How to Avoid Food Policing and Weight Shaming: A Tutorial for Parents – University of Utah Health Care

Make healthy eating a fun activity and avoid using less healthy foods as a reward. “If we are trying to get our kid to eat healthy, but then we’re rewarding them with ice cream or cake or doughnuts, that makes it really hard to understand what’s being taught,” Gloschat explains. Buy a new game. Go to the park. Find something engaging to do that doesn’t undermine your healthy messages.
Overall, incremental goal setting around food is important for kids to experience the celebration of payoff. “They can track those goals,” Gloschat says. “They can feel success by achieving those goals.” Ultimately, they can develop a sense of empowerment to maintain healthy habits and a balanced diet in their future.