I would like to share the following article with you on how to start eating paleo with children and/or allergies. I’ll tell you a few ways I’ve overcome not being able to use eggs, fish, dairy, wheat, and all the bad or allergy-sensitive foods that cause problems for our family members. I want to encourage you to keep going and don’t give up no matter what.

I am a mother of two small children; my beautiful 5 year old daughter and my sweet 19 month old son. Like any parent, I only want the best for them. I have been battling allergic reactions with them as they are very sensitive to so many little things, luckily they are not life threatening but you never want to see your little one suffer.

I have recently decided to implement a much stricter paleo diet in our home to improve not only our health but also our allergy issues. I must say that it is interesting, difficult and exhausting at times, but most of all rewarding and fun! I have had to try and fail many recipes to get the ones that work for our family, especially since I can’t use eggs as it is the number one offender in our house. There’s good news though, the best substitute I’ve found for eggs in paleo recipes is applesauce and it only took me 6 years to figure it out!

I am not an allergic person, but my husband and children are. I didn’t grow up dealing with the issues around food allergies. However, I want you to know that it is not so scary and that it can be done very well. When you feel overwhelmed and overloaded with information, stress and recipe failures, just don’t give up.

First of all, let’s understand how to eat Paleo; is to eat mainly meat, vegetables and foods that are not processed. No wheat or grains. It is eating whole foods made at home without preservatives or additives. It’s amazing how easy it is to eat paleo. For example, if fresh vegetables are difficult to keep fresh and cooked on time, try frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables can be purchased in bulk and stored in the freezer, saving time and worry by having fresh vegetables on hand every day. If vegetables aren’t your favorite food, try mashing them with grass-fed butter, they seem more appealing that way. If pureed isn’t your thing, toss them in a skillet over high heat with grass-fed butter and enjoy delicious butter-roasted vegetables straight out of the pan. A secret of paleo foods is that chocolate is allowed, but only organic dark chocolate, enjoy!

How would you make pancakes without grains? Simply use almond flour, coconut flour, or potato flour. If you can’t use eggs or dairy to bind the ingredients, use your favorite applesauce, almond butter, bananas, or ground flaxseed and hot water. The ratio of the mixture of ground flax seeds and hot water is; one teaspoon ground flax seeds in three teaspoons hot water mixed until sticky as eggs. If the kids are having a hard time adjusting to new flavors, put some organic maple syrup on the pancakes and it will help their taste buds adjust and learn to love the new flavors.

Snacks are another fight, so try fruit, apples, or grapes with a coconut sauce. Try the homemade coconut almond bars packed with protein and deliciousness. Also try vegetables and a paleo dip like guacamole, babaganoush, or hummus. There are so many ideas if you look, having a cookbook here can be very useful because it will give you hundreds of new ideas and recipes.

Lunch is a great time to try something easy like meatballs with salad, baked vegetables, almond flour bread, and vegetable pasta. If you need something quick for kids’ school lunches, offer them paleo bread and a vegetable dip with a little fruit on the side. The secret to a busy life and paleo eating is preparation! Take a few hours a week on a Sunday or Saturday and prep your veggies, fruit, sauces, and bread for the week, then it just comes down to assembling each day.

Dinner is fun! Enjoy healthy cooking and your family will join in. You can make cauliflower and ground beef, or chicken and cabbage, beef and salad, the possibilities are endless! One of our favorite dinners is picadillo on a lettuce leaf with tomato, mango, onion and balsamic dressing. Another great idea for toddlers is mashed cauliflower with grass-fed butter and chives or chunks of meat on top.

Be prepared for your children to give you their best and worst opinions on everything. Be prepared to make the necessary adjustments to some dishes to make them winners and not the worst enemy. Be prepared for your allergies to kick in and don’t let them get you down or hold you back. If something is giving you a severe allergic reaction, then take out an ingredient that you think might be the problem, make the dish over and over again until you solve the problem.

In conclusion, if you really want to give up some of your free time to put a little more effort into preparing and planning your meals, eating well and improving your family’s life is easily achieved. Start by making a list of paleo friendly foods that will work for your family. Schedule a day to throw out all the wheat, grains, and other processed foods from your home. Set a date on the weekend or any other day when time is available to embark on your first homemade paleo dinner, lunch, or breakfast, depending on your level of bravery. Go step by step and never give up, it is easy to give up but it is not easy to move on and win the battle.