Written by Betty Murray, CN, HHC, RYT
We have all heard the saying, “Do as I say not as I do.” Yet, every parent knows children will do as we do, which is why parents and caregiving adults must model healthy heating habits. The relationship a parent has with food will transcend to his or her child’s relationship with food. If Mom is always “on a diet”, her daughter may come to believe that food is somehow connected to her own sense of self-worth or sense of attractiveness. If Mom uses food for emotional comfort, her children will learn that food soothes wounded feelings. Parents who use food as rewards or punishments instill in their children the concept that food is related to behavior. The child is taught to believe, If I am good, I can have a yummy treat; but if I am bad, I will have to do without. With childhood obesity and childhood onset of type 2 diabetes on the rise, parents need to become conscious eaters and consistently model healthy eating habits for their children.
Children come into the world as self-regulating eaters. Babies intuitively know when they have had enough food. Although it is probably not a conscious or deliberate decision, parents often teach children that food serves many more functions in life than nutritional support and may unknowingly undo this intuitive process. Parents and caregivers often use food as a source of comfort, a source of entertainment, and of course, as a source of reward and punishment. But, are we really doing our children a service by providing excessive, empty calories to their bodies? Is it really entertaining to consume a 500- to 600-calorie “treat”? Often a parent’s acts, or expressions, of love provide confusing, and ultimately unhealthy, relationships with for food for the child. And these unhealthy relationships with food lead to childhood obesity.
Recent research indicates that children who are obese are 63 percent more likely to be the target of bullying at school and on the playground than other children. As a matter of fact, when it comes to reasons why children may choose to be aggressive towards other children, being overweight or obese trumps all other factors such as race, gender and/or socioeconomic status. Children pick on their obese playmates.
The best way to teach children how to eat healthy and make healthy lifestyle choices is to model that behavior. If we “say” without “doing,” we provide confusing and conflicting messages to children about food. Every child deserves the opportunity to experience physical health. Our physical health has a direct correlation to our emotional health and vice-versa. Working with a nutritionist both individually and as a family may be beneficial in establishing lifelong healthy habits in your children. And just think, teaching your child healthy eating habits may very well prevent cruel bullying on the playground.
Betty Murray, CN, HHC, RYT is a Certified Nutritionist & Holistic Health Counselor, founder of the Dallas-based integrative medical center, Living Well Health & Wellness and founder of the Metabolic Blueprint wellness program. Betty’s nutrition counseling practice specializes in metabolic and digestive disorders and weight loss resistance. A master of the bio-chemistry of the body, Betty teaches her clients how to utilize nutritional interventions to improve their health. Betty is a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals.
www.livingwelldallas.com, www.bettymurray.com, www.metabolicblueprint.com