My 20 Month Old Won't Eat Raw Foods!!

[Tizara]

I have been following the menu guidelines in Alissa's book (Living On Live Food) for about two weeks now, but I am running into the same problems I always seem to have when I try to go 100% raw. First of all, I am still nursing a 20 month old daughter. Because of this, I am incorporating raw milk into the diet, because we are lucky enough to have a local certified raw organic dairy. She won't drink milk, and she hardly eats anything. She does not like raw food very much, except for some fruits.

Whenever I start a raw food program, I feel very fatigued and weak. My 11 year old son loves the diet, but my daughter and I are not doing so well. I do not want to go off this diet again, but I'm afraid we're (my daughter and I) not getting enough from our food. I've tried to eat more, but that doesn't really help. The worst is, my milk supply is diminishing and as I said earlier, my daughter still relies on breastfeeding as her primary food source. I've thought about weaning her, and maybe keeping some cooked food going for her, but I really don't want to do that.

I am not understanding why this diet has worked such wonders for so many people, but I don't feel better when I do it (please excuse the whining)! Logically, and intuitively I know the raw diet/lifestyle the best thing to do. I really need help, so I can do this thing the right way this time. I am on week two of Alissa's diet plan (from the book) right now and I really love all her recipes so far. I keep feeling like I need more carbs or something. If anyone has direct or indirect experience with lactating moms, and babies I would love to have your advice about what does and doesn't work.

Thank you so much (in advance)!
Tizara
Mesa, Arizona

[Lauradee]

hi :)

first off, there is not enough info here

ii will do the best i can to help

when my children were that age, i ffed them mashed raw banannas and

applesause

when starting out raw, i experianced extreme fatigue because

of detox.

the body needs time to adjust to such a radical change

give it time

drink alot of dark green leafy smoothies to help you

nuts and seeds are heavier and may help the tiredness

it did for me and eventually the fatigue went away

becaue i wan't gettting enough concentrated fats that nuts and seed

provide. avacados help, too

good luck.

:) laura

[Rawkinlocs]

It sounds like she is gravitating to what foods she should...fruits. IMHO, don't attempt to give her milk, raw/organic or not (see http://notmilk.com)

I nursed my son way past 20 months...is she healthy and thriving on her mostly breastmilk diet? If so, why fix what isn't broken?

Let her nurse and let her eat the raw foods she gravitates towards. As Lauradee said, try smoothies with her...don't try to make her eat prepared raw meals IF that is what you're doing. Stick with simple foods and trust that with those foods she chooses, coupled with your 'mommmy milk' she is getting what she needs.

What all raw foods have you attempted to give her that she doesn't like?

Will she eat almond butter on bananas or anything for that matter?

How about raw crackers?

You can also make raw cookies for her as well

I like Lauradee's suggestion of mashed bananas and applesauce (that YOU make yourself by simply blending skinned apples and maybe add a tiny bit of lemon juice or not)

I just read somewhere on this forum that parsley is excellent for milk production...try making some fruit smoothies and adding fresh parsley (blend WELL!) and perhaps even some sesame seeds for an extra calcium boost or when you make your salads, add fresh parsley

The fatigue you feel at the start of eating raw is quite common. You have to try and press your way beyond that and not give up. When you can, rest. Your body is making some major adjustments...it will not stay this way if you persevere!

[karenisraw]

I don't know if you are getting enough fats and proteins. I would recommend 1-2 tablespoons raw unrefined organic coconut oil per day for energy. That is what my raw vegan doctor recommends. I have more energy than I really need because of it.


k
:p :p :p

[Tizara]

Thanks to everyone who answered my post. I didn't have a lot of time to go into details before, but basically I've tried just about everything I know of (for my daughter to eat) - from smoothies to fruit purees to fruit roll-ups, flax crackers, dehydrated cookies, sprouted nut & grain cereals, nut milks, etc. - you name it I've probably tried it.

I am mostly concerned about my diminishing milk supply - I will try the suggestion of adding parsley to juice and smoothies - Thanks! I must add though, that the raw milk does seem to help increase my milk supply a little. I was kind of hoping someone else may have had this problem (while on a raw diet) and had advice on how to overcome it.

