Monday, November 7, 2011
Raw Food For Babies
I just found this interesting article on Raw Food for Babies
by Karen Ranzi.
Im currently researching on which foods to introduce to Isabelle and at what age!
The type of food given to baby is dependant on the age of weaning. All babies require mother’s milk for at least the first year of life to create the strong immunity and bonding necessary for baby’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development. It contains the important fat and protein that cannot ever be replaced by other foods or formulas. The fat and protein in mother’s milk is sufficient for baby’s growth well into the second year. I encourage mothers to nurse as long as possible. Humans are the latest to mature of all mammals therefore our young require the longest nursing periods. I recommend a minimum of two years.
Only a very small percentage of mothers fail to have sufficient milk,
are unable to nurse due to serious health concerns, and/or can’t find a
wet nurse. If a mother is unable to nurse for at least the first year
of baby’s life, then alternatives could be a wet nurse or a milk bank.
If human mother’s milk is unavailable through a local nursing mother,
then contacting a milk bank or website focused on breast milk donations
would be the next step. For example, www.milkshare.com was formed in
2004 by Kelley Faulkner, a mom who was unable to produce enough breast
milk due to a congenital breast abnormality. Knowing the significant
benefits that only breast milk can offer, she sought to provide the best
possible nutrition for her children using donated breast milk. Thirty
generous and loving nursing mothers donated tons of breast milk for her
children. Her second son has been exclusively fed with donor milk.
A last alternative could be raw (unpasteurized) goat milk. The
combination of half raw goat milk and half celery/carrot juice has been
done successfully for those who were unable to nurse and unable to
obtain milk from a human mother.We must remember that human mother’s milk will always be best for the human baby.
Many infants are unable to properly digest almond milk or avocados at so young an age, and may not increase in weight because of their inability to absorb these fats and proteins. These infants risk malnourishment. Many children are allergic to nuts, specifically because they were introduced too early in life. Many years ago, I attended a class on healthy foods for the young child in which recipes were given for almond milk, and it was stated this alternative milk could replace mother’s milk completely if the mother were absolutely unable to nurse. Although some success has been reported with almond milk in Germany when babies were found to be allergic to cow milk, I strongly feel mothers have got to find a way to feed their babies with mother’s milk—if not their own, from another mother.
Toward the end of the first year, and no sooner, if baby is equipped with teeth to chew, then bite-sized pieces of fresh, ripe, organic fruits can be given one at a time.
Observe any reaction, as some babies are not ready to eat until well into their second year of life. I recommend that as soon as baby is accustomed to digesting a variety of fresh fruits given individually for chewing, that you begin to introduce green leafy vegetables in delicious green smoothies to provide additional minerals. It is best to start with the milder greens such as Romaine lettuce or spinach.
Remember that for each child the progression will be a little different depending on dentition and real desire and readiness to eat. Some children are simply curious about foods but not yet ready to eat. The mother must be observant of her baby to predict the right timing for introduction of foods. Into the second year, baby can have diluted nut and seed milks and avocado for their fat and protein contents, but solid soaked nuts and seeds should not be given until later to avoid the development of a nut allergy as nuts require a greater digestive capacity.
Some mothers ask about adding honey to baby’s first meals. According to Charles Santerre, toxicologist and food scientist, in his article “When Can My Baby Eat Honey?”: “Although honey seems like a wholesome and natural food to give your infant, don’t do it until after she’s at least 12 months old. Honey can contain spores of a bacterium called clostridium botulinum, which can germinate in a baby’s immature digestive system and cause infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness. These spores are usually harmless to adults and children over 1 year old, because the microorganisms normally found in the intestine keep the bacteria from growing.” Signs of botulism are constipation along with muscle weakness, trouble sucking, slack jaw or crying and lethargy.
Fruit is delicious and filled with vitamins, perfect as baby’s first food. Fruit is sweet, not requiring honey or other sweetener to further sweeten it.
The child should not be given solid food to chew until there are many teeth. Another likely sign of readiness for solids is if the child isn’t gaining enough weight from mother’s milk alone, and requires additional food. Some babies don’t ask for or require solid foods until closer to two years of age, yet parents have been led to think their child needs them much sooner.
Some people feed coconut milk to their older babies. The fleshy part of the coconut is high in fat, and so, should not become a big part of the regular daily diet since breast milk is still providing the necessary fat and protein. Coconut water, however, is much lower in fat than coconut flesh and can be easily digested.
