by Meredith Deasley
Back in 1999, I was abruptly thrown from the corporate world into the even scarier world of a new mother.
From the time my eldest was born, until she turned two, Taylor experienced colic, a rash all over her body, projectile vomiting, frequent colds and eventually constipation, where she remained in pain for the better part of six months. A critical job for every parent is keeping your child healthy.
I knew I needed to make Taylor healthier and FAST! It was the eventual healing of my daughter that led me to having the vast understanding of children’s nutrition that I am now grateful to possess.
If your young child is catching a cold every other month, they are building their immune system. If he or she is catching a cold every other week, it is time to look into things further.
What are other instances where you may want to look into your child’s health further? When your child experiences colic/fussiness, infections of any kind i.e. yeast, ear, bladder, chronic diaper rashes or other rashes, constipation (meaning not having a good sized bowel movement every day), frequent loose stools, behavioural issues or health challenges of any kind.
The children of today are the sickest of any generation prior. Why is that? They are exposed to more sources of bad bacteria than ever before – from food, air, water, and drugs.
The number one way to get more good bacteria into your child is to give your child probiotics, which are the opposite of antibiotics, drugs that remove both good and bad bacteria from the body. Probiotics, the most common of which is called acidophilus, is best purchased from a health food store.
Next, you’ll want to look into the specific foods that are problematic for your child. Whichever food your child eats the most of is usually the culprit. And if you are exclusively breastfeeding, what food can you not live without?
How can life be so cruel, you ask, as to make us addicted to the foods that are our worst enemies? It needed to be easy for us to spot the culprits and as a result, it usually is.
For more information on keeping your children healthy and happy, visit www.theresourcefulmother.com.
Meredith Deasley is a Pediatric Nutritionist and teacher of Pediatric Nutrition and Allergies at The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She conducts seminars and meets with parents individually to help them prevent or overcome any health challenge. She has recently authored “The Resourceful Mother’s Secrets to Healthy Kids.”
WIN A COPY OF MEREDITH’S BOOK!
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23 Comments
When my bff’s son was born, 15 yrs ago, he was a miserable child for almost 2 years. When he was FINALLY diagnosed with LOTS of food/milk allergies, he automatically turned into the sweetest kid ever. My bff & I STILL feel bad when we think of the things we used to say about poor Cody!
What a fantastic book! I have recently discovered how what myself and kids eat effects how we feel. I just wish that there was more information out there, and of course you can find anything on the internet, but how can you trust it. I would love to read this book!
Great book giveaway, Maria!
I used to be the type of mother that “what I didn’t know, didn’t hurt me”!! I was living an ignorant life!!!! This information needs to be heard louder, quicker and sooner!!! Too many children are suffering from what we put in/on their bodies!! (I was one of them). It is a lifestyle change, one I am adjusting to. I would love to read this book. Too bad this information is not mandatory for us to learn when we are pregnant.
I am always looking for ways to keep my children healthy and would love to read this book. What a great giveaway.
I’d love to win a copy of this! Some of my Nonna’s home remedies are pretty questionable in today’s day and age.
Sounds like a very interesting book, I would love to win a copy!! I have one child and one on the way.
thanks!!
My daughter has excema and ive been told it could be a food allergy so id love to see what this book has to say.
Would love to read this book – I try very hard to balance healthy food with treats/special food. Having more information into what we are feeding our kids is so important
I have heard Meredith talk at Prenatal Plus about baby foods in Newmarket. She is amazing and I am sure the book is fantastic.
Sounds like a great book!! I love feeding my kids healthy
I would love to read this book! My eldest is constantly sick even though she eats healthy and takes vitamins.
This sounds like a great read! My daughter is now 2 and has suffered from constipation most of her life. My doctors answer… drink more water. Well thats fine and dandy but she drinks tons of water! She also seems to get sick quite often. I could never figure out why. I would definately love to read this book!
I have to admit, I am the worst about good nutrition. I’m terrible about caving and giving them what they want and even with my own nutrition I have very little self-control; a product of having always been skinny- but skinny doesn’t mean healthy. I’ve wanted to change the way we eat for years, but have never done it. I can relate to many of the points in this post. My kids definitely show some of the signs you listed and it has given me something to think about.
Great post.
I could have used this book a year ago. Now my girls are one and three years old. It is never too late to help them on a healthier path. It also starts with what mom and dad eat too.
I can always see a connection between what my kids have eaten and how they behave — it just makes the entire nutrition thing that much more stressful. Trying to get them to eat what they should eat vs. what they want to eat is always a painful task – in my house anyway.
Thanks for the Giveaway!!
What we feed our children leaves footprints for their future. Keep healthy kids, healthy teens, they’ll hopefully become healthy adults to keep the cycle going. Our future depends on healthy eating and
exercising to keep us from getting sick and to live more productive lives so we can all be happier people
right to our senior years.
With two school aged children, sometimes getting them to eat healthy is NOT easy! I am sure this would really really help our family.
How we feed our kids will affect them for the rest of their lives. Recently we have started watching Jamie Olivers Food Revolution and were astounded at what we saw. We have decided to do our own minu-food revolution. This is not only healthier for our children but for ourselves as well.
For one of the commenters, Koula, above – I think you’re right about mandatory info but I’d take it one step further and say mandatory *BEFORE* one gets pregnant. Babies are exposed to many toxins and unhealthy products and foods in the womb. Any time is a good time to learn and improve but wouldn’t it be great to know everything you can to have the healthiest body possible before growing a life inside it? I wish I had – but better late than never and you’re certainly giving your children an amazing gift by teaching them about truly healthy eating and healthy life choices. Thanks for bringing attention to this extremely important topic!
We always struggle with good nutrition, especially with a 4 and 6 year old in the house. They can be picky eaters. My youngest was colicky so I learned a lot about diet and it’s effect on the body. It is always a learning process
I have two kids,with a large age gap.y eldest is having self-esteem issues and is always sad.
I’d love to have a book that gives me insight as to what I should do to make him a happier kid.
For him to be happy being himself and to enjoy his childhood,it goes by so fast.
I’d love the help.
Awesome giveaway! Would love to have a copy. My daughter is sensitive to food coloring, we watch what we put in our bodies as fuel… Not just a child but an adult feels beter after eating healthy foods not overprocessed junk full of chemicals, It is very important to teach our children to eat healthy..
Have a fun day!