Shannon Cooper is a health and wellness coach from Australia who runs the blog My Food Religion. She received a lot of advice on how to raise her newborn when she became a first-time mother in 2014. Cooper, on the other hand, was adamant from the start that she would raise her child on a very specific diet – one that was free of sugar and carbs! Cooper’s decision was highly contentious, even by the standards of medical experts. Cooper, on the other hand, made a recent observation about her daughter that has proven all the skeptics wrong.
You Are What You Eat
Shannon Cooper is fascinated by food and how our bodies react to and process whatever we put into them. Cooper has spent a lot of time researching diets and how certain foods affect the body. After all, “you are what you eat,” as the saying goes. Cooper is well aware of this. She believes that food can either be a source of energy for the body or pure poison. This is a belief she has held for the majority of her adult life. It prompted her to make a choice that would have a significant impact on her daughter.
You Are What You Eat
How It Affects Your Body
While most people are familiar with the phrase “you are what you eat,” they are unlikely to have heard “you are what you eat ate.” You’re definitely scratching your head right now, but don’t worry; it’s not that difficult. If a human eats an animal, the animal’s food will definitely influence the human body. Free-range hens, for example, produce eggs with higher Omega-3 content than caged hens. This is due to the fact that free-range hens have a better quality of life. Shannon Cooper believes in this concept, which is why she has chosen to apply it in her daily life. Shannon might give birth to her first child in 2014.
How It Affects Your Body
For Her Baby
Shannon Cooper is more than a fitness fanatic. She has a science and animal health background, but she remains to study nutrition and examine different diets. She studied how plants are developed and handled for human consumption as somebody with a degree in agricultural science. Cooper, suffice to say, actually knows or two about nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. Cooper thought she needed her daughter Grace to grow to embrace food in a way that allows her happy and healthy when she gave birth to her in 2014, which resulted in her drastic decision.
For Her Baby
She Wants A Healthy Family
Shannon Cooper has received training in healthy lifestyle coaching and fitness in relation to her background in plant and animal health. Cooper is wonderfully much skilled at this point when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. She discusses food and what we put into our bodies a lot on her blog. It’s not unreasonable to expect her to carry these values into her family life, and that’s exactly what she’s doing. While Cooper was concerned about her family’s health, no one knew how her optimism for eating healthy food would impact Grace.
She Wants A Healthy Family
Applying A Strict Diet
Shannon Cooper was not going to let her new status as a mother affect her way of life. She had to stay by her healthy beliefs because she made a living as a health and wellness coach. This implied she wouldn’t raise Grace the way most new parents might. Grace, on the other hand, was in for a very different life experience than her peers. Cooper decided to raise Grace on a mindful diet, and she was very particular about what she fed her. Most parents make mistakes or give in on occasion, but Cooper was not one of them.
Applying A Strict Diet
Paleo Diet From The Start
Most veteran parents will find this shocking, but Cooper did not put Grace on a “diet” because she was overweight! After all, how could she see that so soon after Grace was born? Cooper made those decisions before she gave birth to Grace, most likely. Cooper has been raising Grace on a Paleo diet since that time. Cooper has been following the Paleo diet for nearly as long as she has been studying nutrition. Grace wouldn’t even be eating processed, jarred baby food like the majority of babies.
Paleo Diet From The Start
Why Did She Choose Paleo Diet?
Although you may have heard of the Paleo diet, many people are still unsure of what it entails. Paleo is an abbreviation for Paleolithic, which refers to the Stone Age. A Paleo diet, also identified as the “caveman diet,” entails eating only foods that persons from the early Stone Age would eat. Cavemen were hunter-gatherers who ate only what they could get their hands on, which included a lot of meat and fish, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Cooper first discovered the diet in 2010, and the change has completely changed her life. But what impact would it have on a newborn baby? Cooper’s decision was met with skepticism.
Why Did She Choose Paleo Diet?
