TIP of the WEEK: To Cook or Not to Cook
August 26, 2016
We are often asked if it is ok for a person with PWS to cook meals with or without assistance. The answer really comes down to the individual person. Some people with PWS can manage to help with food prep without stealing any food but it may increase their anxiety. Others need full food security and cannot be in the kitchen at all. Others still can cook small meals with no assistance as long as the ingredients are measured beforehand and the rest of the food is locked up.
Whether or not to teach your child to cook is a personal one however, be mindful of the environment and how your child responds before and after the activity. Often times the presence of food can increase anxiety so take small steps and pay close attention to how they respond.
Patrice Carroll is Latham Centers’ world-renowned Prader-Willi Syndrome specialist. She works with Latham Centers’ residents with PWS, their families and consultants, continuously learning and teaching about PWS best practices.