Written by: Cheryl Meyer, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Feed your children "real" organic food and make what you are feeding them your 1 priority. Why is this important? How will it change their life? We have become a society where convenience "trumps" health, and our children’s health is reflecting this change. We are feeding our children food-like substances from processed and fast food on a regular basis. As a result, our children are ill. 53% of the children in the United States have chronic illness. This is important on the world stage because other countries are buying and consuming so much of our American products.
Food is medicine and good food can keep our children well, whereas chemical 'fake food" is making them sick as hell. The key is to shop all the colors of the rainbow and buy it organic, and as in season as possible, whether it is at the grocery store or at farmers markets or local street markets. This allows you to buy food with maximum nutrients, right from the farm to the table. Take your children with you. They need to know where real food comes from and they should have some choice in what they get to eat. But as their parent, you get to narrow their choices to only be healthy choices. Teach them to stop eating when they are 80% full.
Cook using quality ingredients. By cooking you control what goes into their bodies. The more colors of the rainbow you can feed your child, and the more vegetables you encourage them to eat is a win for your child’s health. Food is fuel for the body. Food is information. I think we forget this when we eat. If it is good fuel, it gives us energy, make us clear-headed, and it makes us happy. If it is high-quality food, it makes our bodies feel good.
Good quality organic food will increase your child's brainpower and help them learn. “A healthy diet can have a profound effect on children’s health, helping to maintain a healthy weight, avoid certain health problems, stabilize their moods, and sharpen their minds. A healthy diet can also have a profound effect on a child’s sense of mental and emotional well-being, helping to prevent conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD.”
Eliminate all the toxins you can from your life and your child’s life. By choosing organic, you give them real food that grew in the earth without the toxins from pesticides and herbicides. Avoid GMOs. Sit around the dinner table for the years that your child is living at home. Be the example that they can follow with what you eat. Share your meals which encourages love and community. No matter where you are in the world, stop allowing your children to eat processed, fast food and junk. (The Standard American Diet) These food-like substances lead to obesity, diabetes, and ill health and eventually to dis-ease.
Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates in your child’s diet. Sugar is addictive, so limit what they get to eat. Sugar impacts every organ in the body negatively, so stay away as much as possible. Refined carbohydrates turn to sugar, and therefore are not healthy as well.
Teach your children why you are feeding them the food they are eating. Encourage them to ask questions about their food. Teach them where food comes from and then how it gets on the table for them to eat. Encourage them to ask questions. Do not dictate as they get out into the world, teach them the advantages of eating real food from an early age, and allow them to follow that example of how you eat and teach them the why.
Garden with them. Take them to the farm to buy your produce. Cook with them. These are foundations that will stay with the child as they grow older and go out on their own. As your child grows older, you want them to be able to make their own decisions and you do not want them to feel deprived. The more they understand how you are feeding them, the more likely they will choose to eat that way in the future.
Bring up your child to be the leader of the pack that eats healthy food. Bring them up to be Junior Veggie Rangers ™, eating veggies to grow up strong and healthy and to be future superheroes.
My book Feeling Good Living Low Toxin has received 4 wards since it was published in May 2020. Two of the awards have been on parenting. Once was gold from the prestigious Mom’s Choice Awards. Grab a free chapter on Children and Food here!
You can buy my book Feeling Good Living Low Toxin in Community and Everyday Life on Amazon.
Cheryl Meyer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Cheryl Meyer suffered from autoimmune disease. By eliminating hundreds of toxins, she reversed her pain. Cheryl has a BA from UC-Berkeley and is a health coach from IIN. Cheryl is an award-winning author, international bestseller, health coach, speaker, local tv host and guest podcaster. Cheryl has written four books on health and toxins available here. Her podcast is on Voice America. Cheryl specifically works with clients with chronic illness giving them hope and helping them find solutions. It is never too late to start healthy habits. Cheryl is available to speak about the toxins in our world that are making us ill. She is a sought-after expert on toxins, in our food, cleaning, water, minds, including toxic stress and toxic lack of sleep. She also talks about the impact of toxins for our children and our pet’s health. Contact Cheryl for one on one coaching or speaking at cherylmhealthmuse@gmail.com. Eliminating toxins is a crucial step to regain wellness.
