Intuitive Eating for Moms&Kids on Instagram: "I let my kids eat candy for breakfast. And yes, I'm a dietitian. No, this is not an oxymoron. And yes, I care about my children’s health and well-being. Very much so. Let me explain: Summer’s here. The candy seems to be out in full force, and with more of it around (and more access at birthdays, parties, friends’ houses, etc), my kids have naturally been more interested in eating it. The norm is to wait until dinner, or to even withhold any sweets until after eating a meal. But why? Who made these rules? Kids begin to form rules around food from young ages based on what they learn and hear around food, especially sugar. Including things like, "dessert is only after dinner" or "you have to eat your veggies first before you get dessert". But are these “rules” helpful in supporting children in building a healthy relationship with food? The truth is, rigid rules around sweets only put these sweets on a pedestal for kids.. Anything that feels forbidden instantly becomes more desirable. And when kids show a higher interest in candy, especially during this time of year where more sweets abound, they actually need MORE exposure to it within the context of their meals and snacks. This helps offer them structure and support around a food that can already be emotionally charged. Kids need unconditional permission to explore all foods equally to learn how to self-regulate what feels best in their bodies, and this is only possible in the absence of food rules. So allowing your kids to have candy with breakfast might seem unconventional, but in reality, you're giving your child permission to learn to eat without food rules involved. When kids are allowed to eat sugar in the absence of rules, they’re better able to listen to their internal cues to regulate their appetites and learn how to trust their bodies. Need more help with sweets, be sure to snag my free guide: “5 Reasons Why Your Child is Obsessed With Sweets and How to End the Craze” – linked for you in my bio. Tell me what questions you have about this? Be sure to save this post for later!" | Zootzle
