Getting Kids on Board

[Guest guest]

I have been working toward a raw food diet for the past few weeks and

have had good and bad days. For me, a big problem is getting my kids

on board. I read one guy's response to this issue this morning and

thought " he's answering me before I even write my post! " He said

just to get all the junk food out of the house and when everyone gets

hungry enough then they will eat the good stuff. That makes sense,

but for some reason it is not quite so easy. Maybe if my kids were

older, but I am having a hard time explaining it to a 1 year old and

a 3 year old.

 

My girls do like fruit, but not every day for every meal. They

aren't crazy about nuts, and don't like salads. I have tried all

kinds of recipes for burgers, breads, crackers, cookies, etc. and

they just don't like them, and frankly with very few exceptions I

haven't enjoyed them very much either. It is very frustrating to buy

the ingredients (some of which are pretty expensive) and then listen

to the dehydrator run for 12 hours or so just to pull something out,

taste it and say " yuck " and then throw it in the trash. I am

thinking that I should taste everything before I put it in the

dehydrator because if it doesn't taste good beforehand it is not

going to be any better afterward. Still, if I don't like it, then

we'll still be throwing it out and wasting money. Once I can find a

dozen or so things that everyone likes I will be happy, but right now

the " winners " have been few and far between.

 

Luckily the kids do drink smoothies in the morning and I always put a

few big handfuls of leafy greens in there, but other than that I am

really struggling. And then after they have their smoothie they are

still hungry, and don't want more fruit, and don't like the buckwheat

cereals I have made, and don't like manna bread (which is probably

not technically raw anyway), and don't even like the cookies or bars

that I have made. So, what do I give them?

 

I have been making meals for them and meals for myself and it is

getting really frustrating. That said, even when we were all eating

cooked food they often didn't like what I made, but at least I was

only preparing one thing, and I usually liked that thing. Now they

don't like what I am making for them, I might not like the raw thing

that I prepared for myself, so then I end up eating the cooked thing

because they didn't touch it. And they are asking for something

different, and I already made two things so I don't want to make

another, but they are hungry, so of course I have to do something.

It is just not going the way I hoped.

 

Sorry to be such a whiner. I am just running out of ideas and I

really want this to work. Does anyone have any experience with

successfully getting kids on board with going raw? I'd really

appreciate any tips that you can share.

[Guest guest]

Mojomama7! My heart goes out to you! I am right there will ya too (me and

my 2 and 4 year old girls). I wish I had some good suggestions but all I

have is sympathy and understanding because this sounds an awful lot like

what happens here too. Since we don't live in a bubble (we have a very

active social life) and the kids are around folks from very diverse

backgrounds (from vegan to SAD) I'm just happy when my kids eat healthy

vegan food and like it. Hang in there...we will get through this!

 

Ann

 

_____

 

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

mojomama7

Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:37 PM

rawfood

[Raw Food] Getting Kids on Board

 

 

 

I have been working toward a raw food diet for the past few weeks and

have had good and bad days. For me, a big problem is getting my kids

on board. I read one guy's response to this issue this morning and

thought " he's answering me before I even write my post! " He said

just to get all the junk food out of the house and when everyone gets

hungry enough then they will eat the good stuff. That makes sense,

but for some reason it is not quite so easy. Maybe if my kids were

older, but I am having a hard time explaining it to a 1 year old and

a 3 year old.

 

My girls do like fruit, but not every day for every meal. They

aren't crazy about nuts, and don't like salads. I have tried all

kinds of recipes for burgers, breads, crackers, cookies, etc. and

they just don't like them, and frankly with very few exceptions I

haven't enjoyed them very much either. It is very frustrating to buy

the ingredients (some of which are pretty expensive) and then listen

to the dehydrator run for 12 hours or so just to pull something out,

taste it and say " yuck " and then throw it in the trash. I am

thinking that I should taste everything before I put it in the

dehydrator because if it doesn't taste good beforehand it is not

going to be any better afterward. Still, if I don't like it, then

we'll still be throwing it out and wasting money. Once I can find a

dozen or so things that everyone likes I will be happy, but right now

the " winners " have been few and far between.

 

Luckily the kids do drink smoothies in the morning and I always put a

few big handfuls of leafy greens in there, but other than that I am

really struggling. And then after they have their smoothie they are

still hungry, and don't want more fruit, and don't like the buckwheat

cereals I have made, and don't like manna bread (which is probably

not technically raw anyway), and don't even like the cookies or bars

that I have made. So, what do I give them?

