Bite Back with Abbey Sharp

“Mom, I’m so fat!” How to Teach Kids Nutrition without Messing Them Up!

Episode Summary

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, we tackle one of the most important questions for parents who grew up in diet culture: how do we raise kids with a healthier relationship with food and their bodies than we had? As a millennial mom who lived through the damaging messages of early 2000s diet culture, I know how challenging it can feel to navigate body talk, nutrition, and weight concerns in today’s Ozempic- and SkinnyTok-fueled world. In this episode, we explore how to talk to kids about food and health without passing down shame, and how to help them grow into confident, intuitive eaters.

Episode Notes

Here’s a run down of what we discussed in today’s episode:

• Raising Kids in a SkinnyTok World
• Why What Parents Model Matters Most
• “What You Say vs. What Kids Hear”
• The Problem with Food Rewards and “Good” vs. “Bad” Foods
• How to Talk to Kids About Sugar and Nutrition
• Age-by-Age Strategies for Food Conversations
• Helping Teens Navigate Diet Culture Online
• How to Respond to “Fat Talk” and Body Comments
• Teaching Kids That Bodies Come in All Shapes and Sizes
• Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility for Raising Healthy Eaters

References:

• https://www.wsj.com/tech/how-tiktok-inundates-teens-with-eating-disorder-videos-11639754848
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2562308/
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593112628?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4TK2GJXC59E0ER1DGXCX&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4TK2GJXC59E0ER1DGXCX&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4TK2GJXC59E0ER1DGXCX&bestFormat=true
• https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/112/4/900/63453/Relation-Between-Dieting-and-Weight-Change-Among?autologincheck=redirected

Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you’re struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider.

If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to eatingdisorderhope.com.