Nourishing Hope 2011: Reflections

Dear Friends and Colleagues, Welcome to 2012 – a year of change. Before we share with you all that’s in store for Nourishing Hope this year, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on an amazing 2011 – and share our heartfelt appreciation for all of the parents and professionals that helped further our collective cause of hope and healing. Thank you for remaining connected with us! January 2011: We launched a new NourishingHope.com website, along with a refreshed blog and 40 new posts this year! A big thank you to Stacey Fenech, amazing autism mom and web designer, for creating our new site!  We are thrilled with our clean, new WordPress site that makes it easy to share new articles and information with you.   March/April 2011: Canada tour: Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver – Hundreds educated! We love Canada and enjoyed visiting from East to West in early Spring (rather than dead of winter like last time!). Thanks to Autism Montreal, Tammie Sarra, Kelli Pallett, and Karen Simmons of Autism Today.   Joined the Editorial Advisory Board for the Autism File Magazine I’ve been contributing Autism Diet & Nutrition articles to the Autism File Magazine since 2008. So when the opportunity to join the Editorial Advisory Board of the publication arose, I was honored. The Autism File was acquired by Belvoir Publishing, which brings expanded resources and passion – and now 6 issues a year – to newsstands and mailboxes all over.   May 2011: Filmed Autism Mothers TV – 6 series cooking show – Aired on Sky TV in the UK & throughout Europe to THOUSANDS of viewers It was such a joy to do a cooking show with Polly Tommey of the Autism Media Channel (and champion of the global Autism Mothers movement).  We had such fun creating something useful for parents, it was seen by thousands of people all over Europe.  We made Chicken Pancakes, Veggie Latkas, Gluten-Free bread, Liver Burgers, and more. You can watch the episodes on our website or YouTube page: We created a new website, NutritionforPregnancy.com, and redesigned my online course. With the help of my wonderful designer, Paula, we updated the look and feel of my advanced nutrition for pregnancy course. I’ve also made significant content upgrades that I will be launching the the general public soon (We pre-launched it to my loyal email readers during the holidays). Did you know that pregnancy nutrition is my parallel passion?   August 2011: Australia tour – Gold Coast, Sydney, and Perth – over 500 people in attendance! Kris Barrett and Stacey Fenech helped organize a wonderful Food and Nutrition for Autism learning event in Gold Coast Australia (see video of parents). We drove from Brisbane to Sydney, stopping in the gorgeous seaside town of Byron Bay (which I loved).  In partnership with the MINDD Foundation and sponsorship from Great Plains Laboratory, I educated parents and trained medical professionals at the Mindd International Forum on Children.  The conference was a great success, Leslie Embersits and her team held an amazing event with one of the best food/culinary demonstration days I’ve ever participated in. We then went to Perth where Autism West hosted another inspirational day with parents – I have to say, next to San Francisco…Perth is where I’d want to live!   Attended IMMH – Mental Health Conference I had a wonderful opportunity to go to Sedona for the IMMH Conference.  What a breath-taking place to learn from Dr. Greenblatt, Dr. Bill Shaw, and Dr. Kurt Woeller.  It was great to connect with good friends, clients, and colleagues.  And I’m excited to say, I’ll be speaking at IMMH later this year! September 2011: Phoenix Food and Nutrition for Autism & ADD/ADHD Event Thank you to Heidi Bonaroti, Jennifer Frandsen, and Terri Hirning for helping me get organized in Phoenix.  It was such a pleasure to speak to your group and talk to so many families.  Thanks for the opportunity! Farmageddon Event Julie Matthews of Nourishing Hope and Sandrine Hahn of Nourishing our Children collaborated to create a screening of the documentary film, Farmageddon, and fundraiser event for Evergreen Acres Goat Farm.  Prior to the screening we hosted a meet-and-greet with Director Kristen Canty (with food donated from Vital Choice Seafood, Organic Pastures, and Grindstone Bakery).  We are proud that 200 people attended and we raised about $1000 for Evergreen Acres. October 2011: Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas – October – MORE parents informed and inspired! Thanks to Laurence Becker, Irma Canfield, and Kendra Finestead (Greater Tots) for helping make these FNA events a success!  I had a great time eating at The Little Aussie Bakery right there in San Antonio–gluten-free, soy-free and egg-free delights. November 2011: Bay Area Workshops:  I spoke at the Autism and ADHD Bay Area Conference put on my Natalie Mand, and at the Morgan Autism Center in San Jose – great people, committed parents. Participation in Weston A Price, Wise Traditions, Conference It was so wonderful to see my friends – new and old – from Weston A Price at the conference: Sandrine Hahn of Nourishing Our Children, Ann Marie Michaels of Cheeseslave, and Jenny McGruther of Nourished Kitchen.  This is where I pre-launched the new version of my Nutrition for Your Healthy Pregnancy and Baby course. November 2011: Julie introduced the Nourishing Hope Food Pyramid I’m proud to announce my new creation, the Nourishing Hope Food Pyramid. The Pyramid is a visual synthesis of the most healing and digestible foods, it underscores the bulk of my work over the past ten years. It debuted along with my new pregnancy course last Autumn, and I’ll be getting it out to a broader audience early this year – stay tuned.

December 2011: Launched an ONLINE VERSION of my 4-hour Food and Nutrition for Autism – Diet Success Workshop

While I love to connect with parents at my live events, I get so many e-mails asking “when are you coming to my town?” So, I put my entire workshop presentation online for people anywhere to “attend” virtually. I’m getting up to speed with digital delivery of information as there are so many people around the world to touch – very exciting indeed. Check out the online class here.

  Started enjoying Facebook and Twitter! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed connecting with you by Facebook and Twitter.  I have Pages for “Nourishing Hope for Autism” and “Nutrition for Pregnancy.”  I love that I can share other bloggers thoughts and articles quickly and easily. I think of it as a “peak into Julie’s inbox.” Family Time: Ruby’s First Birthday, Camping trip and Holidays VIEW our family photo album from 2011! Thank you for remaining connected with us!