Family doctor, Michelle May, warns parents about their choice of words when it comes to talking to their kids about food. A medical expert for the non-profit weight-loss support group TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), Dr May offers some tips on how to equip kids with a healthy attitude towards food, reports Medical News Today.
Some well-intended parents and grandparents can cause eating problems in children. She recommends, for example, we should avoid saying "You’re a good eater" as a child wants to please his parents may begin to overeat and gain weight, and instead say something like, “You must have been really hungry,” or “I love spending time with you while we have dinner.”
Conversely, don’t tell a child he’s a “picky eater.” Children have their own tastes. Do not force children to eat or cater to their tastes, instead suggest they try a bite, and ask, “I wonder if you like this big kid food yet?”
The common refrain, "Eat all your vegetables (or dinner) or no dessert" is discouraged. Children will pick up on the idea that certain foods must be yucky and dessert is their reward. It may also encourage children to overeat, so May recommends saying something like, “Save room for dessert.”
In a society where food is abundant, it’s important for children to learn healthy attitudes towards eating.