To Feel Good
Shannon Cooper chose this diet as a result of previous health issues that made her feel ill all of the time. She discovered that, in addition to her natural food sensitivities, the food she was already eating didn’t make her feel well. Cooper did what any other like-minded nutritionist would do: she pinpointed the source of her problems, recognizing that her diet was a major factor. She also discovered that gut health has a significant impact on many other aspects of our health. Shannon Cooper made the switch and now eats a Paleo diet exclusively, but that’s not all…
To Feel Good
It’s Perfect For Her
Because everyone’s body is different, not all diets are created equal. Cooper found the Paleo diet to be beneficial to her health. This entailed eliminating sugars, carbohydrates, and preservatives, and other dangerous additives from processed foods. “I just got sick of not feeling great… That had become my normal and (I decided) that wasn’t going to be normal anymore,” Despite this, many health researchers question the Paleo diet. While they accept the diet’s benefits, they also point out its numerous drawbacks.
It’s Perfect For Her
The Cavemen Have Had Stricter Diet Before
In theory, the Paleo diet appears to be quite healthy, but it has a number of drawbacks. The Paleo diet is praised by medical experts and nutritionists for its restriction of processed foods in favor of real, whole foods as an alternative. The concept that cavemen ate healthier than us has some merit. According to legend, cavemen consumed three times the amount of produce consumed by the average American today. Fiber, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids were all higher in their diets, as were vitamins and minerals. This seems ideal for a growing child, but Cooper was quickly judged for it.
The Cavemen Have Had Stricter Diet Before
They Weren’t Healthy
However, while cavemen ate a healthy diet on a daily basis, there are many aspects of Stone Age life that Paleo dieters tend to overlook. Cavemen may have eaten better, but that doesn’t mean they were necessarily healthy. Parasites and disease were among the problems that plagued our Stone Age forefathers and were ultimately beyond their control. Their nutritious diet was insufficient to demonstrate that they lived longer and healthier lives than most people today. The Paleo diet also forbids the consumption of grains, legumes, and dairy, all of which are commonly found in today’s diet. So, how did Shannon Cooper manage to make it work for Grace the baby?
They Weren’t Healthy
Wanting Her Daughter To Feel Nice
Shannon Cooper had been following a Paleo diet for several years when Grace was born. Cooper was in a great mood before she gave birth to her child. Of course, as a mother, she wished for her own daughter to share her feelings, particularly when it came to food. However, her decision to raise Grace on a Paleo diet raised a lot of questions. For grown adults, a diet is a healthy option, but how would it impact the outcome of a growing baby? Cooper didn’t need anyone’s advice and relied on her mother’s instincts to figure it out. Doctors, on the other hand, came out of the woodwork to offer their unsolicited advice.
Wanting Her Daughter To Feel Nice
Doing It Cautiously
Cooper sought health advice from a pediatrician before deciding to go ahead with the Paleo diet for Grace. Cooper was only given a decent warning and told to proceed cautiously because there aren’t many studies on children and the Paleo diet. Cooper has been raising Grace on a Paleo diet since the beginning. Cooper made an exception in the best interests of Grace, Cooper’s newborn daughter. Grace needed to be able to eat only this one food in order to get all of the nutrients she needed to grow up healthy and naturally.
Doing It Cautiously
She Made An Exception
Cooper actually made one exception for Grace’s Paleo diet: he allowed breast milk. Cooper’s decision to breastfeed her newborn for the first few months was understandable, given that babies can’t digest foods and plants until later in life. You might be thinking, “Duh,” but obviously not all parents are making that exception when putting their children on the Paleo diet. Cooper, on the other hand, seemed to be fine with it because she was already on a diet. After all, as the new adage goes, you are what you eat. Nonetheless, there was a steep learning curve.
She Made An Exception
She Ignored This Advice
Within a year or two of the baby’s birth, parents may switch from breast milk to formula. If Cooper wanted to try his hand at making his own Paleo formula, there are plenty of DIY Paleo formula recipes available online. But there’s one thing Cooper didn’t do, and it’s a great idea she didn’t: celebrity Paleo chef Pete Evans created a formula that, according to one nutritionist, could cause “permanent damage and possibly result in death.” This was due to the fact that the recipe embedded a level of nutrients that babies are unable to digest. Cooper, thankfully, didn’t use the recipe, but she did stick to her Paleo ideals in other areas.
