Cate, I am right there with you! I think the imbalances start so early and are largely due to parent ignorance. I’m super excited about this project! Unfortunately my internet connection is too slow to make the workshop live (video), but here’s what I’m interested in finding out:

1. What do you recommend for baby’s first foods? I’ve been putting that off as long as I can, but Sadie’s now 6 months and has 2 teeth and sitting up well. I want to start as soon as she gets rid of this cold. And I’d love any tips for making the baby foods fresh daily without it being a major project. Any thoughts on Baby led weaning?

2. How do I balance my own vikruti and that of my exclusively breastfed Sadie? She’s got a wicked kapha cold, and I’m still trying to keep pitta and vata in check in my own body (I didn’t slow down much this winter although I don’t feel very depleted).

3. Ruby (4) has been waking up with bad breath. I’m wondering what this indicates? Is there an herbal tea you would recommend first thing in the am or before bed? I’ve been trying to reduce the bedtime snacks. I think her constitution is vata-pitta.

PS
4. I need a strategy for dealing with snacking! THe schools here are following the US example of encouraging “Nutrition Breaks” instead of one lunch. I have this year and next where Ruby is still in school only 2 days per week, and then it’s full time. I’m noticing even now, that she wants to snack at the same time that she snacks at school when at home. I’m trying to discourage it, but…

There are some great first foods guidelines in my parent’s recipe book for postpartum – Touching Heaven, Tonic Postpartum Recipes with Ayurveda. It is an e-book, has a companion which both together can be ordered for $12 on my shop page. Such great work Cate, I love your style and practicality. I would love to check in on this seminar with you, and can’t find a date posted. If it has happened, can I get the replay?

thanks, Ysha.
Yes – Healthier Kids Workshop is here, in audio and video.

Love your work too.. I talk about you in the workshop.
So much love,
Cate

To many kids learn their bad habbits from their parents and it’s hard to see how some parents “abuse” their kids in such unhealthy way.They learn how to destroy and poision their bodys instead of learn them how to live in a more healthy way. I’m right there with you too!
Looking forward to your next post!

Hi Sarah –
This one is such a bummer.
I would just give fruit or vegetables at the snack time. Then give her a real meal right when she comes home… and try to be done with food by 5 or 6 pm.

Thanks.
There is a lot of opportunity to redefine education.

Thanks for the great workshop Cate! I love your oil massage sequence recommendation, we were struggling with the oily ring around the tub. We will just need to figure our how to secretly destroy the favorite (and now oily) shark towel. I especially loved the mindfulness practices. They are so simple, but it is not something we’ve been doing with our 2 and 1/2 year old. He has started fighting his naps, but he still really needs them. Today he went to bed aaahh’ing and mmmm’ing and it was just such a beautiful thing. This will definitely be part of our daily routine. I’m wondering if you can share some more info about cooking with freshly ground flax seed. I know it is considered bad to cook with flax oil and I have been hesitant to cook with the seeds. Is it okay? I’ve done some research and haven’t come up with a satisfactory answer. Thanks and I look forward to more.

Hi Tess,
Wonderful about the “ahhs and mmms”.

With flax, I use it in “baking”. For instance, Indy loves waffles (which I think are in an old blog post). I soak buckwheat, flax seed, and millet overnight. In the morning I add a little melted butter or oil, maple syrup, and usually more water and blend… with a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg.

She loves them.
I also make flat breads in the dehydrator with flax seed, or add them to my dehydrator muffins.

Hi All….
I’m curious about who is interested in “Healthy Kids 201”
I’d like to get into the next session with all of this, and think the format worked well.

Let me know if you are interested, and what your questions are.
–cate

Cate – Great workshop. I’d definitely sign up for 201.

Stella (8) is really starting to pick up some of these habits. I heard her talking to the other little girl I drive to school the other day:
Stella “my mom looks at my tongue and my poop in the morning.”
Nicole : (disgusted) Why?
Stella: If my poop is hard, I need to drink more water, and my tongue is connected to my stomach, so if it’s white, It means I might get sick”

Not sure how any of this will go over with Nicole’s ultra-conservative parents…;)

In response to Sarah’s post….It’s not going to get any better, sister! Unfortunately, the public school system has an extememely warped philosophy on food.

Stand your ground. Talkk to your administrators. Bring them facts. You may not be able to make sweeping changes, but anything you do helps. I got our school to stop giving out cany at events (seemed like a no-brainer to me, but aapparently not), and the PTO is now selling Hansen’s Natural Sodas at events, rather than Coke (again, not huge, but a step in the right direction).

Cate – maybe you can address this in round 2.

Oops, meant to say “candy”

Hi Cate-
I’m very new to all this and loved listening to the conversation – but now I have so, so many questions. Trying to build a good foundation for my kids (5 1/2 and 3) to continue building on. But as I’m not sure what I’m really doing yet, I’m trying not to overwhelm.

Right now, I’d like to get some good successes in to build off of. Starting easy – my kids are totally digging scraping their tongues every morning. Also focusing on more water. Trying to figure out their combos – I think the oldest is summer-winter and younger is summer-spring (very evenly). Any helpful hints to keep me motivated on this path because I know it is the right one! Where can I get Sitopladi or Trikatu? Tried the honey candy with my youngest – hard sell. Is there benefit from one dose as we build towards truly accepting it?

thank you!!

Hi Heather,
You can get Sitopaladi and Trikatu (Kapha Digest) from http://www.BanyanBotanicals.com

Check out Dr. Douillard’s book: Perfect Health for Kids, and my book, “Good Morning Yogis”. My book is aimed for kids to read. His book is for adults.

Yes- there is benefit to any turmeric you can get into them. Take out all other sweet tastes for a day and they will love it.

I’ll be doing a constitutions workshop at some point soon.