Good relationship with food
About Jo Turner
M.Sc. (Nutr., Diet. & Ex. Rehab.), APD, MAAESS, MSDA.
Joanne is a Dietitian and Exercise Physiologist – with a double Masters of Science degree. Joanne loves showing children and adults how easy and enjoyable it can be fit and healthy through good nutrition and exercise.
Joanne welcomes any of your nutrition or exercise questions.
Kids need to develop a good relationship with food, so they enjoy a range of different flavours and don’t over consume.
Some tips on how to do this include:
- Show kids where food comes from – an orchid or a farm, not the supermarket.
- Teach them to cook
- Teach kids the difference between everyday food and party food
- Try to avoid labelling food as a treat – or good or bad, kids get confused if they don’t get a treat every time they are good, and then get in trouble for asking for them. Instead try non-food and limit free treats, like cuddles, crafts, or a trip to the park.
- Introduce a range of tastes and textures; it can take 10-15 tries before taste buds accept new foods, so patience and perseverance is required. It’s great to just continue encouraging them to try new healthy foods.
- Try to eat as a family as much as possible.
- Keep eating times, happy times, if disagreements happen, try to avoid having them at the dinner table.
- Buy party food only at party times – or you’ll just find yourself having to say no a lot to unhappy kids or you may end up just giving in.
- Avoid teaching comfort eating –like giving food when upset or hurt.
- Teach kids to eat at meals times, when hungry and only until they are satisfied, not overfull.
