In the Beginning ...

A friend of mine has just become vegan.

My kids Thomas (2) and Maya (8 mths) are asleep in bed. The dogs are walked and fed, the turtles are fed. Cleaning up the day's mess has yet to be done. My husband is away working for 2 weeks.

I am going on a journey to discover what I should be feeding my kids to give them the best start that I can.

Thomas has suffered repeated bouts of bronchiolitis since he was 6 weeks old. Otherwise they are both healthy and happy and as fussy about eating as most toddlers and babies are.

Having the immense responsibility of feeding these two little ones has made be examine my own eating habits too. The more I have read on the subject the more I have questioned what we are told on a regular basis.

If you would like to come with me, I am going to try and discover what makes us healthy.



Watch this clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXu3w2PqAZw. It started to make me think.







I have been following the 'Annabel Karmel Baby and Toddler meal planner', and the 'Gina Ford Contented Baby Weaning' books.







They are both great, but I am now seeking more ..... I don't want to have my children drinking cow's milk. Therein lies my first problem. Do they need meat? My second problem. How can I ensure they are getting enough iron, calcium, other vital nutrients .... and correctly absorbing them? How do I food combine? How do I get them to eat the delicious, nutritious meals when finally I discover how to prepare them?

First steps - Our new bedtime story is 'Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon', and I have discovered that when we are out walking I can point out people's vegetable gardens and Thomas shows an interest in what they are growing there.
I have been sitting up late at night reading cookbooks, and combining my limited knowledge of nutrition with the recipes, to create a balanced diet for each day.
I am making an appointment tomorrow with a homeopathic doctor to get his opinion on what we should be eating, and his referral to a nutritionist.
I have typed out and printed out the Vegan Food Pyramid, not that we are becoming vegans, but just to expand our ideas on where to get our nutrients from.



What follows will be our story.