She Ignored This Advice
No Baby Food
Parents usually opt for jars of baby food after their babies have been weaned off breastmilk and have begun to venture into soft solid foods. Shannon Cooper, however, is not one of them. Instead, the new mother resolved to prepare her baby’s food herself, following the Paleo diet. For the most part, baby food is safe for most people, but it still contains sugar and preservatives, which Cooper wanted to avoid giving to her daughter. Cooper knew that preparing her daughter’s meals would provide her with the essential nutrients she required. But, as Grace grew older, how did she react to the diet?
No Baby Food
She Knew What’s In It
Cooper began introducing tiny plates of vegetables and organic chicken to Grace while she was still breastfeeding in order to begin acclimating her daughter to the Paleo diet. Grace would have a smooth transition to solid foods if she did it this way. The great thing was that Cooper knew exactly what her daughter put into her body because she prepared everything herself. Unlike most food products on the market, Grace’s carefully prepared meals were sugar-free, preservative-free, and unprocessed. The only thing left to see was how Grace would be affected.
She Knew What’s In It
13 Months Of Healthy Eating
Cooper has shared photos of the meals she has arranged for Grace on social media and her blog since her birth. Grace has been seen eating things like broccoli without hesitation since she was a baby. Grace was munching far healthier than the adult individual even before she could walk. Many people were worried that Grace wasn’t gaining enough nutrients at 13 months old because she was on such a restricted diet. Grace’s diet was unquestionably healthy, but the concern remained as to whether it was sufficient. Cooper would only be able to see the outcomes as Grace grew older. Wait until you see Grace’s current appearance!
13 Months Of Healthy Eating
No Sugary Snacks
Grace was eating a lot of fruits and vegetables by the time she was 13 months old, which is amazing considering most kids despise them. Grace’s diet, however, turned out to be more complicated than it appeared. Shannon Cooper made a point of preparing foods that were a little more refined. Grace had her first taste of healthy foods like sauerkraut, chia pudding, and quinoa porridge when she was just a baby. Most kids would rebel if you forced them to eat anything like that, but Grace was an exception. Grace, in fact, has never eaten carbs and other sugary treats that children enjoy.
No Sugary Snacks
How Her Diet Goes
People may think that a baby Paleo diet is unusual, but Grace’s daily meal plan is fairly typical. Cooper has been letting Grace eat like any other baby since she started solid foods, albeit Paleo-approved food. Typically, breakfast consisted of eggs and leftover vegetables from the night before. Grace’s lunch would be roast chicken with more leftover vegetables. Cooper would prepare a meal like spaghetti bolognese with zucchini noodles for dinner. Grace enjoys fresh fruits as a snack. There isn’t normally dessert, but Cooper made a Paleo-friendly strawberry panna cotta for Grace’s first birthday. Just wait till you see Grace’s current appearance!
How Her Diet Goes
Grace On Paleo
So, what was Grace’s reaction to this diet as she grew up? Grace “loves” it, as per her mother, but she might not know anything else. Nonetheless, for the growing girl, the diet has verified to be nothing short of miraculous. Grace’s mother claims that she was only ill once in her first few years of life and that it was only a minor cold. Grace is constantly around sick children, according to Cooper, but she never gets sick. Grace’s immune system, Cooper believes, has been strengthened by the Paleo diet.
Grace On Paleo
It Made Her Immune System Stronger
You might believe Shannon Cooper is really doing things on purpose to keep her daughter from getting sick, but that isn’t the case. Cooper told the Daily Mail Australia in 2015, “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. 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.” Surprisingly, it isn’t entirely attributed to the Paleo diet.
It Made Her Immune System Stronger
She Mixes Her Diet
Shannon Cooper has advocated for the Paleo diet, but she isn’t as strict as you might think. “I am not vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, fat-free, carb-free, or any other food ‘denomination’ in its entirety.” she writes on her blog. “I take what I like from different food approaches and recipes and adapt it to suit what makes me feel good. ” Cooper proceeds. Cooper knows that, while she has succeeded in raising Grace on a Paleo diet thus far, this will not be the case for the rest of Grace’s life. Cooper’s strategy for dealing with Grace’s age is unclear.
