• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Keeper of the Home retina logo

Naturally inspired living for homemakers

  • About
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Search
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Homemaking
  • Family
  • Natural Living
  • Homemade & DIY
  • Natural Remedies
  • Real Food
  • Recipes
  • Join Our Community
  • Resources
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap
  • Homemaking
  • Family
  • Natural Living
  • Homemade & DIY
  • Natural Remedies
  • Real Food
  • Recipes
You are here: Home » Blog » Family Life » Raising healthy eaters- What eating healthy is and isn’t

Raising healthy eaters- What eating healthy is and isn’t

January 2, 2008     Keeper of the Home    5 Comments


When I teach nutrition, there are 3 simple guidelines that encompass my basic nutritionally theory. Although I wish I had created them myself, I didn’t. They have been taught to me over the years through various writers and speakers that I respect, but most specifically through the book What the Bible Says About Healthy Living (an excellent read for anyone seeking to learn more about nutrition and wanting to change their eating and lifestyle habits). They are:

1) Eat only those things that have been created for food– this would eliminate anything man made, such as artificial flavors and colors, chemical preservatives, and also foods that are considered unclean (not kosher) according to the Biblical food laws in Leviticus (these include pork and shellfish, among others)

2) Eat foods as close to the way that they were created as possible– baked potatoes vs. french fries, fresh lemon juice vs. powdered lemonade mix, honey sweetened baking vs. white-sugary donuts with an infinite shelf life, wholesome bacteria-based yogurt vs. it’s gelatin-filled, sweetened and artificially flavored distant cousin, baked salmon vs. Highliner fish sticks. You get the point.

3) Do not let any food become your idol– although there is nothing wrong with the occasional treat, the problem with many of the "treats" that we eat is that they are no longer reserved for special occasions- they have become common, everyday, household foods. We have made our eating pleasure an idol, and thus become addicted to those things that are harmful to our health.

To start us off on this exploration of how to raise healthy eaters, I thought that I would just leave you with these three points to ponder, and with a couple of lists that I have made, to get us thinking in the right direction in regards to how we feed our precious children.

Healthy eating is:

  • full of variety (and therefore a variety of nutrients)
  • fresh
  • lots of vegetables and fruits
  • adequate protein from proper sources (well-raised beef and chickens, wild fish, legumes, etc.)
  • colorful- one way to know that you are getting all the nutrients that you need is to observe whether your meals are colorful, as the different pigments in foods are a sign that they contain different vitamins, minerals, phyto-nutrients, anti-oxidants, etc.
  • homemade
  • well-hydrated (with water, mostly)
  • guided by a loving parent
  • something that requires your child to become an active participant and learner of how to care for their own body

Healthy eating is not:

  • processed (such as sandwich meats and hot dogs, full of nitrates)
  • packaged
  • dyed or enhanced with artificial flavors
  • chock full of sugar
  • a liquid diet of fruit juice or pop (we’ll discuss juice more as we go on)
  • deep fried or containing rancid oils (most foods made with vegetable oils, which are very unstable when heated)
  • up to your children (it’s up to you, the loving parent!)
  • fast food
  • white and fluffy (I’m picturing Wonder bread, more full of air than nutrients)
  • something that just happens without making an effort

Obviously, this just barely scratches the surface of proper nutrition, but it is a starting point, nonetheless. Next Wednesday, we will go back to the beginning and discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding nutrition and how to give our babies the very best start possible! Future topics include when and what to feed babies, picky toddlers, creating an understanding of and interest in nutrition, healthy snacks, and more!

Share this post:

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

Category: Family Life, Real Food

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Get our latest posts, right to your inbox.

[convertkit form="302779"]

{No spam, ever.}

You May Also Like

  • Raising healthy eaters- Back again next week
  • Raising healthy eaters
  • Raising Healthy Eaters- Involving Children in Choosing and Cooking Food
  • Raising Healthy Eaters: Helping Our Kids to Make Great Food Choices
    Raising Healthy Eaters: Helping Our Kids to Make Great Food Choices
  • Eating like a big boy
  • Raising healthy eaters- What to feed baby
Previous Post: « Where would I be without my Polestar planner?
Next Post: Bloggy update »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leah in Iowa

    January 2, 2008 at 12:37 PM

    Great thoughts! I couldn’t agree more! I have actually read the book you referenced, but it’s been awhile. May be time to go over it again.

    Other books I’ve both read and enjoyed on this subject are “What Would Jesus Eat” by Don Colbert and “Home Made Health” by Raymond and Dorothy Moore. Both are
    excellent!

    Another all-around good health book is “Greater Health God’s Way” by Stormie Omartian. She talks about healthful foods as well as drinking water, fasting, praying, sleeping, exercise – the whole ball ‘o wax.

    Anyway, just thought you may be interested in those, too.

    Reply
  2. Stephanie

    January 3, 2008 at 7:46 AM

    Hi Leah! Thanks for the book recommendations! I always love to get more reading ideas, and those sound great! It’s good to find someone else who has read “What the Bible says…”- I’ve never heard of anyone else that knew of it! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Dani

    January 5, 2008 at 5:39 PM

    Some people may not know this so I thought I’d pass it along.

    Gelatin is made from pork fat. So watch for any recipe that calls for gelatin. Especially if you feed your children Jello.

    Reply
  4. Stephanie

    January 5, 2008 at 7:19 PM

    Good point, Dani. Thanks for mentioning that. That is one major reason why we avoid commercial products like regular yogurt and jellos, etc.

    I was going to suggest Emes Kosher-Jel, but just found out that there is some sort of scandal, suggesting that it is not truly kosher and contains gelatin! Yikes! Anyone know of a truly kosher “gelatin” product?

    Reply
  5. Beth Ann Schad

    September 14, 2012 at 3:56 PM

    I am confused as to why pork is “not allowed” since in the New Testament all foods (sans idol-offered and that which still has all the blood in it) were declared acceptable again. Also, what was wrong with shellfish? I don’t remember.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.
Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Sign Up Now

Get our latest posts, right to your inbox.

[convertkit form="302779"]

{No spam, ever.}

Popular Posts

How to Make Your Own Natural Makeup #DIYFriday (with Video) 11

How to Make Your Own Natural Makeup (with Video)

How to Make Your Own Natural Makeup (with Video)
12 Simple Homemade Spice Mixes 9

12 Simple Homemade Spice Mixes

12 Simple Homemade Spice Mixes
Dry feet are no fun! When skin on your feet becomes dry, it often causes itchiness, cracking, and even bleeding. But, never fear, this luxurious lotion will keep your feet soft and supple all winter. The oils and butters in this DIY foot lotion are highly moisturizing and nourishing to the skin. It's designed for the feet, but can be used on dry, cracked elbows and knees.

DIY All-Natural Lotion to Cure Dry Feet

DIY All-Natural Lotion to Cure Dry Feet
10 Truths You Need to Hear When You Feel Like a Failure as a Mom 3

10 Truths You Need to Hear When You Feel Like a Failure as a Mom

10 Truths You Need to Hear When You Feel Like a Failure as a Mom
10 Questions for Expectant Moms to Ask BEFORE the Third Trimester 2

10 Questions for Expectant Moms to Ask BEFORE the Third Trimester

10 Questions for Expectant Moms to Ask BEFORE the Third Trimester
The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes 10

The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes

The Ultimate Guide to Homemade All-Natural Cleaning Recipes
  • Join Our Community
  • Resources
  • Disclosure
  • Sitemap

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 Keeper of the Home · All Rights Reserved · Privacy · Sitemap · Powered by Spears Marketing