Hi guys, Erin Power Board Certified Health Coach is here to answer your questions about how to help your child eat healthier. Whether you have teenagers in the house or are just starting to introduce solids, you’ll learn helpful tips to transition your family from the Standard American Diet to the Diet that works best for you. Do you have a question to ask our health coaches? Leave it below in the comments or in the Mark’s Daily Apple Facebook group.
Angela asked:
“What’s the best way to transition my carb-and-sugar teens to binge eating? I’ve been eating this way for a while, but I think it’s finally time for my kids to start eating like this.”
By the time your child can buy their own food, it will be harder for you to get them to follow your eating rules. With that said, I’m guessing you’re still the one who brings the groceries home and prepares the meal. Which means you’re still responsible when it comes to (much of) what they put in their mouths.
Is Paleo Good for Teens?
Teens can benefit from the paleo diet as much as you and I can. Even more because adolescents’ nutrient needs are higher during this period than at nearly any other time in life. Not only that, problems like acne, irritable bowel, and ADHD can be reversed and remedied through improved diet and gut health.
You did the best you could to feed your kids as they grew up and now that you know food differently, you want to do it differently. Great. The point is, if your teen spends most of their childhood consuming packaged and processed foods that are too palatable, choose reality Foods like ribeyes and grilled broccoli may not be their first choice. At least not immediately. But you don’t have to change their diet overnight.
Remember when you started eating this way. You may not be excited about giving up your low-fat yogurt and banana habit. Or have a square or two of dark chocolate for a special gift instead of a large frosted cupcake. What’s the first thing you do? What is the most logical first step for your teen?
Adolescent mindset
Your teens have a routine that they feel comfortable with. Whether it’s what they buy at school, what they eat at a friend’s house, or what they expect to see while loitering in front of an open refrigerator. They are also at the age of trying to figure out who they are and how they fit in with the world around them. Combine that with hormonal shifts, school and social pressures, and the harmful effects of diet culture, and you’re lucky to get them even looking at a nutrient-dense meal. .
It’s important to change the diet not as a punishment and not push teens too far out of their comfort zone.
During adolescence, they are making psychological and social changes that help them become more responsible and independent, and differentiate themselves more from their parents. So just putting a big salad in front of them probably won’t fly away. However, what will create gradual changes that do not upset their world.
Healthy eating tips for parents
Here are four things I say to my teenage parent clients who are in the same situation as you.
- Make one change per month.
Start with a small step like adding veggies to your dinner or replacing a processed snack with a better-for-you version. Do too much at first, otherwise you risk rebelling. Instead, make a simple change or swap and leave it at that until it’s the new standard. - Get your teens involved.
The kitchen kids are more interested in eating what’s being cooked. Not only that, it boosts their confidence, gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride, and helps them become more self-sufficient when out there cooking for themselves. - Don’t sweat.
You cannot control everything. So don’t worry too much if one night your kids don’t want to have dinner because they ate snacks at friends’ houses. Or they grab a cookie for breakfast on their way to school. Teach them to embrace the 80/20 rule and guide them to make the right choices when they can. - Walking Talk.
Continue to be a positive role model for your child. You might not think they notice what you’re eating and doing, but they do. Even if it doesn’t click for them right away, they are absorbing your words and actions.
As Mark likes to say, “don’t let perfection be the enemy of good.” You can completely apply your Primal way of eating. But really, any shift towards eating more real, whole foods and less processed junk is a win here.
Jen asked:
“I was about to dive into the world of food with my almost 6 month old baby, and everything I read advised me to start with cereal-based infant cereals (wheat, rice) barley, rice, oatmeal). In addition to the fact that we are a primitive household, I have also been tested for allergies and are allergic to all of those grains, as is my teenage son, so I am not planning to either. give a known family allergen to your child. How do I go through this phase trying to keep my baby pristine, and what should I start with? ”
For some reason, the “experts” decided that feeding children a highly processed food chain rich in synthetically produced vitamins was a good first step. Most pediatricians recommend starting with rice cereal, then oatmeal, then barley, and sweet fruits and vegetables. Follow that process and you’ll have your juice box, pudding cup, yogurt maker in no time.
Food Hobbies Start Early
It’s always been interesting to me that babies’ eating preferences begin while they’re still in the womb. During pregnancy, what you eat really affects the tastes and smells your baby naturally loves. The flavors, especially garlic, anise, vanilla and carrot, are transmitted through the blood and into the amniotic fluid.
Turns out, if a baby has experienced the taste in the womb (or in breast milk), they tend to prefer it. In one study, subjects were randomly assigned to drink carrot juice every day for the last few months of pregnancy or after delivery. The researchers found that the infants of those women had a greater preference for carrots than the infants of subjects who were instructed to avoid them altogether. Another study showed similar effects when mothers-to-be consumed garlic. Their kids have a taste for it that persists into their teens.
There is also a period between 4 and 9 months of age when babies are more receptive to different tastes and textures. Repetition also seems to affect preference. Meaning, the more healthy foods you can offer early on, the more beneficial they will be later in life.
Best starter food for babies
As we learned from Angela’s question above, it’s never too early to start forming good habits. And, as you and I both know, there are many nutritious foods that are much easier to digest than rice, barley, oats, and wheat. Since you and your son both have allergies, it’s wiser to consider an alternative approach.
There’s nothing wrong with starting your baby on bland foods. In fact, babies already produce functional enzymes and hydrochloric acid needed to break down proteins and fats. Even better, you probably have some of the best “firsts” foods in your fridge and pantry right now. Look for hypoallergenic, fresh (and organic if possible) foods to provide the brain-boosting and developing nutrients your baby needs, including:
- Avocado
- Fully cooked egg yolks (avoid using egg whites until after a year)
- Yam
- Almond butter or cashew butter
- Pureed fruits and vegetables
- Salmon, chicken and beef puree
- Yogurt without sugar
I hope you have a future-minded pediatrician who is open to the idea of going against cereal (no pun intended). I also recommend watching Sally Fallon’s The Tradition of Nurturing Infants and Children’s Care and anything by The Paleo Mom, Dr. Sarah Ballantyne. And if you’re looking for more guidance from one of our Board-certified health coaches, visit myPrimalCoach.com and watch working one-on-one with a life expert. how easy ancestor.
Have you switched a family member to a Paleo or Primal diet? Let me know what worked (or didn’t) for you.
Information about the Authors
If you want to add an avatar for all your comments, click here!