She Mixes Her Diet
It Won’t Last Forever
Shannon Cooper is well aware that her daughter will not live a Paleo lifestyle for the rest of her life. Grace will surely come across foods that aren’t required on the diet, and Cooper has decided to just let it happen. “I’m not going to not let her go to kids’ parties. 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,’” Cooper told Daily Mail Australia.
It Won’t Last Forever
She Can Make Her Own Decision
Cooper expresses on her blog that she enjoys cooking food that makes her feel good, and she wishes to cultivate this in Grace. Cooper values Grace’s health and happiness, which is why, as Grace grows older, Cooper will allow her to make her own decisions. Cooper believes that by the time she attends a friend’s party, she will be old enough to make food choices, but that she will overindulge and return homesick. “And next time instead of eating 12 cupcakes she might only eat three,” Cooper added.
She Can Make Her Own Decision
She Wants Grace To Just Feel Good
Cooper understands the importance of not restricting Grace’s diet as she grows older even though she really want her daughter to enjoy her meals. Cooper told the Daily Mail Australia, “I don’t want there to be any disordered eating around food,” “Females particularly have enough problems with eating disorders…” she continued. I want Grace to eat what makes her feel good. That’s the reason I eat this way. I don’t think eating a piece of bread is going to kill me.” Cooper has received praise for raising her daughter on a healthy lifestyle, but she has also received criticism.
She Wants Grace To Just Feel Good
It Ain’t A Big Deal
Shannon Cooper has received a lot of positive feedback about Grace’s diet, but she’s also gotten a lot of negative feedback about her lifestyle choice. Cooper doesn’t let any of it bother her. She’s more perplexed as to why so many people are making an issue out of it. Cooper doesn’t understand why parents can feed their children fast food without thinking about it, but he criticizes her for feeding Grace healthy food. “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 said.
It Ain’t A Big Deal
A Doctor Said It Was Invalid
While Cooper is unbothered by the criticism and continues to follow Grace’s Paleo diet, many others have offered their unsolicited opinions on the subject. Dr. Rosemary Stanton, a dietitian, told the Daily Mail Australia that the diet is a bad idea. “Putting a child on such a restricted diet is rarely a good idea, especially when there are no legitimate reasons for it… Trying to deprive her child of grains and legumes will make achieving a balanced diet much more difficult… Dr. Stanton warned, “I’d certainly sound a note of caution (to other people considering following her),”
A Doctor Said It Was Invalid
It’s Not Weird
Cooper was probably already aware of what Dr. Stanton had to say, as it was a widely held belief among medical professionals. Cooper, on the other hand, insists that Grace enjoys the food she consumes and doesn’t recognize why others think it’s strange. “(What she eats now) is not weird, not anything strange, that normal people wouldn’t eat. 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,” Cooper told the Daily Mail Australia.
It’s Not Weird
Continuing The Diet
Grace started kindergarten in August of this year. She appears to be thriving despite having been on the Paleo diet her entire life! Cooper, for one, can’t believe how quickly her little girl is growing up. On the other hand, that’s something that all first-time parents struggle with. Grace’s days of attending a kids’ party with non-Paleo foods are dwindling as she begins school. Many people are wondering if Grace will proceed in her mother’s footsteps once she has tried these foods.
Continuing The Diet
She Wouldn’t Forcer Her To Continue What She Started
Shannon Cooper clarified that if her daughter decided to break free from the diet, she would not be forced to do so. Grace, on the other hand, hasn’t shown any signs of wanting to. Grace, on the other hand, enjoys sticking to her Paleo diet! When kids see sugary treats or snacks around, you’d assume they’d beg their parents for them. Grace, on the other hand, is content to eat fresh fruits even when she is on vacation. Grace was perfectly fine snacking on fresh strawberries on the beach during a trip to Mykonos.
