My obsession from my daughter's view.

Red94568
Red94568 Posts: 36 Member
edited October 4 in Food and Nutrition
After dinner tonight, I asked my daughter if that were feta or goat cheese I put on my salad at the salad bar, and she said to me, "aren't you obsessed with food? Every time I see you, you're talking about how many calories or carbs it has." Really, I'm not obsessed, I'm just more conscious of what I'm eating and wanting to be sure I stick to my plan. She's only 12 though, so I'm hoping she's not scarred for life for my "obsessive" behavior! Right?

Replies

  • jennysmission
    jennysmission Posts: 391 Member
    After dinner tonight, I asked my daughter if that were feta or goat cheese I put on my salad at the salad bar, and she said to me, "aren't you obsessed with food? Every time I see you, you're talking about how many calories or carbs it has." Really, I'm not obsessed, I'm just more conscious of what I'm eating and wanting to be sure I stick to my plan. She's only 12 though, so I'm hoping she's not scarred for life for my "obsessive" behavior! Right?

    I feel for you, my 4 year old asked me how many calories were in a thing of yogurt she got out of the fridge! I didn't know wether to take it as a good thing or as a bad thing!
  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    My daughter is only two, but I make it a point to talk about how foods are healthy. I don't talk about calories, carbs or such nonsense. She shouldn't have to worry about that for a very, very long time.
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    After dinner tonight, I asked my daughter if that were feta or goat cheese I put on my salad at the salad bar, and she said to me, "aren't you obsessed with food? Every time I see you, you're talking about how many calories or carbs it has." Really, I'm not obsessed, I'm just more conscious of what I'm eating and wanting to be sure I stick to my plan. She's only 12 though, so I'm hoping she's not scarred for life for my "obsessive" behavior! Right?

    I've noticed since starting MFP that I "talk" about food much more than I did before I used this website. My husband brought that to my attention one day and I realized that I was talking about calories, macros, exercise nearly every single day and with every meal. That was a reality check for me and I put a stop to that right away. I still think about these things. I just make sure they don't come out of my mouth a whole lot. :)
  • dznofroses
    dznofroses Posts: 12
    Kids may not fully grasp why we have an "obsession" with food right now, but teaching them good food choices now can only be a positive thing for them later on. Talking is the best thing we can do for our kids. Explain why you are doing it. Include them on the decision process somehow. Make it fun for them. :happy:
  • skinnnyxoxo
    skinnnyxoxo Posts: 210 Member
    That can have a lasting impact on your children. Be sure to not talk about these things near them ;)
  • judykritikos
    judykritikos Posts: 161
    Since I've been on both sides of the conversation: (1) my "skinny" friends talk ALL THE TIME (yawn) about carbs, counting points, how long they ran that day - boring. It's THEIR issue and it means we can't talk about anything else other than that. and me (2) now that I'm back on track - watching what I eat, being on this site, tracking my food, exercising DAILY....I am really aware that I don't want to be that #1 person. I talk about this stuff here - with you all, friends who are also working a program and we support each other. I don't talk about it to my non-dieting (and I really HATE that word...but using it here for clarity) friends so they're not bored with me and my conversations.
    Since your daughter is 12 - talking about healthy food, nutition, etc., is probably good - but she's probably bored with it. Just LIVE it - no need to TALK it. Fine line with a girl that age - it could bring on her own early fears of being fat, worried about foods, and you know the mental issues - bulemia, binge/purge, etc., that it could bring to her life.
    Maybe by show her things about nutrition and not tell her - you know how kids are: tell me not to drink and I want one. Tell me to drive slowly and my foot's a lead weight!
  • mmhenry28
    mmhenry28 Posts: 163 Member
    After dinner tonight, I asked my daughter if that were feta or goat cheese I put on my salad at the salad bar, and she said to me, "aren't you obsessed with food? Every time I see you, you're talking about how many calories or carbs it has." Really, I'm not obsessed, I'm just more conscious of what I'm eating and wanting to be sure I stick to my plan. She's only 12 though, so I'm hoping she's not scarred for life for my "obsessive" behavior! Right?

