12041 Towards an Organic Childhood

Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy. — Robert A. Heinlein

Throughout the iPermie text I have highlighted the importance of organic food and indeed, an organic lifestyle. Nowhere is this more important than when it comes to children.

From the time your child comes into the world, he or she is faced with a stew of toxic substances. You cannot protect your child from everything that might harm them but you can try.

A design for how you will manage the complicated efforts involved with detoxifying a child's lifestyle is essential for success. It helps if you've already started to detoxify your household.

Our school systems are little more than reproductive systems for a consumer society. According to some studies, as many as 2/3rds of all teenagers in the United States are afflicted with at least one, and sometimes several, of these conditions: high blood pressure, high blood glucose, high triglycerides, low HDL, waist size greater than 38 inches. One-third of all obese kids, ages 12 to 19, already have metabolic syndrome. Type II diabetes was once known as "adult-onset diabetes." Now it is found with increasing frequency among teenagers.

Food first!

Avoiding these kind of lifestyle diseases in our children starts before they are born, with the mother's diet during pregnancy. A well-balanced diet of organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy and meats from organically managed, free-ranging flocks and herds, sets the stage for three important development effects in babies and children:

  1. Establishes, and maintain, a taste preference for nutrient dense organic foods in children.

  2. Limits or eliminates dietary exposure to the 180 pesticides known to disrupt the functioning of the endocrine system.

  3. Prepares a healthy foundation within the child's body for the functioning of the endocrine system, which regulates issues like blood sugar, immune system functions, and lipids (fats) by promoting healthy patterns of cell differentiation and division.

    Mounting evidence links exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, including dozens of pesticides, to epigenetic changes that predispose a person to face, later in life, the challenges of living with overweight, obesity, and diabetes. In addition, science has now convincingly proven that, in the case of epigenetics and human development: The timing of exposures is just as important, and in some cases more important than the dose levels delivered to the developing embryo and fetus. — The Organic Center: That First Step.

Mothers should begin eating organic foods the moment they decide they want to become pregnant, if they are not already on an organic diet.

Making baby's food.

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends not serving a baby solid food until he or she is at least four months old and you can wait until six months. Prior to solid food, mother's breast milk is the best for baby.

You don't need much equipment. At its most basic, all you need is a fork to mash up the vegetables and fruits. A blender or food processor can be helpful.

The process is simple. Cook the vegetable, either by steaming or boiling until it is tender. Mash or puree. Let it cool a bit. Serve it to baby. Not rocket scientish at all.

Always make extra and freeze it in ice cube trays for convenient portions later.

Consult your doctor, your local La Leche League chapter, or one of the reference works in listed in the Additional Resources chapter for more information on how to introduce your baby to solid foods.

If you must use conventional produce, avoid those on the Environmental Working Groups "Dirty Dozen". It's OK to serve the "Clean 15" in conventional forms without buying organic. See http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/ for details. Always wash produce well before cooking or eating.

De-toxification of your home.

The arrival of a child requires "child-proofing" the home, since most homes have numerous deadly traps that a child can innocently trigger. From putting a finger into an unguarded electric outlet to pulling over a bookcase, parents must keep one step ahead of their child's developing abilities and mobility.

Besides obvious dangers, like electrical outlets, drawers, doors, piles of stuff, and etc., you also want to look for and eliminate toxic sources of pollution within your home. The sections on health and on hazards have information helpful to this process.

Use the Environmental Working Groups database on cleaning products to find non-toxic cleaning products to use around your child. http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners

Don't use commercial air fresheners (bad idea for everyone, not just children) or paraffin candles.

Plastic is a major toxic item in your home. It may not be possible to get it all out of your house, but that shouldn't stop you from trying.

Always prefer natural materials when it comes to toys, games, and decorations for a child's room.

Always use low VOC paints and finishes.

You may not always be able to make the best choice, but make as many best choices as you can.

Teach your children well.

We always want to do everything we can to protect our children. The older they get, however, the more responsibility falls upon them for maintaining their health.

From an early age, teach your children by example and by instruction, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Explain why we avoid non-organic fruits and vegetables and the dangers of pesticide exposure. Show them how to spend their money wisely when buying food outside of the home. Give them sound bytes to tell their friends if challenged about the food in their lunch boxes.

Empower them to control their own lives, make their own decisions, and to trust themselves.