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Latham Centers recently published its first cookbook entitled LivingHealthy with Prader-Willi Syndrome: Cookbook and Nutrition Tips. Written for the Prader-Willi syndrome community, the cookbook is a complete resource for planning nutritious, delicious meals for individuals with PWS— and for tips and advice from experts in the field. The menu consists of a Mediterranean based diet low in carbohydrates and dairy, and high in Omega 3s.
Highlights include articles on physical fitness, nutrition, and meal planning. Popular Latham menu items are presented in an easy-to-follow format, as well as a seven-day meal plan based on calorie count which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. The “LivingHealthy” cookbook also includes articles on risks for those with a PWS diagnosis (dysphagia and gastroparesis), snack ideas, and holiday meal preparation tips.
Our authors include Paul E. Donahue, Jr., Melanie Silverman,MS, RD, IBCLC, and Patrice Carroll, LCSW. The three worked together to utilize their various backgrounds and expertise to create this LivingHealthy manual. They hope it will be as helpful to families in the international PWS community as it has been for the residents at Latham Centers.
The results have been dramatic and uplifting. Since the menu implementation:
• our students and adult residents lost more than 400 pounds in one year (98 residents)
• there has been a reduction in insulin medication for some of our residents
• some of our adult residents previously diagnosed with sleep apnea no longer need to use CPAP machines
• children and adults at Latham have reduced cholesterol counts and lower blood pressure, and
• we have observed an increase in our residents’ energy and motivation to exercise independently.
We are delighted with the results of this new menu. Moreover, we are even more excited to share our menu change with you!
Below are a few images from the cookbook:
- The Cover
- A sample day menu [1 of 7]
- An example of a recipe section introduction
- Sample Recipe
More about Latham Centers:
Founded in 1970, Latham Centers courageously, compassionately and creatively helps children and adults with complex special needs, including Prader-Willi Syndrome, to lead meaningful, abundant lives. Latham is internationally recognized for its expertise and success in working with individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with no known cure. Latham Centers provides services to children at its residential Latham School in Brewster and provides services to adults at its thirteen group residences and independent and shared living environments throughout Cape Cod and southeastern Massachusetts. Latham Centers is fully accredited by the International Council on Accreditation, licensed by MA Dept. of Early Education and Care, approved by MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and is a member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and the MA Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (maaps). For more information, visit LathamCenters.org.
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Perry A. Zirkel has written more than 1,500 publications on various aspects of school law, with an emphasis on legal issues in special education. He writes a regular column for NAESP’s Principal magazine and NASP’s Communiqué newsletter, and he did so previously for Phi Delta Kappan and Teaching Exceptional Children.
Jennifer Bolander has been serving as a Special Education Specialist for PWSA (USA) since October of 2015. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and lives in Ohio with her husband Brad and daughters Kate (17), and Sophia (13) who was born with PWS.
Dr. Amy McTighe is the PWS Program Manager and Inpatient Teacher at the Center for Prader-Willi Syndrome at the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Duquesne University receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education with a focus on elementary education, special education, and language arts.
Evan has worked with the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) since 2007 primarily as a Crisis Intervention and Family Support Counselor. Evans works with parents and schools to foster strong collaborative relationships and appropriate educational environments for students with PWS.
Staci Zimmerman works for Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Colorado as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) consultant. Staci collaborates with the PWS multi-disciplinary clinic at the Children’s Hospital in Denver supporting families and school districts around the United States with their child’s Individual Educational Plan.
Founded in 2001, SDLC is a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout the South. It partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Protection and Advocacy (P&A) programs, Legal Services Corporations (LSC) and disability organizations on major, systemic disability rights issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the federal Medicaid Act. Recently in November 2014, Jim retired.