I have learned quite a few things from my years spent in the food industry, raising children and talking to absolutely everyone about everything to do with eating, nutrition, packaging, labeling and food.
So I wanted to say something more on children and eating because everyone keeps asking me to comment far more on this issue. But also because I feel that so many of us have every good intention and then fall back on the ways we ourselves were ‘made’ to eat.
Of course some of these methods work – but not all of it. Perhaps it is best to pick apart what hasn’t been working and start with the basics. Children should be easy to feed – they are not complicated little humans with emotional/stress eating or at least shouldn’t be.
With a simple approach in mind – the food, eating, mealtime, the table, the setting, the menu plans and anything to do with dinner should be low key, loose and gentle.
However, one important aspect is often overlooked – many children don’t need to eat a lot, and we start the overfeeding process far too early. Not only overfeeding, but worse – offering the wrong types of foods (low nutrition) required to grow strong bodies and minds.
The meals should be kid friendly but that doesn’t mean junk, such as fish fingers and fries smothered in sugary ketchup. These items are not simple eating, this is pure rubbish – immature guts need easy to digest foods.
Children are often slow eaters – my son used to linger over his breakfast for over an hour when he was younger. I often thought thankfully, he was not rushed off anywhere because he would never have finished his breakfast.
That is one of the lovely things about homeschool and being at home with the children (working from home etc.). No one needs to be rushed with their meals, slow cooked, savored and enjoyed – with the children eating at their own pace.
I have also learned from my own years spent fasting, detoxing and cleansing to wait until they ask for food. In the morning my daughter usually doesn’t want to eat right away. She prefers to have a cup of herbal tea first (quite the little lady) and this gives her digestion a head start.
Of course not every day is an ideal situation and we have days where we have to rush off for dance classes and what not – so I organize their snacks ahead of time… Last week I made simple goat’s cheese and onion muffins from spelt and oat flour (organic whole grain of course).
These are filling, simple and tasty – yet cover carbohydrates, protein and fat – to give them the energy for the day. Together with an apple, some figs and a few nuts – everyone was well nourished and had their main meal when they got home.
Another thing I have noticed when it comes to children is they often get overlooked when it comes to water. Don’t give them juice, they don’t need the sugar or sweetness. Save the juice (sugar free, natural) for a treat day such as birthdays, special occasions and what not.
Water is essential for proper digestion, not to mention every other function of the human body. We are water operated machines – provide the best water you can find for your growing little ones.
As a general rule, children do not need;
Sugar
Caffeine
Additives
Chemicals/toxins
Processed food
Advertising!
Marketing geared towards children is probably the most damaging influence to push it’s unruly way into your home. Banish it as much as possible, talk about it and educate them about how they are being manipulated into wanting something that their bodies do not require.
When it comes to each of us and our food, get back to basics. Start with increasing vegetables, rice, beans, lentils, some fruits, a little fish and meat. Then take it from there. You will find when a child eats his dinner he most often doesn’t want or need anything more…
April
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| Purple daze... |
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