Young Girl Has Grown Up Without Sugar – Here’s How She Looks Now

When Shan Cooper became a mother, she decided to raise her daughter Grace on a strict Paleo-inspired diet from day one. That meant Grace’s meals looked more like organic chicken with vegetables rather than peanut butter sandwiches or sugary cereals. The Paleo lifestyle avoids grains and dairy, focusing instead on foods our ancestors might have gathered or hunted—meat, fish, eggs, fruits, and vegetables.

While some consider the approach extreme, Shan insists it has worked wonders for Grace’s health. According to the Australian mom, her daughter rarely gets sick and has developed a natural love for whole, nutritious foods.

Grace’s day often starts with eggs fried in coconut oil, served alongside roasted sweet potato, carrots, regular potatoes, broccoli, avocado, and a spoonful of sauerkraut. Lunch might be roasted organic chicken with steamed vegetables, while snacks consist of fresh fruit—bananas and strawberries are her top choices. For dinner, it could be a homemade Paleo-style spaghetti Bolognese, with zucchini noodles and grass-fed beef topped in fresh tomato sauce.

Shan, who holds a degree in agricultural science and has published her own healthy recipe guide, says Grace has only ever caught a cold once.

“She’s constantly surrounded by kids with coughs and runny noses, but she just doesn’t seem to catch it,” Shan explained to the Daily Mail. “I’m not keeping her isolated—it’s just that a nutrient-rich diet is really boosting her immune system.”

Despite the strict meal plan, Shan isn’t militant about it. She accepts that as Grace grows, especially with birthday parties and social gatherings, she may try cake or bread.

“What she eats isn’t weird—it’s just real food. If she decides to eat a piece of bread, it’s not the end of the world. I don’t want food to become something negative or restrictive for her. I want her to discover what makes her feel good,” Shan said.

Still, not everyone agrees with her approach. Nutrition expert Dr. Rosemary Stanton has warned parents against putting children on such a restrictive diet without medical reasons.

“Excluding whole food groups like grains and legumes can make it harder for a child to get a fully balanced diet,” Stanton cautioned, advising families to consult a professional dietitian before following similar plans.

Shan, however, remains confident in her choices and unfazed by critics.

“I find it strange that eating vegetables over bread can spark so much outrage,” she said. “If you want to feed your kid junk, that’s your call. I won’t judge you. But I also won’t apologize for feeding my daughter real, nourishing food.”