What are you doing to make your child love food?

Internalize healthy eating dynamics from childhood It is very important both to avoid malnutrition and not to develop Eating Disorders in adolescence and youth in general.

Let's see several tips to achieve it from our role as parents.

• Related article: "Psychology and Nutrition: the importance of emotional eating"

Let's start with the basics: what is eating?

The act of feeding goes beyond a mere physiological need, is a true symbol of how we face life, especially through the first significant figure with whom we establish an important bond: our mother.

At birth she feeds us through her breast, and she is the one who usually feeds us in our first years, eating is the main act that connects us with life, nourishes us and allows us to be alive.

Secondly, it becomes a social act that unites us with other loved ones.

To be more precise, we could analyze in more detail the function of feeding ourselves: do we we eat life through food, how we do it: energetically, with enjoyment, abruptly, with craving?

The mouth also allows us to develop many other actions, such as speaking or expressing ourselves, and it is a key part of our appearance, of what we show to others.

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Is our society sick?

Today's society continues to demand from us (despite the change in perspective) a certain image and specific measures, exalting youth and appearance above all else, the posture on social networks is increasingly sickly and a sector of the adolescence does not identify with anything other than their own photos, running the risk of becoming confused in them, thus losing sight of their personal identity.

In short, they are perceived as others do, based on the evaluations they make of them, leaving their self-concept in external hands, which is very dangerousas they have no control over their life, resulting in a fragile ego and a malleable psyche. It all comes down to a number of "likes."

If we move to the Internet environment we will find content in digital media that promotes eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, the existence of web pages that encourage potentially unhealthy practices aimed at reducing the number of calories ingested and achieving measures below what could be classified as healthy.

So much so that tactics such as spraying food with detergent to lead to feelings of disgust are encouraged, the use of laxatives, guidelines for self-harm and avoidance of hunger, or ways to hide certain signs from the family bodily They also offer tables of unreal body measurements for insane and pressure children and adolescents to inevitably identify with a certain appearance and lifestyleThey also encourage self-punishment and self-esteem.

The great paradox is that these types of platforms cannot be closed, since they supposedly do not break the law, fortunately that is changing and an example of this is the following: in March 2019, a Decree-Law was approved in Catalonia that acts against those companies or platforms that make an apology for anorexia and bulimia on social networks and the Internet.

Said platforms could be sanctioned, if, despite having knowledge of that content on their platforms, they do not take action to eliminate it.

In fact, on December 18, 2019 the following news was published: the Irish company Automatic Inc was fined with 85,000 euros for making an apology for anorexia and for not having adequately attended to the previous requirements of the Generalitat.

• Related article: "Why are Eating Disorders so dangerous?"

What are anorexia and bulimia?

The two most common Eating Disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

While the former is a severe pathology characterized by an irrepressible fear of weight gain and the development of actions aimed at excessive weight loss, the second (which also begins by restricting food) consists of the manifestation of binge eating and purgative behaviors leading to offsetting the possible gain in weight.

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How does the family influence the development of these disorders?

Each family is a different system, it is not clear if the relationships between its members are the origin of the disorder, however, we can assure that a series of common patterns have been identified that usually appear in those with members with those pathologies.

In the case of anorexia, it is usually families characterized by overprotection, the involvement of children in parental conflicts, the relationships are manifested in the form of amalgam, they avoid conflicts and there is rigidity when accepting changes.

In the case of bulimia, there is an excessive interest in academic and work achievements to the detriment of other objectives such as leisure, moral or intellectual issues, appearance and what they will say matters a lot, parents star in an emotional overflow in the form of anguish that at first glance can seem disinterested in the limb's illness, in particular the father tends to handle himself with negligence and lack of involvement, while the mother tends to blame the ill daughter for the illness. trouble.

This happens to families because of their inability to handle stressful situations, their low tolerance for frustration, lack of cohesion and little emotional connection that contrasts with the lack of privacy both of belongings and spaces that are shared without prior permission, the error (even the slightest) is not tolerated in this type of families

The family therapy It has proven to be very useful in the treatment of these pathologies.

• Related article: "Fairburn Therapy: Characteristics, Functioning, and Phases"

What can we do for our children from a young age?

Here you will find several tips to keep in mind to achieve this.

1. Do not give a negative connotation to the moments of the meal

It should not be a power struggle, it is important to emphasize the positives of the experience.

2. Let's avoid rewarding or punishing with food

The act of eating must be pleasant and framed in a pleasant and relaxed environment, so we will have to strive to create a space of calm and positivism, without shouting or arguing.

On the other hand, forcing you to eat a food the hard way can cause rejection of it.

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3. Do not watch television or use other devices during meals

It is important be aware of the act of eating. Let's involve children in the preparation of simple meals, even if they stain more than necessary.

4. Educate about food

Let's take them to the market and show them the names and characteristics of the food. In addition, it is important that we educate ourselves on a healthy diet and habits. The goal is for them to develop a good relationship with food, to come to love it.

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5. Harness the potential of creativity

It is more educational to try to get them to taste different foods through the use of creativity, making them more palatable and being flexible regarding your preferences; if we are realistic, nobody likes absolutely all foods, although it is important that they maintain a receptive attitude to new flavors and textures.

With the little ones, the act of eating can be approached in a playful and imaginative way as long as we focus on food.

6. Boost your self-esteem

Let's cultivate good self-esteem in them, emphasizing your personal qualities rather than physical ones

You have to be careful with comments about physical appearance ("I've seen that you're getting fat") especially in puberty and adolescence, stages in which the image is essential for its esteem.

conclusion

In short and as always, the emotional education of our children is the most powerful weapon we have to transmit them strength and values ​​that allow them to face the negative messages of our society and their own insecurities.

If we treat them with respect and dedication, if we maintain good communication with them, they will become mature and responsible adults. And let's not forget that we are always your role model.