Feeding Children for Lifelong Health - Kolleen Mitchell, L.Ac.

The most common childhood health issues revolve around the digestion and the lung or immune function. Vomiting, fevers, diarrhea, constipation, gas, colic, colds, flus all occur in these two systems. As parents, we want to do the best we can to transition through and even prevent these natural occurrences. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views fevers and colds as positive signs of constitutional strength as long as they resolve completely and quickly. A healthy child may spike a fever now and again and this is a positive sign that their “defensive qi” is working well. What is not seen as positive, however, are recurrent issues that never truly resolve but rather linger at low levels such as chronic phlegm, ear infections, or any other lingering or low level symptoms. TCM seeks to harmonize and optimize the digestion thus supporting the “defensive qi” and immune function. We can support the vital energy we were born with by attending to our diets and lifestyles.

The Oven: The Spleen and Stomach are considered our digestive system in TCM. They “cook”, or digest our food and nutrients. The concept is that the oven needs to be warm and dry. Trying to cook raw foods, energetically cold foods (soy), iced foods, all require the oven to use more energy and can weaken the fire. The optimal diet, therefore, is one that allows this digestive "oven" to work easily and efficiently. Teaching children the basics of healthy eating early on helps them avoid not only a myriad of childhood illnesses, but also helps them prevent more serious chronic diseases later on.

The Pediatric Diet (Good for adults too!) For infants and toddlers, breastfeeding as a primary nutrition source is ideal. Until children are mostly weaned, mom should consider following these guidelines as well in order to insure easily digestible breast milk. When introducing your little one to the foods the world has to offer, remember this little digestive system is immature and weak. Their foods should be kept as simple as possible.

• Begin introducing solid foods by trying simple, easy to digest foods like avocados, pear, sweet potato and well-cooked grains like rice, quinoa and millet. Introduce foods one at a time, so negative reactions can be noted.
• Remember to eventually introduce a variety of flavors into your child's diet. All kids love sweet flavors like bananas and oranges, but don't forget about sour, salty and even bitter. They might surprise you by eating miso soup, cooked greens or even sardines! Introducing different flavors now will encourage your kids eat a more varied diet later.
• Limit the raw foods and chilled or iced foods your kids eat. Putting cold foods into the soup pot requires you to use more energy to "cook" and digest the food. In the long run, this can weaken the digestive system and lead to problems like chronic runny nose and allergies.
• Try to eat seasonally, eating more fresh fruits and veggies in the summer, and more soups and stews in the winter.
• Try to avoid or delay introducing refined sugars (even organic ones!) into your child's diet.
• Try to avoid, limit or dilute fruit juices, as they have a high sugar content, and can train little ones to reject more complicated tastes. Similarly, too many bananas, oranges and grapes provide too much of that sweet flavor that can engender mucous and phlegm. Add variety to the fruit bowl with berries and melons.
• Definitely avoid artificial flavors and colors, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils (you'll have to become an avid label reader to avoid these!) Taking this one step may help your child avoid the childhood obesity epidemic we're seeing in America.
• At least until they are three or four, try to avoid cow's milk in your baby's diet. Dairy products "dampen" the digestive flame and can lead to an excess of mucus and phlegm, which contributes to respiratory problems, allergies, ear infections and digestive issues. Try goat milk, rice milk and almond milk as substitutes.
• Finally, try not to overfeed your children. Even the most healthy food can be damaging to the system in large amounts, and children's little stomachs can be easily overwhelmed. Overfeeding can cause food to "stagnate" in the digestive system leading to constipation, sleeping problems or reflux.

These are all things to note as you explore changing your idea of a healthy diet. Traditional Chinese Dietary therapy can be applied easily in a modern world. The optimal digestion would be event-free, meaning no gas or bloating. The stools would ideally be formed, complete, and a normal BM brown color and odor. As your child transitions into the realm of table food, try to note how new foods affect his or her digestion...what is not digested, what causes more gas, more reflux, or phlegm. This will be helpful in coming up with foods your baby can utilize. Registered Nutritionists are also helpful support in these changes. Also, your practitioner can work with you on strategies with acupuncture, moxa, herbs, and diet to optimize your little one’s health.