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"Stop policing my daughter's appetite."

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  • DorkothyParker
    DorkothyParker Posts: 618 Member
    I think this is a very good article. There is no good reason to comment on what someone is eating other than "Yum, that looks good." Maybe I am over sensitive, former anorexic and been chubbier at times as well, so I really don't like the idea of others making considerations regarding the quantity of food I am eating.

    My 3-year-old is exceptionally good at regulating her appetite. I've offered her a warm cookie from the oven and was refused because "I'm not hungry, maybe later." This scenario, or similar, has played out countless times. \

    With that said, if you offer kids healthy options and model appropriate behavior with food, I do think they can regulate what they eat and generally won't gorge themselves. Older kids are a bit different than little ones and everyone overdoes it at some point. BUT, I think forcing them to eat at special meal times when they aren't hungry (to fit in with their school schedule) also teaches them to eat when not hungry and damages their ability to self-regulate. As my child isn't yet in school, it's not an issue. I do believe this mom is telling the truth when she says her daughter naturally stops eating when satiated.
  • LokiGrrl
    LokiGrrl Posts: 156 Member
    I think this person is maybe projecting her issues? The sight of a tiny child with a huge piece of food, no matter the gender of the child or the type of food, is just cute as hell. When I was a (really skinny) kid, people would say things like, "Now how is such a little bitty girl going to eat such a huge piece of cake?" And I would say, "Like this!" and gobble it up and everyone laughed. It wasn't policing. It was just being amused by an amusing thing.
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