When Shannon gave birth to her daughter, Grace, she decided she was going to raise her differently. She chose to cut out sugar and carbohydrates from her diet. This meant that Grace wasn't allowed to eat anything that had even the smallest amount of sugar or carbs in it.
Many people tried to change her mind, but Shannon didn't care what others thought of her decision. Read on to find out how her daughter is doing today.
Meet Shannon Cooper
Shannon Cooper has spent years studying how the human body reacts to different foods. She believes that some foods can be harmful to the body, even if consumed in small amounts.
So she made a decision to feed her daughter healthy food only. But how did Grace react to the diet change?
Whatever Your Eating Ate
For most of her life, Shannon carried this belief and planned to pass it on to her future children. One of her favorite phrases is "whatever your eating ate." This means that if you're eating an animal, the food it consumes will also affect your body.
So she always made sure to buy free-range eggs instead of caged eggs, as the free-range chickens produce more Omega-3 fatty acids and are generally healthier. But there was one thing she didn't consider before putting her daughter on this diet.
Always Learning Attitude
Shannon considered herself a well-rounded person. As an agricultural graduate, she knew how important it was to keep learning every single day.
At the university, she studied animal health, plant growth, and how they affect the human body. So, when Grace was born in 2014, Shannon couldn't wait to teach her how to stay healthy and fit. But, she had no idea how this would affect her daughter's life.
She Was An Expert
In addition to having knowledge in plant and animal health, Shannon also received training in wellness and fitness. She considered herself an expert in healthy living and even had her own food blog, where she shared her recipes and advice.
She wanted people to know how important it is to eat healthily. But she had no idea how her beliefs would affect her newborn.
During Her Pregnancy
When Shannon learned that she was pregnant, she decided she wasn't going to let pregnancy change her lifestyle.
After all, she had spent so much time studying nutrition, and it would be silly to stop now.
No Sugar or Carbs
Shannon decided to raise her daughter on a conscious diet with absolutely no sugar or carbohydrates. This meant that she couldn't eat ice cream, pizza, pasta, cookies, and other delicious treats that most children love.
Shannon's family and friends were shocked to hear that she was going to put her daughter on such a strict diet, but the young mother was confident that she had made the right decision. Would she regret it later?
The Paleo Diet
Shannon had decided that Grace would only consume Paleo-friendly foods. So unlike other babies, Grace wouldn't eat jarred or processed baby foods.
While the Paleo diet has recently become popular, many people don't know what it actually means. Paleo, or Paleolithic, means the Stone Age. And a strict diet like that could be harmful to newborns.
"Caveman Diet"
The "caveman diet" includes foods that were present in the early stone age, such as fruits, vegetables, fish, seeds, nuts, and meat.
Many people believe that the Paleo diet isn't suitable for newborns. So, how did Shannon make it work?
Discovering The Paleo Diet
Shannon first discovered the Paleo diet in 2010. She claims it had changed her life entirely. Initially, she switched to this diet due to having food allergies, but she liked it so much that she decided to stick to it.
But how would the Paleo diet affect her newborn child?
New Beginnings
The Paleo diet has done wonders for Shannon's health.
And it was only natural for her to wish the same for her daughter, so she decided to cut out sugar, processed food, carbs, preservatives, and additives from her diet.
The Benefits Of The Paleo Diet
"I just got sick of not feeling great... That had become my normal, and I decided that I wasn't going to be normal anymore," Shannon told Daily Mail Australia.
Many experts and nutritions believe the Paleo diet has many benefits and can improve one's health. According to some studies, cavemen ate on average three times more produce than the average person does today. But is this diet also beneficial to babies?
It's Controversial
In addition, cavemen also consumed more protein, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber than we do today. In theory, it sounds like the best way to raise a baby. However, some people find this diet to be harmful and unnecessary.
One of the main reasons why this diet attracts controversy is because it's aimed at adults and not children. However, Shannon never let the opinion of others affect her, so she went with her gut and put Grace on the Paleo diet.
