A nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders has explained why parents shouldn’t force their children to finish their plate or go on a diet.
Kate Regan, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said conditions like anorexia and bulimia can be triggered at a young age and that well-meaning parents can inadvertently lead children to develop unhealthy food relationships.
The expert shared the five things she would never do when becoming a parent — not dieting herself, never labeling food “unhealthy or healthy,” or shaming anyone.
Kate Regan, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said conditions like anorexia and bulimia can be triggered at a young age and that well-meaning parents can inadvertently lead children to develop unhealthy food relationships
She said: “Under no circumstances will I put my child on a diet or tell them they need to lose weight.
“Many eating disorders start in childhood. Diets are restrictive in nature and teach you to follow a set of rules, unlike when we are born where the instinct is to eat intuitively.
“Diets distract from your natural ability to listen to your body when it’s hungry or full, which continues into adulthood.”
The expert shared the five things she would never do when becoming a parent — not dieting herself, never labeling food “unhealthy or healthy,” or shaming anyone
The second tip was that parents should not diet or “lose weight on purpose” themselves.
Kate explained that even if you don’t tell your child directly, they will notice and absorb your actions and behaviors and still be influenced.
She said: “A child would grow up believing that there is a right way and a wrong way to eat and that the pursuit of intentional weight loss is more important than their health.
“Instead of dieting, I would prioritize health-promoting behaviors instead of looking at the number on the scale.”
Elsewhere, the expert insisted she would never label food as “healthy or unhealthy” or “good or bad.”
The nutritionist went on to explain that she would instead refer to them as “play foods” and “fun foods” as opposed to “nutrient dense” or “nutritious” foods.
Kate said: “Using neutral language to describe food removes morality and lets kids know it’s okay if all foods fit into their diet.
Elsewhere, the expert insisted she would never label food as “healthy or unhealthy” or “good or bad.”
“When you associate food with morality, a lot of guilt and shame can come into play. They can internalize “bad” feelings about themselves by eating “bad” foods and feeling like a “bad” person.”
WHAT IS ANOREXIA?
Anorexia is a serious mental illness in which a person restricts their food intake, often resulting in severe underweight.
Many also exercise excessively.
Some sufferers may experience periods of bingeing, followed by flushing.
Sufferers often have a distorted view of themselves, thinking they are taller than they really are.
Left untreated, patients can suffer from muscle and bone weakness as well as depression, low libido and, in women, no menstrual periods.
In severe cases, patients can experience heart problems and organ damage.
Behavioral signs of anorexia include people saying they have eaten or will eat later, counting calories, skipping meals, hiding food, and eating slowly.
In addition to weight loss, sufferers may experience insomnia, constipation, bloating, feeling cold, hair loss, and swelling of the hands, face, and feet.
Treatment focuses on therapy and support groups to promote healthy eating and coping mechanisms.
Source: Beat Eating Disorders
She went on to insist that she will never feel ashamed of herself, her child, or anyone else in front of her child.
“If one day my child comes to me and says, ‘I feel fat,’ I won’t respond with ‘You’re not fat — you’re beautiful,’ but with curiosity,” she said.
“Wondering why they think that, why they feel that way, and supporting their feelings without implying that they are fat is a bad thing, which it isn’t.”
She said she would never make a child finish their plate of food or tell them they can’t have anything else if they say they’re still hungry.
Kate, who is on TikTok @wholesomechicknutrition, said: “When children are encouraged to eat all of their food, even when they say they are full, they learn to override their satiety signals. This can cause them to lose touch with those clues.”
When she shared some of her tips online, many people brought in their own experiences, most notably the “get your plate ready” tip.
Getting kids to finish eating was a statement many people had experienced in their own childhood — and praised her for pointing out the risks.
One viewer wrote: “I was just waiting for ‘all the food to be ready on the plate’.” Definitely still affecting my relationship with food.”
Another said: “I wish my mum had never made me eat all the food on my plate. I feel like I have to eat everything even when I’m full.”
A third agreed: “I don’t know what full is because my dad made me eat when I was a kid and now as an adult calls me fat.”
One praised Kate for posting the video, saying: “I was really worried to see this video as I thought it would be a lot of motherhood but I’m so glad I saw it. Great message!’