Children on Paleo/Primal

livlovra

I have been doing Whole30 for the last 23 days (and counting) with my family. My husband was keen to try it and the kids didn't really get a choice. They are 3 and one and a half.

One thing the last few weeks has shown me is how lazy I have become in the kitchen. I would reach for pasta 2 or 3 times a week for the kids dinner and they love it. I guess as I can guarentee they will eat it it made sense. But they clearly have not had it for the past 3 weeks and yet they do ask for it all the time. They used to have porridge for breakfast every day and the little one would eat 3 bowls. He really misses it and we have tried really hard to find breakfasts that he wants to eat and fill him up as much as his porridge used to. Now we go with a soft boiled egg and banana coconut porridge (banana, coconut milk, almond butter mixed up and warmed in the microwave). he loves this but still seems hungry in the mornings. He rarely eats what I put infront of him, even when i KNOW it is super healthy. Then he will suddenly demolish everything - ie he eat 3 slices of roast venison on one day then the following time I gave him venison he wouldn't touch it.

I am really struggling with the guilt. Should I go back to pasta and porridge for my kids? (I'm not going back there!) or if its bad for me why is it good for my kids?

Anyone else gone Primal for the whole family? Would love to hear how you are finding it.

momof2osaurus

That sounds pretty normal for how toddlers eat, actually! I'm the only one in my family who eats paleo, I'n envious that your husband was on board!

As for whether it's a good idea for kids to eat paleo/primal, that I don't know.

GnaBean

There are several blogs out there that talk about being Primal as a family. Paleo vs. NonPaleo is a good one.

Mark Sisson, the author of Primal Blueprint, suggests trying to eat Primal 80% of the time. If your child is still hungry after a Primal breakfast, and you think pouridge will fill him up, then suppliment with a little pouridge. Maybe over time his body will adjust and he'll be filled up by non-grain breakfasts? Or maybe instead of an oat or wheat based pouridge, suppliment with something rice based? On the primal diet, rice is OK, just not recommended for those trying to lose weight.

livlovra

That sounds pretty normal for how toddlers eat, actually! I'm the only one in my family who eats paleo, I'n envious that your husband was on board!

Yes, I know you are right. I just only really have his older sister to compare him to and she eats everything, always has. He used to eat really well to and has dropped some weight over these past 3 weeks. If he gets any lighter I will start back on grains. Like you say possibly offering it after his egg etc and hope he will slowly be weaned off it.

Kymmu

I'm the main cook - and I cook primal. I know it's best for the family. My kids also eat out as they are teenagers. They like everything from typical takeaway to Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi and Indian. They know what's the best for them, but do what they please when out.
I only wish I could have known about this when they were younger. Our diet was never bad, but there would have always been room for improvement!

Lupercalia

You might enjoy reading Michelle Tam's blog, which is titled Nom Nom Paleo. She has a whole bunch of fantastic recipes and is raising two little boys as a paleo mother.

momof2osaurus

I'm the main cook - and I cook primal. I know it's best for the family.

Do you keep non-Primal food in the house??

VeronicaanddMatt0605

Try paleo version of pancakes I made a pumpkin one from practical paleo and my kids devoured them also you could give them more starches like sweet potato or if you're okay with it rice or white potato I have not switched my kids to paleo yet I'm just trying to get myself adjusted to this way of living but we have been eating similar dinners although I have been giving them a nonpaleo starch to go with it

sjglancy

I have two girls, ages 4 & 8.5, and they are mostly Paleo. It really helps when they're a part of the shopping/cooking process. They love picking out the fruits and veggies and then deciding how we'll cook them up (or just eat them raw). Sometimes, they beg for things like pasta and we'll cave and get some rice pasta but we're trying for 100% gluten free and 80% Paleo. So far, so good.

sjglancy

BTW, I think it's great that you're starting yours so young, when habits are forming. If you're having trouble now, just know that it gets easier with time and you're helping them create good habits that will follow them throughout life.

sjglancy

Another great pancake recipe for the kids is 3eggs + 1 banana and just cook like regular pancakes. My girls love this!

hdlb

Since you're son is losing weight, I would find a middle ground. Don't jump right back into feeding him how you were before, but maybe adding some things back in. What about things like grain-free muffins and pancakes? Will he eat those?

I am Paleo, my kids are not. My oldest eats cheese/yogurt, and all the kids eat rice bread/crackers/cakes/cereal. Its what works for us. Dinner are almost always 100% Paleo, because I cook and we all need to be able to eat it. Sometimes (and its a rare sometimes) I'll throw some pasta on for my husband because he has no desire to eat the same way I do, which is fine too.

Bumbeen

I'm the main cook - and I cook primal. I know it's best for the family. My kids also eat out as they are teenagers. They like everything from typical takeaway to Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi and Indian. They know what's the best for them, but do what they please when out.
I only wish I could have known about this when they were younger. Our diet was never bad, but there would have always been room for improvement!

I'll never have kids, but if I did, they would eat paleo from day 1

momof2osaurus

I'm the main cook - and I cook primal. I know it's best for the family. My kids also eat out as they are teenagers. They like everything from typical takeaway to Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi and Indian. They know what's the best for them, but do what they please when out.
I only wish I could have known about this when they were younger. Our diet was never bad, but there would have always been room for improvement!

I'll never have kids, but if I did, they would eat paleo from day 1

Technically, that would be kind of difficult since they require either breastmilk or formula.

LavenderBouquet

I'm the main cook - and I cook primal. I know it's best for the family. My kids also eat out as they are teenagers. They like everything from typical takeaway to Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi and Indian. They know what's the best for them, but do what they please when out.
I only wish I could have known about this when they were younger. Our diet was never bad, but there would have always been room for improvement!

I'll never have kids, but if I did, they would eat paleo from day 1

Technically, that would be kind of difficult since they require either breastmilk or formula.

Well, if the mom eats Paleo/primal and breastfeeds, that's pretty much primal from the start, no? :laugh:

happyheathen927

If your 3 year-old has to eat 3 bowls of porridge to fill up ... it doesn't sound very filling to me.

My older kids (8 and 5) have had a more difficult time switching, and they still get some things occasionally (corn chips a couple times a month, rice pasta every 2-3 months). Breakfasts were a challenge, since my oldest hates, and I mean HATES eggs. I make Grain-Free Pumpkin Muffins (my own recipe) or Paleo Breakfast Cookies for them now. If I don't want to bake, I make them breakfast smoothies with almond milk, raw eggs (from our chickens), frozen bananas, a spoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder and a few drops of vanilla stevia. I also keep sausage patties on hand; they cook up quickly and transport well.

If your little guy is dropping weight, make sure he's getting plenty of fats. You can throw some coconut milk or an avocado into that smoothie recipe I mentioned, or a couple spoonfuls of nut butter. My oldest will eat peanut butter straight from the jar (not paleo, I know, but it's better than the loaves of bread she used to inhale). If he tolerates dairy, then butter's a great source of healthy fats.

Edited to add: Healthy carbs, too! Sweet potatoes, winter squashes, and all kinds of veggies are great for busy, hungry kids.

justaspoonfulofsugar

this is a great website for parents. http://paleoparents.com I do a lot of primal with my child and he has been gluten free 95% of the time for the past 1.5 years(he's 6).when it comes to social events I let him eat what he wants as I don't want him to feel uncomfortable..he makes really good choices in these situations.
take your time and see what works,it all changes constantly at this age anyway..mine loved meat before and now far prefers to eat fish.
good luck!

livlovra

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think he is just a typical fussy toddler!

Still plugging on with it at the moment.