 

I have been making meals for them and meals for myself and it is

getting really frustrating. That said, even when we were all eating

cooked food they often didn't like what I made, but at least I was

only preparing one thing, and I usually liked that thing. Now they

don't like what I am making for them, I might not like the raw thing

that I prepared for myself, so then I end up eating the cooked thing

because they didn't touch it. And they are asking for something

different, and I already made two things so I don't want to make

another, but they are hungry, so of course I have to do something.

It is just not going the way I hoped.

 

Sorry to be such a whiner. I am just running out of ideas and I

really want this to work. Does anyone have any experience with

successfully getting kids on board with going raw? I'd really

appreciate any tips that you can share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Aww Mojomama7

I can hear your genuine cry for help! Sounds like its a tough go over

there!

That must make you feel awful when you put all that work into

dehydrating etc etc, and then they throw it in the garbage. So I

would suggest first: don't make it so hard for yourself Keep the

food simple, raw fruit in the morning, as MUCH as they want, OR a

organic rolled oats oatmeal with cinnamon and organic maple syrup -

its great! Remember, fruit should be eaten mainly in the morning

before noon and ALWAYS on an empty stomach. Bananas are more filling

and have lower water content, so if you're mixing fruits have banana

last, or on its own. You're lucky they're so young, you have lots of

time to get them eating what you want them to eat, but it might take a

bit of discipline on your part and obedience on theirs...these are

good virtues to exercise both for you and your children.

One apple isn't going to be enough for breakfast. Let them have 2 or

3 or 10 if they need it! And have a variety too or else you will

never get them on board...kids need variety! So apples, oranges,

bananas, mangoes, etc etc, all the different fruit you can think of.

For the oatmeal days, add blueberries, raspberries or strawberries,

etc. to it, or even chopped apple. Oatmeal is a complete protein!

(the rolled oat rather than instant is higher in fiber and less

processed) It has all the amino acids and is a high source of all of

them, and also has lots of minerals like magnesium, manganese, etc

etc. It is good stuff.

They should have water before they have anything. Not juice, but

water. Don't bother with the juice, because it satisfies their fruit

craving but doesn't fill the tummy! Let them have the whole fruit, it

will be more filling. Juice is a treat, to be enjoyed once in a

while, it is not a staple.

 

Anyway thats breakfast. If you like what I'm saying let me know and I

will go on, but it would likely be a good idea to find some books on

the subject, or have you done this already?

 

Do you have an avocado sandwich recipe? If you want tantalized taste

buds and full tummies, ask and I'll give you the simple recipe! They

make a great lunch, and it also provides healthy fat to the diet that

will help satisfy cravings.

 

Hope this helped

 

Joe

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to add...

 

I was raised with the " eat what are told " attitude, although, it was

cooked food, so maybe that made it easier for my Mother, but I wonder why?

Anyway, one mother I talked to recently was worried about her child

getting enough protein, and since she couldn't get him to eat anything

healthy the only protein she could provide for him was Kraft Dinner!

" Great source of protein and nutrition there, good going! " I thought.

I tried to help but there was no reasoning with this particular

mother - her child needed protein and she was going to make she he got

it no matter what! Gosh!

 

Okay I have to be honest here...I pitty parents like that, and I worry

for their children. I know that things change when people have a

child and that you have a bond and love for them greater than

anything, but people shouldn't abandon all reason for it. The child

DOES NOT KNOW what is best for it! Only you, especially the mother,

does! Don't let the child control you and tell you what is best for

it! This negates your authority and position as a loving parent and

is simply not a psychologically healthy way for a child to grow up!

Thats the first point.

 

The second is: A CHILD WILL NOT STARVE ITSELF TO DEATH. Let me

repeat, just to be clear: A CHILD WILL NOT STARVE ITSELF TO DEATH!

One does not have to feed their children slop just to get them to eat!

If you make eating FUN, SOCIAL, and eat TOGETHER, they will eat all

the easier. If you lock them in a room with broccoli, eventually they

will eat it, but doing it the other way is better. It might take a

try or two, but remember, your child WILL NOT starve. If anything, if

it takes a couple of meals to get them eating, the reduced caloric

intake in the mean time will be good for them, giving their systems a

chance to rest and cleanse.

