Do you realise that your attitude toward food and dieting could be pushing your children into obsessive thinking about eating?
Perhaps you are constantly checking food labels, insisting on organic produce, and banning candy and soda.
If you are, you could actually be doing your child more harm than good.
Our obsession with eating ‘healthy food’ can sometimes lead to an incorrect belief that foods are either “good,” or “bad!” However, this is a bit O.T.T. in my opinion.
All foods can in fact have a part in a healthy diet – you just need to get the proportions and frequency right.
There’s no doubt though this is a tricky one!
It’s completely natural that you want to instill good habits in your children, but on the other hand by banning cookies and treating white bread, rice and pasta as a dietary evil, you could be setting your kids up for a lot of anxiety about food
Children shouldn’t be worried about the nutritional content of foods, particularly at a very young age.
They don’t have the ability to rationalise food like we do. So, if you tell them food is “bad” they can become fearful of putting anything into their bodies in case it makes them unhealthy.
Do you think your family has a rational approach to food?
I think it’s a utter tragedy that we’ve developed this restrictive and unhappy relationship with food. Food is to be enjoyed, not loathed.
If we could only get back to basics…all things in moderation, without the hype or restrictive dieting practises – our children would be much healthier for it, don’t you think?
I’d love to hear from you:
How do you make sure your kids eat healthily, without their occasional treats being tinged with guilt and anxiety?
What rules have you set down for your kids about food?
Here are a few tips:
- Eat meals together as a family and lead by example in portion size and choice
- Don’t talk about the calories, sodium and fat content etc in food
- Talk about foods that will make them ‘healthy,’ and ’strong’ rather than discussing the negative aspects of food ie trans fats or sodium
- Encourage eating a wide variety of different coloured foods each day
- Encourage trying new foods and dishes regularly
- Get children involved in choosing and cooking food
- Encourage moderate portion sizes
- Stock lots of healthy food, snacks and water for your children to enjoy at will
- Don’t obsess over your own weight
- Try not to use food as a punishment or a reward
- Don’t make your children feel guilty about eating a certain type of food
- Reinforce their good eating habits, don’t mention their bad
Check out my previous post on healthy snacks for kids.
To transform the lifestyles of a diet-obsessed world by teaching people how to eat healthy and make healthy eating a habit for life.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
To start with I don’t have children but for what it’s worth this whole area of ‘parents ideals for children/teens’ covers other areas…..
Later then the children leave home, they might well rebel and become little fatties all on their own accord….my sister and her DH were not exactly well off so they provided hearty food. When the kids left home, they rebelled. Each went into completely different fields…..some to their detriment as they tried to right the preceived wrongs of their parents.
Later, when a couple had kids of their own…….they realised exactly why Mum provided hearty food. Keeping the roof over their heads was no mean feat on a lower income!
To add to the food string…..other areas of home life can change when the ‘kids’ leave home. How they conduct their new-found freedom.
Then later when they are in the parenting world some of these new-found freedoms just aren’t worth it…..I think it’s a continuing cycle generation after generation….
I personally cannot remember what my childhood was really like…..my siblings had all grown/left home…..I had what was deemed elderly parents (& no grandparents) …..plus I had physical problems which slowed me down, kept me at home. I rebelled a little when I was let looose
etc etc
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
Hey Cathy,
Thanks for your comment. It’s certainly no mean feat providing food for hungry little mouths!
I don’t have kids either, but I think when I do I’ll put more emphasis on what to eat versus what not to eat. When you focus on the evil, like you said, the food becomes taboo and enticing. It’s like “Whatever you do, don’t touch the red button!” You just can’t help but touch the red button!
We’ll of course have treats once in a while and in moderation like you said. I like your suggestion to not use any food as a reward or a punishment.
Thanks for a good post!
Hey Julie,
Yes, totally!!! We can fully understand when it comes to ourselves that saying “don’t do…” makes us want to, but yet it seems we do the complete opposite when it comes to dealing with our kids. All things in moderation is my key to most things in life!!
The New York Times recently published an article, What’s Eating Our Kids? Fears about Bad Foods, that discusses parents who are obsessed with their children’s healthy eating. The article has stirred up a lot of conversations (over 170 people commented to the article) and people are focusing on Orthorexia, the obsession with the purity of foods. While Orthorexia is a non medical term that is not considered a clinical diagnosis or a form of eating disorder, it has serious implications for sufferers. As a result, many orthorexics suffer from malnutrition, fatigue, weakness, digestive problems etc. The Center for Eating Disorders offers some warning signs. This obsession with food purity is far from harmless so be sure to check out the warning signs on our eating disorder blog: http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/2009/03/17/orthorexia-too-much-of-a-good-thing/
To read the NY Times article visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/26/health/nutrition/26food.html?_r=1
Hi CED,
Thanks for linking to the two articles, they are very useful.
Aloha Melanie.
Just wanted to say great job on your web sight. I think the advise you have been giving in the short time I have been visiting your sight is right on . I live in Hawaii and weight management is a big problem here along with diabetes. I am cuerous to here what you think about the fat food industry and how it is affecting the health of people today. Mahalo for your time and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks for posting this. I do worry that I will pass on my food issues to my kids, especially if I have a daughter! It’s going to be hard to find a balance between demonstrating by example what a healthy lifestyle is like without being too obsessive and worrisome. Parenting must be such a joy!
Lara (Thinspired)’s last blog post..Running with Randomness
Hi Raymond,
Sorry, for the late reply, I somehow missed your comment!
Do you mean the fast food industry? You have given me a good idea for a post topic later in the week!
Hi Lara,
Isn’t this so true in so many different levels of parenting? It must be so easy to pass on your beliefs and actions in all areas of life. Some good, and some bad!
Just look back to the things you picked up from those around you as a child. It really is pretty scary, isn’t it?
I have a 12 year old step son and has an eating disorder. All he wants to eat is junk food, cereal, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, and french toast. He does not or will not eat any meat or vegetables, when offered to eat mashed potatoes or potatoes of any kind as he does like french fries he refuses to eat it. Please help me on how I can get him to eat anything new as he flat out refuses and says he’ll taste it but if he likes it he will still not eat it. When I prepare my meals for my family he will not eat what we are having, we have tried everything from bribing to going to his room after dinner and we are at a loss. He is currently in counseling but is not helping.
Hi Ortega,
I’m sorry to hear of your difficulties.
Has your son been diagnosed with an eating disorder? It doesn’t sound like an eating disorder to me, since he will eat junk food. Does his counsellor think he has issues with food?