How to raise an intuitive eater Raising the next generation with food and body confidence

Dieticians Brooks and Severson take on "diet culture's unrealistic ideals" in this cogent argument for allowing a child to determine his or her eating habits. Teaching children to "respect their unique body in a world that wants us to self-loathe" is crucial, the authors write, and they caution parents against using food as a reward or punishment, because it can lead to children having a conflict-filled relationship with food. Brooks and Severson's plan consists of countering diet culture (by encouraging self-compassion), letting go of the myth of perfect parenting (mess-ups are learning opportunities), and embracing a holistic view of health (which involves managing stress). They recommend a flexible eating routine that takes into consideration kids' preferences, and suggest helpful exercises, such as creating "lunch box cards" for kids to give to adults with an explanation of the family's approach to food, or drafting a statement to remind parents why they've chosen to raise intuitive eaters. The authors tend to drive home the same points many times over, but they aren't short on encouragement. Parents looking to get their kids' eating habits off to a positive start will find this a useful resource. (Jan.)

Much attention has been paid to childhood obesity lately, and as a result parents might find themselves worrying about what and how to feed their children. Children have innate wisdom about eating and about their own bodies, even from infancy, argues this guide by registered dietitians Brooks (a mother and founder of the online training platform "Eating Disorder Registered Dieticians and Professionals") and Severson (a Certified Body Trust Provider and Intuitive Eating counselor, with a focus on gender-inclusive and LGBTQ+ affirming care). Brooks and Severson acknowledge the class implications of diet: for families facing food insecurity, getting enough food of any kind on the table becomes a more pressing need than fostering a positive relationship with food, and families facing discrimination or poverty (because of human trafficking, racism, immigration status, gender identity, etc.) are more likely to experience food insecurity. Brooks and Severson also address mental health. They say that parents must start by compassionately confronting their own attitudes about food in order to guide their children with the same kindness. The authors set out three principles: provide unconditional love and support for your child's body; implement a flexible eating routine; and use your intuitive eating voice. The book also discusses movement, health concerns, and sports; its final section has advice for different stages of child development. VERDICT This informative resource offers compassionate help for parents attempting to build a healthy relationship with food, for both themselves and their children.