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That's my feeling on it, too, pumpkinhead. If you have no ethical considerations, try anything that appeals and see how you feel. I think there is a small but substancial part of the population that doesn't need animal products ever and a small but substancial part of the population does. Everyone in the middle can choose what works for them. Organic always makes more sense than not.
Whole always makes more sense than processed.
Fresh always makes more sense than preserved food.
Since you state you would be distraught to prepare meat, I think you should give quite a bit more time to allow your new diet to heal you and your child. If she looks healthy, but just gets sick more often than you think she should, make some subtle changes and look for good news. If she doesn't look healthy, I think it might be time for more dramatic changes. |
I wholeheartedly agree. I will just say for the record that I have pretty big health issues and I feel much better eating meat. Enough said.
I would recommend that you add coconut (milk and oil) products to your dd's diet. They have antimicrobial properties, and will probably help her to fight off illnesses. I've noticed a difference in our family since introducing it.
Although you may ultimately decide to add meat products (I can't decide for you what you should do there), have you tried other things that better fit your lifestyle? Some ideas that come to mind are adding other grains in where you've removed gluten grains (i.e. corn, rice, quinoa, amaranth, teff, among others), adding nut butters, avocados, flax oil, (I can't tell if you're vegan or vegetarian from your posts, so I don't know if the following are in your diet) eggs, butter, cream, cheese.
Smoothies are a great way to pack the nutrients and calories in. You can make them with coconut milk, fruit (fresh or frozen), avocado, nut butters, flax oil, even a leaf of kale (one of Cathe's suggestions that I've never actually tried, but sounds like a good idea).
Add butter, flax oil or nut butter to her cooked grains.
Prepare a "nibble tray" each day with healthy finger food of all kinds and keep it available so that she can eat whenever she wants (she may be more likely to realize she's hungry if she has food readily available and
sees it often). Some things my ds really likes his tray are: puffed corn (in the cereal aisle at the HFS), rice crackers, sliced peppers, cucumbers, apples, carrots, nuts and seeds, berries, pears, cheese. Of course, I don't know what your dd eats at this point, so choose what's appropriate.
A tasty and nutritious "pudding" can be prepared by pureeing a baked sweet potato with a little nut butter and milk of your choice.
Toddlers often like dips. Hummus and guacamole are good choices.
You may want to avoid unfermented soy products for the time being, because they can leach minerals from the body, which you don't want right now.
Here's a
thread about high calorie and nutritious foods where you might get some other ideas.
I know you weren't asking for other ideas, mainly just about the meat and raw diet, so if these ideas are things you're already implementing, please forgive me.
I hope your dd continues to get healthier and gain weight.
Christie
P.S. Dh suggested that eggs may be an addition to her diet that's less problematic for you. Maybe??