In the years that we have been both raising our boys and transitioning them into a paleo lifestyle, we have learned a number of things that have led to our success. While we discuss these tactics often on The Paleo View and authored two books on the very subject (here and here), we can tell you that for us it has all boiled down to choice empowerment.
We do our best to arm our children with as much information as possible, but also create as many opportunities as possible for them to make choices. Whether that be at home with what they put on their plate and how much, at the table when we sit down and plan for their school lunches and ways to incorporate favorite foods, and everywhere else from family functions and special celebrations, to the grocery store.
Alexa from Simple Roots Wellness shares our passion for this subject, and firmly believes that this freedom to make choices as a kid will set the foundation for strong healthy living practices well into their adult lives.
Today Alexa joins us with a kid-friendly recipe that is sure to get them excited about helping in the kitchen! The recipe also allows for customization, so that each member of the family can assemble their plate as they see fit – all leading back to that empowerment goal! So roll up those sleeves and have the little ones join you in the kitchen for this delicious any-time treat!
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One thing I love about the Paleo Parents is the focus they put on their kids. Seriously, my heart skips a beat every time I see their kids cooking in the kitchen on their Instagram feed. Being a nutritionist and trying to promote healthy eating, I have come to the conclusion of two things. One, almost all food-issues stem from childhood. Our eating habits, values and preferences are rooted in the way we were raised. Our culture and our family-life shape what we eat, when we eat and why we eat. And two, we as parents have great power in teaching and raising healthy eaters, and are making an impact whether they conform to it or not. This is one of the reasons I am so excited to be guest posting here as most of us have the desire to be a healthy eater and most definitely raise one.
While it isn’t always convenient, one of the best ways to encourage healthy eating is to engage kids in the kitchen. Let them get their hands dirty, learning, experimenting and most importantly allowing the powerful food independence to shine through. Teaching through example and experimentation.
I know, I know it is messy. Kids in the kitchen can frankly turn into a disaster. It usually entails twice as many dishes, a lot of clean towels and more patience than I’ve ever shown, but the rewards, well they are well worth it. The thrill of cracking an egg for the first time or how about using a hand mixer. It can get crazy for a little bit, but the payoff makes it all worth it.
Allowing your children time in the kitchen, to play with your kitchen utensils and make the choice of what and how much food they eat is vital in creating a solid foundation of health. Fostering an environment that encourages and engages them to want to eat healthy and most importantly listening to their own body’s signals. That is one of the reasons I’m a big believe in food bowls. With the additional perk of being super convenient, it also eliminates the food fights by allowing everyone to create a dish that best suits them based on the cuisine.
Here is another idea in raising healthy eaters. Swedish Pancakes or a crepe bar. Lots of healthy toppings, tangy whipped goat cheese all wrapped into the delightfully thin and slightly sweet pancake made by none other than your very own children. Trust me, all food goes down easier when they are allowed to spread, spoon, roll and eat all on their own. You will be amazed at what they experiment with and what foods they try when they are allowed to in a non-threatening, safe environment.
Try it out and see how your family, more specifically your kids respond. Trust me, these pancakes are a pretty easy way to start. Let them crack the eggs, mix the batter, drink the extra kombucha and enjoy eating their very own creation!
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 1/2 cup kombucha (can substitute with more milk)
- 1 cup milk alternative
- 1/2 cup potato starch
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2-3 Tbsp coconut sugar
Instructions
- Whisk eggs, and add in kombucha, milk, vanilla and melted butter. Whisk well to combine.
- In a separate bowl mix together potato starch, tapioca, salt and coconut sugar.
- Add to wet ingredients and mix well. The batter will be very runny.
- Strain batter through a fine sieve.
- Heat an omelet pan over low-medium heat.
- Melt a small amount of butter and add enough batter to cover bottom of the pan.
- Cook until bubbling about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Flip (may need to be done with fingers) and continue cooking until done.
- Remove and repeat with remaining batter.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://paleoparents.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alexa-Schirm.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Alexa Schirm is a busy mom of three girls and the author behind the site, Simple Roots Wellness. She is a small town Iowa girl who received her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Iowa State University and is currently expanding her knowledge with a Masters in Health Studies from the University of Alabama. She has a passion for helping people reach their goals of optimal health through teaching them the importance of eating real food, teaching you how easy and delicious these changes can be. Alexa is also passionate about shedding light on many of the myths and misunderstandings that are perpetuated in the world of wellness. She enjoys helping her readers sift through the nonsense and teaches them to start eating to support health for life using real foods. Connect with Alexa: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest[/author_info] [/author]
