Author, Kristen Michaelis, is a homeschooling mother, author and nutrition educator. She is also the voice behind the popular website, FoodRenegade.com.
This past month, I’ve been using her book, Real Food Nutrition FOR KIDS in my own home, and today I’m here to share my thoughts about it with you.
About The Book
If you are a fan of Sally Fallon, and the work of Weston A. Price, then this eBook may be for you.
Real Food Nutrition FOR KIDS is the type of eBook that families of young children, who are familiar with traditionally prepared foods, would enjoy. While it is not meant to be a homeschool textbook, I think it is a great supplement to your weekly curriculum or could easily be used as an upcoming Spring Break activity for the whole family.
This 99-page eBook is based on the “Living Book” model meant to engage your child in discussion and activity. It is laid out in 15 lessons, with several activities that compliment each lesson’s focus. Each chapter begins with two pages of information and is followed with a few discussion questions, two pages of copy work, an activity (crossword puzzle, word find or other interactive activity) and a coloring page.
Each lesson’s activity reinforces the content with vocabulary, charts, Charlotte Mason style copy work, coloring pages and more. I did like how subsequent lessons follow the same format, which made the book feel familiar and not quite so large. The eBook is also designed in color with classic photos and illustrations.
My Experience & Thoughts
Real Food Nutrition FOR KIDS has plenty of great beginner information for our children, but it might be overwhelming to families who are not already familiar with a traditional cooking style and Weston A. Price dietary guidelines.
Unless a family working through this book has already made a shift to a “real food” lifestyle, they might be confused or overwhelmed by the differences from their current lifestyle and diet. I would only recommend this book to families who are already living this lifestyle or who have a basic knowledge of traditional foods.
In my opinion, some recommendations may seem confusing to someone trying to navigate this type of specialized whole food diet. For example, if a parent did not already understand what “sustainable farming methods” meant then they might not be able to fully explain to the child the steps a farmer took to properly rotate crops, utilize natural pest predators, etc. (pg. 25)
On the other hand, I really appreciate the chapter on “dirty milk” and the effects that hormones and pasteurization have on the milk that many families consume. The author explained that process in very simple terms that many younger children would understand. (pg. 45)
The 15 lessons of the book cover the digestion process, the major nutrients that our body uses, industrial food, real food and the importance of knowing where our food comes from.
Overall, we enjoyed working through this as a family and found value in reinforcing our nutritional beliefs with our four children. I am a certified holistic health counselor, and my husband is a nutrition specialist and certified personal trainer, so we appreciate the author’s care in creating an eBook the entire family can participate in together.
The Bottom Line
For fans of Sally Fallon, Weston A. Price, Traditional food preparation, GAPS Diet, etc.
Pros:
- Perfect for a Charlotte Mason-driven homeschool family
- A simple primer for those already living a traditional food lifestyle
Cons:
- There are no recipes to reinforce traditional food preparation.
- Seems to be geared for older elementary-aged children.
- I wish the coloring pages (and graphics) were more professionally generated.
Final thoughts:
While we enjoyed working through this eBook, the content felt a little out of reach for my younger children and the activities were a bit too basic for my older children.
For more information on this e-book, click here to visit the author’s site.