Asking For Advice
Before Grace was born, Shannon decided to ask her pediatrician whether the diet would be appropriate for her daughter. Since not much is known about the effects of the Paleo diet on babies, he simply told her to be careful.
With that said, she made the decision to raise her daughter on the Paleo diet from the day she was born. So, how did her body react to it?
One Exception
Shannon did make one exception to ensure her daughter would grow up healthy. She planned to breastfeed her for the first few months before introducing her to the Paleo diet.
Unlike other Paleo parents who are strictly against breast milk, Shannon figured it would be okay for her daughter to consume it since she was already eating healthy. However, there was one thing Shannon would never allow her daughter to eat.
No Baby Food
Shannon never bought a single jar of baby food for her daughter. Instead, she cooked her food the Paleo way to ensure there were no sugar or carbs in it.
Although there is no proof that baby food could be harmful, Shannon didn't want to take any risks. But what would happen to Grace once she started growing up?
Only Healthy Meals
Shannon decided to slowly introduce her daughter to the Paleo diet while still breastfeeding. She started putting tiny pieces of organic vegetables and chicken in her food.
So, unlike the jarred baby food in stores, all of Grace's meals were prepared without preservatives and sugar. Now all Shannon had to do was wait and see how the diet would affect her baby in the future.
Sharing It Online
Shortly after Grace was born, Shannon started to share photos of the meals she prepared for her daughter on her blog and social media.
However, since Grace's diet was very strict, many people feared she wasn't receiving enough nutrients to help her grow. Still, Shannon was confident that her daughter would grow up healthy. And after one year, she started noticing the impact of the Paleo diet on Grace.
Sticking To The Diet
As a result, Grace didn't get to try any sweet treats and snacks like other children her age.
Shannon kept feeding her veggies, fruits, and sometimes dishes like chia pudding, quinoa porridge, and sauerkraut. Did her diet change when she got older?
Staying Healthy
As Grace grew older, Shannon started adding solids to her diet. Her typical breakfast included veggies and eggs from the previous night. For lunch, Grace would eat roast chicken and veggies, and her typical dinner was spaghetti bolognese with zucchini noodles.
Instead of cookies and chips, Grace was given fruits. In fact, when the girl turned one year old, Shannon prepared a special Paleo-safe desert for her.
She "Loved It"
On her first birthday, Grace got to taste her first strawberry panna cotta, which according to Shannon, was delicious. But as the girl started to grow up, people couldn't help but wonder how she would react to the diet.
Shannon assured everyone her daughter loved it. But was she telling the truth?
Healthy Girl
Shannon went on to assure everyone that the Paleo diet has been amazing for her baby girl, and she rarely gets sick. According to her, Grace's immune system has strengthened because of the diet, and she isn't planning to change it anytime soon.
Since some people believe that Shannon keeps her daughter away from other children, she went on to say that, "she spends a lot of time around other kids who are sick all the time. The other kids have snotty noses, coughs, colds - but she just doesn't pick it up."
Having A Nutrient-Dense Diet Is Important
Shannon further explained, "It's certainly not because I'm shielding her from any of that stuff. I absolutely think a nutrient-dense diet is giving her a strong immune system."
However, Shannon isn't as strict on the Paleo diet as others may think. On her blog, she left an important message for other mothers.
Her Opinion
"I am not vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, fat-free, carb-free, or any other food 'denomination' in its entirety. I take what I like from different food approaches and recipes and adapt it to suit what makes me feel good," she wrote.
Still, for the most part, Shannon follows the diet as she believes it has improved her well-being. But would her daughter stick to the diet as she grew older?
She's Open-Minded
Shannon is aware that her daughter may not want to follow such a strict diet in the future. She is bound to encounter sugary snacks and foods at some point in her life, and that's okay.
Shannon says she is pretty open-minded and will let her daughter decide for herself.
She Will Let Her Decide
"I'm not going to not let her go to kids' parties," she told Daily Mail Australia.
"She's going to go to kids' parties and eat what's there. I'm never going to go to Grace, 'You can't eat anything at this party - but I packed you some kale, here you go.'"
