Tips On Getting Children To Enjoy Healthy Eating

Children Love To Help
Children have an inherent passion for gardening, harvesting, and preparing foods straight from the earth. Hence, the mud pies they will inevitably make if you give them a puddle of mud to tinker with. This is an instinct most adults have neglected for so long we’ve forgotten it altogether. Let your children help you prepare meals. They may not be able to chop vegetables if they are younger, but even the youngest child will delight in dropping foods into the food processor, blender, juicer, mixing them in a bowl, or arranging them in the dehydrator. Helping gives children a sense of pride, allows for one on one attention from parents, and they will naturally want to taste their creations.

Children Won’t Starve Themselves!
If you don’t buy it, they can’t eat it. If your children eat junk on a daily basis, it is because you are supplying them with it. I’ve heard so many people say, “But my kids won’t eat vegetables!” Yes they will. Only offer them healthy foods, if they refuse to eat them put their plate in the fridge. The next time they say they are hungry offer them their plate and say, “this is what’s for dinner” (or whatever meal). If they still refuse it, put it back. Offer it over and over until eventually they eat it (and they WILL). No child has ever hated healthy foods so much they would actually starve themselves. Eventually they will accept the new foods. Their tastes will change and they will come to enjoy them.

Follow Their Instincts
Our bodies are intelligent. They know what they need and they speak to us. Listen to what your children request to eat. If they ask for a healthy food, give it to them and let them eat their fill of it. If all they want is bananas all day, there is good reason for it, and there is certainly no harm in it. You may be surprised what you learn about your children’s (and your own) health and instincts if you research the fruits and vegetables they commonly crave.

Be A Good Example
No one wants to follow a hypocrite. If they see you eating cookies, they are going to feel cheated. Children will follow whatever example you set for them, good or bad. So set a good one. If you MUST abuse your own body, do it out of sight of your kids.

Expect Withdrawal and Detoxification Symptoms
Many people believe it is bad to eat fruit because too much fruit will give you gas and diarrhea. This is a myth. Fruits are detoxifying foods. Our digestive tracts are so backed up with denatured garbage that we WILL have elimination symptoms (released gas and fecal matter) when we begin eating mostly fruits. This will only last a week or two, at which point you will no longer have stomach upsets and will be more regular than you may have been your entire life. Children love fruit. Don’t limit them, they know what their bodies need.
You will likely deal with some tantrums when you begin refusing to give them the foods they’ve come to depend on (fruit snacks, sugary treats, crispy potatoes, greasy and grilled meats, white breads, pasteurized dairy products, etc.) These foods are highly addictive, you’re children will experience very real withdrawal symptoms. Offer them an abundance of healthy foods to assist their bodies in detoxification. Fresh fruits will help to curb their sweet cravings. It will pass.

Be Diligent
Your children WILL eventually forget the denatured (cooked/processed) foods they used to eat and will come to love fruits vegetables, raw nuts and seeds. Give it time and don’t waver. Be patient with them, they are little people who cannot fully understand your intentions. Explain to them as best as you can, lovingly and repeatedly, that you love them and want them to be healthy so that they can be happy. It will all become second nature… eventually!

