A friend of mine is doing Atkins and is going to have her 11yr. old son eating the same way as she is. She asked me if it would be okay. I told her she needed to discuss it with her son's doctor. Does anyone here know of any children who are doing the Atkins and what doctors say about it?

Bevben

My kids aren't doing Atkins per say, but they are followinmg a much lower carb lifestyle than before. I really limit their intake of sugar, etc., and make sure they snack on fruits and veggies instead. I see no reason why they should eat high carb junk food.

Jen
175/129/120

Here's Dr. Atkins reply to How appropriate is the Atkins Nutritional ApproachTM for adolescents?


The most important point is that low carbing for a child under 12 should only be done with medical supervision.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

My personal opinion would be to have children eat lots of good LC veggies, no sugar, normal amounts of protein, whole grains, nuts, unprocessed cheeses and LC fruits. Milk, in my opinion, is for baby cows, so I am always against giving kids milk. There are plenty of milk alternatives, especially Soy Slender, which is sweetened with Splenda and comes in vanilla and chocolate. I love it.

If I had it to do over again, I would have fed my children VERY differently. I wouldn't have given them fruit juice, thinking it was healthy. It's mostly sugar. I wouldn't have given them fruit roll-ups, thinking they were healthy. They are mostly sugar. I wouldn't have allowed them to have chips. I would have had them eat nuts instead. I woulda, I woulda, I woulda. I wish I COULD go back and do it over again, but I can't, so now as adults, I have to re-educate them.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Barb, I don't think it makes sense to worry about it. I fed my kids healthy foods--no sugar, fresh fruits and veggies, etc.

And then the first one started Kindergarten. And found out how other kids eat. And about Halloween. We don't have total control over the kids, and we really shouldn't. They have to learn to make their own health choices.

I grew up in the country with good fresh foods. And yet, I couldn't wait to get to the candy store with my allowance.

If you're the main cook for the family, you know you'll be feeding them better meals now that you're eating healthier yourself.

Well, Terra, don't worry, I'm not fretting over it, but I just have a little regret. As Maya Angelou says, "I did the best I could and when I knew better, I did better." Problem is....they're alllll grown and out of the house. We did have grandkiddies over tonight (for a sleepover) and we fed them our normal food. I gave them my sugar free ice cream and a half of an Atkins brownie each for dessert. They had s/f juice, veggies and meat. So when THAT opportunity lends itself, I feed them better.

Oh and the one with ADHD, does sooooooo much better.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Barb,
I give my dd what you said. I don't deprive her, she still has candy sometimes but mostly she eats very healthy. As a matter of fact we were shopping the other day and she picked out s/f syrup on her own. I don't want to make her sensitive to weight, she is in the 90th percentile on the growth chart. Tall, big boned and solid. I just try and feed her healthy.

Kameron
198/186.6/155 16/16/10 size goal

Always best with doctor's approval. I feel that the word diet should not be mentioned to a child. Just teaching a child to make good choices at this age is the most helpful thing you can do.

Take care~
Susan

LCE Member since 01/02

I feed my kids "lower carb" and have for 3 years now. It has made a tremendous health difference for them. They used to really suffer with allergies/illness. Now, my kids are some of the healthiest, if not the healthiest at our church. They rarely get sick.

Know when they do? After they've had sugar. Every time...

I only let them have sugar on rare occassions and that with a meal. For candy, they get sugar free.

They eat what would be like an Atkins maintenance diet and when we have sugar they do it like a CAD reward meal.

My kids are long and lean. They do not need to lose weight. If there is a weight issue with a child, then of course, consult a physician -- preferrably one that supports low carb!

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2