Discussing Food Choices in Helpful Ways�Presented by INSERT NAME

Warm Up

Let’s Talk about Food

• Praise
• Rewards
• Shame
• Positive messaging

Praise

• Praise is very meaningful to kids!
• Praise is a better way to motivate kids than yelling or shaming.
• It is also FREE, easy, and immediate

Praise

• Be mindful of what you’re praising, as praise can encourage the opposite behavior you’re interested in. Example:

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• Why might this cause an unintended negative reaction?

A child always eats the same thing for lunch, and never touches their fruits and vegetables. One day, they do. You compliment them:

“You ate your broccoli today. I am SO happy to see that you are starting to like vegetables.”

Praise

• Do praise:
• Trying new or unfamiliar foods
• Describing food using sensory words
• Good table manners, helpfulness, appropriate conversation
• Avoid praising:
• Amount eaten
• Liking particular foods
• Things that students do for you (e.g., “it makes me so happy when you…”)

Praise – Let’s try it!

• Refer to your Table Talk Tip Sheet
• Review the suggested praise phrases
• Work with a partner to come up with some of your own

Rewards

• Rewards go beyond praise by offering a tangible incentive to motivate the student
• Praise can be given easily at any time; rewards should be given judiciously to avoid expecting them all the time
• Be thoughtful about what behaviors you reward, how often you use them, and what you offer as a reward you offer

How to Reward

• Reward the same behaviors you praise
• Do reward with:
• Praise
• Action rewards: High fives, thumbs up, fist bumps
• Stickers
• Physical activity
• Rewards of high interest to the child: choosing a book to read, choosing the song for music and movement

How to Reward

• Don’t reward with:
• Food - Reinforces the idea that healthy foods are a punishment and desserts are the reward
• Even using healthy foods as a reward can backfire
• Eating fuels our bodies, which is a reward in itself

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How to Reward – Let’s try it!

• Refer to Table Talk Tip Sheet
• Review the information on rewards
• Discuss with a partner

Shame

• Most people don’t set out to shame someone, especially not a child
• Often our goal is to provide helpful feedback, but kids may feel criticized, especially when they aren’t responsible for their food choices
• Shame often creates reactions that are the opposite of what is intended (“I’ll show you, I’m going to eat more of this ‘bad’ food!”)

Shame

Avoid:

• Shaming food choices
• Food brought from home is not in the control of the child
• Food selections offered at your site aren’t in their control
• Shaming amount eaten
• Applies to too much or too little
• Emphasize managing time and listening to their bodies
• Shaming specific foods
• Skip calling foods “junk” or “bad”
• All foods have a purpose

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Shame

Talking to parents about food choices

• Parents don’t want to be criticized either - they are doing the best they can!
• Many are concerned that if they don’t send favorite foods to school their child won’t eat

Shame

Talking to parents about food choices

• Ideas for lifting up parents/supporting them in exploring healthy options:
• Themed days (send a green fruit or veggies in kids’ lunch)
• Focus on what they can add to meals/snacks for more nutrition, rather than what they should take away
• Provide affordable snack ideas they could send in
• Send pictures home when students taste new fruits and veggies

Shame – Let’s talk about it!

• Refer to Table Talk Tip Sheet
• Review the information on shame
• Discuss with a partner

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Summary:�What does positive and helpful food talk look like?

• Showing excitement about trying new foods or preparations
• Describing positive fruit and veggie characteristics
• Talking about how a food/drink makes your body feel
• Avoiding focusing on how much is eaten, categorizing foods as “good” or “bad”
• Promoting positive mealtime behaviors (manners, helpfulness, etc)