Raising Intuitive Eaters’s
Confused with all the info online about how we should be feeding our kids?? There’s a lot of fearmongering with regards to good food, bad food. All this fear mongering has left us downright confused and maybe even frustrated which isn’t what feeding kids and setting them up with positive relationships to food and their bodies should be about.
Kids are born intuitive eaters; they are self-regulating in terms of how much food they need. In other words, they listen to and trust their hunger and fullness signals! Oftentimes, adults try to influence children to eat less, eat more, choose different foods, and the pushier adults are, the more children will push back. The problem is they are reacting to you and ignoring their inner signals; it becomes all about the power struggle and the food is forgotten! Whether you're a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, teacher or childcare provider, read below how you can support a child's intuitive relationship to food and eating
How to support a child’s intuitive relationship to food and eating
• Children grow in spurts; sometimes they eat as much as an adult and sometimes they pick at their food. If left alone and not nudged, they will get everything they need over time.
• Children's food preferences will change, sometimes frequently and abruptly. Your child might want only peanut butter and jam sandwiches for weeks and then not touch it for months. If you don't make judgments ("you used to love this food, why aren't you eating it now?") they will likely go back to eating it at some point.
• Rather than focusing on a single meal or day of eating, look at the whole week. You may notice your child does get a variety of foods and will likely be getting the nutrition they need.
• Avoid telling children that some foods are "good", and some foods are "bad" or "junk", as that can instill feelings of guilt or shame for eating something that is perceived as having no value. Instead, tell children that "play food" isn't necessarily nutritious for the body, but exists to taste good and be enjoyed.
• Don't restrict access to play foods. Having access to play foods without guilt or shame for eating them will reduce the risk of your child fixating on – and potentially overeating – these foods. So allow them the cookie or chocolate bar in their lunchbox if allowed in the school. It’s better than them hiding wrappers from you in their bedrooms?
• Role model for your child by enjoying a variety of foods yourself, both nutritious foods and play foods.
Food is for hunger, satisfaction and nourishment. Supporting a child's intuitive eating cues means cultivating a positive and peaceful relationship with food, setting them up for trusting and respecting their bodies as adults. Whether it's in the home, school lunchroom, restaurant or at an event, your role in raising intuitive eaters is powerful! If you missed my last in person talk on Raising intuitive Eaters, don’t fret, I have an online variation on Wednesday 11th of September from 7-9pm over Zoom. Find the link on my events page or at www.momoyoga.com/yoga-with-cara/events. Please share with friends or anyone you think may need to learn more!