As a parent, it can be overwhelming trying to manage all of the facets that contribute to your child’s health. We all want our kids to be healthy, but what does that really mean and how do we ensure they’re on the right track?
Unfortunately, it feels that sometimes a child’s health is reduced to simply the number on the scale. And this is not only untrue but could potentially be harmful for their long-term well-being.
Health for children and adults is multifaceted and being able to take a step back and look at the big picture can help take a bit of the pressure off of weight trends for your child.
so... what contributes to my child's health?
Please note - these are not the only factors!
Genetics
This is huge! A lot of your child’s health is predetermined and, unfortunately, out of your control. This can be a really hard and scary thing to hear as a parent. Again, we know that you just want your kids to be healthy and safe! But, also, we hope it provides some comfort that you are not doing anything wrong as a parent. Sometimes things, like genetics, are out of our control and the only thing we can do is support our kids in navigating these challenges.
Environment
Environmental factors can also play a huge role in overall health. Remember, health is more than just physical health - it is also about: mental, social, spiritual and environmental health. Environmental health is a broad public health topic that seeks to understand some of the environmental impacts on health such as: air or water pollution, access to healthcare, education, safety of the environment that can impact access to outdoor spaces or various food options, etc.
Relationships
Speaking on the different types of health, the relationships a child has in their life is a huge factor in their social health. Social health is the ability to form and maintain positive relationships with others, and how comfortable someone is in social situations. Some things that can impact social health include: relationships within the family unit, communication style in the child’s environment, exposure to various social settings, your child’s own neurobiology, etc.
Weight Trends
It’s easy to become fixated on growth charts as a primary marker of your child’s health, but the truth is - a growth chart is just one piece of the puzzle. Pediatricians often emphasize the importance of growth charts, and rightfully so, but not for the reasons many parents interpret. Parents frequently feel compelled to ensure that their child falls within a certain percentile range, often fixating on specific numbers and weight as if they are definitive markers of health and development.
This can create anxiety for both the parents and child, as parents might worry that if their child isn’t tracking alongside peers, something is wrong, and the child might feel pressure for something they can’t control.
In reality, each child has their own unique growth pattern influenced by a variety of factors including genetics, nutrition, and their environment. Instead of being obsessive of a certain percentile range or weight for your child, remind yourself that normal growth and weight gain is the goal.
We’ve included a great video here, especially for parents whose kids are in eating disorder recovery, to help understand growth charts and their importance in care. And another one of our faves here to help show the beauty in body diversity!
Nutrition
Nutrition is definitely a piece of the puzzle! And that’s where our team at NourishRX loves to step in to support families. However, again, nutrition must also be viewed through a big picture lens. First and foremost, even more so than what a child is eating, we must ensure that a child is getting enough nutrition. If a child is not getting enough, that is certainly going to impact multiple aspects of health.
Additionally, we want to ensure that your child is building a positive relationship with food. We have seen that children who are able to be more flexible and free with food not only have a more diverse diet growing up but are also at a significantly lower risk of eating disorders and disordered eating later in life.
From there, we can then start to expand upon incorporating gentle nutrition into the diet and ensuring that there is variety, nutrients and fun!
Again, we go through all of this to hopefully help parents understand that their child’s health is multifaceted. While there are some areas that are more in your control, becoming too hyper fixated and strict can have potential adverse effects that ultimately lead to long-term health consequences.
That’s why, at NourishRX, we help our families to support their kids in cultivating a positive relationship with food and their body. Not only have we seen this lead to a more balanced and diverse diet (which is something a lot of our parents are looking to see), it helps reduce our kid’s chances of long-term health consequences that eating disorders and disordered eating bring.
To help embrace this perspective and create a healthy food environment for your kiddo, here are four strategies to keep in mind.
4 steps to create a healthy food environment for your kids
Establish a routine of shared meals.
Regular family meals are important for creating an environment that nurtures stability, strengthens family relationships, and promotes healthy eating habits. Children thrive on routine and structure and gathering the entire family at the table together provides an opportunity for family members to connect and share experiences. Family meals can be a safe space for providing emotional support, reinforcing family values, and modeling healthy eating behaviors. This consistent time together also encourages open conversations about food and nutrition, making it easier for kids to develop positive associations with meals.
Celebrate the small wins.
Celebrate the small wins in your child’s eating habits and growth. Whether it’s staying seated at the table a few minutes longer than last night, trying a new food, or simply expressing curiosity around ingredients or how food is prepared, recognizing progress reinforces positive behaviors and helps cultivate healthier relationships with food. Acknowledging little successes has a big impact on your child’s self-esteem and motivation, helping them build confidence and resilience as they face new challenges in and out of the kitchen.
Understand that all foods can fit in a healthy lifestyle.
Emphasize balance by teaching your child that all foods, including various snacks and sweets, have a place in a healthy lifestyle.
Challenge the common misconception that certain foods are inherently “good” or “bad” and focus on the fact that food has no moral value. This approach helps prevent the creation of a restrictive mindset around food, fostering a more inclusive and enjoyable relationship with eating.
Involve your child in the kitchen.
Developmentally, children want to learn and master tasks. Support your child’s desire to learn by involving them in food preparation and meal planning.
You can assign them age-appropriate tasks such as washing vegetables, measuring ingredients, stirring mixtures, etc. and encourage them to help choose a new recipe from a cookbook or online.
When children achieve tasks, they build a positive self-perception and a sense of accomplishment, which can translate into positive eating habits.
how can nourishrx support you
Remember, fostering a positive relationship with food is a process. You may not get it right 100% of the time, and that’s okay. You are only human!
However, if you’d like more support or if you feel that your own relationship with food & your body may require more attention to better support a positive food environment in the home, we’re here to help.
Head to our website or drop us a line to see how our expert team of dietitians can help put some of these ideas into action. You’ve got this!
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