by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Feb 20, 2026 | Food Allergies and Special Diets
Why Are Kids Picky Eaters? While training to become a Registered Dietitian, I learned all the “tricks” to deal with a picky eater.
OR SO I THOUGHT!
I was basically under the impression that picky eating was the result of poor parenting. HAAA! This is so much more of a complicated subject than I was led to believe.
Well, I'm here to tell you that reality finally set in the day my son was born.
That's right!
I couldn't breastfeed like I planned to because all of the book knowledge (AND WIC experience) didn't help me with my own unique problem. My son had a small mouth, a high palate, and it just wasn't going to work!
So, I dealt with it in the only way I knew. I pumped with a hospital-grade pump for 8 months (because the regular $200 pump wasn't effective, and I started to lose my supply). Breastmilk is so incredibly superior to formula (not to mention that Nathan projectile vomited the formula up the first and only time we tried to give it to him right after he was born), that I was determined he was going to get it one way or another.
WHY ARE KIDS PICKY EATERS?
The good news is that I learned things along the way that are helping me to encourage my son to eat a more healthy and varied diet.
It started with pumping for breastmilk for eight months to what I am continuing to do today. And I'm still learning.
My son, Nathan, is now 20 years old, and was diagnosed with autism at 12, after years of symptoms pointing to it. One of the symptoms being Sensory Processing Disorder.
Sensory Processing Disorder affects many areas. However, one area in particular is sensitivity to food textures. It took me a long time to realize how much of my son's pickiness was related to food texture, because prior to having my son, I had never even heard of Sensory Processing Disorder.
So, one of the most effective ways I have learned to help my son with his food-related sensory processing deficits is to:
Keep Foods Separate
Serving foods separately (as opposed to multi-texture casseroles, for example) encourages my son to try new foods. Foods, that when served as part of a mix, he wouldn't be willing to try.
A little more history…
When Nathan started eating solid foods, I did all of the “correct” things I was taught to do in school. I made everything from scratch, gave him whole grains, hid vegetables (at least tried to), made cute faces on bagels. You name it, I tried it.
Why are kids picky eaters?
My first clue that Nathan had texture issues with food was when I fed him pureed brown rice when he was six months old.
When Nathan was 6 months old, I gave him pureed brown rice and he gagged/spit it out. I thought it was simply because he didn't like it. In fact, it was one of my favorite stories for years. Because let's face it, pureed brown rice doesn't sound very tasty!
Obviously, he was too young to tell me any different. So, I left it as just “he doesn't like brown rice.” However, I'm convinced it was actually a texture issue that caused the gagging/spitting up. He actually likes rice now. Even though he complains when I give him brown rice, he will eat it as long as it has cheese on it.
And then there was the “trying to hide the vegetables trick.”
That was a good one! He could see the vegetables and he could feel them in his mouth. No way was that going to work. I have found one solution to this problem, though: Homemade pureed broccoli, potato or mushroom soups. He will eat these.
It's such a cute idea to make faces on your pancakes and bagels. However, my son was not impressed. He wouldn't touch the pancakes or bagels if they were decorated. Why? Because technically that makes them a combination food. So, if he wasn't interested in eating a bagel, putting a face on it only made it worse!
NO COMBO FOODS (or very few anyway)
Nathan is now 20 years old, and there are still many things he will not accept, especially if foods are mixed together. For example, Nathan likes broccoli, he likes pasta with alfredo sauce, and he likes chicken. However, I cannot serve the three as one dish. In fact, I can only serve two of those three things on the same plate (broccoli and chicken), and the pasta in a bowl.
Okay, okay! I COULD put those foods together.
However, he would loudly and vehemently complain, and it would add conflict to our already fragile-at-times relationship. Yes, I try to be happy that he eats those three things, even if it does mean more work for me.
So, I have discovered that separating most foods before serving goes a long way towards appeasing his pickiness. And it definitely increases the variety of foods he will eat.
There are exceptions to this rule, by the way. For example, he will eat the delicious rice casserole I make on Christmas. And he will eat the original Garden Burger, which is a combo of rice, oats, onions, mushrooms.
If it's healthy, stick with what they like.
For example, Nathan wants to eat broccoli every night. He also likes brussels sprouts and carrots, but brussels sprouts are expensive, so we don't have those all of the time. He complains when I give him carrots, though I still give them to him once a week or so. However, since broccoli is so good for him, I don't mind giving him broccoli most days.
