A child's diet is just as important as an adult's. Just because many young-uns seem to escape the consequences of eating a fatty, sugary, highly processed diet doesn't mean there won't be serious repercussions on down the road. The immune system takes a beating by such a diet for one thing, which could be the reason for the dramatic rise in childhood colds, flu, and serious diseases, such as cancer. Not only that, but habits are being formed that may profoundly affect the entire life of the child. These habits can be so deep-seated that if the child were to wake up one day as a 20-year-old, for example, and decide to switch to a healthier diet, he would find the decision exceedingly difficult to follow through on. In addition, many serious diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and cancer, are caused or exacerbated by the cumulative effects of many years of unhealthy eating habits. But a child is not in control of the food he eats (at least he shouldn't be!). It's up to us as parents and care-givers to set an example with our own behavior and to offer a wide variety of nutritious foods.
There are many studies to support that children do not need solid food before their first birthday, particularly breast-fed babies. Infant digestive tracts apparently aren't quite ready to properly handle digestion of most foods. This is especially true of cow's milk and wheat. By avoiding these two foods the first year or two, food allergies can often be stemmed. If you choose to feed your babies before age one, stick to home-made pureed vegetables and fruits which are easiest to digest.
Soy and rice milks are excellent alternatives for cow milk, especially soy milk because it is higher in protein. If cow milk is given, consider using organic milk found in health food stores and co-ops, which is free of pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones like the bovine growth hormone (BGH). Producers and retailers of regular grocery store dairy products are not required by law to alert consumers to the presence of many harmful substances, so you must become a detective. Unless you have information to the contrary, assume that the milk is contaminated and unfit for your child (and you! Note also that there is much debate as to whether cow milk is good to drink at all. Milk produces excess mucous, and research has shown that milk actually leaches calcium from bones.)
Spelt and barley flours are excellent replacements for wheat. So is brown rice flour. However, the brown rice bread I have found in health food stores is nasty! And my homemade version didn't turn out well, and it tasted nasty too. I prefer to make my own spelt and barley breads. I also use these flours to create muffins, pancakes, cookies, and cakes. People who don't usually like whole wheat often accept spelt and barley because they have a milder flavor. Good health food stores and co-ops should carry these two flours.
I have heard that infants need a lot of fat in their diet until the age of two for proper brain development. My pediatrician told me that once I stopped breast-feeding the source was to be the yucky saturated fat in whole cow milk. I didn't/do not [yet] have reliable information to the contrary, so I obeyed, and encourage you to do the same. After weening, my boys at first drank full-fat soy and rice milks mixed with Lactaid whole milk (lactose-reduced cow milk) because they both had problems with regular cow milk. As soon as they each turned two, though, I immediately switched them to light soy and rice milks, nonfat cow milk, and a lower fat diet.
A "sweet tooth" and "fat tooth" are preferences and habits that are developed over time through repetition. If you feed a child a high fat diet, he is going to continue to want to eat that way when puberty hits and on into adulthood. If your child then tries to change his eating habits to deal with physical, emotional, or spiritual issues, his flesh is going to rebel. Some moms (and probably dads too) will switch themselves to a lowfat diet, but continue to feed their children fatty hotdogs, hamburgers, cookies, and chips day after day after day. I read recently that fatty deposits are routinely found in the arteries of 3 year olds! The Standard American Diet (SAD) is indeed very sad! If you've ever had diet-related health, weight, emotional, or mental problems, how do you think it happened to come about? Chances are you had at least one parent who failed to set a healthy standard in the kitchen.
I believe sugar is killing lots and lots of people. The dying process starts early and takes years. If you research it, I'm sure you'll come to agree.
Hyperactivity, short attention spans, and mood swings are accepted by many adults as a "phase" that will be outgrown, or something that must be endured or treated with drugs. Often these conditions are corrected by eliminating refined sugar from the diets and including healthy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as a good vitamin and mineral supplement. Seeing to it that your child also receives plenty of fresh air and sunshine, exercise, and lots of encouragement and nurture also helps tremendously.
Take a good, long look at your children. Observe them working, playing, and resting. Do they play energetically during the day and sleep well at night? Are their eyes bright and shiny and is their skin clear and healthy looking? Aside from the normal challenges associated with developing children, do they seem emotionally stable and pleasant to be around?
Make a firm commitment to your kids that you will never regret. Protect and guide them by setting a healthy example for them in the home and encouraging them to cultivate sound eating and health habits that will serve them for years to come.
Recommended Reading
Suggested Cookbooks
ADD / Hyperactivity
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