The raw food diet is sometimes considered an extreme method of eating. Sheree Clark, holistic health and nutrition counselor and creator of Fork In the Road, describes raw food as living food because it is alive with nutrients and enzymes the body needs to work efficiently. A diet such as this can be perfectly healthy for a toddler if it is done under the advice of a health care professional.
Significance
Like the name implies, the raw diet means eating uncooked food. Most raw foodists are also vegetarians, thus they avoid the risks of eating raw animal products. When it comes to the raw diet, following it strictly means eating fresh, unpackaged foods and beverages 100 percent of the time. This aspect of the diet works well with toddler eating habits because raw food can be simple, single food items diced into bite-size pieces safe for a toddler. Examples of foods that are avoided on the raw diet include packaged items, meat, dairy, refined sugar and refined flour. Foods a toddler is fed when eating raw are abundant and focus on vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts.
Benefits
Clark points out that one of the primary benefits of a raw food diet is that cooking food destroys the enzymes and nutrient values that are normally found in food items. Cooking doesn't rid the food of all of its value but it can reduce it significantly. Clark also suggests that the body uses a great deal of energy to digest processed food making even a toddler feel sluggish after eating a meal. Raw foods are still full of water and provide the maximum amount of fiber in the uncooked state.
Risks
Feeding a toddler raw vegan food items poses the same risk of food-borne illness as a mixed diet that includes raw produce. All fresh vegetables and fruits need to be washed and handled carefully to prevent salmonella, E. coli or other similar digestive infections. Eating raw or unprocessed dairy or other animal products increases the risk of illness significantly. Strict raw foodists, such as those who follow a completely vegan diet, don't have to worry about these risks in their toddler. Pasteurized products can remove some of the risk of digestive illness but it reduces the benefits that raw foodists strive to achieve with this diet. Consult a health care professional or professional nutritionist to identify safe raw foods for a toddler, especially when considering packaged items and animal products.
Warning
There are some minerals and nutrients that can't always be obtained from a vegan raw diet. It is for this reason that a nutritionist or similar professional should be consulted about adding supplements to a toddler's diet. American Family Physician recommends several servings of foods that are not normally included in a raw food diet, including two or three servings of milk and several servings of protein. The nutrients, such as vitamin D and protein, can be obtained by other food sources or a supplement if recommended by a health care professional.
Considerations
When the parents are providing meals for their toddler, the typical obstacles of a strict diet will not impact the toddler. There is a misconception that eating raw is more work than eating a regular diet. The effort involved may be more noticeable in social settings, such as a child's daily meals at day care or school. Parents will have to take extra steps to prepare meals in advance and help the other adults in the child's life understand the diet.
The raw diet, although restrictive, does not mean a toddler will never experience foods like other toddlers. There are raw versions of popular desserts, including a flour-less chocolate cake. Fruits can be dehydrated or pureed to make tasty treats and smoothies that provide better nutrients for a toddler than their commercial counterparts, like candy.
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