“Let Kids Eat: The Damage We Don’t See”

Authored by: Sawandi DeSilva

Art by: Ponthea Shojaian

One topic of conversation that will never grow old is the subject of food. We see food everywhere; it surrounds us. Sometimes we love it, and sometimes we hate it, but regardless, there is always some rule about what we should and shouldn’t be consuming. While eating intuitively is important, there doesn’t have to be an alternative for everything. We as humans tend to push these new realms of knowledge onto everyone, especially children, hoping it will do them a favor for their future by enforcing healthy habits. What many don’t seem to understand, however, is how crucial this time period is for young kids’ development and how impressionable they are at this age. Children often fixate on food rules and the topic of food itself when we impose these boundaries on them. For example, kids may be more inclined to eat certain foods in secret because it was a restricted food item or they were told it was bad for them. This essentially creates a strong negative relationship with food that can span into adulthood.  [1]

Exposure to a wide variety of flavors and food groups is necessary when we are young as we try to grow our palates. When certain foods are labeled as “bad”, it can limit a child’s  willingness to try other foods that may contain similar ingredients and lead to nutritional gaps. Ultimately, children learn through experience and through imitation. If they are allowed to make choices about what they eat, they will be able to create their own sense of autonomy on a need/want basis. Food preferences are important determinants of children’s food intakes, and many parents don’t realize just how much they influence this major development. [2]

One study focusing on this phenomenon limited preschool children’s selection and  intake, and their behavioral response to restricted foods was observed. It was found that restrictive feeding practices increases the intake of food and have negative effects on temperament. Additionally, parents who reported intentionally keeping all of the sweet and savory snacks out of their child’s physical reach had children who consumed more of it after it was restricted.  [3] This negative parental control in which parents put a physical barrier between a child and desired object to enforce compliance indicates lower success in practicing self-regulatory abilities.  [4]

Children need to be able to trust their bodies, and by allowing them to make their own choices when it comes to portion size and associations, we are paving the path for more confident and healthier individuals overall. Rather than forcing a “scarcity mentality” which will presumptively lead to chronic fears as well as obsessive behaviors, it is more productive to promote a balanced approach to eating, allowing them to make informed choices without feeling deprived. [5] 

We can promote the concept of leading the entirety of our lives by  nourishing our bodies with healthy alternatives and clean elements, but balance is just as important as discipline. Why ruin the first couple years of ignorant bliss a kid has when they will spend the rest of their lives doing it for themselves anyway? So, the next time you see a child choosing to eat potato chips over a piece of fruit, consider that they’re simply savoring a moment of joy. Sometimes, letting them enjoy the little things is the best choice of all.

References:

1. Rollins, B. Y., Loken, E., Savage, J. S., & Birch, L. L. (2014). Effects of restriction on children's intake differ by child temperament, food reinforcement, and parent's chronic use of restriction. Appetite, 73, 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.10.005 

2. (2019, October 18). Portion control: What to do and, more importantly, what not to do. Nutrition in Bloom. https://nutritioninbloom.com/blog/2019/10/18/portion-control-what-to-do-and-more-importantly-what-not-to-do 

3. Scaglioni, S., De Cosmi, V., Ciappolino, V., Parazzini, F., Brambilla, P., & Agostoni, C. (2018). Factors influencing children's eating behaviours. Nutrients, 10(6), 706. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10060706 

4. Bell, L. (2023, July 7). Should parents create food rules for their children to encourage healthy eating habits? Children's Hospital New Orleans. https://www.manningchildrens.org/news-blog/2023/july/should-parents-create-food-rules-for-their-child/ 

5. Chan, M. J., Tay, G. W. N., Kembhavi, G., Lim, J., Rebello, S. A., Ng, H., Lin, C., Wang, M. C., Müller-Riemenschneider, F., & Chong, M. F. (2022). Understanding children's perspectives of the influences on their dietary behaviours. Public Health Nutrition, 25(8), 2156–2166. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980022000404