Living Gorgeous!

Supplements for our children are no longer a luxury or superfluous; they are a necessity. Consider this: poor farming practices, genetically modified foods, exposure to toxins and hormonal disruptors, and constant exposure to EMFs from wireless internet access does a number on adults–and our children have even less ability to detoxify the relative amounts of invaders they are exposed to. So let’s fight the good fight and give our kids the tools they need to keep their bodies balanced, nourished, and optimally healthy!

Multivitamin
A multivitamin builds the foundation for a house of good nutrition. Chewables and powders work well and taste good enough so kids don’t mind taking them. If your kids don’t like the taste of the tablets, crush them up and put them in some juice- they’ll never even notice!

http://us.cpoliquin.com/product_p/multi%20power%20chewables.htm

You can also take a tablespoon of Primal Greens and mix it with 1 teaspoon of organic cocoa powder and 1 cup of almond milk– it tastes delicious and is a fabulous source of nutrients (Parents– make two servings and drink it with your kids!):

http://us.cpoliquin.com/product_p/primal%20greens.htm.

Omega-3s
I have to say we’ve come a long way with omega-3s; even mainstream pediatricians are on board with parents who give their kids omega-3s. In light of the rampant ADD and obesity, you’d be a fool not to give your child omega-3s every day. Nordic Naturals makes delicious DHA softgels that are strawberry-flavored:

www.nordicnaturals.com

For children 1-4 years, give 2-4 softgels per day of DHA Junior. For children 4-7 years, give 4-6 softgels per day. For children 7-12 years, give 2 teaspoons of liquid omega-3s per day.

Vitamin D3
Most parents in the USA apply sunscreen to their children to prevent sunburn. But as a result, most children are deficient in vitamin D– especially in the winter months when sun exposure is limited (vitamin D deficiency is virtually nonexistent in tropical climates). So crucial is vitamin D to the body that every cell in the human body has a receptor for vitamin D! Since it can be hard to get your childi to get a blood test to measure vitamin D levels, play it safe by giving your child a small amount of D3 every day.

For babies and toddlers 0-2 years of age, give 1000IU per day. 2-6 years 2000IU per day. 7-12 years 4000IU per day. And try to leave some skin exposed to the sun 20-30 minutes per day (if your child won’t burn while doing this).

http://www.carlsonlabs.com/ProductLiterature/ddropscard.pdf

Lastly, if you want to give your kids a great night’s sleep, put Epsom salts and lavender oil in the bath, and evenly divide one pump of topical magnesium behind both knees. It will knock them out and keep them out so you can also enjoy a great night’s sleep!

http://us.cpoliquin.com/product_p/topical%20mag.htm

Families that take supplements together stay together. Take your supplements with your child so they understand the importance of nutrients in their daily regime. Your children are your greatest asset–protect your investment!

One of the biggest mistakes I make as a nutritionist is that I always assume my clients know more than they do. For example, I assume most people know to steer clear of hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup. I also assume most people know that sugar is pro-inflammatory and stores fat like noone’s business. And, I assume most people know that eggs won’t raise cholesterol and that a high-protein diet won’t cause kidney damage in the presence of green leafy vegetables. But often times, this is not the case, and I have to remind myself to review the basics anyway. So without further ado, here are some more basics of childhood nutrition:

1. Kids should eat just like adults. Kids don’t require fruit punch and so-called fruit snacks; they need fresh fruit and vegetables just like you. If you don’t eat goldfish crackers, don’t feed them to your kid. So many parents I know work out and are religious about their diets, but give their kids French toast with syrup for lunch. Kids’ nutrition needs are critical, so feed them healthy foods. You can’t grow a brain on Twinkies!

2. Give your child protein at each meal. Eggs, turkey sausage, protein shakes, Greek yogurt, grass-fed meats, and fish are great starting points. If your kid won’t go near those foods, sit down with your child at meals and eat those foods right in front of them. Once they take a bite or two off your fork, you’ll have your foot in the door and can progress from there. This will regulate their appetite, build muscles, balance neurotransmitters in the brain, and promote good sleep.

3. Don’t give your child foods packaged in neon colors or with Spongebob on them. Junkity junk junk. Food companies are all in bed with the government and somehow get the USDA to label sugary cereals as having whole grains in them. Of course, there are also water bottles out there labeled “calorie-free”, so it goes to show you that food labels are insane anyway. Use common sense; if something has 30 grams of sugar in a serving, it has way too much. If you want your child tantrum-free and sleeping well, as well as open to eating healthy, wean them off these foods. Have them go to the grocery store with you and pick out healthy choices.

