{CRINGE}
As a dietitian, I cringe when I hear people label foods as good or bad. Please can we get those words out of our vocabulary? If you'll allow my soap-box for a moment...
Food is food. Food is fuel. We need fuel to live, whatever the source may be. It’s that simple.
Explain to kids that some foods are more nutrient-dense and some foods are less nutrient-dense and help them to choose wisely. That's the key.
Parent-to-child and peer-to-peer food-shaming starts in early elementary school if we aren’t careful with our words. Food-shaming in childhood can turn into internal body-shaming for both males and females, with destructive repercussions. Be careful with how you label foods, meals, and your entire day of eating.
For the record, it’s ok if some days kids eat nutrient-dense foods and some days they don’t. The human body can brilliantly compensate for any nutrients we don’t feed it. (Especially with a daily multi-vitamin!).
In other words, it's bedtime and you realize your kid ate nothing but chips and cupcakes all day because of back-to-back birthday parties. No biggie! Just say, hey, my tummy feels like it needs a salad. Let's plan to get one tomorrow!
Or, here's another example: Your kid didn't like any of the food choices today and just ate bread all day. News flash - it's ok! Just say, hey, let's find a superfood or protein food for you to eat tomorrow.
Please don't say, "We ate bad today." Your child was fueled and they lived to see another day. Nothing shameful here! Just teach them to make wise, balanced choices when possible without an emphasis on perfection.
Sweets make life sweet. Sweets shouldn't be shameful. Balance and moderation is the only message your child should hear and that's what they'll hear from us when they attend classes at Itty Bitty Bakers.
For age-specific wording on how to talk to your children about those bad 'ole cupcakes, see the graphic below.