 

The positive attitude aspect can be very important. Kids pick up on

that stuff instinctively. So don't labor making glamorous dehydrated

snacks. Keep it simple, raw, and positive. Make yummy sounds when

you eat, and eat with them! Smile a lot and rub their backs. YOU

have to happy for them to be happy, and cooperative

I once got a child to clean an entire house! The place was a

disaster! Know how I did it? I did it WITH them! And I talked with

them while we did it. Kids hate being told to do stuff that their

parents won't do. Kids realize that if the adult feels it is below

them to do it, then why should they do it? So do it WITH them, talk

with them about their day or whatever they are rambling on about, and

educate them whenever the conversation allows it

 

Joe

[Guest guest]

Funny how we look at things differently because I think chidren as young as

one and three are IDEAL ages to start teaching raw nutrition.

I wish I'd known better back when my kids were these easily accepting. At

this age, they no very little else than what you teach them.

My friend had a confrontation one time with her ex-husband's girlfriend who

was criticizing the way her children ate. They live on cheetos and fast food

nuggets! Shocks me. The girlfriend said to her " children don't go from

breast to fast food without YOU feeding it to them. " .

My friend told me this wanting my support but you know what, it has really

affected the way I look at myself and the eating habits *I* taught my

children.

So we eat things even when they aren't our favorites because our body needs

fresh vegetables to run efficiently and work for us the rest of our lives.

That's the discussion we have in our house.

We have to feed our bodies healthy foods.

Now I am not a strict 100 % raw eater. I admire people who can do this but I

find myself going crazy at social events.

So I teach my kids that if we've been giving ourselves healthy foods on a

regular basis, we can have occassional treats. And we enjoy every minute of

our treat and then we go back to healthy eating.

 

One thing I've learned from this list is to go back to basic eating. Skip

the dehydrating, sprouting, blending, juicing, blah blah blah when you are

too overwhelmed. I think when we first learn about raw foods we get this

urge to duplicate anything that is cooked. And we see on the internet that

their are some amazing raw chefs that have recreated just about every cooked

food. But we do not have to do this.

We make it too complicated. I quit for a while because I was so frustrated

that I couldn't find all the ingredients in the cookbooks I was reading.

But that was a bit silly when my local supermarket is full of fresh produce!

It's as easy as cutting up an apple, melon, etc. Buying the fresh bags of

organic prewashed, ready to go carrots and celery. Just get back to the

basics.

 

Tonight I had pasta in the house leftover. (only 70% raw right now) I served

two of my three children. My middle child is just picky about leftovers and

I didn't care to argue because I had some fresh fruits in the house I wanted

to get used up.

So I cubed some fruits for her and don't you know as soon as the 3 year old

saw the fresh fruit with toothpick to eat with, she promptly told me she did

not want any pasta. I knew she wanted the fruit. So we threw the pasta in

the garbage and I proudly made her a bowl of fruit.

Lots of vitamins and fiber. Very hydrating dinner for the kids.

 

My last note is, one of the appeals to eating fresh fruits and vegetables is

that I eat them. I act all crazy and say " you want me to share my precious

veggies with you?!?!?!!! " . Oh now they want it more than ever if I pretend

it's all mine. HA HA

I go on and on about how good my fresh foods make me feel. It starts at the

grocery store. Oh man, we could spend a ton of money in the produce after we

get all worked up about how colorful and magnificent it all is.

 

 

Ooh man.. I'm getting excited for summer. It's very slim picking in snowy

Indiana right now. Bring on the fresh produce!

 

Jen

--

 

 

Version: 7.1.412 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/706 - Release 2/28/2007

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

" I act all crazy and say " you want me to share my precious

veggies with you?!?!?!!! " . Oh now they want it more than ever if I

pretend it's all mine. HA HA "

 

 

 

That's just so precious and beautiful!

[Guest guest]

here is two surefire recipes for most kids I've met. Did you know that you can

buy raw nut butters now at the health food store? I use a raw almond butter on

celery sticks. yummm. Also if when they are still having breakfast you can

blend up a couple of apples with cinnamon, applesauce is usually a winner.

Dehydrated fruit leathers is usually a treat too.

 

Hope this helps

 

mojomama7 <mojomama7 wrote:

I have been working toward a raw food diet for the past few weeks and

have had good and bad days. For me, a big problem is getting my kids

on board. I read one guy's response to this issue this morning and

thought " he's answering me before I even write my post! " He said

just to get all the junk food out of the house and when everyone gets

hungry enough then they will eat the good stuff. That makes sense,

but for some reason it is not quite so easy. Maybe if my kids were

older, but I am having a hard time explaining it to a 1 year old and

a 3 year old.

