17 Jan 2011
An important part of raising children who are healthy is to build a healthy feeding relationship when children are young. A healthy feeding relationship between parent and child is essential for a child’s proper nutrition, growth, development and overall wellbeing. In addition, children who learn to eat healthily from an early age have the best chances to become healthy eaters for life.
A healthy feeding relationship involves dividing responsibilities about food between parent and child. A parent’s role is to decide what foods to offer, as well as when and where to offer it. A child’s role is to decide whether to eat and how much to eat.
What to offer: Offering a variety of healthy food choices, as outlined in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide, is important. This role can be challenging, especially when your child demands that you be a short-order cook. The short-order cook parent makes a different meal for one or more of their children. By doing this, children will quickly learn they can get whatever food they want. Let your child know that what is served is the only option. If a parent consistently offers one meal for the entire family, children will learn that they cannot demand other foods.
To make your job easier, get children involved in planning, preparing and making meals. Mix up your menu and try new foods. It can take as many as 10 to 15 tries before a new food is accepted by your child. Place a small amount of each type of food on their plate; children can always ask for more.
When to offer: Parent’s roles also include providing regular meals and snacks. Children need this routine to grow well. Knowing that there are meals and snacks at regular times helps your child feel secure about eating and helps children to not think about food all the time or overeat. Children have tiny tummies and high growth needs, so three meals plus two to three snacks each day should be offered.
Where to offer: Parent’s roles include having their children eat meals and snacks at the table and promoting a pleasant environment. To make your job easier, turn off all electronics during mealtimes and remove any other distractions, like toys, so that they can focus on eating. Keep things calm. Eat meals together as a family. Research shows that children who eat dinner with their families three or more times per week are at decreased risk of becoming overweight. Family mealtime is also a great time to role model healthy eating practices.
Whether to eat and how much: Children are responsible for deciding if they are going to eat. Children’s appetites vary from day to day. Some days they don’t eat much and other days they eat a lot, and that is normal. Children will not allow themselves to go hungry. Children are also responsible for how much to eat. They are born with the ability to regulate their food intake based on their needs. You can encourage your child to eat, but children should not feel pressure to finish everything on their plate, or be bribed to eat “just one more bite.” Children who are forced to eat may lose their ability to feel full and develop a dislike for certain foods.
Parents and children have different roles during feeding and eating. Respecting each others job is key to building and maintaining a healthy feeding relationship. To learn more about building a healthy feeding relationship with your child, call Your Health Connection Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 705-721-7520 (1-877-721-7520) to speak with a public health nurse or see www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
-30-
Dr. Gardner is Simcoe Muskoka’s medical officer of health.
<< Back to MOH Columns
