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Disease-Free Living Through Fitness and Nutrition

ARTICLES


Raising Healthy Babies
Hallelujah Acres Program for Babies and Children

by Rhonda Malkmus

Birth Through 24 Months Mother's breast milk is God's plan for nourishing infants and is always preferred. It should be the primary source of nourishment for the child for at least 18 to 24 months. Human breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, hormones, enzymes, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates and immune system factors. Expressed milk can be refrigerated up to 24 hours.

If breastfeeding is not an option, raw goat's milk is an acceptable substitute. Goat's milk is similar to human breast milk in composition. However, goat's milk should be diluted 50-50 with distilled water as the protein content is slightly higher than that in mother's milk. Goat's milk keeps about four days in the refrigerator.

If neither of the above are available, well-strained raw almond milk, diluted Barleygreen and/or well strained, diluted carrot juice may be used.

Birth until the Front Teeth Begin to Appear As early as one or two months, raw, freshly-extracted carrot juice, diluted with one part carrot juice to 3 parts distilled water can be introduced in small quantities (1/4 tsp.) at first, and then slowly increased. Juices need to be well-strained through a very fine stainless steel strainer. By age 6 months, serving amount can be increased to as much as 4 ounces. Barleygreen (1/4 tsp) diluted in distilled water, can also be introduced, along with the carrot juice. As the child grows and develops, the amount of Barleygreen can gradually be increased.

If the child develops loose stools, the juices may be too strong and should be diluted with more distilled water. For best assimilation, schedule the juices at least 30 minutes before breastfeeding or two hours after.

Remember mother's milk is still the primary food and it is important to note that if large volumes of juices are given, the child may not wish to nurse as often, which will eventually decrease mother's milk supply and short-change the child's nutritional intake.

Cow's milk and soy products are not recommended. Babies cannot digest them and often develop allergic reactions.

After Front Teeth Begin To Appear Breast feeding, carrot juice and Barleygreen should still be the main sources of food!

Children are, however, born with God-given instincts and they will let you know when it is time to add some solid foods. If a child is not satisfied with breast milk alone, if the baby cries after feeding for no apparent reason, or if the child begins to chew on mother's breast, it is a signal that fresh (organic when possible) ripe fruit, can now be added. It is important to remember, however, that solid foods introduced too early will decrease the babies desire to nurse.

When introducing babies to solid food, it is vitally important to teach them to take small bites and chew (masticate) their food well. As a child begins to chew, fresh fruit helps develop brain and neurological systems. Offer small (1/4 tsp.) portions once a day of raw apple sauce. Or you may mash freshly prepared, very ripe bananas. Mashed peaches, pears, papaya and avocados are also excellent choices.

It is important to remember that when introducing a baby to one of these fruits, only one kind should be introduced at a time. No other new food should then be introduced for at least a week to allow the child's system a chance to adapt. These fruits can be grated or pureed in your Champion or Green Power juicer. Over a period of months, work up to as much as 40 percent raw fruits. Mother's milk should continue to be the largest percentage of nutritional intake.

Note: When a child is cutting teeth, dry whole grain toast may be given for them to "chew" on. Never leave children unattended while food is within reach, as they may eat too big of a bite and choke.

When Molars Appear Mother's milk is still the primary source of nutrition.

As the molars start coming in, vegetables may be slowly introduced in a pureed form to the baby's diet. A blended salad may be made in a blender, Green Power or Champion Juicer with avocado, a small amount of fresh carrot juice or distilled water, fresh greens, and a small amount of fresh, organic apple may be added for sweetness. To add variety, different greens and vegetables may be used, which will provide additional essential nutrients necessary for healthy babies.

Finger foods should continue to be soft, such as very ripe peeled fruit or soaked dehydrated fruit cut into a bite-sized piece (one piece is usually sufficient). Organic raisins, dates and figs are very high in sugar, which promotes tooth decay; therefore, use sparingly until a child is old enough to brush and floss their teeth with a little help!

Acid fruits such as tomatoes, oranges, grapefruit and other citrus and berries should not be given to children for at least the first 12 to 14 months, and then only sparingly. Large amounts of citrus fruits can actually eat into the enamel that coats their teeth.

