I’ve been reading up on the Paleo diet in an effort to get Charlie to eat better, so I asked Kristin (who blogged her home water birth story yesterday) to write this guest post. You can read more about her adventures as a paleo family on her blog Paleo Plus One!
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Sardines. Spinach. Salmon eggs. Bacon. Sweet potatoes. Seaweed.
These are a few of my toddler’s favorite foods. Typical toddler faves like Cheerios, fruit gummies, or mac n’ cheese didn’t make this list because she’s never had them before. I’m a passionate paleo mom, and Siena is a paleo baby. Since becoming paleo almost 2 years ago, I have learned to appreciate real food in all its colorful splendor. I’m delighted that my child appreciates real food, too.
Photo by Trista Lerit Photography
What is the paleo diet, in laymen’s terms?
I’m no scientist, so I will keep this extremely simple. According to a 2005 paper written by Loren Cordain and others, dairy products, grains, refined sugars, refined vegetable oils, and alcohol make up 72.1%of the total daily food intake of people in the US. The huge proportion of grains, dairy and sugars we eat displaces the amount of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood we eat. The problem is, even whole grains do not begin to compare with the nutrient density of foods like vegetables and meat.
Furthermore, grains, nuts, seeds and beans contain antinutrients (such as protease inhibitors, saponins, lectins and phytoestrogens), which can contribute to leaky gut syndrome*. Also, our polyunsaturated fat intake is way out of whack compared to our ancestors. Historically, the ratio of omega-6 fats (pro inflammatory) to omega-3 fats (anti inflammatory) was something like 2:1 and it came from whole foods. Nowadays it is estimated the typical ratio is 10:1 or higher, and a lot of it comes from highly processed cooking oils.
Salmon eggs – fun finger food!
The philosophy behind the paleo diet is that our bodies are not well adapted to handle this stuff. The paleo diet suggests we stop eating certain things that as a species our bodies doesn’t digest too easily, like grassy grains, legumes, processed foods, industrially processed oils, and most dairy (although some populations do handle dairy better than others), stop relying so much on supplements and crazy exercise programs to make up for poor eating, and start eating the things that our bodies have been genetically designed to thrive on, like quality meats, seafood and fresh produce. More sunshine, frequent activity, and stress management would do us a world of good in these fast-paced modern times.
For me, this diet has progressed far beyond an “eat or don’t eat” list, and is now about getting the most nutritional “bang for my bite.” Quite simply, if I’m going to eat a meal, I want it to be as nutritionally valuable and easy to digest as possible. Sure, I want it to taste yummy, but my definition of yummy is now fresh, flavorful, real. It no longer means sweet, binge-worthy and addictive. That kind of yummy is not worth the short term digestive hell and steady weight gain I’d incurred, or the long term health risks.
Lunch – hamburger patty, sweet potato, and gouda.
Why on Earth would I put my baby on a “diet”?
At first, for selfish reasons. I just wanted her to sleep well. As a neurotic new mama, I was convinced my baby was waking up at night because she was starving. Since 6 month old babies can only eat a spoonful or two of solid foods, I was determined to make them the most nutritious spoonfuls ever. For the sake of sleep, Sisi’s first foods were egg yolks, liver, and avocado mashed together with breastmilk. I totally expected her to gag, but she happily ate it. Alas, it didn’t improve her sleep.
Another partly selfish reason: I wanted to avoid the cheerio/goldfish/animal cracker tantrums my friends with toddlers are constantly complaining about. If I were a baby, I’d rather graze on cheerios and snacks all day than eat balanced meals. Duh! In fact, until I started the paleo diet, that’s pretty much exactly what I did! Those high carb, processed goodies are addictive, and I literally couldn’t get enough of them. To me, the easy answer was not to give her those goodies to begin with. It’s working so far. She’s 20 months now, and meal time is usually quite delightful.
But most importantly, I’m concerned for her health. Did you know that a majority of children under 2 years in the US are not meeting the US daily recommendations for Vitamin B-6, Vitamin A, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc (source). Sounds dramatic, but our children are malnourished. Associations between zinc deficiency in infants and Autism spectrum disorders have been found. The huge amounts of grain, especially gluten, that makes up their diets have been associated with such diseases such as celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, ADHD, and insulin resistance.
