The Gallery: Food
Food is one of the staples of life; there is no getting away from the fact you need it.
But for some of us it becomes more than sustenance; instead of eating when our stomachs tell us we need food, we begin to eat when we feel sad or angry. There is nothing wrong with using food to celebrate, but when you start to use it to comfort, or punish yourself, you are in trouble.
Having used food like this myself for many years, I am very keen that my children don’t develop this habit. So I resolved early on that the table would never become a battleground for my children.
I prepare food for the kids, but I try not to get too annoyed if they don’t eat it. I don’t tell them about starving children in Africa (well, not in that context), I don’t make them eat their dinner before they have their pudding and if they say they are hungry, I always let them have something to eat unless a meal is just about on the table.
In return, we talk about the difference between mouth and tummy hunger, I ask them to consider whether they are really hungry or just bored, sad or upset when they ask for a snack. I never make them clear their plate or even taste something they don’t like. I do try and encourage them to eat nicely, but honestly, I don’t really mind it too much if they play with their food.
This approach seems to have worked okay so far. No one has starved or suffered from scurvy yet, and most days everyone goes to bed nutritionally content.
Or should I say, almost everyone.
The Lurcher always wants more.
If you are feeling peckish and want to read more about food, then check out The Gallery today.
Loving the doggy pic!!!
Yeah, she looks so sweet doesn’t she?
What a naughty doggy! I need to ask you about mouth vs tummy hunger… If it’s mouth hunger, what do you do to satisfy that, other than eating half a packet of biscuits?
You are supposed to ‘sit with it’ which sometimes works for me, sometimes doesn’t. The main thing is to find out why you are feeling mouth hunger, there is always an underlying emotion.
Interesting. I can see the logic behind it. I just need to train myself to eat something healthy if I’m ‘mouth hungry;’ getting much better at going for fruit rather than chocolate or biscuits.
Well Ideally you’d not eat at all for mouth hunger. Sitting with whatever you are feeling and just focussing on it can help, doing something about it or writing can also help. But the first step of the process is just asking yourself if you are really hungry and being honest.
Replying ‘No, but I’m going to eat something anyhow’ is a valid answer!
Brilliant photos!
Brilliant photos:) If mine ask for food or say they are hungry they can have an apple, banana, carrot, cucumber or an orange. If they say no to that they’re not hungry! Good idea to find reason behind asking for food:) I ask them that as well sometimes.
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This was a great post. Fab photos, and so true about food and eating – its quite a delicate balance.I really liked what you said about asking your children why they are eating – boredom, sadness etc.
Love the photos and the way you’re approaching it. So important for children grow up having a healthy relationship with food. Unbearable when we don’t have that.
cracking photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xxx
I love your pictures. Unfortunately, I completely fail at not getting stressed if lovingly cooked from scratch meals go uneaten. However psyched up to it I think I am, it completely winds me up.