My 9 Year Old...

Mr_Knight
Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
in Food and Nutrition
...has started reading nutrition labels!

:happy:

And is asking if he can start tracking his own food.

Seems to me that in a world (or at least locale) of abundant feeding opportunities, there's really no reason not to introduce these tools at a young age.

Replies

  • laurelobrien
    laurelobrien Posts: 156 Member
    eating disorders are a good reason... is your son overweight? or worried about losing weight? why does he want to know the exact makeup of his food at 9 years old? I know he's your child and not mine, but I just have memories of keeping a cute little journal of my caloric intake at 11 years old, and being in a hospital for being dangerously underweight (starvation-type bulimia) 2 years later.
  • lucyloutoo
    lucyloutoo Posts: 522 Member
    I don't think it's a bad thing for kids to learn exactly what is in their food, it can be used as a valuable tool towards a healthy attitude towards food....so long as they are taught most things are done in moderation.
  • kamakazeekim
    kamakazeekim Posts: 1,183 Member
    Teaching him how to read labels is good...it will help him make better informed decisions but I wouldn't go as far as allowing him to track his food. At such a young and impressionable age it can easily lead to disordered eating. Encourage him to make healthy meal and snack choices and to be active. (I'm a semester away from graduating grad school as a mental health professional and at my work I've worked with adolescent boys with disordered eating)
  • supermuslimgirl
    supermuslimgirl Posts: 96 Member
    you should keep and eye on him but my kids are curious too and I think a healthy balanced diet for them is important you know the food guide type thing

    Did I eat enough fruit and veg today
    did I get all my dairy
    meat fish legume
    bread and cereal

    Exercise too

    My kids now read nutrition labels I like that they want to know what they are putting into their body but the word DIET is forbidden in my home only healthy lifestyle

    my oldest is lactose intolerant so knowing what he eats is important


    I think you must watch and maybe tracking on here is a little too much but a chart on the fridge or white board to keep those veggies up :tongue: is a great idea.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    ...but I wouldn't go as far as allowing him to track his food.

    "Allow" him?

    Heh.

    There is no way to stop him from doing it - he doesn't need anything from me to make it happen.

    And it seems to me that putting pointless obstacles in his way is a fast track towards creating a complex around eating.
  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    My kids HAVE to read labels because we're all gluten free and there are some other things that we can't have (varies by person.) I think being interested in nutrition at that age is just fine and won't necessarily lead to an eating disorder but you will certainly be keeping an eye on things I'm sure. I like that my kids care what goes into their bodies. We were just examining the coffee creamer labels at the store and they were pretty amazed at all the junk in that stuff (no offense to those of you who drink it, we just prefer plain half and half or real cream.)
  • supermuslimgirl
    supermuslimgirl Posts: 96 Member
    I also have 2 boys one autism and the other aspergers so obsession is the key just try to get them obsessed in the right way. He can actually become a pro at this and have a career they are so smart show him also what he needs for his body and he can keep a journal and see how he did with that over time. If you get social worker help like I do you can let him show off his journal to them. Autistic children are a lot of work but such a real blessing.


    Oh I am adding this if he has food issues this might be the way to tackle them :wink: (mine will not eat anything mushy like mashed potato, the other will not eat white things)
  • 33Freya
    33Freya Posts: 468 Member
    Great habits start early!! I think its great. My kids read labels when they ask for stuff at the store- they know it'll be no if it has high fructose corn syrup...
  • nikilis
    nikilis Posts: 2,305 Member
    ...but I wouldn't go as far as allowing him to track his food.

    "Allow" him?

    Heh.

    There is no way to stop him from doing it - he doesn't need anything from me to make it happen.

    And it seems to me that putting pointless obstacles in his way is a fast track towards creating a complex around eating.

    yeh I'd agree, and you can teach him about healthy eating. healthy eating leads into a healthy lifestyle, and at the end of it you may have given him the tools to lead a healthy lifestyle, in an age of growing obesity and diet related health problems / early death.

    sounds all positive really if you can give a bit of guidance.

    high 5!
  • pseudomuffin
    pseudomuffin Posts: 1,058 Member
    That's awesome! Sounds like he has a healthy mind & a good role model :)

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