Where Have I Been?

The last few months have been a trying time for me with the kids and food and I haven't been posting. Sometimes I wondered if it was all worth it and I felt like such a failure, I didn't want to write. Then I thought, well this blog is about my attempt to introduce raw food to my kids. It's what's really going on. Not about some superwoman who manages to get everything right. That wouldn't be very interesting anyway, would it. Ha.

So we've had our ups and downs. Sometimes I've found the whole raw thing so frustrating with them. I find myself thinking that If only I had started all of them on raw food it'd have been much easier. I did start the twins off raw but in the end they wanted what big brothers were having, so I guess I would have needed to start with Joe, my nearly 14 year old. Then again, if only my parents had been raw it would have been much better....blah blah.

The thing is, the kids don't want to be forced into a new way of eating. I can try, but they push back harder. For a while they seemed determined not to eat any raw food at all! Not even a piece of apple or cucumber, which they used to love before I started all this.

So for the last few months I have backed off completely to see what happens. I've not pushed anything on them they didn't want. They have had treats such as sweets and crisps too sometimes. I felt like I wanted to go back and start all over again (and hopefully they'd forget?).

I did keep their meals mostly cooked vegan with plenty of rice, quinoa and such and they were okay with that. Very occasionally we had pizza, but no one seems to feel very good after that, so we don't get many requests now, thank goodness.

Now my kids are having reasonably healthy, mostly cooked meals with raw veggies. In between meals if they want to eat I have offered fruit, crackers, nuts and seeds or oat cakes. I have noticed they have started eating more fruit again now. Apples seem to go very quickly and grapes are a big favourite.

Sometimes I sprinkle green powder or nutritional yeast flakes on their food to try and boost the nutritional value a bit. I've also used some supplements. If you haven't read Shazzie's article about raw kids and supplements you might find it interesting. She's also got a new book out called Evie's Kitchen with recipes and raw articles about raw kids. I haven't read it yet, but Christmas is coming...

Cameron, who used to be such a fussy eater, has been eating much more healthily lately and eats more of a variety, albeit mainly cooked vegan food.

Erin likes my smoothies more than the others and also dehydrated crackers. She will try most things - except seaweed, which she and the others hate the smell of. If I'm having sea spaghetti,  she sends me to eat in another room. I was hoping the kids might warm to the sea spaghetti, and I didn't tell them what it was. Fat chance! They weren't fooled for a second.

Rosie has become the fussy one now. She eats mostly apples, grapes and oat cakes. That's it! Most other things get rejected. I'm sure it'll change to something else soon, to make up for the limited range she eats. It's funny how kids have these phases, isn't it.

Joe is forever complaining that he wants to eat raw but gets tempted by all the other food. Sounds like a familiar story for most of us. He has a limited repertoire though, and doesn't like trying new things, which makes it very tricky! He keeps trying to manage on only cucumber, carrots and a bit of fruit, then wonders why he's tempted.

They do seem to be settling down a bit now. I suppose my aim is to have them eating at least 50% raw food. Joe isn't a problem. He's old enough to understand and choose for himself. Reasoning with the three smaller kids isn't so easy. It's a slow process with them. I have to gradually add better alternatives in and allow them to get used to them almost imperceptibly slowly. It's frustrating but I have to remember that they still probably eat better than most kids.

Comments

[Petro]

I feel your pain. I came to my computer tonight looking for a realistic voice on getting kids to go raw. Mine are 4 and 18 months. My 4 year old eats a limited variety of raw fruit and vegies, but refuses all my smoothies, all my dips and pates and all nuts. What is left to keep him growing? As for cooked vegan... he won't eat lentils or beans or chickpeas. He asks for cheese, meat and eggs. I am ready to burst into tears. It is hard enough to get him to eat at all, but getting him to eat healthy on top of that? I don't know...