She Wouldn’t Forcer Her To Continue What She Started
She Hopes Grace Would Learn Something From All Of This
Cooper tries to talk to her daughter about their personal decisions in an open and transparent way. Grace will undoubtedly begin to wonder why her mother has had her on this diet ever since she was born. Cooper tries to include Grace in many factors of her career in order to assist her in her education. Grace will hopefully be able to make aware and responsible choices on her own as a result of the knowledge she gains from these learnings. Cooper’s involvement in Grace’s life is also a wonderful way for mother and daughter to bond.
She Hopes Grace Would Learn Something From All Of This
She Can’t Be On Strict Paleo All The Time
Cooper, on the other hand, is unlikely to change her lifestyle anytime soon. She still doesn’t really watch what she eats, particularly when she’s out with her girlfriends. Cooper has a history of making exceptions for herself. “When I got out [to] dinner with friends… I’m just going to eat what’s on the menu.” Cooper told Daily Mail Australia, “I’m not going to be a jerk about it,” Cooper, on the other hand, believes that even on a Paleo diet, there is room for indulgence. All you need are the right recipes.
She Can’t Be On Strict Paleo All The Time
You Can Eat What You Want
The concept of having a set time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is a human one, and Cooper adheres to it only loosely. “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 tells the GoodnessMe Box Blog, 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.”
You Can Eat What You Want
Something To Support Her Idea
People who criticize Shannon Cooper for placing Grace on the Paleo diet are likely unaware that she is an expert on the subject. She uses her educational background to not only improve her own health literacy but also to assist others. “I’m a mum, a foodie and a coffee & bacon addict.” Cooper writes on her blog. 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.”
Something To Support Her Idea
Encouraging Others To Eat Healthier
Shannon Cooper’s blog, My Food Religion, has a lot of healthy dishes that fit into a variety of diets. Cooper has made a living educating private classes and workshops for students who want to know how to make preparations for healthy foods and change their lives in relation to the recipes. Cooper knows in eating healthy foods, but she also believes that “healthy does NOT have to equal bland.” “I love to cook nutritious, wholesome food that is preservative, additive, and artificial everything free. I prefer to use ingredients that are as close to their natural state as possible and have been through minimal processing.”
Encouraging Others To Eat Healthier
It Can Transform Your Life
Shannon Cooper, a Paleo proponent, understands that it can be accepted as a complete lifestyle. This includes not only changing your diet but also incorporating wellness practices like meditation. Cooper’s Instagram accounts are where she shares a lot of her knowledge, as well as what products she swears by. She explains that total wellness is more than just what we put into our bodies; it also is more about how we go about our daily lives. Cooper also provides candid feedback on the products she uses.
It Can Transform Your Life
Influencing People
Shannon Cooper is unquestionably an influencer at this point. Cooper, on the other hand, is likely one of the few social media influencers who doesn’t just promote products for the sake of a salary. Cooper goes out of her way to try new products into the market before telling her followers what she thinks about them. Crema Coffee Garage, an organic coffee company, and Cleanse Skincare, whose products are all available in natural of toxins and chemicals that are hazardous to our skin and bodies, are two of the brands that have made the cut.
Influencing People
E-Books Full Of Recipes
Cooper’s blog has grown in popularity to the point where she has chosen to make it easier for her fans to connect her many recipes. Cooper has taken steps to write a few e-books with detailed recipes as a result. Her wellness journey is also chronicled in the books. Cooper’s recipe e-books show that delicious foods can be made without dairy, gluten, sugar, or grains. When people think of healthy foods, they usually conjure up images of bland foods. Cooper’s recipes, on the other hand, appear to be palatable to the majority of people.
E-Books Full Of Recipes
Still Trying To Learn And Discover More
Cooper’s advocacy for the Paleo diet stems from the fact that it transformed her lifestyle. This is primarily due to the fact that Paleo allowed Cooper to cleanse her gut, and gut health has a significant impact on how we feel on a daily basis. “I have a huge passion for gut health & cannot get ENOUGH of learning all about the gut microbiome and how it affects so many aspects of our body!” Cooper writes on her website. The microbiome is a living organism’s entire environment for microorganisms.
Still Trying To Learn And Discover More