Including children in meals when you're on a low-carb diet

[CandyLoo]

I'm about to start a low-carb diet, happy to cook my own meals as I always have, but what about my DC? Aged 5 and 2, I don't really want to have to cook separate meals for them...will adapt recipes, but how do you cope?

[ihatethecold]

You really shouldn't eat your children!

[HeySoulSister]

You will prob need to include some carbs for them. And they might want some fruit

[CandyLoo]

Good answer! It does sound like I asked that!

[Yama]

My 7 year old is a happy meat eater so most meals she eats the same as dh and I. We just substitute the carb part of our meals with extra veg - caulilower rice, brocolli, courgette and carrot strips (fried) and cabbage. Actually, she doesn't like cabbage.

Our 2 year old is a different kettle of fish and we have decided to work on him when he is a bit older. So yes, he gets different meals. He also can't have dairy or it would be easier.

We will get there with them both and gradually increase their understanding of why we are doing it too.

Check out the recipe section for great low carb meals.

[CandyLoo]

Thanks Yama

[bulletwithbutterflywings]

Today I made beef stew and low carb dumplings and served peas and sweetcorn with DS's (3). Broccoli with mine.
I often just make a little not of mash of pasta to go with his portion of whatever I'm having, but sometimes he has a separate dinner.

[bulletwithbutterflywings]

*a little bit

[smokinaces]

I cook the same meals, meat and veg basically, I just add a few new potatoes to the kids plates or a small portion of rice.

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

I've been paleo/primal for years (low carb on comparison to the standard western diet and grain free). The dc including toddler just eat the same as DH and I, but with a bit more sweet potato, fruit and fat than us us adults and sometimes white rice. No need to cook anything different for them, that's just making extra work for yourself !

[CandyLoo]

That's exactly it, I would rather just cook one meal but with some variation for DC.
Thanks for all your suggestions, 'food for thought' haha!
Will be back tomorrow.

[BlackAffronted]

I let my kids have potatoes, sweet potatoes etc. None of us eat rice or pasta very much now (not at all for me). Dont think they have even noticed!

[snoworneahva]

The kids just eat the same as us but they have potatoes or rice, i make paleo bread for them, ocassionally they'll have wheat bread - like today, I'm making white rolls for them to have with burgers. Initially it was tricky to get my head around including them but after you've been doing it a while it becomes quite normal.

[CandyLoo]

snoworneahva I've just looked up the paleo diet, looks interesting and I'm going to research some recipe ideas. Thanks

[snoworneahva]

There's lots of Paleo recipe resources - try Paleo Parents, paleomg, health bent, everyday Paleo, food lovers kitchen, Paleo mom....there's lots of recipes and generally I have found them to be pretty good - apart form the chocolate recipes - a nation that buys Hershey bars which has the texture of wax really doesn't get chocolate.