Paleo and children

[Anonymous]

Paleo now has absolutely nothing to do with how paleo diets actually were. It is just the name given to the current diet - like South beach or Atkins or any other fad. It is a diet.

People report 'thriving' on all kinds of diets. I came across a link to a forum where people eat only raw meat and animal fat. They reported being in fantastic health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/07/health/best-diets-ranked/

apparently this diet was ranked dead last as a "best" diet.

Ranked last in terms of weight loss success. Most people eating paleo or primal are doing it for nutritional or every level reasons. They may want to loose 5-15 pounds but that's a different group of people than those trying to bring themselves from obese down to a healthy weight. I've done this for over a year now and I've found it's easy to follow, I feel great, and some of the deficiencies I experience while eating a more typical diet have gone away. But I've also done plenty of other diets in my life and had weight loss success with those as well; this one just happened to be the most effortless way to shed a few pounds and feels the healthiest for me. But it's not panning out so well for my spouse who needs to lose 60 pounds.

By aside from that, the topic of this post was how the paleo approach to eating could work with kids, so the fact that it doesn't result in dramatic weight loss is just fine in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Paleo works for me, but I am sensitive to gluten and carbs. This diet/lifestyle if carried on too strictly even if just in the home can set up children for eating disorders. I say this also as someone who had an eating disorder brought on by strange eating habits learned growing. I know a friend who is a guy and had a restrictive diet growing up (health nut mom) and he binges to this day whenever he comes to our house. He can not be around cereal or sweets without going nuts.

It is fine for adults that can cut out cakes, cookies etc. and have good energy and keep it in check. Be very careful of a child not often exposed to normal cereals and cookies etc.
That teen/preteen will be found in the store or at other people's homes buying/sneaking/stealing pizzas, cakes etc. and binging something awful. Restricting certain foods makes craving for sugar etc. go away and can be very healthy long term, but watch out when someone starts eating them again. It is like a freight train of cravings that can not be stopped. THis is why if it isn't for life it can lead to yo-yoing.

In my opinion, it is best to feed kids a very healthy diet of basic whole foods, limiting processed in general. But then you mix in treats at parties and each day let them have a cookie for dessert or pizza on Friday or whatever. Kids need to learn moderation and eating healthy.

Again, paleo is good, but way too restrictive even if eating only most of the time for young developing eaters.