During the latter part of the first year, a very limited amount of diluted unprocessed fresh fruit juices may be given. Fruit juices should be used very sparingly for infants as well as older children. It is wise only to give juice to older infants who can drink from a cup. These juices could be 50% water and 50% juice, made of oranges, apples, melons or pears. You could also use the whole fruit and make a very simple watery smoothie after 9 months of age, but only if baby is eager. The fruit juice intake should be limited to not more than 3 to 4 ounces of diluted juice in a day to ensure baby is drinking enough breast milk to provide the fat, protein, and myriad other nutrients for proper development. In addition to displacing the amount of breast milk a baby drinks, dental caries have been associated with juice consumption, therefore it is best to keep it to minimal amounts.
After baby is already eating solid bite-size pieces of a variety of fresh fruit, green smoothies and green juices should be introduced to provide the abundance of minerals from green leafy vegetables. Following are some fun smoothies and puddings to create. They are a mild and delicious introduction to green leafy vegetables.:
Emerald Smoothie
1 banana
1 mango peeled, pitted and chopped
5 Lacinato kale leaves
2 cups of water
Chop banana and add to blender with chopped mango. Add kale leaves to blender with water. Blend until smooth.
Banana Green Fun
2 bananas
1 cup Romaine lettuce
1 cup of water
Blend bananas and water. Gradually add Romaine lettuce. Add more water if necessary.
Bright Sunny Day Smoothie
1 mango
4 peaches
2 stalks of celery
Blend mango and peaches. Then gradually add celery stalks. Use water for a smoothie or leave thick for a pudding.
Pina Colada Smoothie
2 bananas
2 slices pineapple
1 large handful spinach leaves
1 ½ to 2 cups of water
Blend bananas and pineapple with water. Add spinach leaves and blend until smooth.
All of this is described in much detail in my book Creating Healthy Children: Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods which is available at www.superhealthychildren.com, www.amazon.com and many raw food websites.
Karen Ranzi, Author, Lecturer, Raw Food Consultant
www.superhealthychildren.com
http://www.Facebook.com/CreatingHealthyChildren.com
Raw Vegan Radio
I found this today on the Raw Vegan Radio website and think its fantastic!
By Steve Prussack
Host of Raw Vegan Radio
Today, I am going to list the top 5 lies the raw food leaders don’t want you to think about or know. Our upcoming articles will go more into detail, but for now, here they are:
1. You need to follow a raw food guru. This misconception has been popular in the raw food community for years now. Many people have been following a raw food diet with significant results. Some of them have lost substantial amounts of weight.
Others have cured themselves of a variety of ailments and disease. The problem is, some of these individuals have put themselves up on a pedestal, developed a website, and positioned themselves as a new leader to be followed. I have seen it over and over again. Now the question is, what makes somebody a leader? Does simply following a raw food diet for a couple of years automatically make somebody an expert? Personally, I have been in the raw food community for over a decade. I have seen many experts change their opinion at the drop of a dime. If you are following one of these leaders, perhaps you are now confused. I don’t blame you. While there is excellent information available on following a raw food diet, the truth is you don’t need to follow any of these people. The truth lies within yourself. My goal is to provide you with all the tools you need to make your own decisions. I am not going to put myself up on a stage and expect you to purchase the latest raw or animal supplement powder of the day.
2. You need to be 100% raw. While this theory has been running rampant for a few years, the majority of raw food teachers themselves are not following a 100% raw food diet. While the paradigm is now shifting, some people are still confused. Many “raw food” books continue to promote the idea that 100% raw is more advantageous than a simply high-raw diet. It was discovered many years ago by Dr. Brian Clement and a team of experts that consuming between 80 and 100% is just as beneficial as consuming a 100% completely raw diet. Psychologically, it may be harder to continue consuming a high percentage of raw food once you incorporate cooked into the diet. The reason being, cooked foods can become addictive. If you are disciplined, and can consume a high percentage of raw food along with whole foods (and less processed foods), without a doubt you will be more healthy than most people on this planet.
3. You need to eat animal products. Less than two years ago, the raw food community began to shift. For years, the prevailing mindset was a raw vegan diet is the best way to go. Some leaders began to shift their market, and thus began a focus on longevity. Other leaders jumped on the bandwagon and followed. After all, there is a lot of money promoting animal-based products. The truth is, there is absolutely no reason you need to consume animal products. The raw food community continues to be hyper-focused on individual health; there has been little education on animals or environmental concerns. If you read important life-changing books like “Diet for a New America” by John Robbins, The China Study by Dr. T Colin Campbell, or the World Peace Diet by my good friend Dr. Will Tuttle, you will learn exactly why animal products are unnecessary for too many reasons to discuss here. I highly recommend you look at the big picture and decide for yourself what your body needs to thrive.