Morning mush – 2 egg yolks (raw), kefir, cottage cheese, and berries or mushed banana with cinnamon
Our Game Plan
When Sisi was about 6 months, we ditched our pediatrician’s food recommendations (which suggested 2 measly servings of meat per day compared to 6 servings of grains!)
- Instead, we followed the nutrition suggestions in Nourishing Traditions, slowly introducing certain meats, fruits and vegetables one at a time.
- Her early staples were egg yolks (we didn’t give whites until 1 year because they are more allergenic), sweet potatoes, fruits and vegetables, coconut milk kefir or highly cultured yogurt, and sardines.
- We embraced ground up meat very early on. It’s actually easily digestable and has very low risk of allergies, which is why many pediatricians are now suggesting meat as a first food instead of cereals. We also weren’t too afraid to introduce seafood to her early on. I think she first tried sardines at about 7 or 8 months. She didn’t try shellfish until 1 year though.
- Quality of meat and seafood is super important! The Omega 3/Omega 6 ratio and nutrient density of grassfed beef is entirely different than typical grain fed beef. The same goes for wild fish versus farmed fish. We pay attention to what our food ate and how it lived, for both health and sentimental reasons.
We even drove out to a ranch to meet the steer that would become our beef for the year. I almost cried with the rancher when he expressed his sadness that the steer would be butchered that day, but at least his cows only have 1 bad day.
- We limit snacking, and stick to an eating schedule that allows enough time between meals so she’s actually hungry enough to eat well.
- We don’t hover- if she’s hungry, we trust that she’ll eat what’s on her tray. Since the food she eats is so nutrient dense, we know even just 1/2 a sardine and a few bites of veggies will be enough to sustain her until the next meal.
- We keep it simple. Who says every meal has to rock her world? Every day is pretty much the same staples. Breakfast is always morning mush. Lunch and dinner are some combination of meat, vegetable and sweet potato. We eat a lot of leftovers.
- Her food is simple, but not bland. I want her to trust that the food on her tray is always yummy and full of flavor. A splash of lemon or vinegar, celtic sea salt, herbs and spices, and of course, high quality butter from grassfed cows makes all the difference. Butter seems to make it all better. She is super trusting and will usually try anything once or twice.
- I wouldn’t say Sisi’s diet is low carb, it’s just “smart carb.” She gets plenty of carbs and fiber from sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and vegetables like carrots. Sweet potatoes are full of nutrients and are actually an anti-inflammatory food so they are our “go-to carb”. Baked for an hour in the oven at 400 degrees, served with cinnamon and butter, they are so freakin’ good!
- I read the ingredient labels very carefully. Have you noticed how much sugar is in kids’ yogurt or even ketchup? Did you know soy sauce contains more wheat than soy? Did you know most packaged sweet potato fries contain wheat as well?
- Fat is ok! Omega 3 fat, that is. Our babies’ brains need it desperately. That’s why we use coconut oil, avocado oil, duck fat, bacon grease, and butter to cook almost all of our meals instead of processed vegetable or canola oils.
Sisi helps pick the lettuce for our salads.
A typical day for Sisi:
Breakfast (7:30am): “Morning mush” consisting of 2 raw egg yolks mixed with cottage cheese, kefir, and wild blueberries or mushed banana.
Morning snack (9:30am): Four grapes, cut in half.
Lunch (11:30am): Sardines with guacamole, sweet potato fries, or leftovers from the previous dinner.
Afternoon snack (3:30pm): Chunk of cheese (hard, strong cheese like gouda has the most probiotic benefits), or small piece of seasonal, preferably local fruit, or handful of nuts (softer nuts, like cashews. No peanuts- they are legumes, not nuts.)
Dinner (5:30pm): She eats whatever we’re eating. A typical night might be grilled pork tenderloin or salmon, sauteed spinach with garlic, and a sweet potato with butter.
After Dinner Dessert: She gets an ice cube sized “paleo fudgsicle” made of coconut milk, egg yolks, cocoa powder or berries, and just a touch of honey or maple syrup.
Let’s be real here: Sisi isn’t a perfect eater who never throws food on the floor or demands more dessert. Nor do I stick to this diet perfectly. But for the most part, this diet has become our way of life, and now I can’t imagine eating or living any other way.
