Starting my first on Friday - any tips for doing it with kids?

[avasmommy]

I'm beyond excited to be doing this.  I came to the idea slowly, but once it took hold I began to get more and more excited by the challenge.  I love to cook and have been doing it all my life and I'm looking at this as a fantastic opportunity to not only get healthier but to try tons of new recipes.

 

I have a 6 year old daughter, who I have shared custody of.  I fear this challenge will be harder on her, especially since she will be with me for a week at a time, and then back to her dad's house for week - wash, rinse, repeat.

 

I'd value any advice for making this easier on her.  She and I had a lengthy talk last night and she actually seems excited about it.  But right now it's an abstract idea and I have a feeling when the reality of no PB&J sandwiches hit it's going to be a different story. 

[Tina R]

Congratulations! There are so many great recipes out there for your whole30 I am sure you will rise to the challenge. Have you searched to forum for tips with children? Here is one I found http://forum.whole9life.com/forum/16-whole30-for-kids/.  I don't have kids but I have seen some other posts from people who don't include their children in their whole30. I personally think this challenge is hard if you want to do it and is impossible if you are dragged through it. I would let your daughter have choices and if she wants peanut butter and jelly instead of the steak and salad you are having let her. You might want to try almond butter or sunflower butter and see if she likes either of those. I also think she can benefit from the meals that you can make together. Think about her favorite meals and see if you can make them compliant. Like Hamburgers (if she wants the bun let her have it), Applegate natural hotdogs should be compliant, check your label to be sure, baked or grilled chicken, salmon cakes, etc. If there is something like pizza that you know will tempt you then tell her she can have that when she is with her father.  Check out Nom Nom Paleo blog. She has two young boys so some of her recipes are more kid friendly. Good Luck!

[kelliem]

We are just about to start another Whole 30. We don't include the kids. If they want the meal, that fine, but I usually cook something they will like in addition to what we are having. If we're having taco salad, I get them taco shells. If meatballs in tomato sauce over roasted cauliflower is on the menu for us, I also cook pasta. Whole 30 is a challenge that would be unnecessarily difficult if I tried to do this with kids.

My kids also spend a week with their Dad and a week here.

[drtracyb]

My kids have been 80% paleo since September.  You can see my posts in the Paleo with Kids section - they're the "this is HARD" ones.  My kids have settled into it nicely and frequently now request the healthier option when given a choice.  They both have ADHD and don't like how they feel when they go off plan.  My son is still desperate for the mouth feel of bread so I do make a ton of paleo muffins and breads, all incorporating shredded veggies.  I don't make them stick to whole30 because of that - if paleo muffins will keep them on plan, that is good enough for me.

 

Regarding the custody change - I do a lot of "cleaning up the mess" after their dad has been in charge of food for a while (I work nights and he tends to take them out to eat when I am gone), but the second I am back in charge, the kids get right back on plan.

[lujo238]

I have walked a middle line with my kids.  I do not make them a separate dinner but they are allowed to opt out and make themselves a pbj.  Mostly my youngest eats with me.  The older two are the biggest pains.  The 19 year old refuses to eat then raids the fridge in the middle of the night.  He likes to pretend he has not been fed in days but I know he is eating when I'm not around and is just pretending to fast in protest. Oh the drama of teenagers.  My middle child will eat some things and not others.  On nights I cook something he doesn't want he will usually just eat at the house of whatever kid he is playing with.  My neighbors probably think I never make dinner. LOL

 

My biggest success with my kids is snacks.  I stopped buying them and just let whatever we had run out.  I didn't tell them what I was doing but just slowly replaced all of their snack foods with fruits, veges, and nuts.  Most kids love to eat with their fingers.  My seven year old will eat carrot and celery sticks and grape tomatoes every day.  If they want a dip I make the ranch dressing from Well Fed.  I suggest you keep lots of cut up veges on hand and some fruit.  We make a big fruit salad every week and usually have bananas, pears and cuties for on the go. 

[avasmommy]

Thanks for all the tips!  I am torn on how much of this to do with her...the thing is she is on the path to obesity and her diet when she is with her dad is atrocious.  She's a typical kid who loves sugar and cheese and pizza.  

 

I sat with her the other night and we spent a good hour talking about how our eating affects our health ( I never bring up food in relation to weight with her - the emphasis is always health) and after that talk she seemed excited to try it.  I'm encouraged by that.  However I know that eventually she's gonna ask me for mac and cheese. lol

 

I have a feeling doing this with her will be a fly by the seat of my pants operation.  I think I will plan to place healthy meals in front of her as long as I can.  I did give her a sweet potato last night instead of the regular white potato she's used to and she loved it.  So I have hope!