Nutrition trends at the family table

In collaboration with Betty Bossi

Nora and her brother Felix enjoy spending time with their parents at the family table. The four of them regularly sit together in the evening and eat together. From the outside, it seems harmonious. If it weren't for the eternal discussions about carbohydrates, fat content, vegan alternatives and so on. At the moment, dad Daniel doesn't want to eat carbohydrates in the evening and wants to avoid fatty foods, while mum Rahel has been eating a vegan diet for a month.

Experts advise families to eat together as often as possible and to make getting together at the family table an integral part of everyday life, as eating together builds trust and creates space for exciting discussions and the opportunity to express personal concerns and questions. As parents, you can convey sustainable values and norms at the family table and strengthen your child's interaction with the world around them. However, when so many nutritional needs come together and no common «flavour denominator» is found, mealtimes can degenerate into stress and distance family members from each other.

As a mum or dad, there is nothing to stop you from choosing a «clean eating» diet in which you completely avoid industrially produced foods. However, even if you understandably want to try to introduce your child to your favoured diet, it is important that they can continue to choose from a wide range of foods themselves. Children should choose their own diet without being pushed in one direction by their parents. After all, it is extremely important for children to belong and not appear exotic. A child wants to be able to eat cake with their friends, even if it's not vegan, or grab a burger and chips at lunchtime.

We have never been as picky about food as we are today. More and more people are eating a vegetarian or vegan diet, while others are giving up gluten or lactose even without a diagnosed intolerance or allergy and feel better for it.

Adults and children have different needs

Studies show that children and adolescents also deal with the topic of nutrition at an early age, and you as parents can strongly influence your children with your own diet.

If you eat a low-carb diet and feel good about it, this does not automatically mean that this type of diet is also suitable for your child. The needs of children and adults differ considerably depending on their stage of life. Children and adolescents are in the process of growing and therefore usually have an increased need for energy, individual vitamins and minerals. Very rigid diets can lead to your child having a deficiency of certain nutrients and important developmental steps being impaired.

In addition to the physical effects, a judgement of food can have a strong influence on the relationship with food. For example, if carbohydrates are labelled as unhealthy or associated with obesity, this will influence your child's choices. It can happen that children then no longer put their plate together intuitively, but decide in favour of or against a food depending on the evaluation. However, if your child experiences an enjoyable and conscious approach to food, whether vegan, low carb or whatever, they will be able to develop a healthier relationship with food.
Let's assume that Nora now decides to go vegan too. Her mother's ethical and ecological motives have convinced her and her best friend has also been avoiding animal products for some time. In order to continue to take into account the needs of all family members, it may be worth drawing up a weekly plan that takes into account as many of the wishes and preferences of each individual as possible.

It is crucial to take children's dietary requirements seriously and not to categorically reject them. This sometimes means that you as a mum or dad also have to come to terms with this form of nutrition. A vegan diet in particular requires planning and combining different foods to make the meals even more nutritious. Be cooperative and open-minded, help to ensure that your child has everything they need and seek advice from specialists if you are unsure. Children often change their diets and preferences several times before sticking to one diet for the long term. This is also completely normal and can be supported by you as parents as long as there are no health risks.

Nutrition trends at a glance

The following dietary trends are currently the most popular. The motives for an alternative diet vary greatly. Religious, ethical, ecological and even health reasons can all play a role.

Low carb: The low carb method involves eating no or very few carbohydrates. Carbohydrate sources: Sugar, pasta, rice, couscous, bread, etc.

Clean eating: Clean eating means that no industrially processed products should be consumed, such as ready meals, fast food, white food etc: Ready meals, fast food, white flour products, products with refined sugar.

Vegan: In the vegan diet, no animal products are consumed.

Plant-based: Like the vegan diet, this diet is plant-based, and it also places great emphasis on unprocessed raw materials.

Paleo: Also known as the Stone Age diet. In the Paleo diet, meat, fish, vegetables, berries, mushrooms and herbs are the main ingredients on the menu, while milk and dairy products and processed cereal products are avoided.

Fasting: Fasting means eating nothing or only certain foods for a certain period of time. Intermittent fasting is the latest trend. This involves constantly alternating between normal food intake and fasting, e.g. on a daily basis or in phases lasting several hours.