Healthy Eating

I am passionate about feeding my kids healthy foods (not that I don't allow the occassional treat) and I think it shows because they rarely ever get sick and they like many foods most other kids don't (they love to snack on cold steamed broccoli and frozen peas!)

I wrote some articles on healthy eating, here's a couple of links if you're interested. The Dr. Sears has is great info! http://hubpages.com/hub/dr-sears-healthy-eating - and - http://hubpages.com/hub/healthy-diets-healthy-eating-for-...
Good luck - hope this helps!

Try cutting out dairy. Absolutely no rice, cheese, bananas or applesauce or high iron foods as spinach or raisins. Add grapes, prunes, prune juice. 2 prunes a day should fix it alone. Some kids are allergic to dairy products and get constipated from it. Do not add soy products to make up for the lack of protein from the deletion of dairy until he is moving or you will likely cause serious gas issues. Good luck

Hi C.,

Fruits and veggies, fruits and veggies, and fruits and veggies! Powerful antioxidant qualities and plenty of fiber. Stay away from high glycemic foods like white potatoes, pastas and breads. Also avoid processed foods like chicken nuggets. Substitute red potatoes for white ones and get him used to them now as a little one. Protein is good for him but don't overdo on meat. Small portions are fine but make the bulk of the meal fruits and green leafy vegetables.....

Constipation can be reversed fairly quickly if you change the family's eating habits now.

Hope I helped!

M.

The things you have mentioned are all relatively healthy... only thing noticeably missing is any VEGGIES. Try celery stalks with peanut butter (and raisins? - ants on a log), raw carrots, even plain old ice-burg lettuce! My kids don't like green bell pepper, but they LOVE the red bell peppers.... just wash, slice and eat... they are great "finger foods"... you can use a little dressing for dipping if they encouragement... but often if you just put a slice of pepper on the plate with other foods they will give it a try on its own. It is an easy food to use as a "mouth" when making faces on plates, too.

My kids even like steamed broccoli (just cut off the florets, wash, add a dash of salt and some water and microwave it with waxed paper across the top of the dish). I usually stir in a pat of butter after it is finished steaming... it only takes about 5 minutes. If you have a steamer (they aren't very expensive) you can steam raw green beans, too. They only take about 17 minutes in mine. And they are FAR healthier than anything out of a can. If veggies are over-cooked my kids won't eat them... and so most things out of can my kids won't eat because they are mushy.

When you introduce new veggies to them, be sure to offer them a variety of ways (raw, steamed or barely cooked, and overcooked). You never know which way they will prefer. Some kids prefer their carrots mushy... my kids won't TOUCH them unless they are completely raw. So give them options...

Good luck. Sounds like you are doing great!

He eats so much bready foods. Those can be constipating, especially if they are made with refined flour. Add more whole grains to his diet--whole grain pasta, cooked grains like quinoa (pronounced keen-wah,a high protein grain that cooks much faster than rice), hummus (chickpea dip), go for fresh foods instead of refined foods. Fresh fruit and veggies. Lots of beans. Apples and raisins, prunes. Also, cold drinks can constipate so don't give him ice water or an ice cube in his juice. Warm drinks help warm up digestion. My daughter likes sleepytime tea from Celestial Seasonings. don't steep more than 3 minutes. Good luck.

How about raw carrots for a snack? Lots of water. Raisin bran mixed in his cereal? There's also a great book called Deceptively Delicious which offers recipes with hidden ingredients in them (like pancakes with sweet potato), etc. Since prunes are a great natural laxative, I'd see if you can mix some baby food prunes into his applesauce or hide them in his pancakes. I didn't read the other responses, so sorry if this is repetetive. Good luck!

I have to agree with Bridgette and Victoria... try to start including more veggies.

Here are some recipes that you guys can do together! Even if he is only two :)

http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=93092

Some stuff in the collection:
Cheddar carrot bake
Cantalope popsicles
Almond butter
Tahini bluberry ice cream
Extremely Healthy Fiber Packed Zucchini Carrot Cranberry Bars

I think the more moms/dads get their kids involved and understanding of the different foods and what they do for the body - the healthier they eat. I tell my kids that something has fiber in it to make them poop and they think it's sooooo funny. My son wouldn't eat an orange the other day, but I told him that it has vitamin C so he would be healthier and then he conceeded. LOL!

