Rheumatoid Arthritis, Kids Making Good Food Choices and Paleo Talk Podcast

If you have a little extra time this week, check out Sara Fragoso and Chrissy Gower's Paleo Talk Podcast this week.  The first discussion "Eating Paleo with a very limited budget. Parents are older with health issues and fixed income" is based on eating Paleo on a budget, but also talks a lot about the connection of eating Paleo and having rheumatoid arthritis. 

The third discussion is "Guiding the kids to make good choices. How to not offend or be labeled as the weird kids."  One of the reasons I love listening to this podcast is because these two gals have families and understand the challenges and joys that can come with feeding your kids healthy choices. 

I want to share some of my experiences with feeding my kids healthy food choices. Although we didn't start off making the best food choices with our kids, they have been eating well longer than not.  They were both breastfed until they were naturally ready to wean. (Yep, I am one of those mommas that nursed my kids for a long time and I am PROUD of it!)  My kids do remember eating boxed mac and cheese, but they don't remember a time we didn't buy grassfed meat from a farmer or think carefully about the veggies we were eating.  They have both grown up helping me in the kitchen.   They have both been mostly gluten free for over six years.  All meals provided by me are Paleo meals which means breakfast, lunch and dinner.  They both eat lots of fruits and veggies for snacks.  They both do have indulgences they enjoy.  Alexander will eat popcorn that he makes himself in coconut oil and adds lots of salt and butter.  He also has a Starbucks donut with Steve every Sunday morning.  That is their morning together to get Starbucks and play video games.  Lately Sophia has fallen in love with hummus and eats it with carrots and cucumbers. When she does stray from her diet it is always with bread and she always feels the effects within 24 hours (extreme eczema).  Alexander will eat whatever is offered when at a friend's home, but Sophia will often bring her own food since she does feel the effects of gluten within 24 hours.  They both know the difference between quality food and food that is not good quality.  When they eat foods with lots of preservatives or of low quality, they taste it right away.  They prefer eating foods that make them feel well.

I think our society often believes it is not possible for kids to enjoy healthy foods and even give the impression that they are missing out on something if they don't indulge often in these "fun" foods.  I have always shared with my kids that they are worth the good foods.  As teens, they seem to believe they are worth foods that nourish them rather than wear them down or make them feel yucky.  They appreciate foods that are made at home and shared as a family.  Despite how many in our society live and how many in our society believe, it is possible to raise kids eating a variety of fruits, veggies and meat.