Children Can Teach Adults A Thing Or Two About Intuitive Eating
Last week my oldest son turned 7. On his birthday I let him decide what he (and the whole family) ate for all our meals.
There was definitely a fair amount of what you would term as “treats” (birthday cake etc.) but what really surprised me is that he intuitively knew that he would also want vegetables to balance his day. During our birthday food shopping trip he made a point of adding his favourite vegetables to the shopping trolley – red and yellow peppers, spinach and carrots.
After a day full of delicious treats, before I even began to make dinner, he asked for a giant plate full of vegetables for each of us.
So, I put together a plate full of a rainbow of vegetables each. It tasted great and I felt so good to be nourished by a rainbow of vegetables following a day of indulgences.
I’ve been reading a book about Intuitive Eating (you can find it here) and it’s amazing how much we ignore our bodies hunger cues. Children are so in touch with theirs, it just astounds me during moments like these. It always leaves me feeling so proud that he listens to his body and I always do my best to honor his feelings.
Today is my birthday and I’m trying to follow in his footsteps and have a balanced day of eating. I’ve already enjoyed a couple of sweet treats today and I’m about to go and make a nourishing green smoothie to balance it out.
My wish is that both him and his brother continue in their intuitive eating ways and inspire me to do the same!
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