Do you ever wonder if what you feed your child really matters? There was a time when I wondered whether it really mattered as much as I liked to believe it did. Afterall, you see kids that look like they are thriving in all ways - they don’t get sick very often and bounce back when they do; they excel at school; they’re kind;  they’re athletic; they’re happy – and they’re fueled by mostly fake foods.  It’s definitely caused me to wonder at times whether I’m spending too much energy, time and money on REAL food.

I stopped wondering whether diet matters though when I saw how it mattered for my own daughter. Natalie was just 9. She was a healthy kid. Excelled in school. Very mature and competent. Then, one day, she started exhibiting OCD symptoms. I mean real OCD symptoms – asking the same question over and over, feeling like her hands were sticky and needed to be washed over and over, worrying nonstop.

Thankfully summer break had just started because she would not have been able to function at school. The first few times she asked me the same question repeatedly I looked at her funny and replied, “Nat, you just asked me that.” She persisted in asking though. It was a bit annoying at first. Then the sticky hands thing started about two days later. They didn’t feel sticky to me at all but they were feeling rough from overwashing. She didn’t want to touch very many things. Mike and I were dumbfounded. 

I knew a little about OCD but how could my seemingly very healthy daughter – like days ago – suddenly have OCD? Lucky for me I have a ‘bat phone’ to Dr. Sue. She did some research. I did some research. I talked with a behavioral phsychologist. I searched online and in books. She definitely was exhibiting OCD symptoms, big time.    

There’s a syndrome called PANDAS, and basically a very small percentage of children who get a strep infection have an autoimmune response to the strep antibodies. They attack a small part of the brain associated with OCD. Huh? Wow.  

Natalie had had a sore throat just two weeks prior. We didn’t have it cultured because it went away fairly quickly, but I noticed her energy hadn’t fully come back.  I thought she was run down from end-of-the-year activities and figured summer was just what she needed. Her symptoms persisted and got worse. On a 2-hour drive to my parent’s home, she asked over and over whether her book felt wet to me because it did to her. I had to have Mike stop the car and let me out to breathe – and cry. 
 

The girl I knew was missing.  She was suffering and I had no idea how to help her. It was one of the scarier times of my life. Dr. Sue ran a bunch of tests. We found Natalie had some sensitivities to REAL foods we ate regularly. There were some imbalances that we could deal with through homeopathy and supplements. Dr. Sue also wanted to use an antibiotic – a rarity for her -  to see if we could get the strep count down and whether Natalie’s symptoms would decrease. It didn’t have much of an effect on the strep count or her symptoms.
 

I decided to put her on the GAPS diet, plus no dairy or no eggs. Despite being a Holistic Health Coach, this diet was overwhelming. Natalie’s energy started coming back. Her symptoms started decreasing. We also saw a local practitioner who did Reiki with Natalie. Natalie found this was the only time during that month that she could just let her mind rest. It was amazing to see how the diet, supplements and Reiki sessions were supporting her healing. 

My girl was coming back to me.

 

Today, I’m so grateful to be able to tell you Natalie doesn’t have any OCD symptoms. Nothing that we can see and from what I learn when I check in with her, no unusual obsessive worrying. In fact she was able to go back to school that following fall with no problems. It all seems like a dream at the moment. People who didn’t see her during that time don’t really believe me. They can’t imagine this smart, witty, thoughtful, happy girl was ‘stuck’ in OCD. But, the few friends and family who saw her, couldn’t believe she was the same girl and worried right along with us.  

I can see how a parent would turn to medication. What else could you do? I’m blessed, no doubt. I have Dr. Sue.  I have my own nutrition education and experience. I have a network of holistic healers.  

The point is food matters. It matters a lot. Changing Natalie’s diet and supporting her with supplements helped her heal.

You may or may not have a child with a health crisis. Either way, I want you to stop wondering whether food matters. It does. And feeding your child REAL food everyday can be overwhelming. I know that for sure. Anyone who tells you it’s easy either isn’t telling you the truth or you’ve just caught them on a good day.  But, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

If you are new to this parenting journey or if you’ve been on it for a while, I’m here to support you as you make changes in your child’s diet.  I love coaching parents, especially parents new to this whole REAL food journey. And, you don’t have to be nearby. Phone coaching is easy – you can do it from your home while in your pjs!  If you are local though it’s always fun to meet face-to-face.