As The New Year Brings New Pressures, Here’s How To Protect Your Children From Diet Culture And Unrealistic Body Ideals
Our society is steeped in diet culture, which dictates the false idea that thin bodies are what everyone should strive for and that certain foods are “bad.” Now that January is in full swing, you are probably well aware of the fact that the start of the new year always brings a lot of talk about body image and weight loss plans.
With so many family members discussing their desires to be skinnier during family dinners and the media promoting unrealistic body ideals, it can be difficult to avoid diet culture. Even worse, it’s impossible to completely shield your kids from such negativity.
Children are arguably the most vulnerable to the consequences of diet culture. So, as we embark on the new year, it’s important to have a conversation about body image and healthy eating habits. The best way to protect your children from diet culture is to tackle it head-on.
Even kids as young as six years old can feel the impact of diet culture and experience dissatisfaction with their bodies, so it’s never too early to broach the subject.
So, here’s how you can break down harmful beliefs surrounding food and bodies, ensuring that your kids will be able to properly nourish themselves without feeling guilty and be comfortable in their own skin, especially as they enter adolescence.
Be Neutral About Food
During mealtimes, try to keep your language about food as neutral as possible. Avoid referring to foods as “good” or “bad.” This ties food choices to self-worth and can make kids feel good or bad about themselves, depending on what they’re eating or not eating. Allow your child to enjoy a wide variety of food, regardless of nutritional content.
Instead of placing limits on certain foods or banning them altogether, let them know that all foods are okay to eat as long as there’s no medical reason to avoid them. It can be a struggle to shift your mindset if you didn’t grow up with the same kinds of messages about food.
However, talking about food in a neutral way will not only help your kids learn about how different foods make them feel, but it will also help you repair your own relationship with food.
LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
Give Compliments That Aren’t Appearance-Based
It’s easy to comment on your child’s appearance without thinking because, of course, they just look so adorable all the time! You don’t need to cut these comments out altogether, but make sure to add compliments about their qualities and feats, too.
That way, they can understand appearance isn’t everything. Acknowledge how hard they worked on a puzzle or how impressive it is that they can jump so high. You can even praise them for their displays of curiosity, kindness, and perseverance.
Do Not Comment On People’s Bodies
On that note, also refrain from commenting on other people’s bodies, including yours. It’s second nature to compliment someone on how they look after losing weight or gossip about a celebrity’s apparent weight gain because you’ll never meet them anyway.
These types of remarks are so normalized in our society that we don’t think twice about what kind of effect they might have. But when you take the time to reflect on it, you’ll realize they just reinforce the idea that thinner bodies are better.
Kids can easily pick up on these comments, repeat them, and internalize them. So, instead of discussing appearances, point out the amazing accomplishments of other people, even ones you don’t personally know.
For instance, if you’re watching a sports event on TV, compliment how the players run, jump, and throw instead of how fit or muscular they look. Emphasize the skill it takes to create art, write novels, or play instruments.
Check In On The Kinds Of Messages They’re Receiving
The media spreads all kinds of messages about body image, whether it’s through TV shows, advertisements, or posts from celebrities on online platforms. You don’t need to banish media from your kid’s life, but it’s recommended to check in with them about the content they’re consuming.
Make sure it’s age-appropriate and set time limits for usage. If you notice anything that perpetuates body shaming or unhealthy eating habits, block it from your feed. Or if your child is older, have a chat with them about it.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Parenting