Melissa's Story

We thought we were doing our best to feed our boys healthy foods. Their diet used to consist of cereal with milk, yogurt, cheese sticks, turkey and cheese sandwiches, school lunches, lunchables, and meat, every day. They had vegetables with dinner and fruit desserts. However, after reading Disease Proof Your Child we knew we could be doing so much better.

Reading (devouring)the book completely changed the way we thought about the food we were feeding our family. My husband and I immediately began to incorporate the lessons we learned into our everyday eating habits.  We started replacing their standard diet staples with nutrient-rich whole plant foods.  Cereal with milk was replaced with oatmeal and rice or soy milk and fresh fruit.  Cheese sticks and yogurts were replaced with fresh fruit and veggies and homemade trail mix.  Turkey and cheese sandwiches were replaced with delicious veggie roll ups. Instead of juice boxes, we now send our boys to school with a thermos of freshly-made smoothies made of fresh juices, chia seeds, and flax. 

Within two months, our boys were officially eating the Nutritarian diet. As their diet changed, so did ours.  Our boys eat all Nutritarian food at home; however, once a week they get to choose a school lunch to have in place of their homemade lunch.  When they go to a cookout or a birthday party, we don't limit their options; rather we bring a salad or fresh fruit to add to their non-Nutritarian choices.  They also get to choose anything they want during the few times we go to a restaurant. However, they are asked to have a raw salad of greens and a cooked vegetable with their option.  How wonderful it is to see our sons beginning to make these choices on their own.  In fact, my youngest occasionally wakes up in the morning requesting a spinach salad for breakfast.

The biggest health change has been for our son Madison.  He has asthma and severe seasonal allergies.  Before becoming Nutritarian Madison took his inhaler every day, sometimes twice a day during the spring and fall.  The winter flu season was tough because Madison's flu would always turn into pneumonia because of his asthma. 

After adopting the Nutritarian diet-style, Madison has not used his inhaler once.  In fact, we used to carry the inhaler with us everywhere, but now haven't thought of it in several months.  He also used to have dark circles under his eyes from not sleeping well because of his breathing difficulties.  His eyes have since cleared up and he is now bright and cheerful. 

Once, when our boys went to visit family out of state, they came home with the flu.  After inquiring about their diet while away, I determined that food was the likely culprit. I immediately made them green smoothies and a large bowl of fresh greens and fruit.  Within the hour, they were energetic, bubbly, and had no more signs of the flu. When fed properly they bounce back fast.

We are very open with our children about why we eat certain foods.  Sharing healthy eating choices as a family, and Dr. Fuhrman’s teachings has made us closer and healthier.