It's Her Decision
In her food blog, Shannon explained how healthy food makes her feel better, and she hopes that Grace will be happy and healthy as well.
Still, she wants her daughter to decide for herself and realizes that she may eventually try sugary snacks at her friend's house. So, did Grace try any junk food?
Having A Healthy Relationship With Food
Shannon says that she would never restrict her daughter's diet or make her feel guilty for eating unhealthy food.
"I don't want there to be any eating disorders," she told Daily Mail Australia. Still, some people aren't satisfied with the way she is raising her daughter.
Positive and Negative Responses
"That's the reason I eat this way. I don't think eating a piece of bread is going to kill me," Shannon wrote.
While she was happy that many people agreed with her decision to introduce Grace to the Paleo diet, other comments have saddened her. So what did people think of her story?
Dealing With Negative Feedback
Shannon says she doesn't understand why some people are still judging her and why they keep leaving negative comments under her posts.
"You do the right thing you think for your kid. Why people think it's offensive to eat a plate of vegetables over a piece of bread - that's bizarre," she wrote.
Doctor's Opinion
Many people had tried to convince Shannon to get her daughter off the diet. Dr. Rosemary Stanton publically stated that she shouldn't have put Grace on the Paleo diet at such a young age.
"It's really not usually a good idea to put a child on such a restricted diet, particularly when there are no valid grounds for it," she wrote. How did Shannon react to her comment?
Shannon Doesn't Agree
Dr. Rosemary Stanton further explained, "Depriving her child of grains and legumes will make it much more difficult to achieve a balanced diet... I'd certainly sound a note of caution to other people considering following her."
However, Shannon insists that her daughter likes the food she cooks for her and doesn't want any junk food. And she doesn't understand why people are so critical of her.
She Loves The Food
"What she eats now is not weird, not anything strange, that normal people wouldn't eat," Shannon said in an interview.
"She loves it... I don't feed her toast or cereal or anything like that. Again I think, 'sure, that stuff is not going to kill her.' If she eats a piece of bread, I'm not going to have a conniption." In 2018, Grace started kindergarten. Did she get her first sugar fix there?
Grace Likes The Diet
Shannon said that she wouldn't force her daughter to stick to the Paleo diet if she no longer wanted to. However, so far, Grace seems to be happy to eat fruits and veggies and doesn't crave any junk food.
And even when Shannon and Grace went on a vacation to Greece, the little girl was happy enough to eat strawberries on the beach.
Educating Her Daughter On Healthy Living
Shannon teaches her daughter about healthy living and hopes she will use this knowledge in the future. She had explained to Grace why she put her on the Paleo diet and how it has improved her health.
Although Shannon is strict about her diet, she mentioned that sometimes she treats herself to a delicious snack or meal.
She Has Cheat Days Too
"When I got out to dinner with friends... I'm just going to eat what's on the menu. I'm not going to be a jerk about it," Shannon explained in an interview.
Shannon explained that you can still be creative with your meal plans even when following a strict diet like the Paleo diet. She often shares her Paleo snacks on her social media, hoping to inspire other people.
Shannon's Yummy Treat
Shannon's "Nut Free No Bake Fig & Quinoa Bar" is a great way to satisfy your cravings, and it's also easy to make.
According to the young mom, you can eat whenever you want as long as you aren't overeating and you don't necessarily have to stick to the traditional concept of three meals per day.
Listening To Her Body
"I have finally arrived at a place in my life that I feel like I can eat more intuitively rather than just eating because it's 'lunch time' etc.," she wrote.
"Some days I eat a huge brekkie and no lunch and a big dinner. Other days I don't feel hungry in the morning, so I will eat my first meal around 11 am. I listen to my body and hunger signals."
Addressing The Critics
Shannon also addressed the critics on her blog: "I'm a mum, a foodie, and a coffee & bacon addict. I have a background in science and animal health & have done a wellness coaching course..."
"I am constantly researching into nutrition and various 'food religions' and love to learn about food."