Generation Rescue partners with Chef Jimi and "Cooking with a Cause" to help Parents of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help families coping with the overwhelming situation of raising a child with ASD or other special dietary needs, accomplished chef Jimi Taylor, in partnership with Generation Rescue, is making a difference with a new Gluten-Free iOS App – "Chef Jimi's - Cooking with a Cause." 

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62512-generation-rescue-chef-jimi-gluten-free-ios-app-autistic-spectrum-disorder

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130730/MM48057 )

Seven years ago Chef Jimi's son, Aiden, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairments, cognitive impairments, communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors.  Statistics from the CDC identify around 1 in 88 American children as being on the Autism Spectrum, a 78% increase in the last decade.  

Chef Jimi knew the time was now for developing solutions.  To help parents cope in the kitchen, Chef Jimi developed an App based methodology that provides a core set of cooking skills and recipes, focused on breads, protein and notably a 'Hidden Treasures' feature where Jimi shows parents ways to disguise and 'hide' foods and nutrients in dishes. 

Candace McDonald, Executive Director of Generation Rescue commented, "It's extremely challenging to balance all aspects of life when you have a special needs child.  The data and information on the disorder itself can be difficult to understand, but the facts are clear that a healthy diet has a positive affect on all children."  12.5 cents from every download is given back to Generation Rescue to directly benefit the autism treatment grant to improve quality of life of those affected.

The Power of Food and Diet
No single cause of ASD has been established, although genetic and environmental factors are implicated. There is growing evidence that nutritional therapy can make a big difference. Many children have severely disrupted digestion, so restoring balance in the gut is a key focus.  Parents face specific challenges trying to incorporate a specialized diet into their everyday life including, but not limited to:

• Digestive issues with their child
• Their child not wanting to eat certain foods due to sensory issues
• Time management
• Money

Through endless research, Chef Jimi discovered the benefits of creating a gluten-free and casein free diet. Chef Jimi has cooked this way for his entire family since and the results have been astronomical.  Chef Jimi has witnessed such positive results both in Aiden's health and the whole family that he believes nutrition can make a huge difference.

Says Chef Jimi, "We've spoken to the most credible doctors for input on developing an App that includes the proper ingredients and recipes. We understand the dietary sensitivities of special needs children and the App provides fun, fast, and easy food prep techniques for positively influencing kids with dietary and sensory issues." 

The groundbreaking multimedia app is loaded with 39 Gluten Free/Casein Free recipes categorized into Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Juices/Soups/Sides and Snacks.  Easy to follow recipe video's, Nutritional information, conversion tools, shopping lists and social media functions are included. 

Cooking with a Cause can be found at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chef-jimi-cooking-with-a-cause/id669964534?ls=1&mt=8.
www.cookingwithacause.com      www.generationrescue.org

Contact:
Dustin Wills
[email protected]

SOURCE Abannan LLC