Shan Cooper gained attention for raising her daughter Grace on a nutrient-rich paleo-inspired diet. From infancy, Grace ate whole foods like eggs, vegetables, meat, and avocado—avoiding refined sugar. “At 13 months, she had breast milk and meals like roast chicken, sweet potato, and sauerkraut,” Shan shared. For her first birthday, she even had sugar-free panna cotta made with coconut cream.

Shan believes this diet helped Grace’s immunity. “She’s around other kids who are often sick but she doesn’t catch anything,” she said in 2015. Shan began eating this way to combat her own health issues and gradually removed gluten, dairy, and processed foods.

While based on paleo principles, Shan doesn’t follow strict rules. “I pick what I like from different approaches and adapt it,” she said. She cooks from scratch but allows some flexibility. “If she eats a piece of bread, I’m not going to freak out.”

Shan emphasizes balance. “I don’t want her to develop disordered eating,” she explained. Grace now enjoys healthy food but occasionally has candy at parties. “A piece of bread won’t kill me,” Shan added. For her, the goal is a positive, balanced relationship with food.