We all want to do our best when it comes to our kids, and that includes setting them up with a positive relationship with food and eating. But it\u2019s human nature to associate food with feelings \u2013 we use meals to celebrate, commiserate and reward \u2013 so how do we ensure our children develop a healthy attitude towards mealtimes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teach them to listen to their bodies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the core of mindful eating is listening to your body\u2019s cues and establishing this in early childhood can set your child up for a positive relationship with food and their bodies for life. The old strategy of making a child \u2018clean their plate\u2019 can encourage them to eat past feeling comfortably full and sends the message that they can\u2019t trust their body to signal when they\u2019re hungry and satisfied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t use dessert as a reward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be tempting to offer a bowl of jelly and custard as a reward to a child if they finish their peas and carrots but that simply reinforces the idea that veggies aren\u2019t enjoyable and that they should<\/em> be rewarded for eating them. The end result? You could end up getting into a routine of serving dessert every night in order to get your little one to eat their 5-a-day. For baby and toddler food that\u2019s free from preservatives, colourants, flavourings and starch, try the Squish range of 100% Fruit + Vegetable Purees.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make mealtimes a positive experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For many families, dinner is the only time of day that everyone sits down to a meal together, so make it a part of the day to look forward to. Avoid using this as a time to moan at your partner or discipline the kids as this will make them associate dinner with tension \u2013 focus instead on connecting and really talking with each other away from cellphones and the TV. While you should encourage your child to try different foods at mealtimes, don\u2019t force them to eat something or it may create an air of anxiety around meals, and that particular food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t label food<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A healthy relationship with food shouldn\u2019t involve feeling guilty over what you eat. Labeling food as \u2018good\u2019 or \u2018bad\u2019 can make a child associate what they eat with morality \u2013 meaning they\u2019ll feel like a \u2018bad\u2019 person for eating a burger and chips or that they\u2019re more worthy of love or praise if they choose to eat a plate of vegetables. Rather teach them that all foods \u2013 including treats like cake \u2013 can be a part of a healthy diet if it\u2019s enjoyed in moderation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t make any foods off limits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You might think that banning chocolate or chips entirely means your child won\u2019t develop a taste for them, but this strategy tends to backfire on parents. When certain foods are restricted, it makes them seem more desirable, so a child is more likely to binge when they have access to them at a friend\u2019s house or at parties. Again, teaching portion control and moderation is a healthier \u2013 and more realistic \u2013 alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n