And I give him lots of broccoli for the first serving, because I've discovered he'll never ask for more. In contrast, when I give him pasta or meat, I give him less, because I know he'll ask for more if he's still hungry. This is a great way to prevent excess weight gain.
Don't give up on trying new things.
Especially if there is an entire food group missing from their diet. I have been told that you have to try something like 30 times before you know whether you like it. In theory, that sounds great, so you should try it. I'm sure it works.
Can I be honest?
I have not had the patience to do that yet. However, Nathan eats something from every food group, so I haven't had to resort to this tactic. It takes a lot of perseverance. But I'm sure it's worth it. Click here for a great place to start if you're interested in trying the 30-time trick.
HAVE YOU TRIED THIS?
Because if you have, and you've succeeded, I am SERIOUS when I say I want to hear from you. Because I am not perfect and I definitely don't know everything. And I know that I can learn something from you, the readers.
Make sure your child is taking a good multivitamin with Iron.
Giving my son a multivitamin reassures me that he's getting at least most of the stuff he isn't getting through his diet. I just keep focusing on explaining why he should be eating this and that. And when he asks why he has to take that big old pill, I explain to him it's because he's not eating enough whole fruits and vegetables. I'm hoping eventually the light will come on.
A good multivitamin with Iron (one that is dye free, if possible) will supplement your child's diet and should be safe for most children. Taking individual supplements (for example, iron only or zinc only) can throw other vitamin and mineral levels in the body off balance.
Click here for another good multivitamin that will be appropriate for older kids and adults.
I do not recommend taking a specific nutrient supplement, without talking to your doctor first.
Here is an example of a typical day in Nathan's diet:
Breakfast
Cheese Quesadilla – Cheese melted on flour tortilla in microwave
100% Juice
Lunch
Chicken Leg/Garden Burger/Fish Sticks (Van De Camps are the best/highest quality I have found); taquitos or mini tacos
Fruit or avocado (Nathan likes plain avocado, and avocado is really good for you, including being high in magnesium).
Did I mention that my son doesn't eat the perfect diet?
Well, you have to pick your battles, and even as a dietitian, this can be a struggle. That's why multivitamins are so important.
BALANCE IS KEY
Whole grain (as much as I can get away with) pasta or rice with cheese
I have started using lentil pasta because Nathan likes it better than whole wheat pasta. Adding lentil pasta is an excellent nutritional choice on many levels. Lentils are a type of bean (legume). Thus, they have additional nutrients that grains, even whole grains, do not.
The only problem for us is that we have found only one brand that is acceptable. The other brands we have tried were just way too starchy. The brand we use is Lensi, and they sell it at Walmart. They have it at Amazon as well, though it's a lot more expensive than at Walmart. It is super high in protein, and of course, gluten-free. Plus, there are other bean pastas on the market today. The more variety in your child's diet, the better.
Fruit – white grapes, strawberries, blueberries, or watermelon
100% Juice Box -it's important to make sure you are buying 100% juice
Dinner
Chicken Leg/Garden Burger/Fish Sticks/Cod or Salmon
Pasta or rice with cheese or cheese sauce
Broccoli – Fresh only; Nathan won't eat frozen
Milk – Horizon Organic chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry–no artificial colors, lower in sugar than store brand chocolate milk
Snacks
Nonfat frozen yogurt or no sugar added ice cream for dessert
Plain tortilla or multi-Grain chips or Pretzels with string cheese – 9:00 snack -he's very consistent about this
Unfiltered Apple Juice or 100% orange juice (one 4-6 ounce serving each)
So, there it is. I would love to hear what you think, and would like it even more if you shared some of your ideas and things that have worked for you in dealing with your kid's pickiness!
Healthy Alternatives for Picky Eaters
Healthy Recipe Makeovers and Where to Start
Healthy Eating on a Budget
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Oct 1, 2024 | Food Allergies and Special Diets
Okay, so, let's get real. No matter how healthy we want to eat, no matter how much we want our kids to eat the perfect diet, no matter how much we want to avoid processed food, real life exhausts us sometimes.
Even the natural born chefs among us don't always feel like cooking.
