Apparently, it’s not okay to say foods are “healthy” and “unhealthy” around kids anymore. Times are changing as we are starting to see the negative impacts of diet culture and the rise of disordered eating in children. But is this shift a positive one? Let's explore how our language around food can shape our children's eating habits and relationship with their bodies.

Diet Culture: A Shift in Perspective

Have you noticed how pervasive diet culture has become? From social media influencers to everyday conversations, the idea of “good” and “bad” foods has infiltrated our thinking. This constant labelling can have profound effects on children, influencing how they perceive foods and their own bodies. Research and advice from health professionals are increasingly suggesting that labelling foods as “healthy” or “unhealthy” can lead to feelings of guilt or shame when children consume foods labelled as “bad,” potentially setting the stage for unhealthy relationships with food later in life.

Food is Just ‘Food’

When we label foods as “healthy” or “unhealthy,” young children interpret this as moral judgments: some foods are good, while others are bad. For instance, labelling a food as a ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’ food might be perceived by a child as “bad.” This can lead to feelings of guilt or shame for enjoying such foods, potentially setting up unhealthy eating behaviours later in life.

Instead, what if we emphasised that food is just food? By offering a variety of foods without attaching labels or guilt, we can help children develop a healthier relationship with what they eat. This approach encourages them to listen to their bodies and enjoy all foods in moderation.

Food for Thought: Parental Influence

As parents, we have a profound role in shaping our children’s attitudes towards food. By deciding what foods to offer without emphasising “good” or “bad,” we can lay the groundwork for lifelong healthy eating habits. 

Nutrition is not a black and white subject, so teaching them about what foods are nutritious and what are when they are a bit older and have the ability to understand more than what’s ‘good’ and ‘bad’ might be more beneficial. 

Quite often if a food is forbidden it becomes much more desirable. Offering your kids a variety of foods with no labels or guilt might help to set up life long healthy eating habits and a healthy relationship with food.

Think About Your Relationship With Food

What's your relationship with food and your body like? Do you worry about what you eat? Do you have a lot of guilt around food? Do you find it hard to stop eating ‘bad’ food? Do you worry about your weight? Do you worry about how you look? Many of us have grown up surrounded by messages from media and societal norms that portray ‘fat’ being the enemy, with harmful phrases like “a moment on the lips, forever on the hips,” watching our parents or people on TV worrying about eating “bad” food, and having bone thin woman being thrown in our faces promoted as the ‘healthy ideal.’ This cultural backdrop often shapes lifelong struggles with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. 

Do you think if you had grown up in an environment where there was no obsession with weight and where you were offered a variety of food and actually learned to eat intuitively you would have a better relationship with food and your body? It’s certainly something to think about in raising the next generation.

Avoiding Harmful Comments

Remember, your child is like your shadow; they see everything you do and often copy your behaviours. Here are some things to avoid to help your child learn to eat intuitively and develop a healthy relationship with food and their bodies..

• Avoid Body Comments: Refrain from making negative comments about your own body or others’ bodies in front of your children. eg “I look fat today” or “she looks like she's gained a bit of weight”
• Avoid Food and Weight Talk: Steer clear of discussing food in terms of weight gain or loss, such as labelling foods as fattening or saying you’ll get fat from eating certain foods. Eg. “oh I can’t eat that I’ll get fat” or “no thanks, I’m trying to to be good” or “I’m being so bad by eating this”
• Avoid Commenting on other peoples diets: Criticising others’ food choices can reinforce negative attitudes towards eating. Eg: “she shouldn't be eating that ice cream”

Parental Guidance

Ultimately, as parents, we have the power to shape how our children perceive food and their bodies. By promoting a positive relationship with food early on, we can help them navigate a world filled with conflicting messages about diet and nutrition.

It looks like the way we talk about food matters more than we think. By reframing our language and attitudes towards food, maybe we can empower our children to develop healthy eating habits and a positive body image that lasts a lifetime.

Nourishing Bubs: Your Partner in Raising Healthy Eaters

At Nourishing Bubs, we go beyond convenient and nutritious baby food. We're your one-stop shop for raising healthy eaters! Explore our library of informative articles and delicious recipes, designed to guide you through every stage of your child's development, from starting solids to introducing allergens and fostering healthy eating habits. Plus, discover our convenient and nutritious product range: frozen baby purees for effortless mealtimes, allergen packs for safe exploration of common allergens, and delicious toddler finger foods that encourage self-feeding and a love for healthy choices.

 

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