Dear Abbie,
Your site is WONDERFUL and I plan to use it with the small
groups I'm working with on Healthy Eating. There were so
many young girls not eating here at the Jr. High School I
work at, that I decided to run two small groups,
simultaneously. Because I have girls at both ends of the
weight spectrum I decided to focus on Healthy Eating. I do,
however, have a question about one of your items listed as
an eating disorder "sign." That is, "I only eat when I'm
hungry." Could you please explain this psychologically and
perhaps physiologically?
I ask because in the past year I have been to 2 different
conferences for children and nutrition and both said to let
the young children self-monitor by eating only when they
are hungry and stopping when they are full. The parent's
role is to offer nutritious food choices, but do not force
the child to eat just because it's "lunch time." This habit
will then be carried into adult hood and decrease the
chance of being overweight from over eating (the satiety
trigger is better developed this way as well). This seems
to be opposed to the information on your site (the
assessments). I would appreciate any insight you have into
this. Thanks again for a great site!
M
School Nurse
San Juan Unified School District
Carmichael, CA
Dear M,
So glad you ask this very poignant question. You are right
in your observation that too many people, even health
professionals and eating experts teaching at conferences,
have misconstrued what would otherwise be a good and
practical piece of information about how to eat
healthfully.
A child needs to eat three times a day, at least, not
including snacks, in order for their metabolism to remain
in healthy working order. to burn effectively, thereby
assuring a fit and well functioning body.
Freedom and flexibility only have meaning and viability
when their roots are deeply embedded in structure. The
structure around eating needs to be in the form of three
meals; flexibility may come in the form of a smaller or
larger portion size, based on the degree of hunger or
satiety at the moment.
Here's the rule of thumb: Parents provide nutritious food
and the opportunity (and expectation) for the child to eat
it, hopefully in the company of loved ones and three times
a day; the child determines the amount to be eaten. This is
NOT to imply that if a child does not express an interest
in eating at mealtimes, the parent should allow the golden
opportunity to nourish body and soul to pass. It is through
healthy limit setting around food that a parent raises the
healthy child, the healthy eater, and an "eating
disorder-proof individual" now, and for the future.
When parents choose to bypass limit-setting around the
daily eating structure, relying instead on the judgment and
problem-solving ability of the child, particularly if that
child is dealing with the distorted body image and body
perceptions or the malnourishment that go along with eating
disorders, the odds are that the child's judgment will be
inaccurate and unsound.
When it comes to kids, problems with healthy eating too
often come from role modeling after parents who are
themselves, unhealthy eaters. How many parents do you know
who skip breakfast and feel virtuous about it, or who
consider a cup of coffee to be an adequate breakfast?
Dieting and disordered eating is what is being taught here,
not healthy eating.
Lots of people aren't hungry in the morning till they have
been up and about for an hour or so. But the fast of the
overnight sleep needs to be broken and breakfast is a must.
If one makes it a point to eat breakfast consistently even
when not feeling particularly hungry, that person will
eventually begin to develop an appetite for it.
"Front-loading," or eating more during the early part of
the day is, the best way to insure a more limited intake of
calories during the latter part of the day.
The best and easiest way to avoid eating disorders as well
as obesity in childhood and adulthood is, plain and simple,
healthy eating!
Abbie