And even the most frugal among us end up eating out eventually. Not only that, but like I mentioned in my last post on fast food, we don't just eat out for the food. We eat out to be social, to relax, to feel closer to our loved ones and our friends.
So, what do we do when we find ourselves in the “forbidden” restaurant? Sip on a lemon water? Pretend we're not hungry?
No! We choose healthy or we balance what we eat the rest of the day with what we eat at the restaurant.
Firstly, lets talk about balancing what we eat the rest of the day with what we eat at the restaurant.
When my family decides to eat out, we often eat at Sweet Tomato (Soupplantation). This is because (I'm laughing) Sweet Tomato is our son's favorite restaurant. Why? Because he likes the macaroni and cheese! I have to twist his arm to get him to eat a tablespoon of shredded carrots or a slice of cucumber with his macaroni and cheese, but he does drink apple juice (that is actually his preference).
Even at Sweet Tomato, the calories add up fast. I generally will eat some of the green salads and my favorite Broccoli Madness as well as a tad of Tuna Tarragon pasta salad. And the herb focaccia is fabulous! I like to try out the monthly soups, though there are a few classic favorites like cream of mushroom, chicken noodle that are my mainstays.
MyFitnessPal has most of the menu items from Sweet Tomato in their database, so I can estimate my calories eaten. Usually, when I eat there, it ends up being around 700 calories. This is over half of my calorie allowance when I don't work out.
When I eat at Sweet Tomato (or any other restaurant), I try to make sure I go to the gym and workout.
This increases my calorie allowance by an extra 300-500 calories. Also, at Sweet Tomato, the salads and soups have calorie and fat information next to the food. So you can estimate as you go, if you're into doing that.
So what else can we do when eat out to make sure we don't completely blow our diet?
Here are 10 healthy choices when eating out I have found to be helpful when eating out.
- Check the nutrition facts information on the restaurant's website. Restaurants are required to make nutrition and allergy information available to customers. 99.9% of restaurants nowadays have websites that you can access anywhere, including your mobile device.
- Choose the lower calorie option. For example, if you're at McDonalds, and you're itching for a hamburger, buy the smaller hamburger. You can also ask for no sauce. For example, with the Big Mac, you can save 90 calories by ordering it without the sauce.
- If you must have the high calorie option, eat half at the restaurant and save the other half for later.
- Order just the sandwich and a salad instead of French fries OR order just a salad.
- Pay special attention to calories in salads, however. Salads sometimes have more calories than a large cheeseburger, depending on what's on them.
- Use low calorie salad dressing or limit the amount of regular dressing you put on your salad.
- Order the sandwich without cheese.
- Drink water instead of soda.
- Remember that just because it's healthy doesn't mean it's lower in calories. For example, the Green Burrito Bean, Rice and Cheese burrito has more calories than a Carl's Famous Star with Cheese (Green Burrito and Carl's Jr exist together at many restaurants, in case you didn't know that).
- Remember that no matter what you eat, no matter how low calorie or low fat, if you're eating fast food, the sodium is going to be horrifically high. Remember that the next time you're tempted to eat out when you know you shouldn't.
Click here for a comparison chart of a few restaurant menu items that I put together to help get you started.
Check out this article to find out more about what attracts kids to fast food.
Need some ideas for meal prep at home? Fill out the form below and it will be sent to you immediately.
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Apr 6, 2024 | Nutrition and Health
In 2016, The United Nations declared Pulses as Superfoods. Four years later, they are still as healthy as ever. And they are also delicious, inexpensive, and easy to cook with.
If you're wondering what a pulse is, and you are also wondering what constitutes a “superfood,” then you've come to the right place.
First of all, a definition. Pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the legume family.
For example,
- lentils
- green peas
- split peas
- chickpeas (garbanzos)
Are all pulses.
Also, dried beans including
- kidney beans
- pintos
- and black beans
- Are pulses as well.
To put it simply, pulses are legumes (beans and peas), and they are highly nutritious.
Pulses as Superfoods
Why are pulses classified as superfoods? There are at least 10 reasons:
- High in Protein, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, and B vitamins
- High in Fiber
- Easy to Cook With
- Promote Sustainable Agriculture
- Decrease Greenhouse Gases
- Increase Soil Health
- Require Less Water than Other Crops
- Help with Weight Management
- Reduce Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer Risk
- Help to Increase Food Security
And pulses are delicious when prepared correctly. Because of their mild taste, they can be integrated into many dishes, even desserts.
