Wanting to try Paleo diet but concerns about children

emmabeckemeyer1
emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
in Food and Nutrition
We recently cut back on our gluten because of articles I have read about the blood type diet and I feel soooo much better. Because of this I am tempted to try and do a Paleo diet. My fears are 1) I have two small children and do not know if it is a ood diet for them and 2) I am breastfeeding. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO COOK TWO DIFFERENT MEALS!
Anyone with experience of the Paleo diet give me advice about those 2 fears/concerns?

Replies

  • kvictory27
    kvictory27 Posts: 7 Member
    I haven't done Paleo, but I do try to eat "clean" No processed sugars,very little wheat and if I do it's whole wheat... I do eat dairy, which I think is not on the paleo diet? I have a 18 month old and he eats what I eat but I also give him a few easy "extras"
    some examples: for breakfast or a snack I may give him toast with cheese on it. Or I will make a box of whole wheat pasta and keep it in the fridge for the week. That way I can pop it in the microwave (In water so it doesnt get dried out) and serve it as a side with sauce or butter and cheese. Yogurt is easy too! or English Muffin pizzas on whole wheat english muffins. Tortillas are great and easy too! That way he still gets alot of his grains and dairy, they're still healthy and I am not making two meals :) Hope that helps a little and good luck!! :)
  • Bumbeen
    Bumbeen Posts: 263 Member
    We recently cut back on our gluten because of articles I have read about the blood type diet and I feel soooo much better. Because of this I am tempted to try and do a Paleo diet. My fears are 1) I have two small children and do not know if it is a ood diet for them and 2) I am breastfeeding. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO COOK TWO DIFFERENT MEALS!
    Anyone with experience of the Paleo diet give me advice about those 2 fears/concerns?

    Just compare the nutrient content of 2000 calories of a diet on meat and vegetables and fruit vs 2000 calories on a diet of meat vegetables fruit and grains. The answer will be obvious.
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
    Since you're feeding another organism with a substance produced by you, you should probably talk to a nutritionist or a trusted doctor before changing your diet drastically. Same for feeding your kids.
  • vanguardfitness
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    Here is a paleo introduction video I found the other day:

    http://youtu.be/0dIjAHvMgvA
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    Since you're feeding another organism with a substance produced by you, you should probably talk to a nutritionist or a trusted doctor before changing your diet drastically. Same for feeding your kids.
    Ditto
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    We recently cut back on our gluten because of articles I have read about the blood type diet and I feel soooo much better. Because of this I am tempted to try and do a Paleo diet. My fears are 1) I have two small children and do not know if it is a ood diet for them and 2) I am breastfeeding. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO COOK TWO DIFFERENT MEALS!
    Anyone with experience of the Paleo diet give me advice about those 2 fears/concerns?

    Just compare the nutrient content of 2000 calories of a diet on meat and vegetables and fruit vs 2000 calories on a diet of meat vegetables fruit and grains. The answer will be obvious.

    This. We have friends with a child who are doing Paleo. I have never seen a kid so happy to eat a banana.
  • Athena413
    Athena413 Posts: 1,709 Member
    Why would paleo be bad for children? It's just clean, unprocessed foods. Meats, veggies, fruits, nuts, berries, REAL food. From a health standpoint, it's probably one of the best "diets" there are. And it's actually sustainable. The only reason they cut out dairy, legumes, and grains is because of the inflammatory response/GI issues that those can cause with a lot of people who don't even really realize that's what it's from. As long as your children are able to get enough protein, carbs, and healthy fats, then they'll be fine. Now, as far as the one you're breastfeeding, I agree with whoever said to check with a nutritionist. I don't know how your nutritional needs might vary.
  • shaywallis
    shaywallis Posts: 165 Member
    I'm Paleo/primal most of the time (past few weeks I've fallen off the wagon a bit) and I exclusively breastfeed my 5 1/2 mo old = ). I also have a 3 yr old who eats primal aside from peanut butter and jelly sammies lol
  • Shadowknight137
    Shadowknight137 Posts: 1,243 Member
    We recently cut back on our gluten because of articles I have read about the blood type diet and I feel soooo much better. Because of this I am tempted to try and do a Paleo diet. My fears are 1) I have two small children and do not know if it is a ood diet for them and 2) I am breastfeeding. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO COOK TWO DIFFERENT MEALS!
    Anyone with experience of the Paleo diet give me advice about those 2 fears/concerns?

    Just give your kids what you eat. Paleo would be great for kids, why wouldn't it be?
  • caribougal
    caribougal Posts: 865 Member
    I don't force my paleo/primal eats on my family. My kids are 5 and 3.5. I don't make 2 meals. I just take a larger serving of veggies and skip whatever carb I make for them. After 7 months of watching what I eat, my hubby is joining me in Primal on Feb 1. My kids still eat regular food, but they're also very good meat and veg eaters most of the time so I don't worry.

    As for breast feeding, I think there's absolutely nothing wrong with eating Paleo. In fact, when i was breastfeeding I knew LOTS of moms who had to go dairy, soy, gluten free when their babies had reflux or other digestive issues. Just make sure your cals are high enough to sustain you. You will be cooking more in general than opening boxes of processed foods. If you do a weekly cookup once a week, it will make things easier when you're worn out from sleepless nights.
  • ChaseAlder
    ChaseAlder Posts: 804 Member
    It's not weird or dangerous, it's simply unprocessed, whole, clean food. It's sustainable, like being a vegetarian.
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    I wish I could rewind time and eat this well while I was carrying and feeding my boys!
  • ladyfingers73
    ladyfingers73 Posts: 80 Member
    I've been doing Paleo for the past 4 days. BUT, I do eat cheese. I will try and slowly cut that out.

