![]() Hi everyone! Thanks for reading! This is week 8 of 12 steps to a healthier lifestyle! I still want to continue with the subject of emotional eating. For
this week, try and work on not making food comments to anyone – including your family and
friends.
What do I mean? How? Let’s start with the Division of
Responsibility, created by dietitian, social worker, and author, Ellyn Satter. You are responsible for what you put on the
table, a meal for your family. All
family members are responsible for WHAT
they eat and HOW MUCH.
Please remember this : children are still learning to get in touch
with their hunger and fullness signals.
This starts as soon as they are a baby. The more you try and intervene (and I know, best intentions) the less
the children will learn to trust themselves and their body.
For instance, if your child
takes too much food and cannot finish it, you will need to accept the losses
(wrap it and save it) and know that when they say they are done, their body is
telling them they are done. If a parent
intervenes and states, “Can’t you eat a little more” or “you took all that
food, now finish it” fullness signals
get ignored.
Ways to resolve this? (I
know, not easy to not make these comments- but it is all a work in progress- do
your best!). Serve everyone
family-style. Let children learn to
trust how much they may eat (gentle reminders are ok- “don’t take more than you
think you can eat”…etc. ) That way they
can get used to how much they will eat.
It won’t be perfect every time.
From time to time, everyone takes too much! At least there is such thing as leftovers! Remember no one is perfect. As a parent, we are all tired after a busy day and can say things about eating that we may regret. The important thing is that you develop an awareness to these comments. You can work to improve. Not every meal will go smoothy but some of my tips should certainly help! On the same note, try and not
make food comments to other family members and friends. It is not your job or responsibility to
monitor what they put in their bodies (i.e., “You’re really going to eat all
that?” Or “why don’t you eat more food-
you are so tiny! “ “I can’t believe how much you can eat”. All these comments do is upset the other
person so please try your best to refrain from making inappropriate food
comments . This can give you an
opportunity to be mindful with your own eating and trust your own
hunger/fullness signals.
The takeaway for today?
Remember food is meant to be
enjoyed by everyone! The best
conversation you can have is about everyone’s day at school, at work, at home,
etc. Enjoy!!!
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