We decided it would be fun & interesting to interview our kids so we sat down with 4 daughters, ranging from age 10-16. We heard about the kind of food & body messages they hear at home, and how these messages differ from what they hear among friends, and generally in the world. Some key takeaways from our daughters:
- There is no "good" food or "bad" food, food is just food
- Sugar is not bad for you and should never be used as a reward
- The way you look has nothing to do with your health
- It’s hard to hear adults you look up to talking about food in a negative way
- Children should not have to hear an authority figure saying bad things about people in larger bodies
- Removing the pressure around food leaves them feeling more excited and freer to try new foods ( bargaining and/or food policing backfires)
- How they handle the moments when peers say negative things about their bodies
- Health is far more complex than just what we eat
Some helpful links:
- Please Don't Teach My Kids to Diet
- A School Nutrition Lesson: The Edible Parts of a Plant
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