Food. We all need it. We can't live without it. But what if that which we need is actually working against us? I have been enlightened to the fact that dairy + neurotransmitters = possible disaster. I am not going to write a whole lot about it right now because in my 'spare time' (whatever that is and it's not much these days) I am researching and learning more and I am not about to try and write like I know what I am talking about. I have talked to some friends, read some research, and I have learned in a very short time that there is a connection between dairy aggravating, for lack of a better term, cortisol, the stress hormone in our brains. So in a nutshell, we are currently day 2 of being dairy free (plus mostly gluten free) for the little man. No, for all of us. We are doing it too. Our children learn from us, and so we have to be the example. Besides, it's better for us!
He loves his milk - but has been slowing down on the consumption for the last month or so. He used to eat cheese like it was going out of style...not so much now. But its more than that...there is dairy (some form of it) it a lot of things. So I have quickly familiarized myself with the other names for dairy...and discovered things without dairy. I don't buy too much pre-packaged stuff. I prefer fresh, whole foods. So in cutting out dairy, this should be pretty easy to do...until the little man excitedly screams out that he wants mac and cheese for dinner. I have always made his mac and cheese from scratch...whole wheat pasta, a little butter, milk, cheddar cheese...so when he asked for this, I wondered if there would be a substitute that I could give him. I did discover a boxed mac and cheese that is gluten free, dairy free, every free you can think of - I bought it to try...it probably tastes like the box. But I thought I'd try it to be able to indulge him on occasion.
We made it through the first day without any problems. Today, day 2. He ate a good breakfast - 2 eggs, part of a gluten free dairy free waffle and a cup of warm green ginger tea. Snacks - almonds, banana, fruits, fruits, more fruits. He was rummaging through the cabinet and found some goldfish crackers. He was all excited. I was not so excited. I thought, there are two ways to handle this...I can take it from him and watch him meltdown in front of me, or I can try to out smart him. So, he pours some out into a little bowl...and just as he is about to eat one, I say, HEY! (about scared the crap out of him) where's your -------- and I rattled of a few different toys. He got distracted, left the table and went to get said toys. In the meantime, I trade out the bowl of goldfish with a bowl of almonds and raisins. I was in the clear. He didn't think about those goldfish crackers again...
So I dodged a bullet. Will see what we come up against next...but I think it may be easier to do this when children are small. Dr. Karyn Purvis talks about food and nutrition in the book The Connected Child, but I want a deeper study of the connections. So I set out to see what I can find. I found an interesting blog that talks about this topic here She is an adoptive momma herself - she has some good insight.
Short thoughts for today... Naptime is almost up, and I have more research to do before our afternoon adventure begins.
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