Low-Carb Diets for Kids

Fad diets are usually inappropriate for children. Depriving their growing bodies of one or more macronutrients can have unwanted effects on normal growth and development. Thus, the majority of low-carb diets on the market are unsuitable for children. However, there are some restricted-carb diets that can keep a child's overall carbohydrate intake down while still ensuring that they receive all required nutrients.

Paleo Diet

The Paleo Diet was invented by family physician Dr. Ben Balzer and presents an interesting take on restricted-carb eating. Unlike a low-carb plan, where the dieter is instructed to keep his daily carb intake below a designated level, restricted-carb eating has no such prohibitions. Under a restricted carb plan, the dieter is allowed to consume any quantity of carbs he desired, but only certain types of carbs. This is hardly an unhealthy approach---quite the opposite, as the only carbs your child will consume while on the Paleo Diet are fruits and vegetables. There could hardly be anything more natural than that.

To follow the Paleo Diet's approach to nutrition, simply eliminate all of the following food types: grains, beans, potatoes, dairy, sugar, and added salt. Feed your child the following: chicken, fish, meat, eggs, fruit, vegetables, nuts and berries. The Paleo Diet is so named because it resembles the eating habits of our primitive ancestors, thus representing an efficient and healthy way of eating that has sustained our species and nourished our children for thousands of years.

Seven Habits

The only other low/restricted carb approach appropriate for children is the Seven Habits by Dr. John Berardi. Berardi is a nutritionist who has distilled his theories into seven basic rules that everyone should follow for maximum health. The Seven Habits are as follows:

1. Consume small meals every 2 to 3 hours--as it can be difficult to get children to eat with regularity, it is sufficient if they eat three main meals and a healthy snack or two during the day.
2. Consume lean protein with every meal--meat, fish, chicken or eggs.
3. Consume fruit and vegetables with every meal.
4. Consume carbs from only fruit and vegetables.
5. Consume at least 25 percent of your daily calories from fat--this is important to ensure healthy hormonal development.
6. Drink only zero-calorie beverages.
7. Consume only solid meals--no liquid nutrition.

Considerations

If it makes the transition easier on your child, apply one rule per week, adding additional rules until he or she is in compliance with either diet. Additionally, it would be best if the entire family adopted these plans, as children derive many of their habits from their parents and siblings. If they have to eat different food while the rest of the family continues on the same meal plan, it is likely that they will equate healthy food consumption with negativity, making it unlikely that they will ever develop sustained healthy eating habits.