Hello

For a 8 Year old kid, is the calculating for blocks the same than like for adults ?

Hi!

An eight year old (children of elementary school age in general) will usually require 2 block meals with a couple one block snacks. That's recommendation in ZONE MEALS IN SECONDS. That book has a chapter in kids in the Zone.

I don't calculate blocks for my kids. My kids range from 6-9-12, and they all use the plate method. They are served foods that are zone favorable, and then I allow them to pick/choose, and eat until they are full.

I don't really get into blocks with them, because I don't want to teach them to be fixated on it. I would rather that they naturally develop the skill of knowing what a good meal really is.

I am just starting out. Mnay years ago I was zoned but never figured out how do do it cooking for two when I got married and my husband needed different blocks. Now we have children and I an tired if being unhappy and over weight and have no idea how to begin.

Needless to say I absolutely love your posting. It's inspiring. It is very daunting to come back to the zone but I was never healthier and have tried everything else with no success.

Cheers

Thanks for the compliment!

Now, my kids are 13-10-6 (just an update since my last post here).

Welcome Robyn!

Here's a copy of a previous reply of mine (from another thread in this "Kids" forum) that might help.



My 3 kids ranged in age from about 9 to 18 when we began eating in the Zone (15 years ago). We didn't have them measure specific amounts, but showed them how to mix and match protein and carb in appropriate quantities by sight, and to always add fat like a small handful of nuts or a small spoonful of oil to a meal, less to a snack. My son was the youngest (a yr or so younger than your daughter is now, so I'll focus on him) and even he picked up on it easily. To help them to make better choices at first, I did not resupply the foods that weren't Zone favorable, as we ran out of them. Instead, I replaced them with their favorite foods from the best choices on the Zone Food Blocks list. My son loved coming home from school and eating snacks like chicken with salsa and a few corn chips, leftover Zoned chili, leftover stir-fry, or a salad (he became a huge fan of salads of all kinds, and still is). I'd pack him a lunch of Zone friendly foods, usually giving him some input as to choices (my two older kids packed their own). If the school lunch was something he really wanted, I'd let him get it now and then. Eventually he didn't want it anymore. Kids can tell the difference, just like we adults can. When you eat only good fresh food all the time, the typical school lunch becomes quite unappetizing after a while. We didn't get rigid about it, none of the "You have to do this” kind of attitude. We simply kept the "bad” stuff out of the house. With mostly Zone favorable foods they liked being the only choices in the kitchen, they got creative (we all did) and discovered all kinds of favorite combinations. We didn't rely on the standard Zone string cheese and fruit snack, or the cottage cheese and fruit snacks either, though they would also be good choices. A tip, take care not to make cheese a habit multiple times a day. It doesn't contain the best fat. Also, we didn’t have any rules about eating out or at friend's houses. Everything was fair game. But, just as with the school lunches, he gravitated to the more Zone friendly combinations. With 10 yr olds, bottom line is, if you don't buy it, they're not going to have the choice to eat it at home. Other kids definitely noticed how he was eating a bit differently. They'd ask him why he didn't eat certain things, and he'd tell it was because they weren’t good for people to eat.

I would have to add that schools are more in tune with offering healthy options for the kids. Our school has revamped their menu over the past few years. Although not perfect, they are offering better choices than in the past.

Wow. 15 yrs! With three children. I am impressed and inspired. Thank you. Would this be the right forum to ask how to cook for multiple people with different block requirements. That's what threw me off 10+years ago.

I need three and my husband 4 and many of the dishes in the recipe book are one dish dishes which
I love. How do you figure how much is three and how much is 4. And now adding children into the mix it's a daunting task to me.

But I have tried everything out there. I haven't been able to commit to anything. I don't know what else to do to get my zone body back. Except the Zone of couse! 

if there is a more appropriate forum for this question. Please i would appreciate being directed there.

Hi Robyn!

You're welcome!

Using the plate method makes it easy for a regular meal of lean protein and veggies. If you're really invested in using blocks there are easy ways to get around that, too. When I cook things like chili, stew soup, etc, I'll keep track of how many blocks of P, C and F I add to the entire pot. Then I divide by 3 to see how many 3 block meals I have (round off, it will be close enough, and distribute the finished product among that many plates or bowls. The 3 blocker gets 1, the 4 blocker gets 1 plus a glass of 2% milk (2% for the right amount of fat; no need to think about adding more fat for the 4th block). Depending on the ages of your kids, they can each get a bowl, or you can split a couple bowls between 3 kids (resulting in 2 blocks per child), etc. I store teh leftovers in the 3 block amounts for an easy meal later. Since we've been following the ZoneFast plan, Ive been storing leftovers in 1 block portions, so we can easily add them to the Zone baked goods and pastas for a quick and easy meal.

I make "block portions" for myself and my DH, but as for the kids, I don't make it mandatory for them to eat a pre-determined volume of food. Basically, I set out a protein, and then surround it with a few zone-favorable dishes. They determine how much they want. They pick and choose what they want from the healthy choices that I have put out. Cooking for the family does not have to be that hard.

Serve up your protein, whatever your family likes. You can open up a few bags of frozen veggies and steam them up. You can incorporate some beans or legumes, or a tomato-based sauce, and a fruit for dessert, and you have your 3 block meal without much effort. THe fat can come from what you cook with, or you can add some nuts to share at the table.

I am new to the zone.  I love it so far!  I would like to get my 9 year old daughter on the Zone as well.  Like me she is petite & has a very high metabolism. We have always eaten healthy. My daughter is not a picky eater either.  Since she has always been homeschooled it has been easy to make sure that she eats healthy.  When we go out she sticks to making healthy food choices along with me. I taught my daughter from a young age to know what is good for her & what isn't. 

Do I continue as I always have & just tweak her meal plans a bit? I am interested in calculating the blocks for her as well.  I would like a run down (if possible) on how to start children on The Zone. Thank you so much! 

That's great R!  You're giving your daughter a great gift by instilling healthy habits from the start. My three children grew up eating healthy too and they have continued to make good choices as adults.  As a guideline to keep in mind, most elementary aged children would require two block sized meals.  My son, now 24, has been eating in the Zone since he was 9.  Keep up the good job! 

_________________________________________

sue

Lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil. ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

Consultant of Zone Labs

Certified Zone Affiliate

View my Zone Fast 1-2-3 meal photos here:  http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/

View my classic Zone meal photos here:  http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0

 

TY for the kind words!  Ty for the info on my daughter food blocks. 

I'm happy to help, R.  :-)

You can find more info about kids in the Zone in the book Zone Meals in Seconds and in the Kids forum here.