Good luck!

Lots of fruits and vegetables with the meals. My kids always have to eat a fruit with every meal, whether it's a banana, apple, kiwi, orange, pomegranate, pears, strawberries,and grapes or whatever I try to keep availabe for them.
On the vegetables, try to stay away from canned vegetables. fresh or frozen are better and my kids like the tiny raw mini carrots, or steamed broccoli, or corn on the cob, or raw spinach, along with some others, but those are their favorites. It also adds color to the meal! Hope this helps!
Take care,
V.

Hi C.,

From the list of foods you give him, I can see that he would be constipated. For breakfast you give him eggs (constipating) and starch (pancakes, etc...) which is constipating. For breakfast, you could simply add fresh rasberries w/ the eggs (that's what I give my 2 yr old). And, only give eggs when he is not constipated. Canned mandarins also help (fresh has seeds and skin which can be a choking hazard). So, add a non-constipating fruit (not bananas). Then, buy those Dannon drinkable yogurts. Kids love those, and they help their stomach.

For lunch, you should always give a vegetable. Corn is great help for constipation. I like to feed mac-n-chz which is my kids favorite, mixed w/ carrots and peas.

Also, lots of water is very important. I would keep giving him a sippy cup w/ water (and perhaps mix a bit of prune juice to help when he's constipated).

You can always still buy a baby can of prune puree, and give him that as a snack too when he's constipated.

With the right foods, you should not have that problem anymore!

Good luck to you, and let me know if you have any questions.

R..

It sounds like you already know... but he needs more fruit & veges. Kids tend to like what we eat :)

Grapes & raisins are both awesome at off-setting constipation :)

My son loves black olives, steamed broccoli, steamed zucchini, asparagus, cucumbers, sliced (peeled) apples- though some other children do like the skin :)

He even likes raw spinach for salad & likes dipping it in balsamic vinigar & oil. Bananas are an easy fruit for children, but do constipate some... maybe put some on his cereal? He also likes calcium fortified OJ & apple cider w/ ice (then it tastes like apple juice if it melts & isn't too watery :)

It is not super healthy- but to get him used to fruit flavor (my son is very thin/small- so we encourage anything with calories...) apple parfait or fruitcups.

More veggies wouldn't hurt. Even though he's not a baby and can eat table food, my sister found a cheap easy way to throw in a veggie that her 2 year old would eat. She used sweet potato stage 3 Gerber baby food, and sprinkled in cinnamon.

Hi! Rice is a very binding food - you might want to cut back on that. Too much yogurt can do that also (cheeses too). Otherwise, at 2 he can eat anything & everything. Increase his intake of fruits & veggies, especially raw. Let him try all kinds of things: all berries, mandarin oranges, different apples, starfruit, kiwis, pomegranates (this is a good "busywork" project for him as well - though dress him in something you don't mind staining!), sugar snap peas, brussels sprouts, snow peas, baby sweet peas, Italian green beans - he will expand his palate & it will be easier to feed him as he grows. You might want to avoid something other family members are allergic to (in my family it's mangoes). Make it a fun family thing "What new fruit/veggie will we try today?". He can pick it out at the store. Good luck to you!

There's a book you may want to try called "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld. There are some creative ways in there to 'sneak' good stuff into your kids food without them knowing it. LOL! You may want to try changing one thing at a time..... Try the nutrigrain waffles! They are really good! Maybe you could make some kind of game where he tries to get as many 'colors' on his plate as possible..... (red strawberries, yellow bananas, orange tomatoes) Or- when you go to the grocery store have him pick whatever new thing he wants to try from the produce section.

Increasing his water may help.... (if that's allowed... I'm not sure how much water a 2 year old can have...)
Good luck!

All the foods he is eating are processed. Read every label. Stay away from high fructose corn syrup, MSG, artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners. Take dairy out of his diet completely. Put him on fish oil and I-flora for kids probiotics also give Benefiber. It is much better then the others that make the kid have the runs. He is probably not digesting dairy and he is all stopped up. You can be your own dr with the foods and supplements you give him. Check out some biomedical treatments for autism even though he may not be on the specttrum. These diets and supplements will help any child that has constipation, hyperactivity, eczema, runny nose, cough, asthma. That is an excellent place to start to learn about how foods are making our kids toxic.

