To scratch my head over my daughter saying she doesn’t want to eat sweets each day....

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

My DD is 8 and sensible, lovely, thinks a lot...

She told me last night her friends offer her chocolate and sweets at school and she declines as she doesn’t think it’s a good idea to eat them every day. All well and good.

I am, however, terrified of eating disorders in teenage girls. No one in the family has had one and I haven’t.

I try to have balance (we went to the sweet shop after school yesterday). We eat well. I try to limit sugary snacks generally though so I guess she is picking up from this. Not at parties or meals out etc but I don’t have juice in the house.

I haven’t let her see I’m remotely bothered by her statement in case she thinks there is an issue either way.

Any tips? There is a big health drive now to eat less sugar in school which I hugely support and she is bright kid.

I just remember at the same age devouring chocolate offered by friends.

FWIW she eats well at home and has a good appetite.

I understand where you’re coming from, op. From my experience, kids (and adults) who feel deprived and restricted tend to overeat on forbidden foods.

Stleth brag alert

Obviously that should be stealth brag

So the healthy eating message has sunk in with your DD, that’s a good thing surely? My DS (8) would live off sweets if he had the choice.

Audree or it can go the other way. They can realise that they don't need crap in their diets and their parents were actually doing them a favour by restricting it.

All those posters saying that some kids just aren't that into sweets - I think it's the fact that the daughter announced the fact that she was actively avoiding sweets that worried her, not the fact that she just wasn't eating them. Kids who just aren't fussed don't have an active thought process behind not eating them, they just don't eat them.

Either way I think it's fine as I said upthread - I think she's just earnestly following healthy eating advice given at school, and parroting it at home.

Sorry, I say "her" - I'm assuming OP is the child's mother.

Thanks everyone.... sorry if this seems odd!

It’s exactly that - that she announced it to me. She has asked a couple times recently if her food is “healthy”.

Definitely not a stealth boast. That would be boring to say the least! More a worry in case she is becoming obsessive.

I sorry about eating disorders in girls due to the how pressure on them. A couple of the girls in DD’s class are overweight and I struggle to think how best to discuss with DD when she mentions it.

I try not t discuss weight at all - the focus on health and teeth is a good suggestion!

the island I’m sorry you have struggled. She has been saying she is worried about things or feeling stressed and I have been tying to discuss strategies with her. I’m not worried about it as I think it’s normal and she talks to me.

I think part of my insecurities as a parent is due to the fact my own mother was a bit crap at this and I’m feeling my way