"Research shows that parental food habits and feeding practices are THE most dominant determinants of a child's eating behaviours and food choices. Wow 🤯   Breathe and know this:   The above is true. But remember what your role is as the feeder... it's NOT to GET your child to eat.   You cannot force or coax your child to eat a certain food or amount. If forcing, coaxing, bribing, punishing, rewarding is part of your feeding strategies, your child's script becomes ""my body is not to be trusted. Even if I'm full, I still need to eat because daddy or mommy wants me to. I need to eat to please others.""  Or ""I'm not ready to try this food yet. It's scary. But if I don't, I'll get in trouble.""   These strategies are well-meaning.  You feel that it's your job to make sure that your child is well nourished. I get it! But your child will do that all on their own if they're granted the opportunity 😉  So, instead, focus on this:  🍉Provide balanced, nutritious meals and snacks. Kids should have at least 2 hours between eating opportunities to develop an appetite. The kitchen should be closed in between.  🍉Trust your child's body and encourage them to trust it as well. Let your child decide if and how much they eat at those eating times. Encourage your kids to listen to their bodies.  🍉 have compassion when kids are learning to self-regulate. If they become hungry an hour after mealtime, remind that the kitchen is closed, but be compassionate and be curious, asking questions that help them to tune into their bodies and learn for next time.  🍉model healthy, balanced eating, as well as tuning into your OWN body at mealtimes  🍉facilitate positive mealtimes, regardless of whether your child eats or not 🍉encourage and praise bravery; not eating  🍉do not label food as good or bad - call it what it is — spinach, or an Oreo.  🍉 do not label your child as a ""big eater"" or ""picky eater""  🍉 speak positively about food and bodies (including you own) 🍉 avoid any diet or weight talk   And trust that you're doing a great job and know that scripts can be re-written 😘"
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