Emphasizing Health vs. Weight for Body-Positive Thinking

It is time to drop negative thinking when it comes to body image. Always focusing on weight can cause feelings of insecurity, and guilt in young children and teens, and can progress to sneaking food or disordered eating. Instead of focusing on the negatives, we need to look at the healthfulness and taste of foods. A “healthy” or balanced diet can impact athletic/school performance, energy levels, and even mood. It is important to focus on eating a balanced diet so that on days when we do tend to eat more or less nutritious foods, we do not feel guilty or feel like we are cheating. Ideas to help create body-positive attitudes and behaviors are:  

Teach What Healthy Eating Is and Isn’t 

Counting calories and obsessing over carbs, fats, and protein makes mealtime unpleasant and stressful for parents and children. Teach children that a “healthy” balanced meal consists of many fruits and vegetables. Expanding the palate and offering a variety of foods is another step in a positive direction.  

Make Food Fun 

Another way to introduce new foods and make things fun is to get everyone into the kitchen to be involved in food preparation. This can be anything from washing produce to cutting vegetables or even mixing things together, there is something for everyone. Themed food nights are also a great way to introduce new foods such as cuisine from around the world. Giving foods a fun name like green monster juice or ants on a log is another way to get kids to eat foods they generally would not gravitate towards.  

Be A Role Model 

It is hard to tell children to eat their vegetables or try new foods if the parents are not modeling that behavior. If they see an adult not like something, they will be less likely to try it. It is also important to model a healthy attitude about body image. If parents pick themselves apart for how they look or what they eat, their children will emulate those behaviors for themselves. If the parents follow fad diets, children can learn restrictive eating and think it is more important than balanced eating.  

Put Weight Into Perspective 

We cannot get a full picture of a child's health from weight alone; we have to look at the whole picture. During developmental stages, food preferences can change but promoting balanced eating and physical activity is a better indication of health than weight.  

Take Your Concerns To A Professional 

If there are concerns about your child’s development or eating habits, it is important to talk with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian nutritionist to assess diet and they can make recommendations for your child.  

Source: https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/weight-and-body-positivity/emphasizing-health-vs-weight-for-bodypositive-thinking