Creating Good Eating Habits from a Young Age

Good eating habits from an early age can help prevent eating disorders writes Rachel Browne. Teaching children to have a healthy relationship with food from a young age can reduce the likelihood of them developing eating disorders.

This means teaching them that food is fuel for the body, rather than a reward or punishment, says Christine Morgan, chief executive of the eating disorders support group, The Butterfly Foundation.

Ms Morgan has noticed an increase in the number of children diagnosed with early-onset eating disorders, which can start from as young as eight, in the past few years. You need to teach children to eat when they are physically hungry. We use food in a number of ways which aren't related to hunger. Food can be used as a reward; treats can be removed as punishment. Children build up these complex emotional links with food. We need to get back to the idea that food is fuel which gives you energy.

If you are active as a parent your child is much more likely to be active. If you make healthy food decisions your child is much more likely to do it. And if you do it as a family then they're much less likely to have any other problems in terms of eating disorders.

The Sun-Herald's Healthy Habits campaign about childhood obesity supported by the Children's Hospital, will cover critical topics and shows families practical steps to become more active and make better food choices. www.smh.com.au/national/obesity