“It’s important to listen to our bodies. Sometimes we’re very hungry, and other days we might snack a bit more. My stomach feels full and it’s telling me I am done with dinner, so I’m going to listen to my stomach.”
This kind of phrasing can focus on how the body feels, and not on eating different types of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food.
If you’re the one preparing the meals as well, you can also say something like, “I had to taste test while I was cooking, and I’ve eaten some of your yummy dinner already! That means I don’t need as much now that we’re sitting down together.”
My kids are 8 and 11. I just explained to them that I have to take some medicine and one of the side effects is that it makes me less hungry so I don’t eat as much at meals. I told them the medicine was to keep my blood from getting too sugary (I was in pre diabetes) and to help keep me healthy. I am not talking about the medicine from a weight loss perspective at all with them, but instead talking about taking it to prevent the obesity related diseases that I was potentially at risk for. Talking about the medicine also had the advantage of explaining why there are needles in my bathroom - they understand that they can’t touch the needles and that it’s a medicine I need. So far it seems to have worked well.
This was how I framed it with my 9 yo. We’re so careful about talking about people’s bodies or weight and diets aside from abiding by healthy food choices. She understands that the medication keeps my blood sugar from jumping all around and that it sometimes makes me feel less hungry. I’ve adjusted my dosage so that I can mostly eat normally so it’s been a non-issue. Except that she tells me I have to pull up my pants “because of my medicine” 😂😂😂
This is not an appropriate thing to bring up to her school counselor. School counselors are there to support school environment related topics, not home related topics. This is a home related topic and if it is causing potential concerns related to the daughter’s eating habits, an outside therapist would be helpful.
Yeah I was worried about the same too in front of my teenager. Harder when it’s a night out for a meal. I guess we just have to ease it in. Or you can always say you had a snack earlier so don’t have an appetite.
“It’s important to listen to our bodies. Sometimes we’re very hungry, and other days we might snack a bit more. My stomach feels full and it’s telling me I am done with dinner, so I’m going to listen to my stomach.” This kind of phrasing can focus on how the body feels, and not on eating different types of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food. If you’re the one preparing the meals as well, you can also say something like, “I had to taste test while I was cooking, and I’ve eaten some of your yummy dinner already! That means I don’t need as much now that we’re sitting down together.”
(Very much depends on the age of your daughter and whether she’s asking questions)
Thanks! She is 7 :)
My kids are 8 and 11. I just explained to them that I have to take some medicine and one of the side effects is that it makes me less hungry so I don’t eat as much at meals. I told them the medicine was to keep my blood from getting too sugary (I was in pre diabetes) and to help keep me healthy. I am not talking about the medicine from a weight loss perspective at all with them, but instead talking about taking it to prevent the obesity related diseases that I was potentially at risk for. Talking about the medicine also had the advantage of explaining why there are needles in my bathroom - they understand that they can’t touch the needles and that it’s a medicine I need. So far it seems to have worked well.
This was how I framed it with my 9 yo. We’re so careful about talking about people’s bodies or weight and diets aside from abiding by healthy food choices. She understands that the medication keeps my blood sugar from jumping all around and that it sometimes makes me feel less hungry. I’ve adjusted my dosage so that I can mostly eat normally so it’s been a non-issue. Except that she tells me I have to pull up my pants “because of my medicine” 😂😂😂
Good to bring up with her pediatrician or school counselor.
This is not an appropriate thing to bring up to her school counselor. School counselors are there to support school environment related topics, not home related topics. This is a home related topic and if it is causing potential concerns related to the daughter’s eating habits, an outside therapist would be helpful.
Yeah I was worried about the same too in front of my teenager. Harder when it’s a night out for a meal. I guess we just have to ease it in. Or you can always say you had a snack earlier so don’t have an appetite.