about the test results, if it was not an  allergy then what? An intolerance, a sensitivity? After doing some research this is what I found:

There are two different kinds of food sensitivities – food allergy and food intolerance. Often times they are confused because they are both reactions to foods that we eat and some of the symptoms can be very similar. However, it’s worth taking a moment to distinguish their differences.

Food Allergy

It is an immune system response – the body thinks that the food you ingested is a harmful substance and it creates antibodies to defend against it. Symptoms depend on where the antibodies and histamine are released, and they can include rash or hives, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, itchy skin, shortness of breath, increased colds/flu, runny nose, ear infections, swelling of the airway and even anaphylaxis.

Our intestines are designed to be impermeable to large protein molecules that our body may mistake as “invaders” and launch an “attack” – resulting in allergic reactions. When the intestine becomes permeable to larger protein molecules, these molecules can get into the bloodstream and trigger an immune response.

Food allergies can be triggered by even a very small amount of food, and occurs every time the food is consumed. If you suffer from food allergy, you are most likely advised to avoid the trigger food altogether.

Peanuts, tree nuts ( such as walnuts, pecans and almonds), shellfish, milk, eggs, soy products, and wheat are the most common triggers for food allergies.

Antibiotics in the first year of life are associated with increased allergies.

Food Intolerance 

It is a digestive system response – the digestive system is unable to properly digest some substance in the food, or the food irritates the digestive tract. Most symptoms of food intolerance are confined to the GI tract, including nausea, stomach pain, gas, cramps, bloating, vomiting, heartburn, and diarrhea, with the exception of headache and irritability or nervousness.

In most cases, food intolerance is caused by the lack of certain enzymes and the body becomes unable to digest certain substances in the food.

The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, in which the person is unable to break down the sugar in the milk (lactose) and could experience bloating, gas, and diarrhea. On the other hand some experience intolerance to the protein in the milk ( casein ). It’s nor unusual for a milk protein sensitivity to be mistaken for lactose intolerance in children, the initial symptoms are similar. However, allergy or sensitivity to milk protein’s symptoms last up to weeks after ingestion, where as lactose intolerance will resolve in a day or two after removing diary from your child’s  diet.

Eight Superfoods to Supercharge Your Kid’s Brain at School

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Photo Credit: Thomas Hayme ( Flickr) 

You want to supercharge your child’s brain? The world is filled with so many delicious, nutritious natural foods. Some of them are particularly well suited for our brains, making them also the perfect foods to start off your kid’s day and use them for school lunch or snacks.

To start the day Fruits and Vegetables: Green Smoothie! Loaded with the best, most nutrient dense foods on the planet, a green smoothie for breakfast and even one sent off in a bottle for lunch time. Bananas provide quick energy to the brain, and they are abundant in this recipe:

Handful of greens ( baby spinach or baby kale)

Two or three ripe bananas

1 cup of mixed berries

Blend everything with water or milk substitute.

Blueberries: Antioxidant-rich protect the heart and the brain from stress, increase learning capacity and strengthen motor skills. This is am easy food to get kids to love. One cup of blueberries a day in any form will do the trick.

Whole grains: These are a tricky one, there are so many packaged products that are advertised as “whole grains” or “all natural” that really are not at all. You have to be a nutrition label detective and make sure the first ingredient is 100% whole grain, or you might end up with a refined product stripped of its nutrients. Whole grain oatmeal is a great breakfast option, if you send sandwiches for lunch you can look for whole grain breads or sprouted grains breads.

Fish: The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are important for the brain, but sending fish to school can be a challenge! A good option can be a tuna salad sandwich on a whole grain bread, you can substitute the mayo with mashed avocado or homemade mayo.

Nuts and seeds: Excellent sources of vitamin E, which enhance cognitive abilities. Add an ounce a day of any kind of nuts or nut butter such as peanut, almond or sunflower butter. Raw is better than toasted, which means they will naturally come without salt and prevent an overload of sodium. A traditional “brain food” is peanut butter and jelly …as long as you use whole grain bread, natural sugar free ( not sugar added) peanut or sunflower butter, and a blueberry jam that hasn’t been sweetened with anything other than juice fruit.

Avocados: Are another good brain food, use it to make guacamole dip, send it off with carrots, cucumbers or organic tortilla chips. For a sweet option, you can send some homemade chocolate avocado pudding instead of the store-bought one.