Other Articles you Might Enjoy from Homeschooling Dietitian Mom
High Protein Meals (This post contains a printable recipe for kid-friendly pinto beans)
5 Signs You're Not Getting Enough Calcium in Your Diet
5 Reasons Why You Need Folate (This post contains a delicious Lentil Stew recipe I made years ago).
6 Reasons You Need More Vegetables in Your Diet
Foods High in Folate and B6
Not All Fats are Created Equal
Lactose Intolerance or Milk Allergy?
5 Ways You Can Use YouTube as a Homeschooling Resource
5 Exciting Ways to Travel to the Middle Ages
Reference
https://pulses.org/what-are-pulses
by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Feb 1, 2024 | Holidays and Special Events
10 Irresistible Valentine's Day Appetizers
As a Registered Dietitian who has a love for new recipes, I am excited to share with you some irresistible, healthy appetizer recipes I have found. Below are some hand-picked recipes from my favorite recipe websites. These recipes are sure to please! (None of the recipe sites are affiliates).
10 Irresistible Valentine's Day Appetizers
The key to delicious AND healthy is to find recipes that contain a fruit or vegetable. Also, recipes that contain nuts and lean meats, as well as poultry and fish, are good choices because they are sources of protein.
Taste of Home has simple, delicious, and oftentimes healthy recipes. Plus, they utilize everyday ingredients you're more likely to already have in your kitchen pantry. I receive regular emails from Taste of Home. I pick and choose recipes, depending on my needs and my mood. Though I haven't tried this recipe, I can imagine it in my mouth, and I have no doubt that I would like it.
If you like strawberries and cheese this is a no miss. Click to see the recipe here.
Of course, you don't have to use the same cheese that is in the recipe.
For example, I might switch out the blue cheese for feta cheese because I like feta cheese much more. Plus, feta cheese is likely to be less expensive. Not only that, but feta cheese can be used in other recipes you like.
For example, one of my favorite salad recipes includes black olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice dressings (with some basil, garlic and parsley) mixed with feta cheese.* YUMMY!
*By the way, you don't really need a recipe for this salad. Just mix equal amounts cucumbers and tomatoes, and add black olives to taste. For the dressing, just mix about 1/4 cup olive oil, 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/2 to 1 garlic clove, 1 teaspoon fresh or dried parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon dried (or 1/2 teaspoon fresh) basil, stir and mix with the vegetables. Add 4 ounces of feta cheese (plain or herbed or tomato basil are all delicious), mix again. Chill and serve.
One of the things I like the most about this “Greek Salad” recipe is that it has no lettuce, and thus doesn't wilt. So, it can keep in the refrigerator for several days and it will still taste good.
You also don't need to use the exact nut mentioned. Personally, I prefer pecans, which is what the recipe calls for. However, you can use walnuts or even remove the nuts completely, if you are concerned about allergies.
Some nut substitutions you could try are:
Pumpkin (unshelled are known as “pepitas”) or sunflower seeds; dried fruit such as apricots (amazing source of potassium) or mangos, cut up into little bits.
Be creative! 🙂
I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. If you like marinated artichoke hearts, you're going to love this one! And it's ridiculously simple!
This one calls for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese which is one of my absolute favorites! (Can you tell I love cheese)?! However, if you are concerned about the cost, or you can't find this type of cheese in your local store, you can always use basic Parmesan or Romano cheese.
It is true that cheese is high in saturated fat and calories. 🙁
However, when you use strong flavored cheeses, such as blue cheese, feta cheese, and hard cheeses, such as Parmesan, Asiago, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Romano Pecorino (another one of my favorites), a little goes a long way. For example, it usually only takes about 1/2 as much to give the cheesy flavor usually sought after when using cheese in a recipe.
As the saying goes, if you are able to tolerate dairy, then you can have your cheese and eat it too–or was that cake–oh well, you know what I mean! 😉
By the way, if you have a problem with dairy products or are casein-intolerant, you can use a casein free cheese such as the one here.
Click to take a look at this recipe here.
This one looks absolutely delicious as well! And dark chocolate, which is the type of chocolate recommended in the recipe, is good for you! Click here to read about the benefits of dark chocolate.
