How Does Our Body Image Impact Our Kids?
After yesterday’s post, where did you notice resistance when reading Ellyn Satter’s definition of normal eating?
You may have recognized food rules and disordered eating behaviors your parents could have had.
You may have learned you have food rules for yourself.
You may have realized how your thoughts about food impact how you feel about yourself and your body.
Or you may be worried how your food rules might affect your child’s relationship with food and their own body.
I believe it is an important topic of conversation for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting people to explore our own relationship with food and body, and how it can directly impact our children’s relationship with food and body.
Just as we watched our parent’s actions and listened to the messages they gave themselves or us, our children are also always watching and listening. Even when we think they are not.
A child notices when they see their parent frowning at themselves in the mirror.
A child notices when their parent makes comments about feeling “bad” or “guilty” after eating certain foods.
A child notices when their parent eats a different dinner than they do because the parent is feeling they can’t eat the same foods as their children.
So what can we do as parents to make a positive change for our children’s - and our own - relationship with food and body? It can be hard to know how to change deeply rooted beliefs and behaviors, especially if a healthy relationship with food and body was not modeled for you by your own parents.
It is still possible to make a positive change, and you are not alone. Sign up for my newsletter here and get access to my free intuitive eating challenge, starting January 1st!