*Leaky Gut Syndrome is a condition still not fully researched, but it appears that all sorts of factors such as the antinutrients in certain foods, dieting, stress, alcohol and infections can increase permeability of the intestinal lining to a degree where undigested food compounds and toxins can gain access into the bloodstream. Since 70-80% of our immune system actually resides at the gut barrier, this can then lead to inflammatory responses over time negatively impacting our health.
Paleo! part 1 of 7
1. Paleo Baby! by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One2. Whole30 Adventure - Part I by Mrs. Deer
3. My Whole30 Experience (So Far...) by Mrs. High Heels
4. The Whole30 Made Easy by Mrs. High Heels
5. Toddler Paleo Lunches by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One
6. The Wonderful Pressure Cooker by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One
7. Changing the Way We Eat by Mrs. Bee
Kristin of Paleo Plus One part 1 of 4
1. Paleo Baby! by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One2. Toddler Paleo Lunches by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One
3. The Wonderful Pressure Cooker by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One
4. Destinations: Sayulita, Mexico by Kristin @ Paleo Plus One
pomegranate / 3225 posts
Thank you for posting! This is so interesting. I’m hoping to stay strong once LO arrives to my own whole foods approach; I already get unsolicited advice telling me to put rice cereal in their bottles to get them to sleep as early as 4 weeks!!!
squash / 13199 posts
Thanks for this post! we are not on a paleo diet, but we do try to eat as healthy as possible, and avoid refined sugars, processed foods etc. I also want my baby to avoid eating typical kid foods like mac n cheese, nuggets etc..
honeydew / 7444 posts
What a great post! Baby is almost 6 months and we’ve been giving her 1-2tbsp of cereal for the last couple of weeks. I was reluctant to start with cereals since most brands have sugar and salt (unless you go with an organic brand), but i can’t wait to start on veggies.
grapefruit / 4649 posts
Thank you for posting this, I have been curious about paleo for quite some time note but didn’t know where to start. Is Nourishing Traditions what you would recommend starting with? I appreciate the meal ideas, sometimes picturing what meals will look like its the hardest part of making a change for me.
nectarine / 2504 posts
Great post! I had never heard of the Paleo diet before.
pomegranate / 3383 posts
What a great post! I was on paleo prior to getting pregnant but during my first trimester the thought of eating anything made me nauseous…with the exception of bread! Ack!!! I’m hoping I can get back on the paleo train soon :).
GOLD / pear / 1845 posts
@Cole: Nourishing Traditions and Paleo share a lot of the same ideas but aren’t exactly the same. I would say we eat 50% Nourishing Traditions, 25% Paleo and 25% oh look, it’s poutine!
Trying to work on getting that last 25% in order…
grapefruit / 4649 posts
@Mrs. Superhero: I love the break down of your diet! Thanks for the clarification about Nourishing Traditions. I think I need to check it out, I keep hearing about it and it seems like it its in line with my own philosophy on food.
honeydew / 7488 posts
This is fascinating stuff! Thanks for the post!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I cannot express how much I love this post!! It’s been so hard trying to change our diet just because of how the rest of our friends/family eat. We love social gatherings, but it’s gotten to the point where we can’t eat 90% of the food at our friends house’s, potlucks, etc. It’s really hard and that is one of the most discouraging parts of eating healthy/paleo.
My eating-style is very similar to paleo and I LOVE the book Nourishing Traditions. My mom and sister have it and it’s been on my wishlist.
The only things I don’t follow in the paleo diet is that I do eat legumes – but they are all soaked first to aid in digestion; and I eat a lot of dairy but it is all raw – raw milk from the farm, raw cheese, raw milk kefir.
Do you make your own coconut kefir? That sounds so intriguing!
bananas / 9227 posts
Thank you, I love it! This is actually close to how we’re already eating and I’m so happy to know I don’t have to resort to flavorless boiled chicken and steamed veggies for the next few years!
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
This is so interesting!! It’s making me rethink how I feed my own daughter.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
great post!!
cantaloupe / 6730 posts
Sounds like a nice balanced diet. I try to eat a whole-ish foods diet and don’t worry too much about the random processed food that makes it’s way in. I’m going to figure out how my diet fits in with the average 72% of the daily intake. I’m curious to see how I measure up!
guest
Thanks again Bee for allowing me to post! It’s encouraging to see so many people striving to raise their kiddos on more than tater tots and chicken fingers. I have a lot of hope for the health of future generations
Also, to answer some q’s about nourishing traditions- it is a little different than paleo, especially the fact that it allows for soaked and “predigested” grains/legumes. i’m more strictly paleo i guess, but found the “nourishing a healthy baby” section of the nourishing traditions website to be WONDERFULLY helpful for sisi’s first 6-8 months of solid food eating. there is not that much literature out there in regards to paleo baby food, so it was nice to use nourishing traditions as a road map.
cheers!
