Nutrition
We've previously explored the profound role of nutrition in our parenting journey. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can find it here.
Food is undeniably a cornerstone of parenting. Whether we're passionate about cooking or see it as a daily necessity, the reality is that we'll be preparing meals for our children for many, many, many years to come.
When we truly understand the power of nutrition, it becomes clear that caring for our bodies starts long before conception. What we eat plays a vital role in supporting fertility—often in ways we don’t immediately realize. Nourishing your body with the right nutrients helps regulate hormones, maintain a healthy weight, and create an optimal environment for reproduction. Even the quality of the fats and carbohydrates you consume can influence ovulation and set the stage for a healthier, more prepared journey toward conception.
You may not have thought much about your diet before, but when you're pregnant, you become more aware of what you eat and understand that the choices you make affect not only your own health, but also the wellbeing of your developing child. This awareness is a beautiful reminder of the sacred bond between nurturing our bodies and nurturing a new life, and sets the foundation for our children's relationship with food and health from the very beginning.
It's possible that your eating habits during pregnancy were not a priority for you, not because you weren't aware of them, but rather because your childhood experiences left you with limited knowledge. Making healthy choices was not part of your upbringing, which can make these kinds of discussions challenging. Please read the blog above, which will help you rethink your approach to food and renew your thinking about all things related to nutrition here.
Science suggests that the way we are raised around food can significantly shape our relationship with food later in life, influencing both our physical health and psychological well-being. I could not agree more. I was very privileged to grow up in a household where frozen convenience foods were not readily available, but my parents cooked from scratch, we didn't even have a microwave, nor a dishwasher, witch is another story. My foundation in food is pretty solid and I've obviously inherited the love of cooking, or was it just what I was exposed to? I do believe it’s a bit of both.
Let's look at how our food choices affect the whole family.
Eating Habits and Preferences: Research shows that the foods we are exposed to during childhood can affect our taste preferences, food choices, and overall eating habits as adults.
Early exposure to a variety of healthy foods, for example, fosters a preference for those foods later in life. On the other hand, childhood experiences of restrictive diets or constant dieting may lead to unhealthy relationships with food, such as overeating or undereating.
Reflect on your eating habits. Consider the environment you grew up in—what kind of household was it? How did your parents approach food?
Emotional Eating: Studies also show that emotional connections to food formed in childhood can carry into adulthood. For example, if a child learns to use food as a comfort or reward, they may continue to rely on food in this way as adults. On the flip side, children who are taught to eat mindfully, in response to physical hunger rather than emotional triggers, tend to develop healthier relationships with food later on.
Think about whether you're using food to soothe your children's emotions. For example, do you offer chocolate when your child is sad or a lollipop when they're upset? It's not just an isolated incident - it's a pattern of behaviour. Don't use food as a comfort, but have regular family meals where everyone sits down together to encourage a healthier approach to emotional regulation by talking about it.
Body Image and Food: Early experiences around food and weight can influence body image issues in later life. If children grow up in an environment where there is frequent talk about dieting, body weight, or appearance, they may develop negative body image or unhealthy relationships with food. This could lead to behaviors like chronic dieting or even eating disorders as adults.
For example, if you often saw your mother dieting or heard frequent discussions about weight, these experiences may have influenced your own self-image. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend checking out our blog post on Body Image for more insights here.
Family Meals and Socialization: Having regular family meals has been linked to better eating habits and mental health outcomes in children. Families who eat together are more likely to consume healthier foods, and children are less likely to develop issues like obesity. Family meals also provide opportunities to model healthy relationships with food and create positive memories around eating.
Ultimately, how we are raised around food impacts not only what we eat but also how we feel about food and our bodies. Creating a positive and balanced environment around food early in life has lasting effects on a person’s physical and emotional health.
This repetitive, never-ending cooking? It actually does make a difference. Instead of seeing it as just another chore, embrace it as a powerful opportunity to teach your children—and their children—how to make healthy, nourishing choices. What an exciting thought: you’re not just cooking for those at your table today, but for generations to come.
We need to encourage ourselves in the mundane, because these daily rhythms are where legacy is formed. Too often, we overlook the value of small acts simply because they feel ordinary. So dig them up, dust them off, and smile big—because you have the beautiful ability to be a role model that reaches far beyond your own family.
Isn’t that amazing? I’ll admit—I get a little too excited about food. But honestly, that joy is part of who we are as a family. And that’s contagious.
If you find it hard to plan, check out our blog post on weekly meal plans, here, which I found to be a lifesaver.
If you're feeling completely lost when it comes to healthy eating—bombarded by Instagram trends, swamped with new recipes, and still feeling frustrated—rest assured, there's absolutely hope for you!
Take it one step at a time - you don't need to sprint at 100 miles per hour because you've already lost so much time. Instead, focus on baby steps. Ask a trusted friend who is experienced in this area. Cook a few meals with them that you can add to your repertoire.
Know that switching to healthy nutrition can feel like a steep hill to climb at first. Here are some common initial challenges:
Cravings and Withdrawal: Transitioning from processed or high-sugar foods often triggers strong cravings and may even lead to withdrawal-like symptoms as your body adjusts.
Learning Curve: It takes time to understand what constitutes a balanced diet, from learning about nutrient-dense foods to figuring out appropriate portion sizes.
Time and Effort: Healthy eating usually requires more meal planning, grocery shopping, and preparation, which can feel overwhelming if you're used to quick, convenient options.
Taste Adjustments: Your palate may need time to adjust to the new flavors and textures of healthier foods, especially if you’ve long been accustomed to richer, processed alternatives.
You can do it and you know why because you are not alone. God is by your side, pour out your heart, talk to Him about the changes you want to make, He will help you along the way, don't beat yourself up, be merciful to yourself. As you would with your child learning to walk.
If you find yourself trapped in destructive cycles that feel beyond you, look to the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. Remember, you're not alone.
Sometimes we are trapped in patterns that are rooted in our childhood and God wants to heal them.
We are here to support you on this journey too.