Published on July 23, 2024
The graphic says it all, folks, and still I find myself having to remind people that they are NOT a four-legged animal to whom they would give a reward every time it brought the ball or Frisbee back.
Additionally, and unfortunately, it’s common for parents to offer a “special” —and often unhealthy — food as a reward for good behavior or a job well done. They may also withhold those special treats as a means of punishment.
Using food as a reward or as a punishment can undermine the healthy eating habits that parents are, in my opinion, duty-bound to teach their kids. Giving sweets, chips, or soda as a reward often leads to children overeating foods that are high in sugar, fat, and empty calories. Worse, it interferes with their natural ability to regulate their eating. It also encourages them to eat when they’re not hungry to reward themselves (just as you do), a habit they too often carry into their teens and adulthood (just as you did), and then battle their weight forever . . . just as you’ve been doing.