 

My girls do like fruit, but not every day for every meal. They

aren't crazy about nuts, and don't like salads. I have tried all

kinds of recipes for burgers, breads, crackers, cookies, etc. and

they just don't like them, and frankly with very few exceptions I

haven't enjoyed them very much either. It is very frustrating to buy

the ingredients (some of which are pretty expensive) and then listen

to the dehydrator run for 12 hours or so just to pull something out,

taste it and say " yuck " and then throw it in the trash. I am

thinking that I should taste everything before I put it in the

dehydrator because if it doesn't taste good beforehand it is not

going to be any better afterward. Still, if I don't like it, then

we'll still be throwing it out and wasting money. Once I can find a

dozen or so things that everyone likes I will be happy, but right now

the " winners " have been few and far between.

 

Luckily the kids do drink smoothies in the morning and I always put a

few big handfuls of leafy greens in there, but other than that I am

really struggling. And then after they have their smoothie they are

still hungry, and don't want more fruit, and don't like the buckwheat

cereals I have made, and don't like manna bread (which is probably

not technically raw anyway), and don't even like the cookies or bars

that I have made. So, what do I give them?

 

I have been making meals for them and meals for myself and it is

getting really frustrating. That said, even when we were all eating

cooked food they often didn't like what I made, but at least I was

only preparing one thing, and I usually liked that thing. Now they

don't like what I am making for them, I might not like the raw thing

that I prepared for myself, so then I end up eating the cooked thing

because they didn't touch it. And they are asking for something

different, and I already made two things so I don't want to make

another, but they are hungry, so of course I have to do something.

It is just not going the way I hoped.

 

Sorry to be such a whiner. I am just running out of ideas and I

really want this to work. Does anyone have any experience with

successfully getting kids on board with going raw? I'd really

appreciate any tips that you can share.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never miss an email again!

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[Guest guest]

Hi Mojomama,

 

That is awesome that they like fruit! Just let them eat lots of fruit and

fruit smoothies. You don't need to worry about them eating anything else.

Fruit is our natural food, after all. As you said, you can sneak in some

greens in the smoothies. If they ask for something other than fruit, simply

say " I'm sorry, all we have is fruit or salad, which would you prefer? " Kids

like it when you give them a chance. I'm a nanny and I find that the choice

thing really works.

 

I recently read on the APA (American Psychological Association) website that

parents frequently give up way too soon when offering new foods to young

children. Here is the quote: " " Parent educators also stress the need for

patience when introducing new foods to children: Research shows that on

average it takes children seven to nine times of trying a new food before

they will add it to their repertoire, says Haire-Joshu. Educators also

remind parents that their children are watching what they eat. "

 

Also, don't worry if the kids skip a meal or two out of protest. They will

adjust to their new choice and they WON " T go hungry for too long. When they

get hungry enough, they will eat. :-)

 

All the best,

 

Audrey

www.rawhealing.com

 

> " Ann B. Lane " <annblane

>rawfood

><rawfood >

>RE: [Raw Food] Getting Kids on Board

>Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:24:35 -0500

>

>Mojomama7! My heart goes out to you! I am right there will ya too (me and

>my 2 and 4 year old girls). I wish I had some good suggestions but all I

>have is sympathy and understanding because this sounds an awful lot like

>what happens here too. Since we don't live in a bubble (we have a very

>active social life) and the kids are around folks from very diverse

>backgrounds (from vegan to SAD) I'm just happy when my kids eat healthy

>vegan food and like it. Hang in there...we will get through this!

>

>Ann

>

> _____

>

>rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

>mojomama7

>Wednesday, February 28, 2007 12:37 PM

>rawfood

>[Raw Food] Getting Kids on Board

>

>

>

>I have been working toward a raw food diet for the past few weeks and

>have had good and bad days. For me, a big problem is getting my kids

>on board. I read one guy's response to this issue this morning and

>thought " he's answering me before I even write my post! " He said

>just to get all the junk food out of the house and when everyone gets

>hungry enough then they will eat the good stuff. That makes sense,

>but for some reason it is not quite so easy. Maybe if my kids were

>older, but I am having a hard time explaining it to a 1 year old and

>a 3 year old.

>

>My girls do like fruit, but not every day for every meal. They

>aren't crazy about nuts, and don't like salads. I have tried all

>kinds of recipes for burgers, breads, crackers, cookies, etc. and

>they just don't like them, and frankly with very few exceptions I

>haven't enjoyed them very much either. It is very frustrating to buy

>the ingredients (some of which are pretty expensive) and then listen

>to the dehydrator run for 12 hours or so just to pull something out,

>taste it and say " yuck " and then throw it in the trash. I am

>thinking that I should taste everything before I put it in the

>dehydrator because if it doesn't taste good beforehand it is not

>going to be any better afterward. Still, if I don't like it, then

>we'll still be throwing it out and wasting money. Once I can find a

>dozen or so things that everyone likes I will be happy, but right now

>the " winners " have been few and far between.

