Changing children's diets

**poobears1972** · February 9, 2010, 08:01 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

I know many do. I have not altered mine and I have no plans too. They have not shown any of the signs I have had. They can have unlimited sweets in front of them and they'll eat a little and be done. They have no problem walking away from any food when satisfied not stuffed. They are all on the low side, one on the very low side of weight so for them things are remaining the same.

**maryannie** · February 9, 2010, 08:36 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

I was thinking maybe it would help them get in a good habit for the future since they seem to love sweets so much.

**poobears1972** · February 9, 2010, 08:41 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

Maybe try switching out the candy snacks for fruit. Let them experiment to find which ones they like and keep fresh fruit on hand to replace some of the snacks. If they seem to really really like sweets I would definitely try to curb it now but I would do it gradual and not make a big deal out of it.

Another idea would be to buy a dehydrator you can get them pretty cheap if you don't have one and let them help you make fruit roll ups. Then they get a fun snack and you know it's healthy.

**atkinsgal08** · February 9, 2010, 08:49 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

It seems from my many years of reading what parents to to help their children with getting good eating habits is to simply present them with better choices. They generally take those good choices!

If a piece of fruit or vegetables are available as a snack, they'll eat them.

And I would get rid of diet sodas or real sodas ... water is good for them, too.

**PolarBearKing** · February 9, 2010, 12:12 PM

Re: Changing children's diets

For the most parts, sweets are a "treat" around our house anyways, but I have not limited them any more than normal for my kids.

By osmosis, they are getting more and better choices of veggies. I am not about to start cooking seperate meals for them. I still usually offer a starch to them at meals tho.

**nxrcks** · February 9, 2010, 06:06 PM

Re: Changing children's diets

Both of my kids eat LC.. My son is 16, and overweight, but my DD is 9 and not overweight. I can't see how a LC woe can be anything but good for them, no candy, so sugar, no flour, but good meats, veggies and fruits. My DD is ADHD, and she has improved a great deal since we switched her eating.

**ziggy** · February 9, 2010, 07:59 PM

Re: Changing children's diets

ya i would put kids on a low carb diet too its very healthy and the way they were ment to eat

when you breast feed your baby they are eating a diet of 50-57% calories from fat so they naturally start out low carb too untill you start buying them that horrible man made baby food
Mommy Goes Shopping for Baby Food! Diet and Nutrition for Infant Health.

**liv** · February 9, 2010, 11:15 PM

Re: Changing children's diets

Speaking just for me - I would not put my kid on a diet and that would include Atkins induction foods.
I do think it is good to restrict sugars though. Many kids have strong preferences and cannot be persuaded one way or the other but this is the best time to try to teach them healthy habits that will last for life. You will be doing them such a favour if you do.
So many people come here and do not eat vegetables - actually many of them have never eaten other veggies than french fries and ketchup and all I can think of is how on earth did they get to be like this. What kind of foods were they given as they grew up ?

**soon2bslim** · February 10, 2010, 04:17 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

My kids are basically slim-averege, although one is solidly chunky (healthiest eater but big build LOL). I agree w/ the osmosis factor, generally i make meat or fish plus salad for dinner for me (and DH) and i also make rice, pasta or potatoes which the kids (sometimes DH) eat. So my family sort of eats more like a liberal maintenance diet (the pasta and rice are not always whole grain and so this would not be maintenance) and i try to limit the snacks to weekends or special occasions, although i don't want them to feel too restricted w/ this because then when they are older and can buy what they want, they may go hogwild in the junk food that they were never allowed to have or very very limited with when they were kids and then ballon later in life.

Another 'osmotic effect' is that they are often curious about my loCarb concotions and LOVED the pizza w/ the vegtable crust, some wacky (also normal) salads, and the meat and poultry creations. Now i just have to keep DS away from my Camembert cheese...he gets his 'treats' and i get mine. My kids are very happy to snack on fruits, cucumbers, pickles, olives, cherry tomatoes, baby corn even eggplant!!! However we have normal snacks llike popcorn, potato chips, cookies ... which are especially important when their friends come over...i don't want any of them to be the odd kid on the block with only weird and healthy food in the house.

In general, Atkins has given my children the opportunity to learn to enjoy and appreciate healthy wholesome food which i think is the best way to gift them with healthy eating habits when they grow up.

**poobears1972** · February 10, 2010, 08:33 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

In parents defense a lot of people don't taste veggies like others do. Some very sensitive tasters taste them as being bitter no matter how they are prepared. Not all children are just being pains refusing to eat their veggies and no matter how many times they are forced to that doesn't change. It just creates more issues.

It's not that they weren't offered or even forced it's that they don't taste like they do to you. I know that's hard for many to believe but for many that is the way it is. Sucks to have a very limited selection of food you like but no one is going to sit down day after day and eat foods that make them gag wether those are veggies or another food.

**neihu** · February 10, 2010, 09:33 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

Babies and young children may need to be exposed to a new food up to 30 times before they will eat it. I think a lot of parents offer it once and say (oh she doesn't like that...)

I do not do low carb with my daughter, but she has limited access to sugar. We make muffins for her breakfast with whole wheat flour and blueberries, raisins or chocolate chips, she pretty much will eat any veg inlcuding swiss chard and brussel sprouts.

She eats a carb for dinner every night (as does my husband). But she is tiny, at 4 she weighs 30 lbs. As she gets older I will judge what I need to control.

She is also weird - she gets mad if there is no broccoli on her pizza and is the only child I know who will not finish a bowl of ice cream if she is full (if only I had that restraint!!!)

I used to teach in a preschool and one day a child showed up with slim fast for snack and lunch - I can't imagine putting a 3 year old on a diet like that - especially one that is so unhealthy!

**maryannie** · February 10, 2010, 12:17 PM

Re: Changing children's diets

Makes sense to not eliminate fun foods from them altogether, only makes them want to desire it more, I feel the same way. I never force them to eat food they don't like, just taste it, it seems to eventually grow on them anyway. I was just concerned if having cereal with sugar in the morning might be a bad. They LOVE their cereal but I try to have cereal that's more on the whole grain side but it does have sugar which is why they love it. I don't know if changing their breakfast would help them concentrate better for school and curb their sweet cravings.

**atkinsgal08** · February 10, 2010, 12:40 PM

Re: Changing children's diets

>> I was just concerned if having cereal with sugar in the morning might be a bad.>>

Yes, it is "bad".

>>if changing their breakfast would help them concentrate better for school>>

Most likely.

Sugar: The Bitter Truth With Dr. Robert Lustig - SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

**verynervous** · February 11, 2010, 09:14 AM

Re: Changing children's diets

As a girl who grew up in a home where diet was obsessed about (by my father) I'd like to suggest that whatever you do implement, let your kids be their own people on this one. I was always skinny and didn't need the dieting that was pushed on me, so when I ate bad food like pizza I heard the lines you tell yourself that you don't realize are so harsh, like "you'll hate yourself in the morning" or "do you know how many of those is a serving?"

I don't think it was awful to have a diet imposed on me at all, and I plan to teach my kids some kind of Atkins-related living, but the attitude has to stay checked.

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Changing children's diets

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