When All Teeth Are In After all the teeth are in, you can slowly start weaning the child from breast milk; however, it is important to continue carrot juice and Barleygreen. Now that all their teeth are in, cooked foods can slowly be introduced into the child's diet. However, we never want to reach a higher percentage of cooked food vs. raw food in their diet then 25 percent.

When a child is being weaned, add new semi-solid foods to the diet. Start with small portions at no more than one meal per day. Add one new food at a time with no other new food being introduced for at least one week. Pureed vegetables at first, later blended or those processed in a food processor, can be used for a more coarse consistency. Serve food at room or warm temperatures never hot or cold. As the child is able to handle new foods, vegetables like sweet potatoes, squash and beets can be added, as well as grains like brown rice, millet, quinoa, barley and oatmeal.

Baby foods should never be seasoned with salt, spices, sugar, oil or butter. The cooked portion should never exceed 25 percent of the daily diet.

Uncooked grain cereals made in a blender or food processor can be slowly introduced into the diet. To prepare, grind grain in a blender, coffee mill or Vita Mix, place raw cereal in a bowl, add enough distilled water to cover and allow to soak overnight. The next morning, place the raw cereal in a bowl, adding nut or banana milk, distilled water or fruit juice to thin, if necessary, and serve at room temperature. Additional nut milk, banana milk or fruit juice may be added when serving.

If a child does not accept a new food, don't force it. Simply wait a few weeks and try it again. Stomach pain after eating indicates the food was not properly chewed or the digestive system is not yet ready to handle this new food. If you notice that food is passing through the system whole, go back to pureeing the baby's food for a few weeks and then try again. Remember, it takes time for a baby's digestive system to develop.

Hint: To prevent accidental choking, children should also be taught never to run or play with food in their mouth.

After the Age of Weaning A child can be given a modified Hallelujah Diet three meals per day, if required. Gradually include whole grain cereals and breads, almond butter, legumes and whole grain pastas. Food may still need to be cut into small pieces to make the child's transition to whole foods easier. If snacks are given, they should be natural foods (eg. apples, pears, grapes, celery and carrot sticks, etc.) and should contain no added sugar. If the child is not given "junk food," there will be no need to worry about "spoiling a child's appetite."

After the age of weaning, a child's diet should include the following:

Barleygreen: As the child continues to grow, the vital nutrients found in Barelygreen are essential.

Freshly extracted carrot juice: At least two or three servings per day. As the child grows, slowly increase the amount to four to six ounces per serving.

Vegetables: Three or more servings a day. At least one of the servings should be raw, dark green, leafy vegetables.

Note: Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens, beet greens, mustard greens and kale should always be served raw. When cooked, the oxalic acid contained in them is converted to a harmful form that causes the body to lose calcium and can also cause inorganic oxalic acid crystals to form in the kidneys, according to Dr. N.W. Walker.

Also, beets are cleansers and should be used sparingly during early childhood.

Fruits: Two to four pieces of raw fruit per day. Dehydrated fruits (not preserved with sulphur), preferably soaked in distilled water, may be used sparingly.

Select one of the following groups: Legumes, whole grains and starches or nuts and seeds, and provide one or two servings per day.

Legumes (anything that grows in a pod): Serving size should be no more than four ounces.

Whole Grains and Starches: This category includes whole grain breads and whole grain cereals, except wheat. Serving size should be no more than four ounces.

Nuts and seeds: Almonds and sunflower seeds are most preferred. Other nuts and seeds should be used sparingly. Serving size should be no more than one ounce.

Never serve liquid with meals. Fruit, vegetable and green drinks can be given between meals. All juices should be freshly-extracted so all nutrients will be alive. All juices found in containers in your supermarket have been pasteurized (enzymes destroyed) so they will have a long shelf life.

Foods to Be Avoided:
All animal products (flesh foods, dairy products, eggs), white flour, salt, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners and coloring agents, heated oils, cashews and all nuts except almonds. Wheat products should be used sparingly as they are acid-forming and leave an acid rather than the desired alkaline ash.

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