With holiday parties in full swing, it’s a great time to talk with our kiddos about bodily autonomy and intuitive eating.
I have toddlers — some days they eat like elephants and other days like the daintiest mice you’ve ever seen. In our home, we practice intuitive eating: listening to our bodies, stopping when we’re full, and knowing we can always come back for more if or when we want it.
This is a lesson I never got growing up. There were plenty of times I was pushed to clear my plate or miss out on dessert if I didn’t. I was even told, “You eat it, or you can wear it,” to encourage me to finish food I didn’t want to eat. Eventually, I dreaded mealtime. I’d quickly scarf everything down just to be excused from the table, barely tasting a thing.
That’s why, in our home, we eat differently. We set the table together, we sit together, and we slow down enough to talk about the texture, smell, and taste of our food. Grounding ourselves is something I’m still learning, but we’re doing it as a family.
My girls love mealtime when they can serve themselves their toddler foods (yes, Dino nuggets and smiley fries), plus fruits, which are all laid out so they can choose what and how much they want. They know they can stop when they feel full and that they’ll never be denied a snack or more food later if they ask.
This doesn’t mean I never encourage them to try something they refuse entirely, but it does mean I respect their autonomy. I also don’t constantly offer food throughout the day unless they ask; it gives them space to learn their own hunger cues. They have access to water all day and to different kinds of milk if they want. If they can serve it, they can eat it — which honestly helps all of us.
And I’ll be real, it’s not always perfect. Some days feel more chaotic than intentional, but even then, they’re learning what their bodies are telling them. Teaching them trust now feels like something that will stick with them for life.