This has been a struggle for over a year for us, and Alissa recipes were very appealing to me because they seem like good transition foods. I know I'm detoxing, and that's partially to blame for the lack of energy. But I don't know why I'm producing less milk. I can tell because I always had "forceful letdown" before, and now there's barely any sensation. Plus, my daughter wants to nurse about every hour instead of every 2-3 hours.

Last summer, we were mostly raw and she ate a lot of fruit then, but it discolored her teeth pretty badly. Her dentist said the staining was from bacteria, and was caused by a combination of diet and genetics. I was pretty shocked because I thought we would all be so healthy from a high fruit diet. Fortunately, her teeth aren't decayed, but they look really bad.

Because of that experience, I don't want her to eat too much fruit and I was looking for a way to incorporate more greens and nuts without having to add fruit, as in smoothies. I don't want her to experience any nutritional deficiencies just because I want to be on an all raw diet. Maybe I should just not try to put her on an all raw diet at all, or maybe now isn't a good time for me to do it either.

[Rawkinlocs]

Now is the PERFECT time to be on a raw diet. She will not become deficient. It takes a long time (years I think) before deficiencies will show up...by then she will be eating way more raw than she eats now.

As for her teeth being stained, fruit didn't cause that. Now, perhaps rinsing her mouth or simply having her drink water after consuming fruit will help...but your dentist was...well...I won't go there. But I'm almost sure it was something else that caused it. In fact, my 3-year old had some minor staining on the two front ones...it was WORSE when I was still giving him some SAD foods...now that he's been eating mostly raw (and lots of fruit) I kid you not that the staining seems to have lightened up!

Fruit is a natural food for (wo)man. Don't fear it...your baby knows and again is gravitating to what is natural for her to eat and it's great that she wants it whole and not necessarily pureed...nothing wrong with that.

Please take it from someone who WISHES she had started her 4 children out on raw from the breast! I am in such a struggle with my 2 eldest children...but my younger one that I mentioned had a better chance thankfully. My third child....she's kinda "there" but is still very accustomed to the "old way" of eating.

As she gets older her tastes will steadily change...don't give up on those foods you tried and she didn't like as she may one day be very receptive to them. Just re-introduce them to her at different intervals...but for now, she is fine IMHO.

Now about your milk...try the parsley. I didn't have that problem and therefore cannot give you much advice on it...I didn't do anything special to increase or keep my milk supply up...just ate raw. But I am sure someone will have some advice for you...in fact...I believe there was a discussion about this very subject...I will search for you and if I find it, I'll post the link!

Don't give up...RAW IS the best thing you can do for you and your baby right now.

[Rawkinlocs]

Here ya go Mom! :D

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305&highlight=breast+milk

[Rawkinlocs]

OH...also consider some warm (not boiling hot) Red Rasberry Leaf Tea as it is also said to aid in milk production.

[Amberly]

Green green green is great for lactating. It works for cows! :D

[Rawkinlocs]

Green green green is great for lactating. It works for cows! :D

GREAT point Amberly!! :D :D

[Live Free]

I read on another post that fenugreek was supposed to help the breast and perhaps milk production.

I wish I had known that before because I would have tried those sprouts to improve my milk production. I unfortunately couldnt nurse. It was very disheartning.

I didnt look at the link that Rawkinlocs put up but maybe they mention it on that link. Search for Fenugreek on this board you will see the link

[Tizara]

I guess what disturbs me is that my milk is decreasing in the first place, coinciding exactly with starting on 100% raw food. I have never had to take any special foods or herbs in the past to help increase my milk production. The only thing I've done is to consume more calories, which is I'm sure what the problem is now - I'm just not getting enough calories. I think I've found a solution though, and I seem to be getting back on track.

[oceanluv]

I guess what disturbs me is that my milk is decreasing in the first place, coinciding exactly with starting on 100% raw food. I have never had to take any special foods or herbs in the past to help increase my milk production. The only thing I've done is to consume more calories, which is I'm sure what the problem is now - I'm just not getting enough calories. I think I've found a solution though, and I seem to be getting back on track.
Hi, could you be taking in less fluids, since you have started the raw foods? I think it is more about fluids than food. You might also consult your local La Leche league, they would be happy to help. :)