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
i am trying to be more paleo lately, but how does a korean person live without rice and soy sauce???
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
Very interesting post. I’m not paleo nor is my family but I think it’s awesome that you’re able to keep at it.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
@Mrs. Superhero: well poutine is the bomb diggity
GOLD / grape / 85 posts
this is amazing. i am bookmarking & inspired.
GOLD / grape / 85 posts
@Mrs. Bee: seriously!
persimmon / 1472 posts
Love this post! It’s very inspiring and your sample menus help me see that paleo is really just eating very healthy – nothing that complicated but just takes some effort. V is almost 8 months and her diet mostly revolves around fruit and vegetable purees I make and breast milk, with 1-2 servings of rice porridge that my mom makes. My mom is of the generation where porridge makes a large portion of babies diet and I’ve steered away by only having it as a small component. I’m hoping to keep feeding V with more wholesome foods and less filler foods.
Does whole milk yogurt count as paleo?
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
This is interesting! I definitely think Americans eat too many grains and too much sugar, though I adore dairy and won’t ever be convinced to quit it.
The one issue I have with Paleo is that it is SO meat focused. I think we also eat way too much meat. Meat should be a precious commodity enjoyed a few times a week, not a few times a day, although I can be just as guilty as the next person. Clearly you look at it that way with the local, humane meat you select, but when I see bacon this and bacon that on Paleo Pinterest boards, I really feel like that’s not healthy or humane.
Kristin – When Sisi grows up and asks for pizza, Oreos, etc., will you let her try them? How strict will you be as she gets older and has the ability to choose her own food?
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
My DH’s bff lost 50lbs eating Paleo. It’s a lifestyle for him now.
I’m thinking about going Paleo once I’m done nursing..!
Interesting post! Wanna give my LO salmon eggs now and see how she does!
guest
Hey everybody, thanks for the positive feedback! I should make a clarification on the last “game plan” point about fats. When I say omega-3 fats, think especially of DHA and EPA which are found in most abundance in seafood. These fatty acids, particularly DHA, when combined with iodine and selenium (which are also found in seafood and sea veggies) are essential for good brain development of growing children.
The other fats I listed – coconut oil, avocado oil, duck fat, bacon grease, and butter, are not mainly omega 3 fats themselves obviously, but they are also full of vital nutrition in their own ways. Butter or ghee from grass fed cows for example will provide lots of Vitamin K2 (also found in egg yolks and liver), good for bone forming and brain function and development.
cherry / 146 posts
@Mrs. Bee: pahaha! so true!!!
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@cocobee- yes! we made our own coconut kefir with kefir grains we bought online, and coconut milk in a mason jar with coffee filter on top (for air circulation.) super easy. i’m actually not a big kefir fan, but baby loves it. now we give her store bought full fat goat milk kefir most of the time, just to keep life simple.
@ mrs. bee- yep, as a (1/2) Korean gal, it’s tough giving up rice. thankfully, i’m not nearly as rice-sensitive as i am wheat-sensitive, so i allow it now and then (especially sushi and bibimbap!). most of the time, i simply replace sweet potato or squash with rice in meals to get my starchy/carby fix. also, i use tamari, which is a wheat free soy sauce.
@littleevesmommy- dairy is a tough call! it requires a bit of self-experimentation to figure out what kinds and how much you can handle. when i do have dairy, i always do full-fat (more nutrients, less sugar than low-fat dairy!). i also eat some cheeses and yogurt. and of course, grass fed butter galore. like with meat, quality makes a big difference! raw cheese, and raw milk (which is sadly illegal in some states!) is packed with nutrients and easier to digest than pasteurized. i don’t have any probs with it.
