8 Tips for a Positive Relationship with Food

Indeed, as early as age 5, some children develop a negative perception of certain foods. This attitude can develop into an unhealthy relationship with food. A young person may be stable and have a healthy lifestyle, but their perception of food can be distorted. In fact, parental influence is an important factor in the development of a healthy body image. So, when a parent makes comments about food, portion sizes, or dieting, a young person may internalize it. Luckily, most kids are not affected by this. But some are more sensitive to these comments and may develop eating issues.

Recognizing a conflicted relationship with food

For some parents, recognizing that their child has a conflicted relationship with food is difficult, as it may be internalized. Look for the presence of:

• Obsessive and intrusive thoughts about food
• Negative comments about body weight and shape
• Judgments about food portion sizes
• Ranking of good versus bad foods
• Guilt about eating certain foods
• False and rigid beliefs about certain foods

Young people are sponges and absorb a lot by observation. As a parent, you have the power to act as a caring role model and positively guide them to develop a healthy and positive relationship with food.

Parents play an important role in developing a healthy body image for their children!

 8 ways to help your child develop a healthy relationship with food

1. Pass on the pleasure of eating a balanced variety of foods: by developing their food tastes, your child will appreciate the different sensations that come from tasting all kinds of food.
2. Avoid categorizing foods: some terms, such as junk food, have a negative connotation. As a result, young people may reject certain foods for fear of being judged for eating them.
3. Encourage and value your child's many facets and characteristics to build self-esteem and confidence in their decision-making.
4. Discuss what is presented in the media: opening the conversation in an honest, clear, and critical way allows young people to realize that the images and messages presented in the media are not realistic.
5. Prepare meals with your youth: Including your teen meal preparation helps develop curiosity, leads to discovering new talents, and promotes an openness to trying new foods.
6. Pass on the pleasure of movement: this goes hand in hand with the desire to eat in a varied and balanced way. A healthy mind in a healthy body starts with these two pillars.
7. Avoid promoting thinness and diets: As thinness is not a guarantee of mental or physical health, show your children that a variety of different bodies can be synonymous with health. Diets and the culture of thinness create a psychological rigidity that promotes food restrictions and obsessions.
8. Be a good listener: be attentive to your teen's concerns, to what they say about their body and/or food. You can provide a safe space by being a parent who is willing to listen and tries to understand.

Openness and caring

Since a relationship with food can be a sensitive topic, it is important that you feel comfortable discussing your perceptions and your own worries with your child. When in doubt, there are organizations such as ANEB or Équilibre that can offer you ways to open up the conversation around the subject. 

Did you know that...

ANEB is an organization that specializes in providing support to people with an eating disorder or a conflictual relationship with food, as well as their loved ones. The organization has a comprehensive website dedicated to youth, including quizzes, a chat room, and FAQs. Take a look at their website for information on helping yourself or a loved one.

References (in French)

ANEB, Favoriser le développement d'une relation saine envers leur corps et la nourriture dès l'enfance 
ANEB, Comment inculquer une saine relation avec les aliments aux tout-petits?