Resources on not passing on disordered eating to your child....

[Bitsyvonmuffling77]

Like most, I have absolutely been traumatised by my own mums approach to dieting and bodies from a young age which absolutely has given me disordered eating, especially binging and emotional eating.

I am desperate not to pass this onto my own toddler.

Can anyone recommend any good (NOT diet/weight loss) resources aimed at forming healthy relationships with food for children?

Thank you

Solid Starts (Instagram and website) - technically it's a weaning/infant feeding resource but there is plenty of advice for toddlers at the table which I think would cover what you're looking for (and much like you I have been using these techniques in a conscious effort not to pass anything on to my DD)

Just the other day at my DDs 2nd Birthday, she was happily tucking into a slice of her cake and my mum said 'oh I think she's going to be just like you , she's going to plough away steadily until she's eaten that whole slice'

(We'll actually no mother, she's not, because I haven't brought her up forcing her to finish her plate and putting 'treat foods' on a pedestal') I digress....

Advice Includes:

• never forcing them to clear the plate, have just one more bite, or get into battles of will over them finishing food.

-never withold dessert because they haven't eaten 'enough' of the main meal. In fact they recommend serving dessert or the sweet thing alongside the main meal. So the foods don't compete with eachother and is not considered a reward. Sounds bizarre but it does work.

• feign indifference if they don't eat what you consider to be 'enough'

• never comment on how much or little they are eating, e.g. no excess praise for taking a bite. Just treat them as another adult at the table and let them eat without comment.

• try not to refer to foods as good foods or naughty foods or treat foods. Whatever you give them just say 'here you go!' and treat them all equally.

I can't remember everything, but hopefully that's helpful. It's all about setting them up with a good relationship with food and eating....then hopefully they won't fall into those behaviours that we have. By acknowledging it and purposefully breaking the cycle you're doing a great job, OP, best of luck X

Hey,

If you do want an excellent place to start. Visit www.BeBodyPositive.org.uk.

It has a library of interactive resources that both you and your daughters could use.

Be Body Positive offers psychoeducational and self-guided resources on normal eating, body image, and the distinction between disordered eating and eating disorders.

We also have a free webinar for parents that talks about Be Body Positive and how parents could use the website to help their children improve their body image and their relationship with food.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/support-young-people-to-be-body-positive-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers-tickets-657490229977