4. Chocolate is healthy. Let’s be honest, once raw cacao came on the scene, raw foodists rejoiced. Remember all the “raw” cacao parties springing up all over the country? The raw leaders began telling us of the many benefits in raw cacao, including high nutrients, vitamins, and other health benefits. Did they mention caffeine? Did they mention the addictive properties of chocolate? I was definitely once addicted to raw cacao. While I do not deprive myself from eating raw chocolate on occasion, I am well aware that this is not a health food. Some raw food leaders have gone so far as to say you should eat a large amount of cacao every day! Again, be your own guru. If it feels right for you and seems to be working, you can allow yourself the indulgence every now and then. But we need to be honest about what our body needs, craves, or can become addicted to.
5. Raw food is the answer to all life’s problems. There is so much more need to look at when it comes to health. The holistic model includes the mind, body, and spirit. Stress is a big contributing factor to a variety of ailments. I have known many raw foodists who were so stressed out trying to follow their diet, that stress levels caused them to be sick! Relationships are another area often overlooked. Having healthy and harmonious relationships is essential for a overall health and well-being. Our society is becoming more and more isolated. Although we connect over computers, emails, and texting, face-to-face interactions are becoming less and less a part of our daily life. We need to continue connecting to each other on a human level. In addition the environment is being destroyed at unspeakable rates. The more we find out, the less we want to know.
1. You need to follow a raw food guru. This misconception has been popular in the raw food community for years now. Many people have been following a raw food diet with significant results. Some of them have lost substantial amounts of weight.
Others have cured themselves of a variety of ailments and disease. The problem is, some of these individuals have put themselves up on a pedestal, developed a website, and positioned themselves as a new leader to be followed. I have seen it over and over again. Now the question is, what makes somebody a leader? Does simply following a raw food diet for a couple of years automatically make somebody an expert? Personally, I have been in the raw food community for over a decade. I have seen many experts change their opinion at the drop of a dime. If you are following one of these leaders, perhaps you are now confused. I don’t blame you. While there is excellent information available on following a raw food diet, the truth is you don’t need to follow any of these people. The truth lies within yourself. My goal is to provide you with all the tools you need to make your own decisions. I am not going to put myself up on a stage and expect you to purchase the latest raw or animal supplement powder of the day.
2. You need to be 100% raw. While this theory has been running rampant for a few years, the majority of raw food teachers themselves are not following a 100% raw food diet. While the paradigm is now shifting, some people are still confused. Many “raw food” books continue to promote the idea that 100% raw is more advantageous than a simply high-raw diet. It was discovered many years ago by Dr. Brian Clement and a team of experts that consuming between 80 and 100% is just as beneficial as consuming a 100% completely raw diet. Psychologically, it may be harder to continue consuming a high percentage of raw food once you incorporate cooked into the diet. The reason being, cooked foods can become addictive. If you are disciplined, and can consume a high percentage of raw food along with whole foods (and less processed foods), without a doubt you will be more healthy than most people on this planet.
3. You need to eat animal products. Less than two years ago, the raw food community began to shift. For years, the prevailing mindset was a raw vegan diet is the best way to go. Some leaders began to shift their market, and thus began a focus on longevity. Other leaders jumped on the bandwagon and followed. After all, there is a lot of money promoting animal-based products. The truth is, there is absolutely no reason you need to consume animal products. The raw food community continues to be hyper-focused on individual health; there has been little education on animals or environmental concerns. If you read important life-changing books like “Diet for a New America” by John Robbins, The China Study by Dr. T Colin Campbell, or the World Peace Diet by my good friend Dr. Will Tuttle, you will learn exactly why animal products are unnecessary for too many reasons to discuss here. I highly recommend you look at the big picture and decide for yourself what your body needs to thrive.
4. Chocolate is healthy. Let’s be honest, once raw cacao came on the scene, raw foodists rejoiced. Remember all the “raw” cacao parties springing up all over the country? The raw leaders began telling us of the many benefits in raw cacao, including high nutrients, vitamins, and other health benefits. Did they mention caffeine? Did they mention the addictive properties of chocolate? I was definitely once addicted to raw cacao. While I do not deprive myself from eating raw chocolate on occasion, I am well aware that this is not a health food. Some raw food leaders have gone so far as to say you should eat a large amount of cacao every day! Again, be your own guru. If it feels right for you and seems to be working, you can allow yourself the indulgence every now and then. But we need to be honest about what our body needs, craves, or can become addicted to.
