I'm a bit torn

WeepingAngel81

First of all, I'm not a parent, and obviously have no experience teaching children of my own about health and nutrition. On the other hand, I was raised by parents who were very active and health conscious. My sister and I were taught what foods were healthy and what foods weren't from a young age and we did not eat processed/overly sugary foods or snacks. This wasn't because we were denied these foods but because they simply weren't in our home. Because we typically ate "healthy" foods, when we were with friends or in social settings, we chose the healthy options not because our diet was restricted but because those were truly the foods we liked. This choices helped keep me and my sister focused on the importance of health (instead of calorie restriction) through high school and college.

I believe that teaching children which foods are healthy and which aren't, and letting them make their own decisions is a good thing. I don't believe in putting children on specific diets or restricting calories, but they should be able to choose what foods they eat as long as they are getting enough calories and nutrients. They should also understand the concept of indulgences in moderation. I do think it is important to answer their questions to the best of your ability and make their own decisions. If you are concerned, be sure to educate her on the importance of eating enough food to grow strong for her race!

This gives me hope in that she will continue to make healthy choices when I am not around. I don't restrict food, but I do try and teach her portion control. I also don't have her on a diet. The concern is that through watching me rad labels and making an effort to eat healthier, she has started to pick up on these traits. In itself this is not bad, my fear is that she will limit what she eats, and she's only 8. This isn't anything I want her to worry about right now, but I want to encrouage her to continue eating healthy.