Beans: Whoever says that eating healthy costs too much has yet to be introduced to beans. Beans are filling, healthy, and help stabilize blood sugar levels. Beans offer a consistent stream of energy to the body, vital for cognitive functioning. You can easily put a nice portion of black beans and brown rice or quinoa together in a cold salad, combine them with lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes, and wrap in a whole grain tortilla. Maybe even slather some of your homemade guacamole on there.

Dark Chocolate: Yes! okay, maybe you’ll want to save the chocolate for yourself. But send your kids with up to an ounce for a treat int the lunch box, too. Dark chocolate, at least 70% cocoa, is a triple treat: it is packed with antioxidants and natural brain stimulants, and it stimulates the production of endorphins, which improve mood. So if a math test is coming after lunch, it can certainly help brighten your child’s attitude about it!

Remember that a lifestyle including fresh air, exercise and a good night’s sleep is critical to proper brain function… not just for your child, but for you, too.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chickpeas

Adapted from cookbook Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.

 

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1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (or 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas)
¾ C. brown sugar or coconut sugar
¾ C. butter or coconut oil
2 egg whites or 1 egg or 1 chia egg
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 C. gluten free all-purpose flour
½ C. old fashioned gluten free oats
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
¾ C. nuts (optional)
¾ C. raisins (optional)

 

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray or
parchment paper.
2. In a stand mixer, beat sugar and butter or coconut oil until smooth.
3. Beat in egg whites (or 1 egg), vanilla and chickpeas. Mix to your liking for the chickpea
consistency.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together: flour, oats, baking soda and salt.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.
6. Add the chocolate chips, and other optional ingredients.
7. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets leaving some space between each
cookie.
8. Using a fork, or the palm of your hand, gently flatten the tops of each dough ball.
9. Bake for 11-13 minutes, or until golden brown. Do NOT overbake.
10. Transfer to wire rack and cool

Crawling and Learning Challenges

As parents, sometimes we are caught in the middle of the excitement of having our children achieve their milestones ahead of times, especially when it comes to walking. What we don’t realized is how important crawling is.

Crawling is a natural systematic pattern of development and given the opportunity all infants go through it. These patterns of development are activated by a series of automatic movements called primitive reflexes. These automatic inherent movement are crucial in assisting infants in fully developing the brain and central nervous system. Primitive reflexes begin emerging in utero and continue to surface during the first year of life. As infant reflexes merge into more sophisticated movement patterns, they become inactive or integrated. However when these reflexes remain stuck por active, they create a wide variety of challenges.

Incomplete integration of childhood reflexes is common. They impact the lives of millions of children and adults. They are major contributing factors in the diagnosis of ADHD, dyslexia, autism, sensory challenges, bedwetting, physical coordination challenges, speech challenges, and other learning and behavioral challenges. Anxious disorganized movements, caused by active reflexes, are a reflection of disorganized brain activity.

Some causes of Unintegrated Reflexes are :

  • Birth Trauma
  • Lack of bonding at birth
  • Not enough necessary movements before age three: belly crawling, belly movement, rolling, turning, rocking , creeping, crawling
  • Too much time spent in bay carries, playpens, walkers swings, jumpers and car seats
  • A misaligned pelvis
  • Environmental toxins in the body
  • Dietary imbalances and sensitivities.

Left unintegrated, emotional congestion can build up around these unintegrated reflexes. Children can stay stuck in the limbic system, these children can become anxious and schooling can be a painful experience for them.

What to do?

If a child is given a safe place to move as they need to, these reflexes can become integrated. The internal reflex template exists within everyone, and is always available to be fully completed. These patterns can be completed through playful, joyful movement lead by the child.

So go ahead let your baby crawl as much and as long as possible no matter how old they are!

Veronica Boske has worked in the public school system and non-profit organizations for over fifteen years, from pre-school to college. She is a Holistic Child Development Specialist. Veronica holds a masters degree in Social Work from Boston University. She received her training as a Health Coach at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City and her homeopathic training at Teleosis Homeopathic Collaborative in Newton, MA. She is a Learning From The Heart /Aprendiendo del Corazon facilitator, Kundalini Yoga Level 1 teacher and Child Play Yoga certified teacher. Veronica offers workshops, group and private sessions for children and families in English and Spanish
Veronica is the founder of Holistic Dragonfly Child and has been recognized as a Face of Prevention by the Children’s Trust Fund and Healthy Families of Massachusetts.