5. Raw food is the answer to all life’s problems. There is so much more need to look at when it comes to health. The holistic model includes the mind, body, and spirit. Stress is a big contributing factor to a variety of ailments. I have known many raw foodists who were so stressed out trying to follow their diet, that stress levels caused them to be sick! Relationships are another area often overlooked. Having healthy and harmonious relationships is essential for a overall health and well-being. Our society is becoming more and more isolated. Although we connect over computers, emails, and texting, face-to-face interactions are becoming less and less a part of our daily life. We need to continue connecting to each other on a human level. In addition the environment is being destroyed at unspeakable rates. The more we find out, the less we want to know.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
This week Im making Corn Tortillas
I just found this page with some yummy raw recipes!
this week im going to make the Corn tortillas! Yummm
this week im going to make the Corn tortillas! Yummm
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Creating Healthy Children
Soon to have our first child! We have been researching and reading a lot of literature on creating healthy raw children! A few books which are a fantastic read include:
In today’s fast-paced world, our children’s health and nutrition are being compromised by the constant rush to find the quick solution, resulting in our new generation’s weight problems as well as more frequent cases of disease due to weakened immune systems.
Author, lecturer and consultant in vegan nutrition, Karen Ranzi, has recently authored her much- anticipated new book, Creating Healthy Children Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods. Karen Ranzi has been a leader in the field of nutrition and child development for over fifteen years. Her 496 page book is replete with the results of seven years of research on optimal nutrition and model environmental factors from prenatal care through the teen years. Articles by leading experts in their fields and accounts by parents detailing their own positive experiences abound. By means of her education, life-changing personal experiences, and sincere desire to share her message, Karen has been able to guide thousands toward developing excellent health.
Creating Healthy Children presents many values nature has given us to restore our children’s health through solid nutritional principles. In this informative transformational book, Karen Ranzi will guide you on the path to creating happier and healthier children, confident of their disease-free future. She will share the importance of understanding children’s biological and emotional needs. Rather than medicate a child’s asthma, ear infections, chronic allergies, learning, attention and hyperactivity disorders, and other illnesses, Karen’s approach simply eliminates the causes of disease through the healthful raw food lifestyle. You will learn the importance of obtaining the best possible nourishment for your family, and how to implement healthy choices successfully. Creating Healthy Children reveals terrific tips for children of all ages in how to improve their diet and lifestyle. Parents, future parents, pregnant mothers, teachers, social workers, psychologists, and anyone else who works with or has children needs to read this book.
Creating Healthy Children, by Karen Ranzi
In today’s fast-paced world, our children’s health and nutrition are being compromised by the constant rush to find the quick solution, resulting in our new generation’s weight problems as well as more frequent cases of disease due to weakened immune systems.
Author, lecturer and consultant in vegan nutrition, Karen Ranzi, has recently authored her much- anticipated new book, Creating Healthy Children Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods. Karen Ranzi has been a leader in the field of nutrition and child development for over fifteen years. Her 496 page book is replete with the results of seven years of research on optimal nutrition and model environmental factors from prenatal care through the teen years. Articles by leading experts in their fields and accounts by parents detailing their own positive experiences abound. By means of her education, life-changing personal experiences, and sincere desire to share her message, Karen has been able to guide thousands toward developing excellent health.
Creating Healthy Children presents many values nature has given us to restore our children’s health through solid nutritional principles. In this informative transformational book, Karen Ranzi will guide you on the path to creating happier and healthier children, confident of their disease-free future. She will share the importance of understanding children’s biological and emotional needs. Rather than medicate a child’s asthma, ear infections, chronic allergies, learning, attention and hyperactivity disorders, and other illnesses, Karen’s approach simply eliminates the causes of disease through the healthful raw food lifestyle. You will learn the importance of obtaining the best possible nourishment for your family, and how to implement healthy choices successfully. Creating Healthy Children reveals terrific tips for children of all ages in how to improve their diet and lifestyle. Parents, future parents, pregnant mothers, teachers, social workers, psychologists, and anyone else who works with or has children needs to read this book.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Its been a while
So its been a while and the adventures haven't stopped but we have been a bit busy of late and what feels like yesterday - when I look at the last post made it was Febuary! It is already May! and how time is flying! so to catch up for the last few months! I am going to post some post with information I have found, our raw adventures ( we went to Tasmania on a two week van adventure! and what has been happening in the world of Raw Food!
One of the biggest growth periods of our lives has been my belly! With this little bub now six months and we have three months to go! My eating has become high in Raw again - thanks to my 100% raw partner in life - Hamish ! But a lot of learning on the live food diet has also been happening through Gabriel Cousens and his teachings - posts to come!
Anyway we are back on board! and look forward to recieving your emails and advice and us posting the latest information we find our our adventures!
love sarah and hamish
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