O:\Clinical\Patient Handouts\Nutrition\Word Originals\How does my parenting affect my childs food choices.docx Page 1 KLH 7/21/2026
How does my parenting affect my child’s food choices?
Lacey Raburn, R.D
Research has shown that the ways parents interact with their children concerning food can
affect their food choices.
Here are some points to remember:
• When a parent bribes a child with food, the “value” of that food increases to the child.
For example, if you reward your son with a candy bar, then he is more likely to like
candy bars. On the flip side, when you bribe a child with a food (like ice cream) to
encourage them to finish another food (like peas) he may begin to dislike the food that
they were forced to finish. The take-home point: Don’t bribe your child to finish her
vegetables (or any other food!) and don’t reward your child with dessert.
• Let your child stop eating when they are full, even if half their food is still on their
plate. This sets up a healthy habit that your child will do for their entire life. If she is
hungry between meals, offer a healthy snack. This will cut down on overeating at
dinnertime. Children who are allowed to do these two things eat fewer calories
throughout the day than children who are not allowed to snack and are forced to clean
their plates.
• The more controlling you are concerning your child’s diet, the more likely that it will
backfire on you. This is true even when you have the best of intentions. Restricting
sodas and unhealthy snacks make these foods more desirable and the child is more
likely to want them and subsequently, find a way to get them.
• Rather than restricting their diet, don’t buy the unhealthy foods to begin with. Children
are more likely to eat foods that are in their home and easy to access. Have healthy
fruits and vegetables already washed and cut up in the fridge. Have whole grain crackers
or tortilla chips easy to reach with fresh salsa ready in the fridge. If children are hungry
and in search of a snack, they will be more likely to grab something that is ready to eat
rather than taking time to bake cookies.
• Finally, don’t expect your children to eat healthy if you don’t! If a child sees you
enjoying new foods and healthy vegetables, they will be more likely to do those things
too! However, if you turn your nose up to all things green, what does this say to your
child? Unfortunately, research has consistently shown that the “do as I say, not as I do”
rule does not apply to encouraging healthy foods for children.