Run to WestonPrice.com for the correct data!!!!
So much processed food- bodies cannot grow on that
breakfast- eggs and fruit
lunchprotien and veggies
leave out the pasta- I'd leave out all wheat for now anyway,
lots of fruits and veggies- raw carrots and apples
you can do this!!
And you are absolutely correct- it is his diet!!
well done on knowing that,k

Try adding more fiber in his diet. Our pediatrician recommended Metamucil. Also, I've got my son eating baby carrots, broccoli and raw spinach. I tell him he'll grow big and strong like Popeye! Matt has always been a lover of corn, too. Hope this helps.

My son has the same problem. I took him to a doc, since he was so constipated. The doc said his diet was fine, but that he should eat more variety and to add water to his milk and juice... and give him more liquids. So now, right after breakfast, lunch, or dinner, He gets a sippy cup of watered down juice or watered down milk to drink. He loves to drink. After an hour of running around I give him more water with a splash of juice. Now his poop is looking normal, not so constipated.

Dear C.,

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Give him veggies! He needs a lot more veggies. Check out Parenting magazines. They have some recipies and cute/fun ways to present them to make the kids want to eat them. If he eats sandwhiches, use baby spinach instead of lettuce. Also, use whole grains. Whole grain bread, waffles etc.
Check out Dr. Sear's website. He has a whole section dedicated to nutrition. www.askdrsears.com
So, up the veggies, make sure he is drinking plenty of water and let us know!

start adding fruit as snacks, eggs for breakfast. cottage cheese and pineapple for lunch, grilled cheese...just some stuff that i've tried

I know that white rice is very sticky and can cause constipation. If you continue feeding him rice, make sure you use brown rice, and cut back on the amount you give him. Some raw vegetables are hard to digest too, so you should look up which ones.. I know that peppers and green leafy veggies are too. Other than that you shouldn't be having a problem. If changing his diet doesn't work, you should talk to a pediatrician.

It sounds like he needs more fiber in his diet. Fiber is very important and it the healthy way to improve the natral bowel functions.

C.,

My daughter had this issue too. try to get him to eat more fruits & veggies. High fiber stuff. This sometimes easier said then done.

You can add fibersure to various foods- yoguart, homemade pancakes, sauces etc. It mixes well. It is a good way to sneak in fiber with forcing to eat foods he doesn't like. Not the most natural way.

I know that there are recipes that sneak in veggies- that kids will eat. I am sure you can do a web search to find them

I think it's wonderful that you're thinking outside the box and willing to do something to better the health of your child. What will happen is you will create a healthy foundation for him to have wonderful eating habits for life.

First, get him off processed foods. Nearly everything he's eating is constipating and the biggest culprit is dairy. The dairy council has spent millions on advertising and 'tests' to make society believe that cows breast milk is healthy for humans. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It causes so many problems I don't know where to begin but constipation, obesity and diabetes are high on the list. Check out www.notmilk.com

Next, if you're giving him rice, make sure it's brown, white has about as much nutrition as a paper napkin. Lightly sautee, pan fry or steam some fresh veg and put it over some rice. Make a sauce mixing some tahini with lemon juice and herbs and spices of your choice or cook it up with a dash of tamari (healthier soy sauce)
Beans are great too.

If you're giving him cereals in the morning and they're crunchy use a nut milk instead of cow milk.
My daughter loves leftover grains with nut milk heated up with a banana (organic) for breakfast. Sometimes I'll make her a fruit smoothie for breakie but not too often b/c it weakens the system.

Dinner? sweet potatoes, squash, mixed greens, toasted sesame seeds on top for extra absorbable calcium, string beans, collards, zucchini, artichoke, peppers, cauliflower.
Make a bean sauce, make a veg sauce, kids love sauces to dip stuff into. It's fun

Sticking with nature is the BEST way to have your body run naturally.
Also, make sure you give him plenty of water to flush out toxins too.

Good luck!
Oh, by the way, get yourself on this way of eating too.
NO SUGAR either