How to teach healthy eating habits.

amother

Green

Mon, Mar 21 2016, 11:06 am

I have a horrible messed up relationship with food. I intellectually understand the value of whole grains, quality proteins, fruits and vegetables, extras in moderation, etc. And on a day to day basis, I'm pretty good. I eat too much over-all, but an average binge will just be on way too much cheese, an extra sandwich, third helpings of dinner even when I know that I'm full. But then, every once in a while (or sometimes more often than that) I'll just eat my whole house up. Cake and cookies and chips until I feel so gross! and then I hide the evidence...

I'm working on dealing with my own stuff, but recently, we were at someone else's house and I noticed that DD (4) was just stuffing her face with shabbos party and couldn't seem to stop. I was horrified that she's 'caught' my challenges and I desperately want to raise her with a healthy attitude to food. We don't keep much nosh accessible to her, but I hadn't thought it was such a 'forbidden fruit' situation because she does have shabbos party/b-day party nosh, desserts on shabbos, things like that.

Sorry for the length, but how do I train my children to have a healthier relationship with food so they don't struggle the way I do?

TIA!

amother

Powderblue

Mon, Mar 21 2016, 6:21 pm

I have similar issues with my own eating but my kids are still very little. I try to which foods are healthy and help us grow big and strong. I try to set limits and explain that sweets are yummy but not nutritious. They don't help us grow big and strong. But we do allow sweets and treats. We just try to yeah moderation and offer lots of healthy choices whenever possible.

amother

Mauve

Tue, Mar 22 2016, 5:49 am

amother wrote:

I'm working on it. One day at a time.

Your daughter is going to pick up your binge eating unless you completely stop now rather than one day at a time. Maybe seeing her mirror your behavior is the trigger you need.

It seems you are looking for a method for her to do as you say not as you do. There isn't one. This is what I used to lose significant weight. I changed my eating habits drastically. Kids are more observant than you might realize and they will pick up on the night eating, third helping, etc. Think of how seeing your girl shabbos makes you feel, and use that fit your own motivation.

chani8

Tue, Mar 22 2016, 7:04 am

amother wrote:

You cannot train your child to have a healthier relationship with food, since you dont have it either. Possibly, it's genetic. Possibly, both of you have brain types, vitamin deficiencies, or chemical imbalances that cause binging. Rather than feel badly, start investigating how to cure binging, but start with yourself. Trying to train yourself when you have a deficiency that is causing this, is like trying to lift a mountain. Google about vitamins to cure overeating.

amother

Green

Tue, Mar 22 2016, 9:31 am

I'm just so sad. I had a horrible night again last night, and knowing that I'm probably setting my children up for failure makes it even harder.

I'm going to look into the supplements to control my binges. I always thought it was more of an emotional challenge than a physiological one.