Episode #20: How To Raise Healthy Eaters {Part 1}

Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on Google Play | Review the Podcast

We all enter the world as tiny human beings completely dependent upon someone else. But it isn’t long before a personality emerges and what seemed like such an innocent human turns into a stubborn, selfish, independent and free-spirited toddler.

And if you’ve ever lived with a toddler you too can see and experience first hand the complete stubbornness at trying to take over their own life. Unfortunately they often fall short of life’s basics like, tie their own shoes, get their own food, go to the bathroom in a toilet, you know minor things. Yet they stand so sure of themselves, so independent and brave.

And so we, adult’s take over and try to help them onto their own two feet, showing them the ropes of life. Unfortunately this relationship usually turns toxic as we can see their lack of ability and yet they can only boast in their independence. And there is no greater time to experience this than at the dinner table.

Given that the first independent skill of a human is actually that of eating, it also turns into one of the first big battles most parents face. The food wars, stubbornness and pickiness of a toddler only escalates as we swoop in only trying our best to feed them well. .

Sigh.

So we begin questioning our ability, then we question their health and begin the chaotic cycle of looking for something to end the madness so that you can just do the job you set out to do in the first place. The job of feeding them well.

Don’t worry, I know first hand the difficulty of raising kids, let alone healthy ones. I’m in the thick of it and experience the toddler battles daily. But I know one thing for certain, there is a unique way to feed a child that actual fosters food independence and encourages them to eat well all without you forcing, or prying or basically shoveling food in their mouths. It can happen and in this episode we’ll break down exactly how.

Here’s what you’ll learn in episode #020 of Simple Roots Radio:

What intuitive eating means
How our food preferences develop
Why removing emotion from a child’s eating is key
Why you shouldn’t expect your kids to eat anything that you won’t
The importance of using experiences as a reward instead of food
Why you should never force your kid to eat when they don’t want to
What our role as parents is and how we can shape our children’s intuitive eating principles
Why my husband still won’t eat his peas
How to get your kids to think about the food choices they are making
How we’ve taught our oldest daughter to connect the food she eats to how she feels

[Tweet “How you raise intuitive eaters makes all the difference later in life.”]
[Tweet “You have to first believe that your body wants to be healthy.”]
[Tweet “Once we attach food to an emotion, it is really hard to break that connection.”]

Links and Resources from the Show:

Five Lessons I’ve Learned Being a Mom
How To Eat Out With Kids
Healthy Snack Tips For Kids
Episode 13: Real Life as a Mom of Six with Karlee Hufford

Thanks again for tuning into another episode of Simple Roots Radio.

If you have some feedback to share or an exciting shout out on your own personal journey, leave a note in the comments below. I would love to know your reactions to the show and how you’re taking steps in raising healthy eaters.

Finally, we are aiming to reach 100 ratings and reviews by the end of the month with some special prizes for anyone who leaves an honest rating and review. Through these reviews we can work to make the show better and align more closely with the information you need to live your best life. It only takes a minute and makes a world of difference in the life of this show.