    I am not making extra meals for my family, instead I add things for them. Like mashed potatoes, pasta or bread for a side dish for them. They eat the meat and veggies I prepare. It's not really changed how I cook at that much. Even the other day I made Lasagna for my family and in a little dish I made myself the meat and sauce and some cheese. It was amazing with salad. I didn't feel I missing out at all.
  • ladyfingers73
    ladyfingers73 Posts: 80 Member
    On another note, my big concern was all the meat. I still eat more veggies and fruit and nuts than meat. I can't afford ALL grass fed. I do about 50/50, so I can't in good conscience eat a lot of meat knowing how it's raised and slaughtered.
  • RenewedRunner
    RenewedRunner Posts: 423 Member
    :huh: Isnt there a difference in Primal and Paleo?? Op said Paleo.

    Think maybe y'all need to re-review the plan. I don't think that taking dairy away from a child who isn't lt is a great idea. Or fruit. Seriously, no one got fat cause they ate too much fruit!
  • whenday
    whenday Posts: 64 Member
    I think if you look at it not from a weight loss viewpoint but from a nutrition viewpoint and include fruits, veggies and proteins with limited processed carbs for your children then why not? I think paleo restricts certain fruits and starchy potatoes but I feel that may be geared towards people that want to lose weight. Add those in and I believe it will be ok.
  • emmabeckemeyer1
    emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
    My oldest daughter is allergic to dairy so having no dairy in the diet is normal for us....I would need to keep them on soymilk or I could try almond milk as a substitute.
    I think I may try and keep MOSTLY Paleo!
  • caribougal
    caribougal Posts: 865 Member
    :huh: Isnt there a difference in Primal and Paleo?? Op said Paleo.

    Think maybe y'all need to re-review the plan. I don't think that taking dairy away from a child who isn't lt is a great idea. Or fruit. Seriously, no one got fat cause they ate too much fruit!

    Paleo includes fruit.

    Some people who are not familiar with Paleo don't know the difference between Paleo and Primal. Primal includes dairy, preferably in fermented form like yogurt or kefir. Some people do dairy if it's raw, or they do better with goat milk as it is a bit easier to digest. And many cultures do not consume any milk after weaning. As long as kids get a balanced diet full of veggies, meat, fruit, and healthy fats, and a good multi-vitamin, they don't have to have milk.

    I personally give my kids full fat organic milk, since they don't seem to be lactose intolerant and the fats are good for them.
  • caribougal
    caribougal Posts: 865 Member
    My oldest daughter is allergic to dairy so having no dairy in the diet is normal for us....I would need to keep them on soymilk or I could try almond milk as a substitute.
    I think I may try and keep MOSTLY Paleo!

    Try www.paleoparents.com. They also have a cute cookbook called Eat Like a Dinosaur. Some great kid-friendly recipes in there. Every recipe is marked with steps the kids can do (with supervision) and all common allergens are labeled.
  • Iron_Pheonix
    Iron_Pheonix Posts: 191 Member
    I've been Paleo for four months now, I've always been a clean eater (I'm a nutritionist) but having become long term I'll I turned to Paleo and eating keto. I would love my boys to be Paleo or at least primal but it's very hard to change their diet because they eat at parties etc and they've developed particular likings for treats however.... I always cook clean meals and have now moved them mostly obtain gluten free and I'm baking them Paleo treats. I've put them back onto full fat whole organic milk and we eat grassfed meat.

    In my view.... Start as you mean to go on! If this is a life change for you then start them on it now! Cause it's much harder to change it later. I only wish I had found Paleo earlier!
  • hdlb
    hdlb Posts: 333 Member
    I'm Paleo, my kids are not. They are gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and peanut/legume free, (my son is allergic to almost all of those things) though they do eat rice (crackers, bread and cereal) and my oldest eats cheese once in awhile.

    They do get treats, they are kids, but "treat" usually means a smoothie, or some fresh raspberries (they are expensive here so we don't buy them often) They also really love "Paleo Fudgy cookies" Mmmm.

    My husband is not at all Paleo, but since I cook, he eats what I make. A lot of time I will add to his meal though. The kids and I will eat the meat/veggies and he will have some pasta or potatoes with his. And before anyone suggests that its unfair to my kids to what their dad eat things when they can't, they are all gluten free for medical reasons (so no pasta) and not one of them will eat potatoes. It doesn't bother them at all.
  • emmabeckemeyer1
    emmabeckemeyer1 Posts: 298 Member
    My oldest daughter is allergic to dairy so having no dairy in the diet is normal for us....I would need to keep them on soymilk or I could try almond milk as a substitute.
    I think I may try and keep MOSTLY Paleo!

    Try www.paleoparents.com. They also have a cute cookbook called Eat Like a Dinosaur. Some great kid-friendly recipes in there. Every recipe is marked with steps the kids can do (with supervision) and all common allergens are labeled.

    Thanks I will kick it out!!
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    There isn't anything lacking if you eat paleo or primal as prescribed. That goes for humans of all ages. As for the dairy question, my son grew into a very healthy and super athletic young guy without dairy or soy substitutes. The idea that children NEED cow's milk, and if not cow, then soy milk, isn't based in reality. Like all of us, they need the calcium, all sorts of vitamins, protein and healthy fats...but there is no reason those essentials have to come from cow's milk or strange soy products.
  • jrmartinezb
    jrmartinezb Posts: 147 Member
    Personally I wouldn't put my children on any diet/nutrition plan that cuts out any food groups. Now don't get me wrong, I do think It is entirely possible to get the nutrients you would usually get from dairy grains and legumes from other sources. However I have not seen any convincing evidence that cutting those foods has any actual health benefits. With that in mind, I would rather have my children know and learn to eat a wider variety of foods. Plus, for me, flexibility and ease to follow are very important. I find that much easier without a restrictive approach.

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