When Is the Best Time to Start Eating Whole Foods?

There is no time like the present to begin eating more whole foods. In fact, there’s really not a BAD time to start eating them. The sooner you can begin serving whole foods to your children, the easier time you’ll have encouraging them to continue to eat these foods when they grow older. Perhaps a better way to explain why it is better to start children eating whole foods is that the longer they eat processed foods, the harder it will be for them to change their eating habits when they’re grown.

Eating whole foods does not require you to become a vegetarian or a raw foodist. That isn’t the reason you’ll want to add whole foods to your diet. The point is to feed your family – children included – a diet of foods which are as close to nature as possible. If you choose to become a vegetarian, vegan or one who eats only raw, whole foods, that is a decision only you can make as a family.

Beginning with a diet consisting of whole foods will help your children establish good eating habits from the start rather than having to break bad food choices. Obviously you can’t give your newborn a raw carrot when their body requires liquid sustenance. However, if you choose to breastfeed, you can pass along extra nutrients to your child by eating a diet of healthier food choices and avoiding processed foods as much as possible.

When your baby is ready to start eating solids, search for baby foods which contain only one ingredient. You can also puree whole fruits and vegetables in a blender. By using the same foods you eat, you’ll know exactly what your baby is eating.

Scientific reports indicate that children who are raised eating a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes are more likely to be slimmer and healthier than those eating processed foods. Whole foods provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and protein. A diet of whole foods, or even a vegetarian diet, provide all of the nutrients your children need from the time they begin eating solid foods to the time they are teenagers.

Offer your family whole foods – raw, cooked or dehydrated – during any meal of the day. Have these foods readily available for snacks after school. Prepare whole foods regularly and you may find your family prefers meals which consist mainly of these items. Provide a variety of foods, even those you’ve never tried before, when using whole foods in your menu plans and it is unlikely there will be any nutritional deficiencies. 

Next time we will discuss “How Do You Eat Whole Foods on a Budget?”

The above is extracted from a report, “Eat Whole Foods - For the Health of It” and offers the following disclaimer: This report is written for entertainment purposes only. The author is not, nor does she claim to be, an expert in nutrition or health. The report is written in an attempt to share knowledge based upon what was learned during research and by incorporating some of the information contained in it with her family. It is by no means intended for medical advice nor should it be followed as such.