The Importance Of Nutrition For Parents & Children
You may have heard of first time parents who frantically
sterilise everyone and everything that comes within a 10 mile
radius of their baby, only to find their bundle of joy trying to
eat dirt in the garden. What is within the parents control is
the nutrition of their children at home and the education on
food which they will take with them to the outside world.
A parent's role in their child's nutrition begins much earlier
than most think. First and foremost know that we are what we
eat, so be mindful of who you choose to have children with on
all levels. Most of us understand the effects of hereditary
illness, but foods and pollutants that a parent carry can cause
damage to their children.
Three months of preconception care should be observed by both
parents, it has been said that the soul of a child is here three
months prior to conception. To help fertility and general well
being, alcohol, tobacco, pollutants and stress should be avoided
and vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and exercise
increased. If these practises, as well as prayer, mediation,
reading or relaxation time (if you enjoy these things) can be
established before the child is born, they will become a part of
your life and something you can always do as a family. There are
also herbs that can be taken by the mother before during and
after pregnancy to help stabilise her hormones and therefore
avoid pre natal depression or severe mood swings. For example,
Raspberry leaf tea helps fertility in both parents and is
helpful to the mother throughout the pregnancy from easing
morning sickness to the waters breaking. (ALWAYS check that
herbs and essential oils are safe for use during pregnancy.)
In the first 3 months of pregnancy, all of the Childs organs are
formed, so the mother should very carefully modify their diet to
help this crucial stage and continue thereafter. Remember, 9
months of poor eating could lead to years of suffering for your
child. If you do decide to give up damaging foods, do so
gradually to avoid illness or bad reactions. Meats are now
packed with chemicals and steroids, cigarettes contain thousands
of chemical, salt and sugar cause any health problems and the
resulting self inflicted problems will reduce the nutrients
passed to your child. These are definitely foods you should
consider cutting out or reducing. Vegetarian or vegan diets are
normally advisable, but as everyone is different, if this diet
produces too many bad effects, change it accordingly.
Breastfeeding is recommended as it's linked to intelligence due
to high levels of essential fatty acids in the milk, which also
contains antibodies, vitamins, minerals and pure water. But it
is effected by the mother's nutrition so feed both of you well.
There is a strong link to childhood diabetes resulting from
allergies to the protein in cow's milk and also beef, which
affects the pancreas. Breastfeeding mothers are advised by
paediatricians to avoid drink cow's milk and eating beef for
this reason. Be cautious with soy milk also as it has been
linked to cancer.
Don't think child minders, nursery and school teachers are
qualified to make health decisions for your children. You are
responsible for your child's health and never think you're being
a difficult parent if you specify what you want your child to
eat or more importantly not eat. Find out what school dinners
consist of and if you don't agree with them, make packed lunches
or request alternative meals be put on the menus (there's no
harm in asking).
Our parents had the excuse of little knowledge of good health
while we were younger, this information age should be seen as a
legacy in this respect and a chance to link back to our
ancestors ways of health and living, 12yr old in ancient Tamare
learnt degree level information with ease, our children can be
fluent in their own anatomy and the effects of food on it."
Is lack of time stopping you? By teaching your child good
nutritional habits and the benefits of good food, they can be
involved in their health and older or matured children can make
their own pack lunches. If you can't deciding what to make them,
teach them enough and they can tell you what they want. Let them
make up weird and wonderful recipes (details aren't important)
and help them make them. This will make their food interesting
to them and your life easier. If you can initially feed them
good foods that taste good, they will remember enjoying good
foods and ask for them again. Most of our childhood memories of
good foods were as punishments and bad foods were treats,
reverse that mindset in our children, let them turn their noses
up to fast foods and look forward to fresh fruit salad. Don't
allow the media to tell your children what to like, make them be
proud of the ways you teach them to eat and live. Four out of
seven days healthy eating initially will give great results
initially.
Financial constraints are there because cheap foods are normally
bad foods and high prices are put on health. However, once your
children know what they like, find health food wholesalers, bulk
prices are surprisingly reasonable saving you weekly shopping
time and money.
Become your child health care practitioner. Pay attention to
their urine colour, dark strong odoured urine signals more
water, to flush the system and improve concentration and may
indicate other more serious problems. If skin rashes appear and
you suspect a certain food, remove it from their diet and see if
it goes. If you notice your children get clingy or sluggish
after large meals, they may have an over worked bowel,
struggling to digest a back log of food. Let them snack on fresh
fruit and vegetables; this will give them fibre to help unblock
their system, vitamins, minerals and fresh water (especially if
it's organic). Sugar should always be avoided as it has no real
use except to cause damage. Refined carbohydrates (white bread,
flour, sugar, pasta etc) only give a quick burst of energy but
aren't filling so our children are eating too much. They have
hardly any nutritional value and no fibre which all lead to
obesity. Whole foods (wholegrain rice, raw fruit and vegetable,
lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, seaweeds etc) provide longer
lasting energy, fibres, protein and essential oils which all
build beautiful children with healthy organs and alert brains.
Consult nutrition consultants, homeopaths, herbalist and allergy
testing centres before making and appointment with your GP, see
the money as an investment for you to learn about your child's
health, pay attention and get them to explain everything. The
more you learn, the more you can teach your children. They will
become your doctors, as every good student surpasses their
teacher, and we can create a healthier generation, who will
enjoy nutritional freedom from common industrialized illnesses
and diseases.