Food tracking app for kids

SCoil123

I’m a mom with a 13 year old son and a 16 year old step daughter. They both filled out and got a little rounder before each growth spurt. It’s normal and needs to happen. I personally would make sure she knew how normal it is and maybe also check if her height has changed - because if it hasn’t it is probably about to.

Also, right before periods start and in early puberty girls gain weight. Again, a totally normal and expected part of development. It would be more concerning if it didn’t happen. I personally started at 10 so she is approaching the age where that can be a factor. She needs to know it’s a normal part of growing up and developing. She should probably also know that NOT gaining weight is more worrisome when someone is still growing.

I’m not trying to judge you here. I’m just giving some advice around what I would do. I developed an eating disorder around that age. There were a lot of factors that contributed but one was that my dad made comments about my weight. I went through puberty young and the changes were normal but I was made to feel like they weren’t. He would ask if I was “sure” any time I got a second serving of anything. It can be very dangerous to encourage or foster focus on these things at this age in my experience.

Unless she is medically overweight and her doctor has concerns about how she is growing I think the best thing would be to redirect her and discourage her focusing on her weight right now.

amtyrell

Perhaps instead of calorie counting instead one thing to think about doing is teaching cooking. I know the kids in my life love foods that I have taught them to cook. So for example my neice loves loves veggie kabobs which she now makes for her family but I taught her how to make.

So perhaps she can be taught to cook or garden or fish all of which can connect her to healthy foods and will teach her a love of healthy foods.

simcon1

This may not be popular, but I do teach my kids (16 & 10) to read labels, not for calories, but for sugar. It’s not “evil”—we eat ice cream and bake brownies and all of that. But given how much extra sugar is in so many things, I think a little awareness is educational—so, for example, when it comes to yogurt or ice cream with a similar amount of sugar, I’ll go for the ice cream or find a healthier yogurt to eat instead. If they want a treat, I want them to choose a treat, not mindlessly consume whatever is around (school, convenience stores, etc)—and not even know they should be thinking of it as a treat.

I also encourage them to eat protein rich foods instead of all carbs, especially if I see them headed for yet another starchy fix. I know they can make a difference for satiety, and suggesting that they make a different choice and then see if they feel more full doesn’t seem like a terrible thing. They have never really been around much in the way of disordered eating, and we are active and body positive, so I’m not concerned. Both also carried a little extra weight pre-puberty (daughter is now 16, and very healthy about food & weight, and normal BMI etc, son, 10, has a belly at the moment, but it fluctuates a lot based on his exercise level) but all of the eating discussion above isn’t linked to their weight. I get that it’s a risky time developmentally for things like eating disorders, but I also think I’d be remiss in not teaching them what I know in a healthy and age appropriate way, including about calories if they were curious. I think supporting their self-worth overall, not linked to weight or appearance (or other things) is possible while teaching them more detailed information about nutrition and better choices.