Comments on: Food for kids…(what to pack for lunch, quick breakfast, and more…)

By: Primal Mama

Primal Mama — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:06:13 +0000

I think that it is safe to point out that Teenagers can be hard to handle at times regardless of food. They have hormone issues, boy troubles, issues with their bff’s etc. Changing their eating habits during this time for them is not going to be a walk in the park and is much different than doing it at a younger age. Plain and simple what Sarah is saying: If it isn’t in the house then it will not be eaten. If your child chooses to eat crap out side of the house there is very little you can do about it.. But I can grantee sooner or later they will feel the wrath of the grain.

I also agree, formula is not the greatest choice in supplementing breast milk. If you are wondering what is look to the Goat.

By: Primal Mama

Primal Mama — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:55:49 +0000

I face a similar situation and I believe it was on Robb Wolf’s website that he had mentioned no not worry so much about what they eat when its beyond your control.

My ex wasn’t on board for a few months until it happened.. the kids stomachs started to cramp, they had diarrhea, and were acting out.. He was quick to call me and let me know that they were ill and had gone mad and I needed to pick them up. Ha ha ha I knew it was only a matter of time. On my way to grab the kids I stopped at the book store and bought him a few Paleo Cook books and gave them to him. I have yet to have any issues since then.

My kids are 6 and 3 I explained that wheat, bread, pasta etc has bad sugars in it and it makes their tummies not happy. It took some convincing but after the first month of not having any “bad food” in the house I let them eat them eat the cookie from the grocery store and they now know that with in the hour of eating “bad” food they will be in pain and explode in their pants. My son is so cute he makes sure when he is around “bad food” he tells every one.. Sugar makes me poop my pants. Ha ha ha.

By: Rhonda Estuare

Rhonda Estuare — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:42:47 +0000

fyi – formula is junkfood for babies. cavemen didn’t drink it. just giving back some of the judgmental crap.

By: RaisePaKids

RaisePaKids — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:14:29 +0000

Great reads above! I have researched Paleo for a while. My husband started before I did. I recently switched the kids (9 & 3) and myself “cold turkey.” I removed everything in the house that was not Paleo. The first day my eldest literally said, “cavemen were stupid, why would they eat like this.” haha!
We are not a family of extreme weight concerns (mainly vanity), and we are very active. However, the more I read the more guilt I felt about my eat-whatever-just-exercise mindset. My 9 year old has ADHD and in two days (no lie!) I noticed better focus/behavior. My 2 year old is happier, livelier (oh Lord!).
But we struggle with school lunch, friends houses and friends over at our house. I am of the same mindset that Sarah is, if you are in my house you will be allowed anything I serve. If my kids are away from home I pray, just like with their behavior and manors, that I have given them the correct tools and examples to make the right choices. The absolute best part is, I never keep anything in my house that my kids can not eat at any time they like. I never have to say “No” or “Not before dinner” or “Eat some fruit first”. Every morning I set out a bowl of fruit, usually grapes, strawberries and blueberries. That is their snack bowl. They graze on it with every passing-by. We eat Sarah’s apple muffins for breakfast a good bit. I actually up’d the almond flour for a different consistency. And I use a couple handfuls of carrots (processed in my food processor) instead of a banana. I leave these on the table all day and they snack on the “carrot cupcakes” too. They are also fab in the lunchbox!
My 9 year old and I discovered “kid sushi”. Which he loves in his lunch. We use whatever lunch meat he is in the mood for or bacon. Chop up the white of a hardboiled egg (cause it looks like rice), slice thinly, lengthwise, carrots and cucumbers. Lay the lunch meat or bacon(cooked obviously) flat layer on the eggs, carrots and cucumbers. And roll it up just like a sushi roll. Lunch meat sticks closed pretty well usually. But the bacon we normally stick a toothpick in to keep it rolled. Sometimes we cut them into little mini sushi bits and sometimes he likes them left full length. He loves to decide what meat and roll and cut them. Since he loves them so much, I will make extra the night before school and leave them in a tupperware. Both kids and my husband grab them for a quick snack.
In essence, I was worried about the kids too. My 9 year old was MAD when he discovered I think milk chocolate, cheese and wheat bread are bad. So I told him as a Mom, my most important job is to give them the tools to make them grow healthy, strong and happy. I showed him Sarah’s book and asked him to just give it a month. Didn’t even take a month! I came to realize that, they will help guide me to where their taste-buds lead them. But it is my job not to buy anything for them that I wouldn’t want them to eat. We lead each other. They feel more in control when they have a little input.
I wouldn’t let them leave without knowledge and guidance of right from wrong in anything else in life. I wouldn’t let them go to school without supplies. Why would I let them “run wild” with what they put into their bodies?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:21:06 +0000

