Teach your kids about nourishment
Email your questions for Dr Libby to ask.drlibby@fairfaxmedia.co.nz. Please note, only a selection of questions can be answered. helpful to describe foods as nutritious or nourishing (or not), and to base our food choices on nourishment. I’m not saying you have to watch every single word that comes out of your mouth, but I do want to bring awareness to the fact that your children will tend to model their relationship with food, nutrition and weight around your beliefs and behaviours.
Focus on health and nourishment, not on calories, fats or carbs. Talk about foods with regard to how they nourish your body rather than their effects on body shape and size. For example, explaining how nutritious foods such as vegetables are going to help give your body the nutrients it needs for clear thinking, clear skin and, of course, energy. Or sports performance. Relate nourishing food choices to what your children value.
Make it your mission to help your children understand that food is nourishment and fuel, it is neither good nor bad. Using food as a reward or offering it as comfort sets up a false notion that it can soothe strong emotions, so please do your absolute best to avoid this.
Helping your children to understand that it’s what we do every day that impacts our health not what we do sometimes, can also help to prevent a dieting mentality, rigidity in food choices or an ‘‘all or nothing’’ attitude when it comes to food. Remind them that food is nutritious (or not) and people are healthy (or not). And the more nutritious food they choose, the healthier they will usually be.