Set rules for your children's consumption of junk food.
Author and nutritionist Karen Fischer shares some secrets from her book, Don't Tell Them It's Healthy.
Just because you want your child to be healthy doesn't mean you have to put a lifetime ban on all junk food. However, it's a good idea to control or restrict how often they consume unhealthy treats because they can promote poor concentration, tantrums and fussy eating habits. This is when the word "sometimes" needs to be used. Lollies and cakes are sometimes foods. Chips and biscuits are sometimes foods - you shouldn't consume them every day. However, it's essential to also let your child know when sometimes is so they don't resent you (hello tantrums) for seemingly setting the rules to suit your whims.
For example, my daughter loves lemonade iceblocks and she would demand one whenever we passed the local shop on the way to school. After all, we were in the vicinity of her favourite icy treat and she thought it was a great opportunity to buy one. Every day I'd say "No, we're going to school". Every day there was a tantrum. Finally I said "Let's set a new rule: what day should be iceblock day?" Of course my daughter said today was iceblock day, which happened to be Friday, so iceblocks became a Friday after school treat.
Naturally, my daughter still nagged me to buy iceblocks for another week but I would always reply with the same slogan: "Iceblock day is Friday". Her complaining became less frequent and soon she had replaced "I want an iceblock!" with "Is it Friday yet?" or "How many days till Friday?" Within a fortnight she no longer needed to ask when Friday was due to occur and the tantrums stopped.
Kids thrive when they have set boundaries and clear-cut rules. Be vague about when "junk food day" is and you will end up getting a debate each time you decide to make treat day tomorrow rather than right now. Next time your child throws a tantrum at the supermarket check out queue because they want a handy-to-reach lolly, don't blame the shop layout. Simply set a new rule (and slip in some negative marketing) such as: "Chocolate won't make you strong but I'll buy it today and you can have it after we set a new rule. What day should be chocolate day?" After your child has chosen a day add "The new rule will start tomorrow".
If your child protests at the thought of a new rule (or having to wait two minutes to eat the treat), then promptly put the lolly back on the shelf. Once your child agrees to making a new rule and promises to follow it then they can have the chocolate.
Be sure to give your child at least one day's notice if you are setting a new rule that will restrict their junk food intake. Kids love forewarning so it doesn't seem like another annoying parental whim. When you set specific guidelines about when "sometimes" is, you get a child who knows the household rules - they have agreed to them - and they'll protest less. They just can't argue with a solid rule that is casually repeated over and over and over again (like an advertising slogan).
Examples of "sometimes" rules:
* Chocolate is for Easter and Saturdays
* Lollies are for parties
* Fried Food Fridays
* Chips are for parties and when visitors come over
* Dessert days are Monday, Wednesday and Fridays
* Treat day is Friday (after school)
Find the secrets to "marketing" healthy food to your child and learn to speak their language so they happily eat the nutritious foods you provide for them, in Don't Tell Them It's Healthy.
Does your child love junk food? Chat about your concerns with Essential Baby members in the EB forums.