*sigh*
My daughter’s teacher suggested we cut dairy for her attention/focus issues last school year, and she did GREAT off dairy…. but we let it slide over the summer, as “us parents” adopted the Zone diet – which includes lots of dairy for protein, so yogurt and cheese were in the house all the time – so she wanted it and, well, we thought hey- its summer. have it. Now she is back in school and the teacher said she is having a real hard time focusing at all.
I felt like last year it was a real struggle to get her nutritious food without using dairy….and the substitutes were really $$$ or gross or soy, which is gross on many levels…..
I’m not sure if e can “handle” full on paleo, but I think this is a step in the right direction for us. I know this post is “old” but I just found it… I guess I will be cruising your site for ideas for dinners and lunches now for sure! thanks for taking the time and energy to do this site!!!

By: Sara Bennett

Sara Bennett — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:16:29 +0000

how would you suggest to handle it if you child doesn’t have a choice what to eat when outside your home. (i.e. at his Dad’s house half the week)? I want to adopt this type of eating for my son, but am concerned about him feeling sick after eating at his fathers home. (btw, we’re just starting Paleo so haven’t seen any evidence of this yet) I certainly don’t want him to feel bad after eating there, but I know I won’t be able to change the eating habits over there to a great degree if at all.

By: Hailey

Hailey — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 04:13:22 +0000

Every time I have a Paleo question and google it your site comes up! Either you’re psychic, or you just have the most well rounded site. I’m switching my daughter to a new preschool because her current one is on the USDA food program and does not allow packed lunches from home. I love the suggestions for lunches. Tonight we wrapped up pumpkin seeds in turkey slices for a snack. YUM! Add a little spinach pesto (cheese free, of course), Devine! Thanks for always being first on google, Sarah!

By: Laura Lou

Laura Lou — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:25:03 +0000

Although I see this is an older post, I’m wondering what you would serve at a birthday party for kids? I’m planning trail mix fo’sure and a big, honkin’ veg-tray with a guacamole dip, plus a banana “cake” with coconut cream icing, but after these I’m fully stumped! Could you write a blog on this topic…um, soon?

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:23:38 +0000

haha.. didn’t realize how old this thread was.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 21:19:18 +0000

You must not have children.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:15:12 +0000

Love your last sentence! : )

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:41:11 +0000

There’s the issue of respect, sure, and there’s the issue that teenagers are about to be grown up and need the practice of making choices for themselves while they’re still relatively safe from the worst consequences. That said, if you’re the teenager (hypothetically speaking), it’s not your household. You’re not paying the household bills. You’re not the one legally responsible for yourself or your siblings. So yes, you do have to do what your parents tell you to do, for the most part. (Assuming no abuse or neglect.)

And frankly, if my daughter told me she wanted to be a vegetarian I’d consider myself failed at teaching her basic nutrition and I’d make her sit through a remedial course and make sure she understood that she was about to put her health at serious risk. And that’s ovo-lacto. If she wanted to be a vegan I think I’d ground her til she was eighteen because clearly *someone* outside the home was being a bad influence and I need to cut off that contact.

Good nutrition is not a matter of personal opinion. It’s kind of like gravity–it works whether you want it to or not.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:36:29 +0000

It’s called “grownups have more experience in life than children do, and while children do need practice in making their own choices and living with the consequences, the bottom line is that Mom and Dad know best, or should at least be treated as though they do, since this is how human culture has been transmitted throughout most of our species history.”

If you don’t like it, change species.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:22:34 +0000

In our house, it’s not about what makes your “fat” or “thin” (that’s just BEGGING to become an eating disorder!). We eat what makes us feel good. I can tell when my kids have breads with lunch (school lunches) because they’re SUPER cranky when I pick them up. Lo-and behold, when I say “what was for lunch today?” they say something along the lines of “pizza” or “corndogs” or “french fries” (yuck). Then I say “how did you feel after you ate?” and the answer is ALWAYS something like “yucky” or “too full, and my tummy ached”. Then I ask them, “how do you feel after you eat breakfast? or dinner?” the best answer I’ve ever received to that was “LIKE SUPERMAN!” followed by a faux Judo kick-movement. This is the most SIMPLE way I’ve found to explain the benefits of eating Paleo to a 1st, kindergarten and preschooler. I don’t explain anything at all. They make guided observations, and come to their own conclusions. I’ll leave all the science and reasoning for when they’re old enough to care. Right now? They just care that what they eat can make them feel like “superman”. ((HIYaaaH!))

