It's funny that I stumbled upon this statement because I've been thinking a lot about this very thing lately.
We live in a culture that sees food not as a necessity but a luxury and a reward. We are a nation of obesity in part because of this mindset. We often reward our GOOD behavior with BAD behavior thus creating poor lifestyle habits that we not only ingrain in ourselves but instill in our children.
Do I think that having a sweet treat every now and then is a bad thing? NO
Do I think taking your child out for pizza and ice cream once in a blue moon is a bad thing? Not at all
But the bad habits begin when we start using food as a reward system.
"If I can make it all day without sweets, I'll have a bowl of ice cream before bed."
"I've had water all week. I'm going to have a soda on Saturday."
"I'll give you a lollipop if you clean your room."
"I'll give you a donut if you eat your apple."
"Leave me alone and I'll give you whatever you sweets you want." ;)
.jpg)
What happens when we think this way and use food as a reward is we start living for the bad behavior. It's the sweets that motivate us or our children to make healthy choices rather than the great feeling we get simply from living this way. We're not enjoying healthy habits, we are just enduring them until we can get our next treat. If we see healthy living as something we have to ENDURE we will have negative associations with it and live on the roller coaster ride of stress and guilt.
As far as our children are concerned, WHY do we need to give them sweets? How are we loving them by giving them crap every time they do something good? We aren't really caring for them in this way. We are manipulating them or finding a quick fix to our own needs. We also are creating poor associations. Healthy food = discipline. Toxic food = happiness. Please tell me how this is a good thing?
When you want to give your child a treat, just do it on random occasions because you want to enjoy it....NOT because you or your child did something to earn it. They are going to get sweets and treats elsewhere anyway. They'll get there fill without us giving them stuff every time they do something we want them to!
When our child is overweight in middle school or high school, all of those "rewards" we fed them will manifest themselves in what looks like punishment. Let's change these habits while they are young!
What better way to reward your child than with a future full of health and vitality!
I must admit that I am guilty of this every now and then, but I really want to start eliminating this behavior from our family completely. Let's work on this together. The best way to change a behavior is to have practical alternatives.
There are OTHER ways to reward yourself or your children. I'd love to hear some of your ideas. Share them on my facebook page.
No comments:
Post a Comment