Recommended Reading and More

(*indicates good books to start with)
*The Sunfood Diet Success System (7th Edition) by David Wolfe
*Nature’s First Law: The Raw Food Diet by Stephen Arlin, Dini Fouad, and David Wolfe
Eating For Beauty by David Wolfe
Naked Chocolate by David Wolfe
Amazing Grace by David Wolfe and Nick Good
Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future by David Wolfe
*12 Steps to Raw Foods by Victoria Boutenko
*The Raw Family: A True Story of Awakening by Victoria, Igor, Sergei, and Valya Boutenko
*Green For Life by Victoria Boutenko
The Green Smoothie Revolution: The Radical Leap Toward Natural Health by Victoria Boutenko
DVD: Greens Can Save Your Life by Victoria Boutenko
DVD: Is Raw Food For You? By Victoria Boutenko
Audio CD: Spiritual Awakening With Raw Foods by Victoria Boutenko
DVD: Overcoming the Food Imprint: The Origin of Our Cravings by Valya Boutenko
DVD: Reversing the Irreversible by Valya Boutenko
Colon Health: The Key to a Vibrant Life by Dr. Norman Walker
Pure and Simple Natural Weight Control by Dr. Norman Walker
Conscious Eating by Gabriel Cousins M.D.
There Is A Cure for Diabetes by Gabriel Cousins M.D.
Depression Free For Life by Gabriel Cousins M.D.
Rainbow Green Life Food Cuisine by Gabriel Cousins M.D.
DVD: Raw For Life with David Wolfe, Gabriel Cousins, and Woody Harrelson
Sprouts: The Miracle Food by Steve Meyerowitz
Baby Greens by Michaela Lynn
The Cancer Industry by Ralph Moss
Breaking the Death Habit by Leonard Orr
Heart Frauds by Charles McGee M.D.
Hungry Planet: What The World Eats by Peter Menzel and Faith D’Aluisio
Surgery Electives: What to Know Before the Doctor Operates by John McAbe
Origins of the Organic Movement by Philip Conford
Health for the Millions by Herbert Shelton
The Miracle of Fasting by Paul C. Bragg, N.D. and Patricia Bragg
Quantum Touch by Richard Gordon
Sunfood Living by John McCabe

Places to borrow/buy:
www.slcl.org (The St. Louis County Library as some of these books, as well as many raw recipe books)
www.amazon.com (Buy used and save, or use the supersaver shipping)
www.ebay.com (Compare prices, I’ve noticed books on Ebay are sometimes a good deal, sometimes not)
www.sunfood.com (David Wolfe’s site. Products, books, information, and chat)
www.rawfamily.com (Books by Victoria, Igor, Sergei, and Valya Boutenko, as well as DVDs on health and raw foods)
I am also slowly acquiring these books and would be happy to lend them out, just ask!

The Doctrine and Covenants of The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Section 89

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.

1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.

1 A Word Of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—
2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—
3 Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.
4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

Introduction: What Is The Word Of Wisdom, Where Did It Come From?

All answers are born from questions, and The Word of Wisdom is no exception. In February of 1833 Emma Smith felt inspired to ask her husband, Joseph, about the brethren’s use of tobacco in their meetings. Some say Emma asked this question because she was tired of cleaning spit off the floor. I, as a matter of personal opinion, imagine that it was more than that. Having spent countless hours in a smoky room, scrubbing foul smelling, thick, brown tobacco splatters off the wood floor she must have wondered over and over how this stuff could possibly be fit for the human body. Regardless of her motivation, she asked Joseph about it and he brought the matter to the Lord in prayer. As a result, the revelation known as The Word of Wisdom was received. It took many years for the revelation to take hold with most members of the church, but today most Latter-Day Saints are willing to abstain from the substances indicated as forbidden in the revelation.
I have noticed in my 5 years as a member of the Church, that while people are generally good about avoiding the things we are asked to avoid, they are also typically good at avoiding the council given on what we should ingest. I feel a responsibility as a spiritually far-sighted, self-educating person, to aid and assist all those who are willing in understanding the “dos” of The Word of Wisdom. I do not believe that we can obtain the blessings promised at the end of the revelation if we choose to ignore half of what it says! Realizing and respecting the fact that we are all in different places on this path we are journeying, I will do my best to inspire and nurture individuals at their own unique levels of readiness and willingness. The Word of Wisdom is a principal, an outline, how we feed ourselves within the parameter of that outline is between each of us and our Heavenly Father. Caring for our bodies should be done consciously, with care and concern, prayer and personal revelation.
(To learn more about Joseph Smith, revelation, and the restoration of Christ’s gospel please see this page)