This is another recipe from AllRecipes.com. I find so many good recipes on this site! Anyway, what I like about this recipe, health-wise, is that it is made with dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and is lower in sugar than milk chocolate.
What I also like about this recipe is that it is simple and only requires 4 ingredients. It is also kid-friendly. Get the full recipe here.
This recipe is from Cooking Light.com, one of my all-time favorite recipe sites. One of the things I like about Cooking Light is that the recipes are lightened–but not enough to ruin the taste–usually. Also, Cooking Light employees Registered Dietitians and has tons of sound nutrition advice to offer. The only thing I don't like about Cooking Light.com's recipes is that oftentimes they call for odd or uncommon ingredients such as cherry extract (see Recipe 5 below). These types of ingredients are often hard to find. However, it is a great way to learn about new ingredients you may not have heard of before, which is a big plus!
Click to see the “100-Calorie Italian Soda Floats for Two” recipe here.
Also from CookingLight.com. Ladies, this is a perfect romantic dessert that you can share with your hubbies!
I bet they will just love these! (And you can be confident that you're not offering a dessert that's too high fat and calories). The only downside of this recipe is that it calls for cherry extract. I did a quick search on Amazon because I've never actually purchased cherry extract before. The good new is that Amazon has cherry extract for sale at a reasonable price.
We use Amazon.com all of the time in our house. It is so convenient, prices are often lower than our local stores, and if you have Amazon Prime, you get two-day FREE shipping with most orders!
So, from the convenience of your own home, you can order what you need, save money, time AND energy!
Of course, you can always check your local grocery store as well. But I think this recipe just might be worth the extra effort (and possibly cost) for a unique dessert for two for Valentine's Day. What do you think???? =)
By the way, you can also double, triple, or quadruple the recipe for a larger group, if you prefer! And forego the cherries, if no fresh cherries are available in your area, and you don't want to use maraschino cherries.
Click here for the “Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes” for Two recipe.
Okay, so these aren't all appetizers per se. But, let's face it, Valentine's Day is meant to be romantic. So, if you are feeling romantic and want to bless your other half, this salad will fit the bill just fine. This recipe also came from MyRecipes.com.
By the way, one of the REALLY COOL things about MyRecipes.com is that you can add your own ingredients and then do a search and to find recipes that match the ingredients you want to use.
I love simple, easy recipes, especially when they are healthy too! And this is exactly what I was looking for when I started searching for these 10 irresistible appetizers for Valentine's Day.
This delicious Tuscan Steak Salad recipe is just that too–simple, easy, and healthy!
All you need is strip steak (or another steak you prefer), a little fresh garlic and rosemary, Balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and Parmesan cheese. (Some of the other cheeses I mentioned above will work too)! Oh, and of course, your favorite salad greens.
Click here for the recipe.
One of the areas I often adjust when following recipes for salads is the type of salad greens I use. For example, I prefer baby spring greens. This recipe calls for Italian-Blend salad greens. And they might be just fine for you. However, pretty much any kind of greens will work for a recipe like this. So, even if your family prefers iceberg lettuce (hopefully not, because it's not high in nutrients), then you can even use that.
If you make separate salads for everyone, you can put different types of greens on each plate as well.
The point I'm trying to make is this: Salad recipes can easily be adjusted for amounts of ingredients without sacrificing taste. So, like I said before–be creative!!!
Click here for the Tuscan Steak Salad recipe.
I just adore salmon! Unfortunately, my hubby doesn't like it at all. So when we do serve fish, we usually serve a couple different kinds. Hubby prefers halibut. However, he also likes cod, which is significantly less expensive, so we usually cook both cod and salmon.
And the good news is that Nathan, our son, also likes fish! (In fact he likes octopus and squid, clams, crab, and pretty much any seafood he can get his hands on)! Did I mention that he's a picky eater?
Back to the recipe. This is a super simple recipe, and also only requires a few ingredients: spinach (fresh preferred but not absolutely necessary because it will be cooked), grape or cherry tomatoes (or cut-up Roma, or or even canned tomatoes will work), fresh garlic (again you can substitute garlic powder or jarred minced garlic, if you don't have fresh available), a little oil, salt and pepper, and voila!
