Meet the Down Syndrome Guild's Prom King & Queen

For the past several years the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City’s (DSGKC) Prom King and Queen have joined us at our annual Wine Tasting and Auction. 2014 is no exception as we welcome back Chris and Carissa to our event on April 24.

Not only are Chris and Carissa DSGKC’s Prom King and Queen, but they are actually dating. Every year we welcome this sweet couple to our Wine Tasting and Auction to remind us all why we are here: To raise funds for the Kansas City Down syndrome community and to make prom dreams come true for hundreds of people with developmental disabilities in the Kansas City area.

Before we welcome you all to our special event, we’d like to introduce you to the wonderful couple that continue to inspire us year after year.

Prom Queen Carissa

Carissa is a vibrant young woman with a lot of personality. She is currently a hospitality assistant at Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Down Syndrome Clinic thanks to a special auction item at the First Downs for Down Syndrome event, Huddle Time. 

Because of Huddle Time, Carissa has been able to work at Children’s Mercy for the past two years. As a hospitality assistant, Carissa greets families, provides snacks and play activities to children, maintains the cleanliness and appearance of the clinic and play areas, and assist with clerical projects. We are so proud of Carissa!

Prom King Chris

After speaking with Chris, it’s clear that he has a huge heart because he is very caring and loving. Chris is also a Special Olympics champ. After traveling with Team USA in the 2011 Special Olympics in the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, Chris came home with four medals after competing in four aquatic events.

Not to mention, Chris has been involved with Special Olympics for 12 years and also participates in basketball, golf and flag football. He has previously been named the Northwest Missouri Athlete of the Year. On top of his sports activities, Chris assists his mom in running the St. Joseph, Mo. Young Athlete Program.

Meal Planning Tips for Children with Down Syndrome

We all know that a healthy diet is one of the key ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle. And this is especially true for children with Down syndrome because the problem with the genetic condition is not only the condition itself, but the increased risk of other medical conditions. Those with Down syndrome are also at risk of things like congenital heart defects, thyroid conditions, celiac disease and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the help of a healthy diet can help your child potentially avoid these other conditions and live a happy, healthy life.

When you’re out grocery shopping, remember to add these yummy (and gluten-free) foods to your list:

1.  Beans, seeds, and nuts in their natural, raw form
2.  Fresh eggs
3.  Fresh poultry, fish, and lean meats (not breaded, batter-coated or marinated)
4.  Fruits and vegetables
5.  Most dairy products: While some dairy products are great, you may want to keep avoid protein from cows and substitute with non-dairy products or goat milk products. Children with Down syndrome respond well to both of those.

To keep your child at a healthy weight, choose nutrient dense foods and try to limit as much junk food as possible. An easy rule of thumb to follow is to eat foods found in nature, and avoid man-made foods, or “processed foods,” as much as possible.

Test out some of the above options and see how your child feels and acts. Keep track of your child's new diet with a food journal and note how your child reacts to different foods. Once you figure out what he or she likes best, you can stick to the basics and make different recipes based on those ingredients. Simply by incorporating these healthy, nutrient dense foods into your family's diet, you can ensure a happy, fulfilling life for your child.