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:01:07 +0000

Hi Shanean, I buy my dried fruit from Trader Joe’s, but I have yet to find unsweetened dried cranberries anywhere except for online but I haven’t ordered any yet. Here’s the link http://www.tierrafarm.com/cranberries-2.aspx From Trader’s I buy the dried cherries, apple rings, apricots, and figs – all big hits with my kids and they are all unsweetened. Good luck with the kiddos – they’ll come around, just keep on making an offering healthy paleo food, try to make it fun – and involve them if you can, and stick with it!

By: Shanean

Shanean — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:13:37 +0000

I love your website it is a wealth of information. My husband has been Paleo for 9 mos and 2 mos for me. We have been working on getting our kids to convert but is rather difficult. I only serve Paleo at home and no junk food or non-paleo food is in our home. I get a lot of grief from the kids about the dinner meal but we are holding strong. When my 10 and 8 yr. old go to school I pack a Paleo lunch but they come home with wrappers from junk food traded with friends.
My big question is where do you buy unsweetened dried fruit, particularly cranberries?

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:07:16 +0000

Sigh, thank you…I was to the point of sending several sandwiches to school with my kindergartner each week (whole grain, but still…) – will give the chicken and eggs a shot. She gets mostly paleo at home, plus milk, and I am trying to figure out how to get her to go paleo. We talk a lot about food, and in preschool she got in an argument with her teacher about the french fries (they providd lunch) – she refused to eat them and told the teacher that they can make you fat! I needed ideas to get away from the bread – thanks!

By: savita

savita — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:02:48 +0000

I usually give chapati and dal to my child.Its desi indian food.And in my opinion this is the only food due to which my child is healthy and smart too.

By: Carla

Carla — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:02:39 +0000

I don’t have kids but as an avid paleo eater myself, i know for a fact that if I had one, my child won’t be eating anything non-paleo.

My family members know what I eat and I believe that they would have to respect my family choices.

I too believe that if a child goes to a party, he or she should not have a note tagged on his/her forehead with his dietry requirements.

I guess if you teach your child why you are making certain choices, and once they are old enough to realise that they feel bad, gain weight and those awful pimples by making poor food choices, they will make a healthy choice even when outside the house.

By: Carla

Carla — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:56:33 +0000

I can only imagine a 6 year old challenging a teacher who is telling kids that it is ok to go to a fast food restaurant occasionaly. Good for him! )

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:24:49 +0000

This is great. My husband and I started the Paleo deit about two weeks ago, so we are very new to this. I have a 4 month old and a 3yr old. My 3yr old eats a few things that I will eventually not have in the house. My husband and I are very excited, we are doing crossfit along with the Paleo diet and we are seeing results fast. We can see a big change in our health and energy. I’m so glad to had find this blog. Good luck to everyone trying the Paleo diet. Dont give up.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:31:47 +0000

Hi Melissa,
I buy my beef jerky from Trader Joe’s (they carry organic gluten free beef jerky) or I order from Paleo Brands – http://www.paleobrands.com

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:08:18 +0000

Where do you buy your jerky? If you make it, can you post a recipe? I have a dehydrator and tried making jerky but it was a mess and didn’t turn out well. Do you know if there is a place that sells grass fed beef jerky in the Chico area?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:41:39 +0000

Hey Holly! Great question! I’m not concerned at all about creating eating disorders due to the fact that I do not offer non-paleo foods in my home. Eating disorders stem from a myriad of different things, many reasons having to do with a traumatic incident in a child’s life that causes his or her self esteem to go out the window. Also if there is an over abundance of concern by the parents about being thin – or if the parents have an eating disorder – this can also cause a child to follow in his or her footsteps. I could see my kids having problems if I was monitoring their fruit intake or nagging them to not eat too many pistachios, but that’s a parenting issue rather then a food issue. We all parent differently but my approach has been to be honest with my kids about why we eat paleo but to them it’s normal now and we simply don’t make a big deal of it. Food is food and we eat it and we have fun making it together and if they go somewhere with friends and eat gluten, life goes on. Amazingly, the longer we eat paleo at home, the better choices my kids make outside of the home. They don’t feel that great either after a huge sugar binge and it’s interesting to see their choices when we eat out – most of which are pretty darn good comparably. So, with that being said, I suggest minimizing that food is magical and powerful, but rather that food is good and it is what sustains us and keeps us healthy and the choices we make affect us in all aspects of life and teaching kids how to make healthy choices is important no matter what the concern may be. I hope this helps and good luck! : )

By: Holly

Holly — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:28:30 +0000

Is anyone concerned about the chance of creating an eating disorder in their children? I haven’t gone full paleo yet with my kids (7 and 5) because I’m concerned they will binge outside the house as they grow older. I can’t get my head around this – do you offer some non-paleo foods so they don’t seem so magical and powerful? I just don’t want my kids to end up with eating disorders for life.