Like many women, I’ve had a complicated journey with food and my body throughout my life. My first diet started at age 12, as I joined the low-fat craze of the early ’90s. I consumed entire boxes of no-fat cookies and massive bowls of frosted flakes drowned in skim milk. My daily routine included 400 sit-ups without fail.
During my freshman year of college, I looked in the mirror one day and decided I despised what I saw. I craved a frail, delicate thinness, wanting to see my ribs and hip bones. I discarded all the food in my dorm room and survived for weeks on just one grape soda each day. My gym sessions were grueling, often lasting two hours as I sweated it out.
After a few weeks, my clothes began to sag on me. A concerned friend intervened, dragging me to the food court and insisting I eat some rice and veggies. She stayed with me afterward to ensure I didn’t purge my meal and threatened to call my parents if my weight dropped further. Following her intervention, I resumed eating, though I occasionally slipped back into restrictive eating patterns, but never for more than a week at a time. I had developed a troubling ability to ignore my hunger.
As I grew up, I also went through periods where I used food to cope with my emotions. My family encouraged us to “clean our plates,” a common practice, which left me unable to leave food uneaten, often eating well past the point of fullness. Reflecting on those times makes me cringe. I don’t want my children to struggle with food and self-worth as I did.
Fortunately, my relationship with food has improved over time. While I still occasionally eat my feelings, I no longer go days without food. Nowadays, I focus on nutrition and view my body as the vessel that carries me through life. I strive to listen to my body’s signals, stopping when I’m full, even if it means saving leftovers for later.
I aim to model this healthier mindset for my kids. I recognize that, like me, they will encounter messages from the media and peers suggesting that beauty and health are synonymous with thinness, often linked to restrictive eating or fad diets. To combat these harmful ideas, I talk about food in terms of nourishment and enjoyment. Phrases like, “Let’s eat our green veggies first for their nutrients,” or “If you feel full, it’s perfectly fine to stop eating,” are common in our household.
We indulge in the occasional sweet treat, although this aspect is challenging for me. With a family history of type 2 diabetes, I’m educating my kids about how our bodies process sugars and the importance of eating whole foods. Our discussions revolve around health, not body size, but I worry that my well-meaning education might lead them to develop disordered eating habits.
Recently, I discovered an Instagram account (thanks to a tip from Alex Morgan) that provides helpful, non-shaming language for promoting healthy eating. This account, @kids.eat.in.color, is a fantastic resource for parents looking to foster a positive relationship with food for their children.
The account offers engaging and motivating content without ever mentioning body size or shape. Instead, it provides specific, encouraging information about how different foods benefit our bodies. I find its wording far more effective than my own efforts.
One particularly adorable graphic even humorously includes “disgusted” as a recognized portion size! This means it’s completely okay for kids to take a nibble and decide they don’t want any more. The entire account focuses on healthy eating while completely eliminating any sense of shame. Its messages have reinvigorated my commitment to discussing nutrition positively with my kids and reminded me to adopt the same mindset for myself.
Food can be a tricky subject, and the journey to cultivate a healthy relationship with it is ongoing for both my children and me. For more insights into this topic, check out this other blog post on home insemination that provides valuable information.
In summary, by embracing a positive approach to food and nutrition, parents can create a healthier environment for their children, fostering a relationship with food that emphasizes enjoyment and health rather than shame.
Keyphrase: Positive approaches to healthy eating for kids
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