How to get my kids on low-carb!

[Ina]

Hi all,
I'm new to this, only started on the Carbohydrate Addicts' Diet last week. I'm fascinated! Disappointingly though, I have gained 300 grams! My body is probably in shock over suddenly get fats and meats after years of fanatically avoiding any fats and sugars. I've only got just under 20 pounds to lose after a sudden, totally unexplained weight gain which started ten months ago. I have done all sorts of checks like thyroid, coming off the pill, regular exercise, it's all a mystery. I hate having a wardrobe full of clothes I can longer get into.I like this diet, this way of eating, it's something I can stick to. What I really worries me is how my two kids aged 12 1/2 and 11 have piled on weight. I can really see that they are total carb addicts now that I've read up on the subject. The younger never stops eating, is always hungry. They are happy to start eating low carb, but my dilemma is; with what do I substitute bread, pasta and potates for them? And, that only snack that I have been allowing them, popcorn?(which I thought was a good snack!) They are also used to eat large amounts of fruit, as I have never kept cookies, chips, chocolate, etc. in the house. They need a good breakfast before school, what to give them as one doesn't like eggs, etc, etc. I will buy the Carb addicts' book for kids, but does anyone have some good advice, have had success with their kids?
Many thanks.
Ps. I live in Singapore, we do not get all the amazing food products as you do in the US!

[Karen]

Welcome to the forum Ina!

I moved your post out of the Test Forum and into the Introduction Forum.

Look through the posts in the Introduction forum. There was a recent poster who was asking about low-carbing for her child. You may be able to give each other a hand.

I haven't read Carbohydrate Addicted Kids, but I'm sure it has lots of suggestions for weaning kids off carbohydrates and into a healthier way of eating.

You don't need a lot to low-carb and neither do your children. Fresh food is all that is required. Mashed cauliflower makes a great mashed potato substitute, daikon radish can be roasted in fingers as a French Fry substitute and shredded cabbage in place of pasta. Breakfast is not only eggs and bacon. Any low carb thing you want can be eaten.

This site is full of useful information. Look through the Recipes and Tips in the red bar at the top of the page. Click on everything!

Keep us up to date on how you're doing.

Karen

[doreen T]

Don't have kids of my own, but I have heard that the Carb Addicts for Kids program is good. If you'd like to know more about the book before you order, check out the official Carb Addicts website ... http://www.carbohydrateaddicts.com/cakidsindex.html .. This page of course wants you to buy the book, but it has lots of good information of what it's about, so you can see if you want to buy it before you put out the money .. :)

Another useful page deals with Breakfasts .. http://www.carbohydrateaddicts.com/faqbreakfast.html ...

The Hellers make a good point about repetitious and boring breakfasts. So often we hear lowcarbers say they are sick of eggs every day. Yet, for how many years did we have wheat flour every single morning for breakfast, day after day?? Toasted bread, bagels, wheat cereal flakes, muffins. And never did we say Eeeeuwww ... because we were addicted to them.

Karen gave some good ideas, plus there is no rule that says we cannot have salad or vegetables or chicken or pork chop in the morning. And eggs can be prepared many ways.

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Another program to consider for both you and your kids, is Protein Power. There is no Reward Meal .. instead they encourage you to spread your carbs evenly through the day. They recommend a somewhat higher carb intake for kids ... that includes mostly vegetables and some less-sweet fruits, pulses/legumes and occasional whole grains .. if overweight is not a concern. Here is what they have to sayIs this program safe for a 12-year-old child?

Yes, with some modifications. And with qualifications, depending on whether the child is of normal weight and looking for a healthy diet or overweight and needing to make a correction. An excessively over weight adolescent or teen should be evaluated by an endocrine specialist to be certain there aren’t any hormonal disturbances or even benign pituitary gland tumors contributing to the weight problem. If there are no contributing problems, the child could begin a modified Phase II program, deriving calories from lean protein, good-quality fat, and about 60-100 grams of carbohydrate per day, mainly from low-starch vegetables and fruit.

Additional calories, if necessary, should come from protein and fat, not carbohydrate. Growing children (and interestingly enough, the elderly) need more protein per pound of lean body weight than adults. Calculate their protein need based on activity and rate their activity level as one activity category higher than their actual level of exercise. Normal weight children need extra protein and good fat, but can tolerate in the neighborhood of 120-150 grams of carbohydrate daily. It should come mainly from low-starch vegetables and fruits, but a modest amount of starch is acceptable. We would still recommend that you limit or avoid sugar in all its forms.Here's the link to their Question & Answer page .. http://eatprotein.com/answers.html

Good luck to you, and keep us posted how you're doing :)

Doreen

[Ina]

Thank you Karen and Doreen for your replies, very helpful. I went out and bought the Carbohydrate Addicted Kids book---am overwhelmed, really don't know how to follow this one, it's much more complicated than the adult one. It takes a lot of planning, many of the recipes are not really "kids' taste" and there are no good substitutes for all the fruit and other snacks. Snacks are things like meatballs! And as for baking these breads and muffins at 6.45 a.m! Of course I haven't had time to read the whole book, but I have had a good look through the recipes. I think I will need to just use my own judgement, let them have whatever they want at school (they are both repulsed by the junk food served there so they go for baguettes, which may actually not give them enough carbs) and think up low carb meals at home. The biggest problem will be getting the younger one off his incessant fruit eating.
I think we have a challenge ahead of us!

[Karen]

...there are no good substitutes for all the fruit and other snacks. Snacks are things like meatballs!

That is how it is in the low-carb world. When you low-carb, the way you eat changes radically. A whole paradigm shift is required. It's not easy at first, but it is very rewarding in the long run. You will not believe how good you feel and after doing it for a while, you won't look back.

You could start by offering a choice. For a snack, cheese and cucumber or meatballs. The next time, devilled eggs or celery with a little bit of peanut butter. That way they would feel like they have some say. You could do the same for all meals, and when there is a repertoire of things that they like, you can remove the choice.

Crisp fried pork rinds, which would be available where you live make a good snack.

...so they go for baguettes, which may actually not give them enough carbs

A baguette has tons of carbs. 244 grams for a 14-inch loaf. A low carb way of eating is generally (for exeptional people) 100 grams and lower (for us mortals, 20-40 grams) per day.

Karen

[jenniferpa]

Hi there, I've only just started doing this with my extremely overweight, insulin resistant son (12), so I don't have much practical advice to offer, just moral support.

One thing I have noticed in the time (a little less than a week) that we've been doing this that the demands for snacks has dwindled into practically nothing. When he has wanted a snack nuts and cheese cubes have done the job - and mostly he doesn't even eat all of it. In my house I'm the "fruit bat" and it IS difficult to give up, but I've realised that often when I want fruit, I'm actually thirsty, so I drink water and that takes the craving away. Sugar free jello may also be an option.

Best of luck

Jay