As far as buying salmon goes. We prefer to buy our salmon vacuum-packed (click here to find out why frozen fish is oftentimes better than fresh). Also, if at all possible, I recommend that you buy Wild-Caught Salmon, as opposed to farm-raised. I know on the surface it may sound like the latter is more healthy, but the Wild-Caught is significantly better for you.
Unfortunately, wild-caught salmon is significantly more expensive as well. So you will have to decide based on your budget and family needs. We buy our salmon at Costco. And one thing is for sure, it is WAY cheaper than going to a restaurant to eat it!
Get the Salmon with Wilted Spinach recipe here.
These look so delicious! And they utilize already made biscuit dough, which can be found in the refrigerator section of your grocery store. This makes them low-stress, since the pastry part of appetizers tends to be the most difficult. I don't make a habit of recommending this sort of thing because I prefer homemade and natural over processed foods due to all of the additives in processed food.
However, if you know me, you know that I like to be balanced when it comes to diet. I'm not an “all or nothing” kind of girl. So, I think that for the special occasion of Valentine's Day, having the shortcut will make creating the appetizers much more fun and much less time consuming.
Did I mention that there are only five ingredients?
- Tomatoes
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Basil Pesto
- Refrigerated Tender Layer or Buttermilk Biscuit Dough
- Parmesan Cheese
- By the way, if you'd rather make the dough from scratch, go for it!!
Check out the Tomato Pesto Appetizers recipe here.
This is TOTAL Kid and Family Project waiting to happen! And I think you might be a little bit surprised to find out that a heart shaped pizza is way easier to make than you think!
I just checked out this website and discovered that all you have to do is buy a round Boboli shell and cut the circle with kitchen shears to create the heart shaped pizza. SO EASY!!!
And then you and your kids can pick your favorite ingredients and have a blast!
This would be a great way to use up some of the leftovers from the other recipes on this list as well. For example, the cheeses, tomatoes, and artichokes (artichokes are yummy on pizza)! Also, spinach and garlic are tasty on pizza as well. The garlic, in particular, will add a lot of flavor to the sauce you choose (which can be marinara or white or no sauce at all).
Check out this “How to Make Heart Shaped Pizzas” article for some other ideas.
I just HAD to include a Mexican dish to this list because besides Italian/Mediterranean food, my favorite is Mexican food. I did a quick search and came up with this adorable and original idea. And I think this is an awesome way to end my list of 10 Irresistible Valentine's Day Appetizers.
The only thing that will be truly challenging about making this recipe is finding the 4 inch springform pans that the Chicken Enchilada Hearts recipe calls for. However, I was able to find some on Amazon. And the really cool thing is that once you buy them, you can use them again and again!
Check out the springform pans here.
So, there you are: 10 Irresistible Valentine's Day Appetizers. I hope you enjoy them and that they inspire you to try some new and unique recipes of your own!
Whatever you do this Valentine's day, whether it's eating out or staying in, I hope that you have an awesome time. And I also hope that you will let me know what you think by emailing me at: debbiesuerd@homeschoolingdietititianmom.com or commenting below.
Thanks for reading and Happy Valentine's Day!!!
Check out these adorable coloring valentines here.
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by Deborah Hanyon, MPH, RDN, ACE-CHC | Aug 24, 2020 | Creation Education Resources
Is the Paleo Diet Biblical?
I have always scratched my head every time I meet a Christian who claims to follow the paleo diet. My reasoning is based on the fact that the paleo diet has evolutionary pre-suppositions. Let me explain.
(Post may contain affiliate links).
Is the paleo diet biblical? Strictly speaking, the answer is “no.”
First, let's discover together the original basis of the paleo diet.
The paleo diet is also known as the stone-age or caveman diet. “Paleo” is short for Paleolithic.
This is defined as
“A very long period of human prehistory, extending from the first tool-using hominids at least 2.6 million years ago, all the way up until around 10,000 BP.”
This diet assumes what people during this time period ate. For example, it is assumed that the food “paleolithic era” people ate was raw, because they hadn't discovered fire yet. Thus, it is assumed that their diet consisted of raw animal meat, fruits, and vegetables.
From the evolutionary perspective, people living during the paleolithic time period were “primitive.” In fact, according to the theory people hadn't discovered fire and thus were eating everything raw.
According to the paleolithic theory, everything eaten was raw and unprocessed. Thus, it is assumed that grains, refined sugars, table salt, and dairy weren’t part of the diet.
