SAM Can Help with Your Diet

Researchers and people with PKU have created SAM, which stands for Social Support, Attitude, and Managment. These three factors can help you manage your PKU. You can use SAM to return to or stay on the special PKU diet.

SAM stands for:

Social Support: You are not alone in your effort to control your PKU. It is easier to achieve your metabolic goals if you have the help and support of others: family, health care providers, social workers, others with PKU from support networks, discussion groups and camps.

Attitude: Having a positive attitude about PKU and its treatment is an important step toward metabolic control. Having PKU and having to follow the special diet is hard and may make you angry. But, PKU is a disorder you can control. People that strictly follow the diet often realize that PKU diet has helped them have healthier eating habits, have self-control and be more creative.

Manageability: Manageability is your ability to implement the special PKU diet in your life. There are many new choices in formula and diet. Take your time, work with a dietitian and find what diet plan works for you. Building habits and organizing your diet to fit your lifestyle will make following the diet easier. You have the knowledge and the skills to follow through and mange your PKU!

Do people ask you why you are such a “picky” eater?

Sometimes the best way to deal with this question is to be honest. However, there are times when you might not want to be open about your PKU. Here are a couple of answers you can give:

• I am a vegetarian.
• I like eating healthy!

However, by telling your friends the truth, you will have allies in staying healthy!