Kids & Teens, Helping Them Eat Healthy

Member's ideas on helping kids (children), and teenagers eat healthy!

Re: Young Kids (children)

Hi, I have been lurking here for quite a while and am new to this group, but not new to improved diet and feeding kids. So maybe I can offer a little help. First, what we all need to do is think VEGGIES in place of things we remove. For breakfast, you might try something less conventional for our society like chicken broth (hopefully homemade or organic) with some veggies in it — for starters, try stuff kids already like - carrots, peas, celery, onion, and little chunks of chicken. Or a chicken breast (sliced or pounded thin) with some pizza sauce and maybe a little cheese on it. Often leftover stews or such can make a good breakfast. For lunch, wraps made with lettuce leaves might be nice - again meat or fish and veggies, with maybe a dipping sauce. There are mill lions of recipes online - I like all recipes.

It is smart of move slowly with anyone when trying to change their diet. The psychology of feeding kids is the most important part, although that includes the look of foods. Making salads into happy faces, and that sort of thing. The number one thing is not to put too much food on their plate. Remember they have stomachs the size of their fists. And since we eat with our eyes first, if they see what we think of as normal portions, they lose their appetites.

I believe in putting about 1 teaspoon of each food on their plate (some of each item on the table, assuming about 3-4 items). If this is done right, they should look alarmed and say something like "Is that all I get?" Explain that they can have seconds when they have finished whats on their plates, and then seconds on whatever they want of what's on the table (assuming everything is healthy).

They will get in the habit of having seconds. Try not to get into the habit of "encouraging" them to eat certain foods or more than they want - believe it or not they will be fine choosing for themselves and if you push, they will rebel. Often food problems start when Mom's try more than twice to give "just one more bite" of baby food. It's the nature of the beast.

I hope I didn't make this too long. I have more tips if anyone cares to hear more. This seems to be an unconventional way of looking at feeding children, but it works to make them want to eat without fights. It even overcomes all the negative input they get on TV and from friends about "vegetables" - which I suggest you never call a food. It is beans, beets, collards, broccoli, squash, etc. This even helps to increase their vocabulary while avoiding negative connotations of "vegetables".

Best wishes, Laura

Re: Young Kids (children)

What I have been doing is preparing the evening meal as per what I need to eat and more for my two boys. To make it tasty for them, I add a sauce over the top. Sauces for kids are a godsend!!! It might be chicken and veggies, or meat and veggies. Cut up and mixed with the sauce, my boys love it. For lunch for my 2 year old, I give him the meat that I would normally put into a sandwich but no bread. He doesn't seem to like bread anyway. Plus fruit, as I believe kids need fruit. I haven't managed to introduce a better breakfast for them, other than eggs, but as you say, your son can't eat eggs. Kids cereals are dreadful things with sooo much sugar!

I haven't got a full grasp on how to integrate this diet (candida) into my boys way of eating quite yet. I am doing it VERY slowly. If you come up with some more ideas, would love to hear them.

Jen :o)

Re: Young Kids (children)

My daughter is doing well with meat, fish, chicken, eggs, string beans, and all other greens with butter, coconut oil, olive oil, sea salt.

That's awesome! Does she also like things like broccoli and cauliflower and stuff? That stuff is so good for us.

Lemon is another favorite. I make her her own yogurt (scdiet legal) She sometimes asks for sweet potatoes.....but I tell her "someday, not today...."

I give my son sweet potatoes and yams but only in very small amounts. Usually only when he is visiting his grandmother once or twice a month, and then maybe once a week. He adores yogurt but I worry there is way too much sugar in it. Fake sugar is just as bad. Any suggestions on that?

I also worry about her falling off the wagon someday and completely overdoing it on junk. Her dad is supportive but he does not fully understand.

I have that same worry for my son. I figure as long as I possibly can I will provide him good nutrition and good education on nutrition and hope as much as I can that he makes good choices.

We're divorce (on good terms though) so when she is with him, she is teaching him too. He actually wants to follow this, but uses the excuse of travel to not do it yet.

At least he is interested though! My hubby eats nothing but junk.. I worry my son will imitate his habits.

I have a concern about going to visit my parents the end of May. They always told me my health issues were in my head and now I am passing it on to my daughter.

