Food? Who cares! Enjoying nature at its finest.
Feeding babies and toddlers is tough.
As we began experimenting with feeding BG food in addition to breastmilk, we were most concerned with WHAT to feed her rather than HOW. Over the past three years, Captain and I have maintained relatively true to a way of eating called paleo. Long story short (and believe me, there are plenty of variations out there), we eat a variety of meat, eggs, and fish, coupled with plenty of fresh greens and veggies, some fruit, and lots of healthy fats (avocado, olive oli, coconut oil, coconut milk, and nuts.) We've found over time that whenever we stray from eating this way, we truly regret it and often experience foggy thinking, gut irritation, and drastically fluctuating blood sugar. Needless to say, we've found a method of eating that agrees with us and is a lifelong commitment.
Now that we have a little peanut of our own, we know how important it is to start her off on the right foot nutritionally. As a family, it is important that we all eat the same foods and can share a meal together. I have no intention to ever make separate meals for my children. Luckily, BG is thriving on real, whole and nutritious food and loving it so far.
I've had a few people ask me the specifics of feeding a paleo toddler, so please read on! (**AND NOTE: I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or any sort of health professional, just a mother who is interested in healthy living. Please seek the counsel of a medical professional before trying anything new.)
Question: What types of foods do you feed your 13 month old?
Answer: Basically, whatever we're eating that she can chew up herself. Some of her favorite foods are cod and salmon, beef (pretty much any form of it), beanless chili, roasted or steamed veggies/fruit (broccoli, carrots, apples), curries, scrambled or hardboiled eggs, coconut milk smoothies, chicken, bananas, and oranges.
Question: What does a typical day look like for her meals?
Answer:
- Breakfast: scrambled eggs and chorizo with two orange slices (diced up and skin removed)
- Snack: banana
- Lunch: baked chicken (dark meat) and roasted beet, carrot, onion, and garlic mix
- Snack: coconut mik smoothie with fresh kale, ground up pecans, and frozen fruit.
- Dinner: Spaghetti sauce and ground beef crumbles over steamed broccoli florets
BG's dinner last night
Question: Don't growing children need cow's milk and grains?
Answer: No, they really don't. Early consumption of cow's milk increases the risk of type 1 diabetes and autoimmune disorders, among other issues. The fat, folic acid, and Vitamin D often sought through cow's milk can be gained through a varied diet full of lots of greens and veggies as well as plenty of time playing outside in the sunshine. Ditto for grains as they are a known irritant to lining of the gut and can lead to a weakened immune system (see R. Wolf book below for additional reading and medical journal references.) However, it is important to make sure your child is getting plenty to drink if you don't do cow's milk. Talk to your pediatrician or a trusted health professional about alternatives.
Playing in the grass and getting some sunshine!
Question: Do you think poorly of those who don't do paleo for themselves or their children?
Answer: Not at all. Food, and the art of feeding one's family, is a complicated business. No sooner would I tell someone how to raise their kids than suggest how to feed them. There are a lot of elitist, egotistical people out there who will say that their way of eating is the only way, and I am not one of those people. Bottom line: this is what works for our family. If you try it and find it works for yours as well, kudos! If not, no worries. We've certainly experimented with different methods over the years. Do your research, find what works, and get in a groove with it.
Resources:
If paleo eating sounds interesting to you or you would like more information, there are several very good resources out there. The internet will turn up a bunch of information (some good, some total crap), but I prefer to turn to books for more substantial research. In my opinion, the best (and most scientific, research based) book is Robb Wolf's "The Paleo Solution." Dr. Loren Cordain, Robb Wolf's mentor, has a new book out that is also very good (although it focuses on weight loss): The Paleo Answer. Finally, I really like Sarah Fragoso's cookbook called "Everyday Paleo."
What questions do you have about paleo eating or feeding toddlers?