Paleo Babies & Children

Raising Paleo Babies & Children: A Holistic Approach

Following a Paleo lifestyle doesn't stop when you start a family—it becomes even more important. From fertility to pregnancy, and right through to raising children, a nutrient-dense, whole food diet can set the foundation for lifelong health. This expanded guide focuses on how the principles of Paleo can support children from the womb through to early years, ensuring they thrive both mentally and physically.

Paleo During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of rapid growth and increased nutritional demands. While some dietary advice is outdated or overly cautious, a Paleo diet offers the essentials—real, unprocessed foods full of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and quality proteins. Eating a varied diet with plenty of leafy greens, organ meats, seafood (especially low-mercury, high omega-3 varieties), pasture-raised meats, and seasonal vegetables supports both mother and baby.

Key nutrients during pregnancy include folate (from leafy greens), iron (from red meat and liver), choline (from eggs), and DHA (from oily fish). The Paleo template naturally includes these nutrients in bioavailable forms, without the need for ultra-processed supplements that often contain fillers and artificial colours.

The First Foods for Paleo Babies

Once your baby starts solids, typically around six months, it's time to introduce nutrient-dense, real food—not bland rice cereal or pouches loaded with fruit puree. Babies need iron, fat, and protein—not sugar. Great first foods in a Paleo approach include:

• Soft-cooked egg yolks
• Mashed avocado
• Slow-cooked and pureed meats (like lamb or beef)
• Organ meats like liver, blended with broth or root veggies
• Cooked and mashed root vegetables (pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot)

Many parents find batch-cooking and freezing small portions in silicone moulds makes offering these foods much easier. Avoid processed baby cereals or anything with added sugar or vegetable oils.

Raising Paleo Toddlers

As your child grows, so do their food preferences and habits. Keeping meals simple, seasonal, and family-friendly is key. Toddlers thrive on consistency, so offering familiar foods with occasional new options helps broaden their palate without stress.

Include them in meal prep where possible. Let them help wash vegetables or stir ingredients. This fosters a healthy relationship with food and encourages adventurous eating. Choose finger foods they can feed themselves, such as:

• Homemade meatballs or rissoles
• Steamed vegetable sticks with mashed avocado
• Mini frittatas or egg muffins
• Paleo pancakes made with almond flour and banana

Paleo Kids: School Lunches and Snacks

Once your child is school-aged, the real challenge is lunchboxes. With most school canteens offering ultra-processed snacks, it’s important to send your child with real food that fuels their brain and body for the day.

Here are some Paleo-friendly lunchbox ideas:

• Cold meat slices with veggie sticks
• Leftover roast chicken drumsticks
• Boiled eggs
• Paleo muffins made with coconut or almond flour
• Fresh fruit (berries, apple slices with nut butter, or orange segments)
• Homemade bliss balls made with dates, seeds, and coconut

For drinks, stick with filtered water. Avoid fruit juices, which are high in sugar, even when labelled as “natural”.

Supplements: Are They Necessary?

If your child is eating a diverse Paleo diet, most nutrients will be well covered. However, depending on your location and lifestyle, a few supplements might be worth considering:

• Vitamin D3: Especially important in winter or for children who spend limited time outdoors
• Magnesium: Supports sleep and relaxation (topical sprays can be used)
• Probiotics: Especially after antibiotics or digestive issues
• Liver capsules: For children who won’t eat organ meats

As always, consult a health professional who understands ancestral nutrition for personalised guidance.

Immune Support the Paleo Way

Children frequently pick up colds, but a well-fed child bounces back faster. Bone broth, garlic, ginger, turmeric, fermented foods (like sauerkraut or coconut kefir), and vitamin C-rich fruits (like kiwi, strawberries, and oranges) can all help support a strong immune system naturally.

Avoid sugar and processed snacks during illness—these suppress the immune system. Instead, offer warm, nutrient-dense soups and stews, herbal teas, and lots of hydration.

What to Watch For

A Paleo diet is incredibly nutrient-dense, but there are a few things to monitor in children to ensure they’re thriving:

• Are they gaining weight steadily?
• Do they have plenty of energy and good moods?
• Are they having regular, comfortable bowel movements?
• Is their sleep restorative and consistent?

These are signs that their body is getting everything it needs. If in doubt, keep a food diary and speak with a trusted practitioner.

Making Paleo Work for Real Families

Perfection is never the goal. Real-life Paleo for families means doing the best you can with the resources you have. If your child occasionally eats party food or comes home with birthday cake, don’t panic. What matters most is what they eat most of the time.

Prepare extra portions when you cook, involve the kids in meal planning, and keep Paleo staples on hand to avoid last-minute food compromises. With practice, this lifestyle becomes second nature—and incredibly rewarding.

Coming Soon: A New Resource for Paleo Families

We’re working on launching a new product tailored for Paleo families. It will include child-friendly recipes, meal plans, shopping guides, and snack inspiration to make your life easier. Check back soon to see what’s new—or drop us a message to be the first to know when it launches.

Whether you're new to Paleo or already raising Paleo kids, remember that food is one of the most powerful tools we have to support our children’s health. Start small, stay consistent, and celebrate the wins—your future self (and your kids) will thank you.