You might want to bring your own food or take care of your own food while you are there, as well as your daughter's. I don't have that problem much so I can't give much advice. I don't care what people think of what I eat, and if anyone tells me they have a problem with it I tell them to go blow.

It helps that I've lost 80 pounds too. I'm pretty strong-willed and opinionated and educated on the subject, so if my parents brought it up to me (which they wouldn't) I'd just end up out-debating them.

So, We are pretty much on our own following this path, but everyday I am seeing improvements. I am almost 39 and feel better than I have ever felt in my life. I truly want the same to continue for my daughter.

AMEN! I have a hard time with people who give their children junk food and then justify it by saying that they can get away with it more or what have you. This is just plain wrong. I've had candida issues and recurrent terrible bladder/ear/sinus infections since the age of 1 and I know it's because of what I was fed when I was young. I was allergic to milk so instead was given undiluted apple juice.

I feel it is our responsibility as parents to not only be a good food role model but also be responsible for helping them make good choices until they can make those choices for themselves. Since I buy the food in the house, I won't be buying any junk - I feel that is enabling. I will try my best to show my son that I do this not to torture him or single him out but because I love him, and want him to be healthy.

He might rebel, but I think/hope if I do this lovingly and not in a controlling fashion, I might be able to get away with it. Also I have a lot of creative ideas I've been given on how to give him healthy foods that kind of look like normal foods. Like sandwiches made from nut bread and fruit cups for lunch.

Then I can give him the "weird" stuff for breakfast and dinner like cauliflower and broccoli and garlic and hunks of meat, when he is away from the kids who like to tease at school.

Re: Teenagers

My first thought is to take it slow with your teens (unless they've stated they are willing to go "cold turkey"). In my work (personal chefing for private clients, many with teenaged kids) I've seen rebellion and anger from some kids when they are told "no more pizza, no more 'this' or 'that'".

Bee's advice is for anyone to gradually adapt the diet until you are at 100%. I find this method is really important with most kids, who usually haven't made the choice to change their diet, but are being drawn into it through a parent's decision.

Are they up to speed on the diet, and understand why you've chosen to do it, and do they know what changes are coming? Do they like to cook or experiment in the kitchen? Or do they just eat what you give them? Do they like vegetables, meats, and eggs?

Start with teen-age friendly foods that are familiar: someone suggested fried chicken - that's a great one! Introduce them to the candida diet with menu choices that are loaded with plenty of good fats, so the end result will be satisfied taste buds and a full tummy.

Definitely make sure they get a good breakfast; that's a place to start. Help them with lunch choices: they may be wary of getting too much attention at school for 'weird foods'. If they bring lunch from home see below...

Lunch Ideas:

• thermos with hearty meat & veg soup with pack of crunchy raw veggies
• thermos with meatballs in tomato sauce
• thermos with beef or pork stew
• cold fried or roast chicken, removed from the bone, and a salad
• tuna or salmon salad lettuce wraps
• turkey or chicken salad lettuce wraps
• cold frittata made with fried onion-garlic-broccoli-tomato, & salad
• cold frittata made with fried onion-garlic-spinach, & salad
• spinach salad with bacon, scallion, tomato, egg, dressing on side
• sliced roast beef layered with sliced butter lettuce wraps (make numerous small ones in case someone else at the lunch table wants to try one)
• container of chicken, turkey, tuna salad w/ pack of crunchy vegs & romaine heart leaves in separate bag so they can make their own wraps
• good quality deli meats rolled up w/ sliced butter inside & a salad
• ground beef, pork or dark turkey seasoned with onion, garlic, cumin with a side of homemade salsa and some romaine heart leaves — lettuce taco shells!

Someone will probably convince them to have doritos with their lettuce tacos, but we have to start somewhere :)

Dinners - stick to the candida diet foods they like, until they are more familiar with the program. If they like to cook, ask for their help when preparing dinners or when menu planning, ask them for creative suggestions.

Serving recognizable 'normal' foods, as opposed to substitute "weird" foods, can help some kids agree to go along with the plan. Some kids will want to try making things like 'mock pizza', and may enjoy it as a transitional food. Others will be turned off and will do better with a choice of something like a bowl of italian herbed meatballs in a good tomato sauce with a side of broccoli and garlic butter.

Hope that helps, good luck!!
~ suz :)