We’ll pick up where we left off, with step #3. So go back to refresh in this post, HERE if you need a reminder.
Steps: (for 1 and 2- go back the previous post in the series)
- The child needs to be eating a very full nutrient dense diet, so the body has what it needs to grow well.
The body can only use what it is given. So the first step is making sure the child eats a large variety of whole real foods. Diversity is the key. We want to add in nutrient density with those foods. Nutrient density are foods that have a higher amount of nutrients, like vitamins and minerals, then other foods. Think organ meats more than muscle meats. Think darker meats. Nourishing broths, raw dairy (as pasteurization destroys many of the nutrients within the food) fermented foods and properly prepared grains. Veggies and fruits in the correct combinations and all the holistic lifestyle support that support growth; sleep, low stress environment, laughter, time in nature, low screen usage and more.
We also want to make sure that kids get the bulk of their nutrients from whole real foods and not supplements. Supplementation has its place when it is needed, but for the bulk of the nutrients they need to come from whole real foods.
As with everything else this is a multi-step process:
- No picky eaters allowed (this includes husbands)
- Diversity of whole real foods almost all the time
- If needed, ‘hide’ more nutrient dense foods into meals. For example- Force of Life, is a brand that includes organ meat in their ground meat products. They offer 1 lb bricks of heart, liver and ground beef. Use this for hamburgers, chili, tacos etc.
- Make sure that your kids are getting enough vitamin A from real foods – this is a very important factor. VERY important -more on this next week.
Kids living off some version of bread and cheese and starches with occasional protein are not getting what they need to be full of vitality, thriving and growing well. (mac and cheese, grilled cheese, fries, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, etc, etc, etc.)
Measurements of growing well would be rapidly changing shoe size, need for new clothes, hair and finger nails growing quickly. You’ll note huge growth spurts in the spring typically.
Make sure to check out week 3: to really learn one little things that could be derailing good normal growth.