4. Give your child healthy snacks so they aren’t craving sugar between meals.

Sample kid-friendly snacks:

-Apples and natural peanut butter

-Handful of nuts and dried cherries

-Carrots and hummus

-Turkey or buffalo jerky

-Guacamole and raw vegetables

-Hard-boiled egg

-Sweet potato fries (baked)

-Shredded coconut

-Protein smoothie (I usually make this recipe and share it with my son):

1 scoop whey or pea/rice protein
1 tsp peanut butter
1 cup almond milk
½ cup water
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
Handful of spinach
1 tablespoon of organic cocoa powder
Blend on high speed until smooth. (No, I’m not smoking crack with the spinach- just throw it in there and you won’t even taste it!)

My last and final blog in this series will focus on supplements for kids. Stay tuned!

I have a 4-year-old son who I love like crazy. Part of my love for him is making sure he not only eats healthy, but he understands why it’s important to eat healthy. Why? So that he’s inspired to continue to make good choices throughout his whole life.

Children’s brains need fats like high-quality butter, olive oil, nuts and seeds (unless there’s an allergy), avocadoes, and coconut oil. The brain is made up of cholesterol, EPA and DHA–the same fats found in fatty cold-water fish– and thus needs those nutrients to grow healthfully. We now live in a nation where one in six children has a developmental delay or some type of ADD, which tells me our kids have altered brain chemistries and are grossly deficient in these nutrients. Toss in artificial colors, corn syrup, and trans fats and you’ve got the perfect storm for a poorly developing brain and a nation of poor achievers. This phenomenon will only continue to rise and become a pressing issue if we do not take serious action to set our children down the right path.

Kids have an inherent desire to eat what’s good for them; sometimes you just have to tease it out. When I first went into holistic nutrition, I worked with autistic children who were nonverbal and would not make any eye contact with me. All they ate were chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and maybe one other food, but no fruits and vegetables. Yet after educating the parents, those children would eat whatever was put in front of them. And it took three days of offering only healthy foods. This proved to be consistent with all the parents of special needs children I worked with. Whether you have a special needs child or not, you can overcome the trials and tribulations of a picky eater.

Here’s a story my friend Jen shared with me, whose son Murray was a very picky eater at age two:

“ I used to give Murray what he wanted to eat because I was afraid he’d lose weight if I didn’t. But he was still a picky eater so I decided that I would wait it out and try to make him healthier. I told myself that it wasn’t abuse since I was still offering him food and that he would not go hungry. Sure enough, after three days, he started eating whatever was put in front of him.”

Taking the first steps are always the hardest ones, so you may need to have an honest conversation with yourself and start exploring what has been dictating your food choices. Here are some simple questions to ask yourself before feeding your child:

1. Am I feeding my child what I want to feed him because it’s what I ate when I was a kid?

2. Am I afraid that my child won’t eat if I don’t give her what she wants?

3. Do I think my child won’t fit in with the other kids if I give him something healthy?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to break free from the shackles of your mind and take a fresh approach to your child’s eating. Here are some simple guidelines to get you started.

Guidelines for Raising a Healthy Child:

1. It takes courage to go against the grain and have your child eat differently; it’s almost counter-culture these days. But it will also make you a better parent and set your child up for success. If you feel embarrassed about offering your kid carrots while everyone else is scarfing down Goldfish crackers, don’t give up—you may actually inspire other parents and children down the road.

2. Sit down at the table and eat with your child at meals. Children may not listen to what you say, but they sure as hell will watch what you do. Have them eat what you eat. I get my son to eat canned salmon because I put it on my plate and he wants to try it–he thinks it’s just delicious meat.

3. Have your child go shopping with you and pick what colors they’d like to eat. This not only helps them feel in control, but it’s a great teaching moment about the importance of fresh produce.

4. Have your child help you prepare one food item per day. Mashing avocadoes, washing strawberries, or making a marinade for meat are good starters. It may take you 5 minutes longer to get food on the table but it’s worth it in the long run.

5. Everyone is capable of change and healthful eating; you just need to believe you can all do it. Set your child up for success in this world by educating them on the importance of healthy food. Our children are our greatest asset—let’s protect our amazing investments!

Special thanks for Jen S. for sharing her story with me. In my next blog post, I’ll discuss foods and supplements to give your kids. Stay tuned!