You should take note of the time periods mentioned. The “10,000 BP” refers to “Before Present.” It is also supposedly the time when the “agricultural period” began.
I want to be clear when I say that before “10,000 BP” NO HISTORY was written. Hence, the term “pre-history” or “prehistoric.”
This is an especially crucial point because this is when the scientist, archaeologist, or anthropologist has to start speculating because history wasn't written down before “10,000 BP.”
Fossils that are dug up don't have ages written on them, for example. And neither do most archaeological artifacts. So, it's important to remember that this is when the true speculation begins regarding how much time has passed and how much “primitive” humans actually knew.
From a biblical creationist point of view, we need to eliminate the “primitive” aspect and the “millions of years ago,” when we discuss the Bible, because we know that humans were created in the image of God less than 10,000 years ago.
Now, let's look at what the Bible says about diet. For example,
In Genesis 1, God said:
“Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. (Gen. 1:29–30)
The paleo diet does not allow any beans or peas (legumes), or cereal grains. I'm thinking they were included in the original mandate since they come from plants that yield seeds.
Then after the flood, when Noah and his family came off the ark, God gave further direction:
“The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” (Genesis 9:2-3)
We can also evaluate what people during Bible days ate based on actual accounts. For example,
Prior to Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed, Abraham was visited by three angels. Genesis 18:8 tells us what he served the men:
“Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender, choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and he set them before the men and stood by them under the tree as they ate.” (Genesis 18:8)
The paleo diet does not allow dairy products.
The Song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32:1-43) states:
“He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag, curds of cows, and milk of the flock, with fat of lambs, and rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the finest of the wheat– And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.” (Deuteronomy 32:13-14)
Every food I can think of is mentioned somewhere in the Bible. Below are just a few examples:
Spices:
- Anise
- Coriander
- Cinnamon
- Dill
Fruits:
- Apples
- Dates
- Figs
- Grapes
- Melons
- Pomegranates
Vegetables and Legumes:
Grains:
- Barley
- Bread (Miraculous fish and bread provision–mentioned SEVEN times in bible)?
- Corn
- Millet
- Spelt
- Wheat
Click here for an exhaustive list of foods mentioned in the Bible.
Of course, many foods today are quite different, due to various human “improvements.” For example, genetic engineering (GMO) and hybridization.
It is interesting that God warns people in the Old Testament not to mix seeds of two different plants.
“Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.” (Deuteronomy 22:9)
In Leviticus 19:19, the warning is repeated and includes forbidding the mating of two distinct kinds of animals:
“‘Keep my decrees. “‘Do not mate distinct kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed…'”
Mankind in his attempts to “improve” upon nature is creating known and unknown problems. I believe modern day processing, which involves pesticides, pest control methods, hybridization, irradiation, GMO, and the like, is a big part of the reason for the health problems of so many.
For example,
Evidence suggests that the increase in gluten intolerance and wheat sensitivity is related to the hybridization of wheat.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/is-gmo-wheat-causing-increases-in-gluten-issues-562530
This may help to explain why many people feel better when they remove grains from the diet. It's not necessarily the gluten, though gluten can cause problems.
Another potential key to the puzzle is that we eat a far less variety of grains than we did 100 years ago. And of course, people are much less likely to consume whole grains in sufficient amounts than they were 100 years ago as well.
So, to sum it up. The Bible clearly shows that a variety of foods were eaten. As Christians, we know that mankind was not “primitive” in the early stages of life on earth. We also know that many things are being done to the foods in our current supply and that these things are causing a large percentage of the problems we are seeing today.
So, is the “Paleo diet” biblical?
Can a diet that is based on evolutionary suppositions improve the health of people when it is diametrically opposed to the very things the Bible teaches? I think not.
Instead, what we should do, if we are concerned about the foods we eat, is try to eat organic and non-GMO as much as possible. And of course, avoid any foods that are known to be intolerable.
When we start limiting the variety of foods we are eating, however, we are in effect limiting our access to the potential nutrients those foods contain. God created Vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds, and grains for us to enjoy from the beginning of time. These foods contain important nutrients that are often low in people's diets, including iron and folate.
https://foodinsight.org/whole-grains-fact-sheet/
The reasoning behind the paleo diet ignores this fact. And when you start with a faulty foundation, you are likely to come to faulty conclusions.
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