{"id":761,"date":"2018-06-07T10:17:15","date_gmt":"2018-06-07T14:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ketovie.com\/blog\/?p=761"},"modified":"2018-06-07T10:17:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-07T14:17:15","slug":"nobody-puts-keto-kids-in-a-corner-tips-for-ensuring-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ketovie.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/nobody-puts-keto-kids-in-a-corner-tips-for-ensuring-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Nobody Puts Keto Kids in a Corner: Tips for Ensuring Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Guest post by\u00a0Diana Lehner-Gulotta, RDN, CNSC
\nKetogenic & Neurology Dietitian at University of Virginia Health System<\/p>\n

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Diana Lehner-Gulotta RDN CNSC<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s no secret that keto foods look a little different, and many parents are [understandably] worried their child will feel isolated as a result. The key to ensuring this doesn\u2019t happen is pretty simple \u2013 inclusion! Read on for some tips on making your child\u2019s eating patterns as \u201cnormal\u201d as possible.<\/p>\n

We have found there are two useful ways to select meals for your keto kid that will ensure they feel included:<\/p>\n

(1) Prepare a keto-friendly meal that is similar to what the rest of the family is having.<\/strong> You can work with your dietitian to create keto versions of family favorites!<\/p>\n

(2) Let you child choose what they want to eat from their list of approved meals.<\/strong> This gives your child a sense of autonomy with a diet that they otherwise have very little control over.<\/p>\n

Make your child feel special instead of different! For example, you might look at your child\u2019s meal and say, \u201cWow that looks delicious, I wish I could have some!\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider cutting back on your family\u2019s consumption of desserts, sodas, chips, etc. Not only will this decrease temptation for your keto kid, but it will improve your family\u2019s health! We\u2019re not saying you need to deprive yourself or your other children of the occasional milkshake or bag of chips, but do these things need to be part of everyday life? Having your child on the ketogenic diet might be just what your family needs to make some dietary changes for the better!<\/p>\n

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\"\"Plan ahead to prepare a keto treat for sweet-heavy events such as birthday parties or classroom celebrations. If sweets are used as rewards at school (although this practice is discouraged due to the growing obesity epidemic!), provide non-food rewards for the teacher to give your child such as erasers, stickers, or pencils.<\/p>\n

Think of \u201cnormal\u201d nicknames for keto foods such as the following:<\/p>\n