Please Stop Telling Kids to Make Healthy Choices
Um, whaat? Yes, please hear me out.
I completely understand that teaching and talking about “healthy choices” is always coming from a place of good intentions. It’s probably what you were taught. But it doesn’t always land the way you intended. In fact, it can even backfire. There are better ways to help children develop a lifelong healthy relationship with food.
Why is telling children to “make healthy choices” problematic?
🔴 They usually aren’t the ones making the choices about which foods are available to them. That’s an adult job.
🟠 Telling kids that a food is “healthy” actually makes that food less desirable, so they’re less likely to choose it and like it.
🟡 “Health” is an abstract concept that children don’t really understand - possibly until they’re 12 years old.
🟢 What’s healthy for one person might not be for another. For example, eggs are usually included in “healthy food” lists, but if you have an egg allergy they can kill you.
🔵 Categorizing some foods as “unhealthy” can make them seem forbidden and actually more appealing.
🟣 If families are serving foods that you’re labelling as “unhealthy” due to family budgets, cultural preferences, time pressures etc. this messaging can cause guilt and shame. That’s not healthy at all.
A better approach?
Take an open-ended and CURIOUS approach to teaching about food:
🌈 EXPLORE it with the senses.
🌈 Skip the judgemental language (good/bad) and focus on DESCRIBING colours, shapes, patterns, textures, smells and flavours.
🌈 Learn about ALL the different foods in your world - where and how they grow, how they’re produced, how to prepare and enjoy them.
🌈 Celebrate all the ways that food NOURISHES us - it brings joy, comfort, builds community, celebrates our culture.
🌈 Discover the ways that food CONNECTS everything in the world - people, climate, culture, politics, caring communities.
Does this resonate with you? I’d love to support you in bringing this approach to your classroom, team and organization. Drop a comment to share your thoughts and to learn more about how to put this into practice!
Cheers,
😊 Janet