@ daniellemybelle- see above for my take on dairy! also, although some paleo peeps (especially meat-loving males like my hubby) do seem to eat an ungodly amount of meat, it’s not quantity that’s advocated by the diet, it’s quality. but i do believe people should eat quality, humanely raised meat/seafood every single day if they have access to it- it’s very nutrient-rich, there are no studies proving that meat itself is unhealthy (except that eating a ton of beef can lead to too much iron in the blood), and it’s super satiating. i think meat is a very efficient way to get energy, and the energy is much longer lasting than the sugar highs we get from grains. in fact, i only eat 2 meals a day- breakfast and dinner- no lunch, i’m still full from breakfast (and it does usually include bacon!)
guest
@ daniellemybelle- in regards to treats when she gets older, i’m not quite sure what i’ll do. but, since hubby and i are both gluten sensitive, i’m going to guess sisi is gluten sensitive too. anything with gluten will be an automatic no-no, although these days, gluten is a no-no for a ton of kids. hopefully she won’t feel like too much of an outcast. i imagine i’ll let her have the occasional gluten-free sugary treat like ice cream or some candy at a party. but we’ll keep party foods for parties. and we do bake paleo cookies and whatnot for special snacks, so she’s not too deprived. but yeah, it will definitely be hard. i’m watching friends with older kids transition to paleo, and there is definitely a rough period, but usually, once the kids go through “sugar and grain detox” it’s easier for them to resist those foods. we shall see!!
kiwi / 540 posts
I am eating Paleo right now and I look forward to introducing my baby to Paleo foods as well! I don’t think I’m gluten-sensitive, but that would be a good excuse from having to go off my diet around others! If what is served to me is not Paleo, I’ll still eat it to be polite, just in smaller portions. I wish my LO could eat 100% Paleo, but I don’t see how that’s possible! At least he will have significantly less junk than I did growing up and as an adult!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I am curious about cholesterol levels of people following this diet. I have had elevated cholesterol levels in the past that I have gotten under control with exercise and limiting my intake of dairy (my red meat intake is already very minimal, maybe once a week at most, and then it is locally sourced and grass fed).
Thanks for the post, I am going to do more reading.
pomegranate / 3383 posts
@Mrs. Bee: hahaha…you can try cauliflower rice and tamari!
pear / 1672 posts
Thanks for this post. I agree with you re: our country’s seeming dependence on dairy and processed foods. That said, I also agree with others regarding the emphasis on meats, but I think I need to do more research on that. I have been thinking about ways to eat that deemphasize carbs a little, so maybe Paleo is what I’m looking for. Thanks again.
pomegranate / 3045 posts
We aren’t preggo or TTC, but we do eat paleo, and I have been wondering how that would translate over to when we do have kids. So I really appreciated this post! Thank you – it’s so helpful to see all of this laid out.
Out of curiosity, did you find that your diet changed when you were pregnant at all?
pomegranate / 3045 posts
@looch: I follow a slightly modified version of the Paleo diet – we eat more veggies and smaller portions of meat. We try to eat fish as much as possible, which helps with the cholesterol issue.
coffee bean / 48 posts
I used to spend sooo much time reading up and learning how to do paleo “the right way” now I feel like I just live it and don’t have to think about it too much. My favorite general resources when I was first getting comfortable with it were http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ and http://robbwolf.com/. When baby arrives I’ll probably revisit http://everydaypaleo.com/ since they’re very kid/family focused. I loved the book “Real Food for Mother and Baby” by Nina Planck when I was first starting to figure out what to eat while pregnant, and I’ll probably revisit for breastfeeding and first solids. (She doesn’t specifically identify as paleo, but her philosophy is pretty similar.) And I use http://www.thefoodee.com/ when I need recipe inspiration!
Haha it feels like I’m trying to sell something now. I’m not affiliated with any of these sites or anything, I just found them super helpful and I’ve had a lot of success eating Paleo, so I just want to share the love.
cherry / 175 posts
Awesome post and great explanation. Glad to see so may people learning about ‘paleo’ and eating this way with their families. My son isn’t nearly as paleo as I’d like him to be because I let him eat whatever they have at daycare. I used to send his snacks/lunch everyday – but it just got to be too much for me.
The key is to really focus on what you CAN EAT. It’s sounds like a limiting lifestyle. But it’s really not! It can be simple too. Don’t make things too complicated – especially when you are getting started. And you can make paleo breads and treats.
