Food is our Friend, Not our Foe!
I just got back from a great neighborhood meeting on health. We heard from several awesome speakers.
One was a guy who lives just up the street from us who works at a rehabilitation center for ladies with eating disorders. So interesting...we talked about how to help our daughters to avoid eating disorders and stay healthy....so scary.
Three top things:
1. Keep lines of communication open. Talk about puberty with your daughters. Every girl goes through changes and it's a normal, beautiful, healthy part of life. At about 12-13 is when most eating disorders start and a lot start because girls start gaining weight and their bodies start changing...and they want their "little" body back.
2. Don't talk about your own body negativity with your kids around. "If only I could lose 5 more pounds." "Everything I eat goes straight to my hips" As a child is growing and gaining weight, when they hear this from their parents, it makes them feel like there is something wrong with them...
3. Teach them to listen to their bodies and eat when they are hungry...
He mentioned that media played a factor, but a small one when in comparison to what they hear and feel at home. Build a strong foundation.
Such a good topic.
No comments:
Post a Comment