How do you explain to your child they need to eat better w/out making them self concious?

Question

I'm having trouble with my five year old eating alot. I'm trying to tell her to eat better, and push healthy snacks. How can I explain to her about eating healthy without making her worry about her weight?

I try and keep her active too, she does dance and runs outside alot. Her Dad loves to bring home goodies, and doesn't think she should be limited cause she's a child, but I'm concerned. I've talked to her a few times, but it seems to come out wrong and then she starts saying things like "I can't eat that or I'll get fat." And, I really don't want her worrying about that especially so young, but she's not a little skinny minnie either.

Answer 1

One of the best ways to help make your daughter more self-conscious about what she eats without making her feel self-conscious about how she looks is to have her doctor talk to her about healthy eating habits. You could also show her "Captain Carlos" at http://disney.go.com/disneychannel/playhouse/captaincarlos/ncds/index.html He is a super hero who choses healthy snacks over sweets. This minishow is a great way to help remind my kids to choose the healthy snacks.
Give your daughter a goal to reach for, like eating so many purple and red fruits/vegetables or yellow and green fruit/vegetables. Print a chart like this one (http://chartjungle.com/health/fruitsvegetableschart.html) to help her reach that goal. Let her have a small portion of those "special things" her dad brings home when she meets her goal. Make it fun. There are some very neat (and delicious) recipes on foodnetwork.com that make eating (for me and my kids) fun.
You also need to show her that you (and your husband) are eating these healthy foods as well. You and your husband really need to be in the same corner, or your daughter will sense this and will use it to her advantage.
Good luck and have fun!!

Answer 2

First off, explain to papa that the sweets isn't going to fly in the house. He can have it when ever he wants, just not in front of the kid. Keep all junk-food out of your house. Don't let her eat in front of the TV. Let her help you cook! Make healthy things. If she has the "veggie blues" get a mini in-hand blender and make those veggies disappear into her favorite sauces. Change your family recipes so they are healthier. Don't say " I don't want to limit her because she is a child" - that just teaches her the most untrue statement in the world. You basically are telling her she can have everything she wants because she is "a child". Did you get everything you wanted? I don't think so. Help her learn self-control by showing the way. Don't tell her not to eat certain foods, just show her better foods and don't give her the option to choose otherwise. Make it a win-win. She can choose between carrots, an apple or some grapes for example - not the entire food industry.
Also helpful - find a favorite "animal of the day" (like a horse for example) then try to have snacks that the animal would eat - My horse likes carrots, apples, watermelon, corn and cheerios. However, you can stick with carrots and apples. Also try rabbits, turtles, guinea pigs, hamsters (anything veggie oriented!) Good luck, and enjoy your girl. They don't stay young forever.

Answer 3

My little girl is 3 and I tell her about eating healthy. We make games out of it as well. I tell her that eating healthy makes her grow up big and strong and sugars and sweets will just wear her out and not give her the energy to run and play and be a big girl like carrots, apples, etc. will.

Limits are key to the sweets though. That might take some tough love. Try and explain it to her. If she doesn't like it, it might take a bit of tough love and telling her that her limit is one or two small cookies as a dessert, but ONLY if she eats all of her dinner. Also, really try to push the healthy snacks (as you said). Perhaps you could make it a game between you and her. Take an apple and cut it up into little dices and see who can make a better "happy plate" by eating them all and then let her get finished before you do and praise her saying that she made her happy plate first, etc., but explain that you still have to finish yours because it makes you big and strong too! :)

Answer 4

You and your husband need to come to agreement on this issue. If you can't try exercising portion control. A little moderation in having sweets can go a long way. Tell her, "Daddy was so sweet to think of bringing this home. Let's enjoy some of this after dinner." Then serve her a small portion.
The best way to encourage her to eat healthy is to serve healthy foods and control snacking. You can also buy picture books on the food pyramid and talk about it in that context. Good luck.

Answer 5

I tell my daughter when I give her the plat of food,what that food does for the body,(even make it up as I go sometimes) Carrots make your eyes see better,brocklie fakes you fart LOL JK! Vegies make your hair soft and shiny,ext..Limit the treats to only 2 a day as a snack and only when she has been very good and picked up all her toys..something like that. Don't let her see the fatty foods/candy,chips,ext. Out of site-out of mind! Fill a bowel on the counter with fruit. She learns by watching MOM and Dad,if that means you only eat Ice cream once she is sleeping..so be it. I have a child who has a disability,he is hungry 24 hours a day. It is very hard to NOT eat certain things in front of him and to always look at calories,but it really works good to watch what you bring into the house. My daughter is also very active and growing! She is always hungry,I give her carrot sticks and fat free ranch dressing to dunk them in,friut for energy and it also has water to help keep hydrated. Just start looking at the meals like that and it will become easy.Good Luck!

Answer 6

Actions speak louder than words... and it is great that her Daddy loves her and thinks to bring her home goodies, but he needs that talking to NOT your daughter. He needs to understand that too much sugar and junk food can lead to diabetes later in her life. Also, her teeth and skin are going to start showing signs of the junk food. If you and your husband eat well so will your child. They learn from watching and doing what the parents do... we mold our own children. Good luck to you and I think it is great that you are a concerned parent..... that is the one thing parents are lacking these days. We all need to be aware of what are children are doing and eating and watching. Golden star for you!

Answer 7

initially, that is wonderful to confirm a guy who fairly cares about his female friend and needs to make her sense sturdy about herself :) Secondly, there isnt a lot you could do i'm afraid, short of merely teling her she seems suited (and that i might want to point choosing certain such issues as 'oh wow your eyes seem impressive as we talk' or 'i love what you're wearing as we talk') which i'm positive you imagine, self-worth is strictly that, how WE sense about ourselves. no remember what percentage situations you call her suited if she seems contained in the mirror and is no longer thoroughly pleased with what she sees, she will be able to continually be self unsleeping. If that is merely oftentimes feeling somewhat crappy each now and then about how she seems i does no longer worry too a lot, she's youthful and each teenage lady has draw close ups (i know I do) yet as we strengthen up we grow to be extra positive and tender with what we've were given happening. wish I helped :)

Answer 8

Don't buy junk food, and get your husband to limit goodies to once a week, and buy enough for everybody to have ONE serving, not a whole bunch.

Talk to her about healthy foods and how they make you feel good when you eat them, and how bad foods are hard for your body to digest.

Answer 9

Some people are just fat and you have to accept that.