It’s also good to note you can be paleo and unhealthy. Maybe ‘unhealthy’ isn’t the right word — but don’t overdo the nuts/seeds/fruit. And be careful of the paleo treats – I do make them but try to do it only for special occasions.
persimmon / 1255 posts
Glad to see this post on HB. My LO and I have been on the GAPS diet for about 6 months now and have seen drastic improvement in our health. GAPS is similar to Paleo but the emphasis is more to cure/improve leaky gut syndrome so there’s more food restrictions (eg. no starchy veggies like potatoes), a huge emphasis on homemade broths, and a whole regime of supplements (therapeutic strength probiotics, cod liver oil, etc) and other actions (ie. epsom salt baths) to get the body the nutrients it needs to heal itself.
I followed everything by the book the first 5 months but I’ve been experimenting the last month or so to see what my body can tolerate. I’d say I’m eating 95% GAPS right now with occasional cheats and I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made ’cause I feel great and LO’s allergies have improved immensely (she used to react to 20+ food items, now we’re down to 3 known allergies).
admin / wonderful grape / 20724 posts
@Red: Would love to read a guest blog by you on the GAPS diet!!
grapefruit / 4079 posts
I feel my DH and I are pretty unhealthy and both unhappy with our bodies and the shape we are in. I’ve lost weight counting calories but I hate it and I worry about doing it when TTC. This lifestyle change sounds like it could be a good fit. Did you follow this diet plan when pregnant as well?
persimmon / 1255 posts
@mrbee: I’d be happy to write something about my personal experience with the GAPS diet but I honestly can’t claim to be an expert……or a good writer, lol.
guest
@looch- cholesterol is a pretty complex thing, and i’m just now learning more about it. hubby and i have normal levels, we got tested and our doctors were pleasantly surprised
here’s why i don’t freak out about cholesterol in my food : http://paleodietlifestyle.com/cholesterol-is-not-bad/
@anyonesays and @Alison206: I didn’t really start the diet while pregnant. I was paleo aware, but definitely not committed. When I was pregnant, I lived on pretzels. Not very paleo at all. My husband was quite distressed about that because he was already pretty hardcore. After the baby was born, I slowly eased into the diet mostly for convenience sake (didn’t want to cook separate meals for my hubby and i.) By the time my LO was eating solids, I was pretty committed to the paleo diet.
My pregnant friend who is paleo said that she is able to eat meat and doesn’t crave grains/sugar this pregnancy (as opposed to last pregnancy when she wasn’t paleo). Perhaps her change of diet has changed her cravings and aversions this time around. I hope that’s the case for me!
Anyhoo, any baby in utero would be super blessed to be nourished by such nutritious foods. here’s a great post on pregnancy and the paleo diet: http://paleoista.com/news/paleo-moms-and-paleo-babies/
@alison206- I totally understand your frustration with calorie counting. Turns out, losing weight isn’t always as simple as calories in/calories out. There are hormones, food addictions, etc. that make weight loss more complicated. That’s why I think the paleo diet is fabulous- it helps repair hormone regulation (from years of strict dieting and inflammatory eating) so your body begins to work WITH you instead of against you as you try to lose weight. I’m back to my college weight, and that’s with no “intentional” exercise and absolutely no deprivation. Definitely worth looking into!!!
@Red- GAPS is amazing. good for you!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
This is so great! I’ve dabbled in paleo and settled more in with the primal style (cheese, butter, etc–doesn’t bother me and I enjoy my meals so much more with it!) but shucked it off once I got pregnant since the carbs seemed to keep away the queasiness. I also am not so hardcore I make my own mayo/etc. Ultimately, I’m a BIG believer in whole foods and not eating snacks like cheez-its and crap, so this is really refreshing to see! I totally agree with your philosophy on “every meal doesn’t have to rock her world”. We feel the same way about our meals. Sometimes they are just nutritious energy, they don’t have to be amazing.