>

>Luckily the kids do drink smoothies in the morning and I always put a

>few big handfuls of leafy greens in there, but other than that I am

>really struggling. And then after they have their smoothie they are

>still hungry, and don't want more fruit, and don't like the buckwheat

>cereals I have made, and don't like manna bread (which is probably

>not technically raw anyway), and don't even like the cookies or bars

>that I have made. So, what do I give them?

>

>I have been making meals for them and meals for myself and it is

>getting really frustrating. That said, even when we were all eating

>cooked food they often didn't like what I made, but at least I was

>only preparing one thing, and I usually liked that thing. Now they

>don't like what I am making for them, I might not like the raw thing

>that I prepared for myself, so then I end up eating the cooked thing

>because they didn't touch it. And they are asking for something

>different, and I already made two things so I don't want to make

>another, but they are hungry, so of course I have to do something.

>It is just not going the way I hoped.

>

>Sorry to be such a whiner. I am just running out of ideas and I

>really want this to work. Does anyone have any experience with

>successfully getting kids on board with going raw? I'd really

>appreciate any tips that you can share.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am new to the group and new to the all raw diet. Your email was very

inspirational. You have helped a lot.

 

Thank you so much

 

Patrice

 

 

Jennifer Beschinski <Jenifer9 wrote:

Funny how we look at things differently because I think chidren as

young as

one and three are IDEAL ages to start teaching raw nutrition.

I wish I'd known better back when my kids were these easily accepting. At

this age, they no very little else than what you teach them.

My friend had a confrontation one time with her ex-husband's girlfriend who

was criticizing the way her children ate. They live on cheetos and fast food

nuggets! Shocks me. The girlfriend said to her " children don't go from

breast to fast food without YOU feeding it to them. " .

My friend told me this wanting my support but you know what, it has really

affected the way I look at myself and the eating habits *I* taught my

children.

So we eat things even when they aren't our favorites because our body needs

fresh vegetables to run efficiently and work for us the rest of our lives.

That's the discussion we have in our house.

We have to feed our bodies healthy foods.

Now I am not a strict 100 % raw eater. I admire people who can do this but I

find myself going crazy at social events.

So I teach my kids that if we've been giving ourselves healthy foods on a

regular basis, we can have occassional treats. And we enjoy every minute of

our treat and then we go back to healthy eating.

 

One thing I've learned from this list is to go back to basic eating. Skip

the dehydrating, sprouting, blending, juicing, blah blah blah when you are

too overwhelmed. I think when we first learn about raw foods we get this

urge to duplicate anything that is cooked. And we see on the internet that

their are some amazing raw chefs that have recreated just about every cooked

food. But we do not have to do this.

We make it too complicated. I quit for a while because I was so frustrated

that I couldn't find all the ingredients in the cookbooks I was reading.

But that was a bit silly when my local supermarket is full of fresh produce!

It's as easy as cutting up an apple, melon, etc. Buying the fresh bags of

organic prewashed, ready to go carrots and celery. Just get back to the

basics.

 

Tonight I had pasta in the house leftover. (only 70% raw right now) I served

two of my three children. My middle child is just picky about leftovers and

I didn't care to argue because I had some fresh fruits in the house I wanted

to get used up.

So I cubed some fruits for her and don't you know as soon as the 3 year old

saw the fresh fruit with toothpick to eat with, she promptly told me she did

not want any pasta. I knew she wanted the fruit. So we threw the pasta in

the garbage and I proudly made her a bowl of fruit.

Lots of vitamins and fiber. Very hydrating dinner for the kids.

 

My last note is, one of the appeals to eating fresh fruits and vegetables is

that I eat them. I act all crazy and say " you want me to share my precious

veggies with you?!?!?!!! " . Oh now they want it more than ever if I pretend

it's all mine. HA HA

I go on and on about how good my fresh foods make me feel. It starts at the

grocery store. Oh man, we could spend a ton of money in the produce after we

get all worked up about how colorful and magnificent it all is.

 

Ooh man.. I'm getting excited for summer. It's very slim picking in snowy

Indiana right now. Bring on the fresh produce!

 

Jen

--

 

 

Version: 7.1.412 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/706 - Release 2/28/2007