Eating disorder expert never stops her kids from eating sugar—and her reason makes sense
Parents might try to inculcate good eating habits in their kids early on. However, there could be certain methods to do that the right way. A mom and eating disorder expert shared that she never refuses to let her kids eat sugar. Although many people might find it surprising, the woman, Johanna Kulp, had a sound reason behind it. She explained how she was helping her kid develop healthy eating habits by not "demonizing" some food groups in a video on TikTok, where she goes by @johannakulp.
"So my kid just came home from school and he grabbed a cupcake for a snack, ate it and enjoyed it," Kulp began. "An hour later, it was time to get ready for baseball practice." The mom knew that the practice was going to be an intensive two-hour session, so she wanted her son to get another snack before that. "He goes and grabs gummy worms. Now, I know some parents would go, 'Oh my God, no more sugar.' Here’s why I stay away from that. One, we are setting up sugar as a demonizing thing. Two, if we demonize it, we actually inadvertently create a control issue around it and then they want it more. We set them up in spirals." The mom talked about taking an "all foods fit" approach while talking to kids instead of that.
@johannakulp I say yes to sugar and sweets all the time! And I teach my kids how food functions in their bodies and how to be aware of what their bodies need. We can guide our kids into greater connection with their bodies, not by demonizing and controlling sugar, but instead by helping them understand how all foods fit in their lives. #recovery#eatingdisorderrecovery#eatingdisorders#family#familytherapy #bodypositive #parentingtips #parenting #haes #bodyacceptance ♬ original sound - Johanna Kulp, LCSW
Kulp also made it a point to explain to her kids what a food group would do for them. "So if you are grabbing gummy worms, it is going to be fast sugar, fast energy. You have a two-hour baseball practice, so we actually need to make sure that you are fueled for that." The mom would then suggest adding some protein to the snack and another form of carbohydrate for more "long-lasting energy." She added, "We are steering away from demonizing food and we are teaching them how to eat in a way that's enjoyable for their bodies and actually builds it up." In another video, the eating disorder expert pointed out that she would rather explain to her kids what food does in their bodies instead of demonizing it.
"Sugar is going to be everywhere. I want to teach my kids how to engage intuitively with that." She went on, "We know that research says that saying no and demonizing food and saying that it's bad, actually produces fear with it and then it can invert and produce shame when they are craving it and then can produce secret binge-eating behaviors and an eating disorder." She added that her kids would be able to enjoy foods and stop when they know they are full through intuitive eating principles. In the caption, Kulp suggested, "Yes, we do need to discuss how it works. Yes, we need to use different approaches with our 3-yr-old from our 17-yr-old. Yes, the way we handle it will look different for our neurodivergent kids or kids with chronic conditions or Type-1 diabetes."
@babyfacedblonde wrote, "I cannot explain how much I (mom in recovery from restriction) needed to hear this today. I assign no value to food other than how you feel after consuming it. Thank you so much." @user132809 commented, "Yes! We talk about how variety is the most important thing. My son ate two pieces of candy at Halloween (he's 5 and forgot it in the car) and because candy isn't restricted and just isn't that big of a deal." @fortheloveandchaos remarked, "This is 100% how I handle things here, as I still recover from my childhood. However, no gummies because 2 cavities by age 6 was whoa. She’s prone and I hope it’s perceived as different."
@johannakulp About that video with my 8 yr old and gummy worms…. I received some comments that were like “sugar is a drug!” Or “sugar should be demonized!” So here are the 3 reasons you’ll never hear me demonize it. Yes, we do need to discuss how it works. Yes, we need to use different approaches with our 3 yr old from our 17 yr old. Yes, the way we handle it will look different for our neurodivergent kids or kids with chronic conditions or Type-1 diabetes. I’ll be doing more reels and series on all of that, so definitely follow along! But right out of the gate, I want us to be clear that on this page we approach ALL foods from an ALL foods fit perspective. ✌🏻 #recovery#eatingdisorderrecovery#eatingdisorders#family#familytherapy #bodypositive #parentingtips #parenting #haes #bodyacceptance ♬ original sound - Johanna Kulp, LCSW
You can follow Johanna Kulp (@johannakulp) for more lifestyle content.
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