1301 East 12th Street, Lamar, MO 64759

Kids Eat in Color: Small Bites

One of the things that you can do to protect your child from disordered eating is to NOT weigh yourself in front of your child or talk about dieting.

Adults have many reasons for going on diets, and adults can explore their own health journeys.

If you are hoping to change your weight this year, however, you don’t have to say anything at all about it to your child.

If your child does ask something about a change in what you are eating, you can share that you are changing to:

  • Give your kidneys a rest (high blood pressure).
  • Help your heart get stronger (family risk factor for heart disease).
  • Build back muscle (muscle loss).
  • Keep the microbes in your gut happy (poor gut health).
  • Poop easier (constipation).

If your child asks something about your appearance changing, you can talk about how it’s normal for bodies to change sizes – sometimes they get bigger, sometimes they get smaller, and that’s amazing.

There are so many ways to think about and talk about health that do not include weight. Changing our language around what we eat to a different focus, like what it tastes like, where it comes from, and what it does in our bodies, can help us move past a culture that emphasizes body shape and helps kids have a good relationship with food and their bodies.

If you’re looking for scripts for how to talk about weight and health with your child, check out our How to Talk About Weight and Health guide.

Happy New Year! – Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN, Founder of Kids Eat in Color

For more from Kids Eat in Color, please see the link below!

Kids Eat in Color – Kids Eat in Color

Related Posts

Fit Momma Project: January

Our very own Candice Cox writes her January blog post about her health and wellness journey as a pregnant 40-year-old woman who is transforming her relationship with food and exercise.

Read More