mark’s daily apple has a ton of information about the cholesterol/’unhealthy’ inquiries people have about this diet. surprisingly, it is a non-issue. paleo people don’t eat bacon 4x/day
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
We’re all moving a toward GF in our house and I’ve been reading up on paleo. I see that you mentioned raw eggs yolks a few times. Even true free-range chickens are pretty unhygienic (they poop on their own eggs, etc) so how do you know that your eggs are safe, are they pasteurized? And how do they taste? I’m having a hard time getting past the thought of eating a raw egg yolk, I can hardly stomach a cooked one
guest
@Mrs. Stroller- it took me a little while to get used to the idea, too. they are from an organic, pastured farm nearby, and we get them fresh every week. they are not pasteurized, to keep nutrients and enzymes in tact. we never give raw egg whites, but feel that the vast benefits of the raw yolks outweigh the little bit of risk in giving them. and the risk is quite minimal, 1/20,000 ordinary eggs are contaminated with salmonella. the stats would probably be much lower for the quality of eggs i eat.
lastly, i’m not a big fan of the raw yolks. i actually don’t eat them unless they are mixed into my popsicles or smoothies. but baby eats at least 2 a day, and my hubby has even more. none of us has ever had a prob. thanks for your question!
guest
Thanks for posting! I have been searching ALL over for good paleo breakfast ideas for my 10 month old… We are beginning to ween off nursing and currently breakfast is her only meal that is strictly breast milk. Can’t wait to read more posts and be encouraged by other paleo moms like you!!
guest
This is wonderful! Not many people have the knowledge or the courage to feed themselves, let alone their children this way, even though it is how we as a species thrived for millennia. I’ve been struggling somewhat with introducing my new way of eating into my boyfriend’s food preferences. He’s a grain farmer (I know, I’m still trying to come to grips with that..) and has lived his whole life on a steady diet of potatoes and dinner rolls. He was raised that way, but so was I and I changed, so I hold out hope that if I find enough recipes that he likes, he’ll embrace paleo as well. I look forward to seeing more updates from you! Be well!
guest
What things do you give your daughter to drink throughout the day? I am at a loss on what milk to give mine when I’m done breastfeeding .
guest
Hi there thanks for the interesting post and ideas. Just wondering though, and please excuse my ignorance… I have been reading about Paleo diets and they exclude all dairy products…why is it ok for bubba to eat things like Keffir, Gouda, cottage cheese etc?
Thanks
coffee bean / 30 posts
@mikalah- thanks for reading! there is not a clear consensus in the paleo sphere about dairy. some ban it completely, while others say to be very choosy about your dairy. we have no problem with fermented dairy (aka certain high quality raw cheeses, goat keffir, etc.) we do limit our dairy intake. now that sisi is almost three, we give her very little dairy actually. she doesn’t really drink any milk at all, doesn’t eat cottage cheese anymore. just some raw, hard cheese, goat kefir and butter galore. i can handle heavy cream in my decaf coffee occasionally with no problem. i think every person is different in how their bodies handle dairy. i’m thinking i may be more “primal” than paleo these days, while my husband is pretty strictly paleo. but really, it’s hard to draw the line. i think the heart of both the paleo and primal diets are self-experimentation and really taking the time to figure out how certain foods affect you in particular. hope this helps!
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Great post. We are paleo I would say 90 percent of the time except for an occasional beer or treat. My daughter is 9 months and have taken the same approach as you and she is paleo for the most part. I have not tried salmon eggs and wouldn’t know where to get them? I love your post and has inspired me to try some different meal options with her. I was trying to find some ideas for something she can snack on if needed while on a plane? Any suggestions? Didn’t want to take a cooler but I just may have to.
coffee bean / 30 posts
@amanda- thanks for reading! you are doing both you and your daughter a huge favor by starting her out on the right foot. sisi is now over 3 years old, and people are still amazed at her great eating habits. they are amazed that to her, a piece of apple or orange is a huge treat and she savors them. they are amazed that her typical lunches still consist of sardines, sweet potatoes, olives and cucumbers.
we only do the salmon eggs at sushi restaurants, but i’m sure you can find them at any asian grocery store (although check the ingredients for weird preservatives and msg).
when we go on planes, we typically bring jerky (wheat free is hard to find, but we like “tanka bars”), nuts, olives, berries, and crunchy dried apples. we just use little mini glass tupperwares and carry them in a lunch box. when she was little, we’d just bring her regular meals on board and a bit of fruit (in an insulated lunch sack), and try to entertain her with things besides food. diluted coconut water in a sippy is a special treat for planes, too! i’ve found that too many sugary treats on airplanes will work against you though. they will produce tantrums and restlessness! so i try to stick to more savory, filling stuff. if i could bring straight up butter, i would