Raw and natural: eating like our ancestors
Tanja: I've been eating raw food for so long now that I can hardly remember what it was like before. Sandra: I also started eating this way in my late teens after it helped my father to improve his health. I couldn't imagine living any other way. Tanja: Our children have known nothing else since they were born. In summer we are almost self-sufficient thanks to our garden. Sandra: Depending on what the children fancy, we sometimes buy something extra, such as melons or exotic fruit. David: My favourite food is durian. Anna: Mine too! Tanja: The stinky fruit is the children's undisputed favourite. Probably because we eat it so rarely. Mia: My favourite is birthday cake. Sandra: The cake is a highlight for the children. I make a base of dates and nuts and a filling of fresh fruit and nuts.
The stinky fruit is the children's undisputed favourite.
Mother Tanja
Tanja: Raw food is defined as natural products that have not been heated above 40 degrees. We also eat dried meat, raw eggs from our chickens and raw milk, which Sandra processes into quark. Sandra: We eat everything in its natural form, the way our ancestors ate and wild animals still do today. This means that our food retains important enzymes and nutrients. Tanja: I can't really reconcile milk with myself because it's unnatural to drink breast milk from another species. Sandra: So far, the children have never expressed a desire to eat something they don't get at home. I wouldn't know how I would react.
Luca: I used to eat bread and pasta in secret at Grandma's house. Tanja: I didn't think it was so great that it was done in secret. There were discussions with my mum. Luca: Today I eat raw food out of conviction. My friends quickly realised that. I can eat with them without any problems: Everyone has a few apples and bananas at home. Sandra: Three of our children are home-schooled, David goes to school. When a child celebrates a birthday there, the teacher takes nuts for him. I would love it if we could keep our children away from industrialised food for a long time to come. Tanja: Of course we could say: we'll just cook the vegetables once. But we've seen from friends that the inhibition threshold to try other things then decreases. Raw food clearly specifies what's in it - as mums, we think it's great that sweet stuff and industrial food aren't included.
*Names of the children changed by the editors
More about nutrition for children:
- Mrs Dunitz-Scheer, do our children need to eat more vegetables?
How can we avoid fights at the dinner table? Should your children have a say in the shopping? Paediatrician and nutrition expert Marguerite Dunitz-Scheer talks about difficult eaters, children who suddenly want to lose weight and healthy eating behaviour. - When children don't like vegetables
Children might eat spaghetti every day, but they often grimace when it comes to vegetables. So that healthy eating at the family table doesn't become a battle, here are 10 important tips for parents whose children disdain healthy vegetables. And tricks on how to hide vegetables in food. - Yuck, fast food!
Burgers, pizza and iced tea: many children and teenagers like the things that drive adults to despair. Nutrition expert Marianne Botta knows tips and tricks on how to make fast food a little less appealing.
