News Taffy

Have you ever thought about how your parenting style affects the way your child eats and therefore, their health? In June, I focused on adult eating habits but today, I’d like parents to think about what type of eater they are raising. This is important since you are directly affecting your children's health by the way you teach them to eat. Let’s exam some styles of parenting. Once again, this is not a scientific paper but my personal observations designed to get my readers to think.

Wimpy parents are afraid to discipline their child or have any kind of conflict. Their children know a tantrum will get them what they want. If junior doesn’t like milk, he gets a coke. The child is in control but children are truly happier when the parent is in charge. No way will junior eat vegetables or any other yucky food, so their nutritional needs are not being met. Junior may or may not be overweight but that doesn’t mean they will remain healthy. It’s hard to change bad eating habits as an adult and that is usually when health problems show up. Children of wimpy parents learn to satisfy their wants, not their needs and have problems in many other areas of their life.

Vegetarian parents are raising thoughtful children though they may suffer some stress or be a bit self-righteous trying to explain their eating choices to others. Hopefully their parents are teaching them to balance their food choices so they get enough nutrients and don’t miss out on things like protein or calcium. Vegetarians become level headed adults capable of making good choices.

Picky parents are raising the next generation of picky eaters. If Dad doesn’t like green beans, junior sure isn’t going to try them. Picky parents make their children suspicious and afraid to try anything. Picky eaters usually miss out on good nutrition because their diet is limited to a few things like macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. They may also be overweight.

Busy parents work long hours and don’t pay enough attention to their children. They don’t worry about what the kids eat or teach them about proper nutrition. Their children get frozen processed meals or fast food grabbed on the way home. Obviously, they miss out on important nutritional needs and don’t learn to take care of their body.

Controlling parents who keep a tight rein on everything their children do often force children to be secretive or rebellious. If every bite junior eats is watched, and sweets are off limits, junior may develop eating problems or sneak the forbidden foods at a friend’s house.

Overly worried parents worry about quantity over quality. They worry if their toddler doesn’t clean his plate every time or if junior skips seconds. These parents prepare a separate meal for their kids because they won’t eat “adult food." Overly worried parents are usually wimpy parents as well.

Health nut parents teach their children proper nutrition and how to take care of themselves. They encourage their children to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Their children may go through a rebellious phase in their teen years but usually come back to healthy choices. Other parents are jealous and wonder why their kids don’t eat as well.

I hope you will think about what you are teaching your children about food. I am always amazed at how people feed their children, especially when there is so much information available about obesity, heart disease and diabetes and their relationship to eating.