BeeKay Nutrition

When I hear parents telling their adolescent to eat some fruit instead of or before having cake, I know they're concerned about their adolescent's health and just want them to eat a balanced and nutrient rich variety food.

What does your adolescent hear?

🔴 Fruit is "better" than cake
🟠 I can't be trusted around food
🟡 I need rules when I eat
🟢 I'm bad for wanting to eat more cake
🔵 I'd be better if I ate only fruit
🟣 My parent gets upset when I eat too much
🟤 etc. and more

These likely aren't the thoughts and feelings you mean to or want to bring up in your adolescent!

How can you give your adolescent the message of the importance of variety in their diet without creating negative associations with food or themselves?

✔️Consistently provide a variety of food - yes fruit AND cake!
✔️ Model enjoying BOTH those foods
✔️Talk neutrally about food and how it all nourishes us
✔️Trust your adolescent to eat the amount and type of food that feels right to them. You can't dictate portion sizes because you don't experience their body's sensations or feelings.