    I've noticed since starting MFP that I "talk" about food much more than I did before I used this website. My husband brought that to my attention one day and I realized that I was talking about calories, macros, exercise nearly every single day and with every meal. That was a reality check for me and I put a stop to that right away. I still think about these things. I just make sure they don't come out of my mouth a whole lot. :)

    I do this as well, but too my friends.

    p.S i love your progress photoboard. VERY IMPRESSIVE
  • Cornock
    Cornock Posts: 254
    yep yep yep, I know the guys I work with are sick of me counting calories, but mainly becuase I wont/dont indulge in the digusting things they eat! I don't know how I used to do it...:noway:
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    The way I see it, not talking about healthy eating to your kids is like not talking about sex: if you don't do it soon enough, someone else will and you may not like what your child learns.

    I tell my son that calories/carbohydrates are our fuel and we need them to play. I tell him protein will build his body. I tell him there are vitamins in his fruit and veg that will keep him healthy and help cure his colds, and that fibre helps him to poo. I never force him to clear his plate or eat a dessert he doesn't fancy.

    He came home from day care talking about whether or not he was fat, calling others fat and believing cake would make him fat. We, in the main, live in obese COUNTRIES, we are calorie counting because humans naturally tend towards high calorie foods and modern life surrounds us with such foods. Why avoid having conversations that might save your child's life?
  • nifnif
    nifnif Posts: 22
    You are entitled to be passionate about something, but obviously you are bringing it up in conversations to the point where it becomes unnecessary and annoying.

    I think it's good that she realizes you're obsessed, instead of soaking it all in and counting her own calories herself, becoming orthorexic or otherwise having an eating disorder and hating herself for ridiculous reasons. You should be proud of your daughter for her wisdom and having good judgment.
  • AlwaysWanderer
    AlwaysWanderer Posts: 641 Member
    I know what you mean. i havent got children, but when I tried to weigh my peanut butter I add to my porridge this morning, my husband said to me:"you're going stupid again, arent you?" So I try not to talk about it, I try not to show in any way that I'm obsessed. And I am. Like some people are about football, or golf, or shopping, or sitcoms. I obsess over healthy lifestyle. Dont think there's anything wrong with it, but I try not to force it on other people, like I wouldnt like someone to force football on me. Keep it to yourself, just say to your doughter what is healthy and what is unhealthy. No point going into macro breakdown. :flowerforyou:
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    This is why I will not discuss calories or carbs in front of my husband, coworkers, or friends.

    In my opinion (and experience), the best way to teach your daughter about nutrition is to serve and eat healthy foods. She's 12 now, but when she's a bit older and peer pressure is stronger, she is going to model what she has seen and knows.

    If I had a teenage daughter, I'd want her modeling healthy food choices, not an obsession with nutrition-ism. That's probably not a popular opinion here because I know MFP lends itself to obsessive behavior really well - I'm right there with you. But I make a concerted effort not to annoy everyone around me with it. This is *my* thing and I don't want it to be my family's. And if I had a 12 year old daughter, I sure wouldn't want it to be hers.
  • Red94568
    Red94568 Posts: 36 Member
    Update: At my daughter's physical, the forms she was asked to complete included several questions regarding her eating habits, including when she eats, what she eats, how much she eats, and right down to the nutritional questions too. My daughter had to fill these forms out, and she was pretty honest about it. Her doctor was very clear about what she should be eating given her exercise habits and family medical history. Mind you, she is 5'5" and 102 lbs, on Color Guard, Volleyball Team, runs a mile or more each day in gym at school..... this girl is in great shape! When she was having her eyes checked, I told the doctor about what she had said to me, and the comments here over concern she may end up with an eating disorder. Her doctor thought it was a very good idea teaching her the calorie and nutritional aspects of what we're eating, even if it means hearing and watching me log my foods. She said that kids often times are taught nutrition in school, but it's not practiced until they themselves are in trouble nutritionally. She said that even in homes where there are no overweight parents, nutrition is overlooked. She said there are a lot of thin people out there that teach their kids to eat improperly, and that although they may be thin, they aren't healthy. She said there are too many people who think "not eating" is a great way to stay in shape, or choose a protein bar over actually eating real food. She said that kids, as teens and young adults, often times lose their way, but if taught the fundamentals from what is eaten in the home, they will go back to it after their crazy teen life.

    Well, now I'm ok about the nutritional talk, I'm just thinking about that "crazy teen life" the doctor talked about! Not sure I'm ready for that!!!! Ugh!

    Red
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