Food is a big topic in many families. Either because the children eat poorly, eat everything but vegetables, constantly want to eat pasta or just pick the raisins out of the food. There's always someone at the table complaining. The children complain about food and we parents complain with them because we want them to eat healthily.
Also read:
And then we like to dig deep into the 'classic parenting sayings' box and hit our children with sentences like, "If you don't eat up, there won't be any dessert." What we want to achieve with this is that the children have good ones Eat food, get full and not come back in 5 minutes because you are hungry.
Well-intentioned is still wrong
However, we are not helping our children eat healthily and certainly not develop healthy eating habits. The opposite is actually the case.
We persuade our children (or blackmail them) with a sentence like this to continue eating even though they are no longer hungry or even though they may not like it at all. Instead of listening to yourself and your body, to your feeling of fullness, you continue to eat. Because we parents promised them a reward. And sweets are the greatest thing for children.
Also read:
What not to say while eating
In order for children to develop a healthy and good relationship with food, so that it is fun and enjoyable for them and they can enjoy it, we parents should bite our tongues at one point or another. From now on we will never say the following sentences again:
“You eat what’s on the table.”
Of course, parents usually decide what is cooked and what ends up on the lunch table. However, it should still apply that everything can be eaten, but no one has to eat everything. Then there is no pressure and everyone can sit together at the table in a relaxed manner.
“Other children have nothing to eat.”
Unfortunately, this is true, but it has nothing to do with your own child. In addition, it cannot (unfortunately) help these children if it eats itself. So instead of making a big fuss about the child not wanting to eat or not eating everything, you can agree that he or she will try everything.
Reading tips:
“Eat more!/Don’t eat so much!”
Children are different and so are their bodies. No matter whether a child is very thin or fatter, no one should comment on that directly or indirectly. And if parents let their child understand that they are too thin or fat, the child can get the feeling that there is something wrong with them, that something is not right.
If you are concerned about your child's diet in relation to weight, you should contact your pediatrician if possible. Contrary to what you might think, for children who are overweight, for example, it is not enough to eat less. This can lead to an undersupply of important nutrients.
Also read:
Even if you are underweight, a medical check-up is always recommended, for the simple reason of being able to rule out illnesses or intolerances.
“Do you know how long I stood in the kitchen for that?”
Of course, a child doesn't know how much effort it takes to prepare one dish or another and, honestly, a child doesn't care. Children think need-oriented. Either they are hungry and then they eat if it tastes good, or they are not hungry and then they don't eat even if it tastes good.
So that we parents don't take it personally that our children don't want what we've cooked, we should think differently. We not only cook food for the children, but also for ourselves.
“I’ll eat later.”
Eating is about more than just filling you up. That's why it's important that the family comes together at the table and eats together as often as possible. You can exchange ideas, learn new things or even get rid of grief. It also helps children see that there is a certain regularity and structure to eating. This also contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
Also read:
“There’s no talking while eating.”
That's why the sentence, "There's no talking while eating" is completely out of place. Today, eating together is often the only moment of the day when the whole family comes together and really has time for each other. You should use it instead of remaining silent. However, you really shouldn't speak with your mouth full. On the one hand, because you can choke very quickly, but also because it just doesn't look nice.
“Sit still.”
A child who fidgets and fidgets at the table does not feel comfortable in that place at that moment. Either because something is bothering him (physically or psychologically) or because he is not hungry. So instead of admonishing the child, we should ask why it is so difficult for him to sit.
“You don’t play with food.”
Of course, we parents don't want the peas to be thrown across the table. But what's wrong if the child bites a dinosaur out of his sandwich and lets it roar for a moment. Eating can and should be fun.
And sometimes it helps to convince a child to eat foods that may not be at the top of their wish list. A cucumber cut into a great shape tastes 1000 times better for children than a simple slice.
Other topics:
