I’m with you on that one definitely. Much easier to get them in a food habit now - I too grew up on the sugary foods. My daughter eats well, she always has home cooked meals but does have treats as children do. I’ve only been doing keto since August and it’s only just becoming a realisation to me now. I’m going to make us some keto treats to enjoy together
Calling all keto mummies and daddies
I agree that I wish I knew about keto sooner when my boys were younger. Mine are 16 and 18, and although my older son eats what he wants with no weight consequences (yet) my younger son has always tended towards chubby. My husband and I are both overweight, so it really weighed on my mind that I was teaching him to be like me. When we finally found keto back in June this year, my husband and I made the choice not to force it on the boys. We chose to model it instead. The only difference being that I don’t make separate meals for them. When they are home, they simply eat what we eat. After two months, my youngest was watching us eat good food and still lose weight and decided to join us. This was a significant choice considering he works at Chick-Fil-A and gets a free meal every shift.
We’ve worked with him on finding a way to make keto work for him. He started out more restrictive then he is now, but within two months he dropped 20 pounds and was able to get back into his 32 inch jeans. The key for him was teaching him how he can make this work, that he now knows what to do (what foods to avoid) if his weight starts creeping back. He tends to be pretty lazy keto in order to enjoy foods with his friends, but he knows what he needs to do now and can make those choices.
I’ve read on other posts that a lot of parents of younger children simply feed their kids what they are eating. They add in more fruit and basically follow a more paleo diet for their kids. I agree that the idea would be to not demonize certain foods but to show them that moderation is key and that it’s about what foods are good for your health. If they are eating well at home, it should balance those school lunches or the various (numerous) snack opportunities mentioned.
I hope my daughter grows up with her dad’s metabolism! In the meantime though I would like to encourage her to enjoy more sugar free snacks with me. Well done to you for showing your son that it can be done!
My 4yo figured out a while ago we don’t typically eat the way he does. We told him that some foods make us sick but we want to to eat what he wants. When it comes to certain things like him trying to eat his Halloween candy with him we put the foot down, but there’s been a couple times where him and my wife baked cookies together and he came over and said “Daddy, I made this for you”, I originally said no thanks and it crushed him, now I’ll eat the damn thing. Not going to give my kid a complex because I don’t eat crap. If the choice is hurt my kids feelings and make him think I don’t like what he did or get kicked out of ketosis for a couple hours or day while I burn it off than out of ketosis I go. I’ll burn the carbs off and go back. Not gonna get all keto purist at my kids expense. Not gonna eat half a cake, but some bites and small crap here and there aren’t the end of the world keto or not.
Well said. It’s a way of life, not a race. I’m okay with those bumps in the road in order to make memories with my family.
A holiday tradition in our family is making lefse. Flour, milk, and sugar … don’t care. Twice a year only after all, and I’ll have the memories with my kids.
I am eating keto for health reasons (cancer) and my hubby is eating keto for health reasons as well. We have 4 kids, and the older 3 eat what we eat (the baby drinks carby baby formula). My kiddos are 8, 5, and 2. We’ve started making sandwiches w/o the bread, although I could start switching in keto bread. Breakfast is usually a yogurt…and I make some yummy keto suppers.
My advice is to let her have treats now and then, but consider just feeding your family all the same (keto) stuff. We decided long ago that we weren’t going to make different meals for everyone, everyone eats more or less the same stuff. For me, its much easier now that i’m not making carby pasta for me and the kids and then something keto for my husband. I was reluctant to give up pasta.
My 8 year old has even really gotten into it, asking to help with making suppers. We have a keto cookbook that I let him look through, and then I’ll take him shopping for ingredients. I know your little one is too young to cook, but consider letting her help you in some way. And definitely put a positive approach to the way you are eating.
And yes, if she offers something maybe take a small bite. I’ve been making wonderful peanut butter (PB) cups with my kids (mostly my 8 year old). My husband eats lots of them, and so I make them often to keep in the freezer (they are good “fat bombs”). I’ll bet your little one would like something like that, or the little chocolates I make that are “leftover” chocolate from making the PB cups.
My 5 year old will eat something and tell me “you can’t have this because its not keto”. I love that she’s looking out for me
Hang in there and don’t let it discourage you.
I love this. Thank you so much for being honest. This is exactly where I’m at with it. While I do fully and completely understand the importance of less sugar to eliminate the addiction, I have only been doing this since August. She does enjoy treats she always has done, and i don’t want to hurt her feelings either. She goes to nursery (day care) 4 days a week and comes home with biscuits she’s made me…she’s so excited to give them to me and I’ve felt so horrible I said no after. But you are right, my child’s feelings are so important. I love keto and everything about this way of life, but every now and then I have to consider my child’s feelings too. It’s about balance at the end of the day. We can enjoy sugar free treats (when I make them!) But I can’t always control what she eats when she’s not with me.
Just say, “No, thank you. Mummy doesn’t eat bread [or fruit, or whatever].” Daddy doesn’t stay home because the child might miss him, right? It’s “Daddy has to go to work now.” I could think of other examples, but you get the idea.