Some parents say their kids simply can’t do without sweets because their cravings are so strong. Their kids prefer sweets so much of the time; these parents are convinced that there is something about sweets and junk food their children need. They could be right. Children and adolescents who don’t … Read More
A mother of four raised her hand at my seminar and asked me how she could get her kids to stop eating so many cookies. She was serious. I suggested that she stop buying cookies. “You mean, don’t have any cookies at all?” “Yes,” I replied. “Well, I couldn’t do … Read More
If you’re trying to lose weight by dieting, watch out for these three stumbling blocks. They’ll trip you up sooner or later, and your diet—all that pain and effort—will surely go to waist. Diet Enemy #1: Excessive Hunger Excessive hunger is not a normal state. It precipitates such symptoms as … Read More
A Method in the Madness The symptoms associated with eating and weight problems follow definite patterns. These sometimes confusing symptoms make a lot more sense when you look at them in relationship to one another. And recognizing these relationships can speed your (and your child’s) progress toward normal eating. In … Read More
My daughter, Genevieve, was a blooming thirteen years old when she came to me one day, complaining that she had gone from size 5 pants to size 9—in about six months! I hadn’t noticed that she cared about her size before this, but she was obviously alarmed now. “Mom, you … Read More
Body Signals The term body language refers to a physical communication system which aids, and sometimes contradicts, what you say. It includes gesture, posture, facial expression, and vocal resonance and pitch. Body signals, on the other hand, do not involve communication between people (interpersonal) but rather communication within one person … Read More
Help your kids stay tuned in to their bodies In order for kids to avoid the Feast or Famine Cycle (pattern of under eating and over eating) and all the eating and potential weight struggles it brings, they must stay attuned to their natural eating instincts and remain “body-controlled” in … Read More
Childhood obesity is growing to epidemic proportions in the United States. Maybe it’s because of the messages we’re sending to our children. What We Believe Our whole culture has become convinced that weight problems are simply a result of eating too much food and exercising too little. And we are … Read More
Kids of all ages (and their parents) can easily become trapped in a pattern of eating I call the Feast or Famine Cycle. Because we live in such a hurry-up culture, we all eat on the run, miss meals at times, eat poor quality food and sometimes don’t eat enough … Read More
It seems an unlikely association at first glance—going without food now and then, and packing on pounds later on. But these two apparent opposites really do go together, and the fact that they appear so contradictory is exactly what keeps this combination so prevalent. We think going hungry is good … Read More
You might be thinking, there is nothing I can do with my teens. They eat their own peculiar way and there is no influencing them. How can I possibly affect their eating habits? Carefully, that’s how. Because teenagers, and especially girls, are so vulnerable to eating disorders and unhealthy eating … Read More
Every individual kid is unique. It is foolish, even dangerous, to ignore this important fact, especially regarding nutritional needs. Sure, there are patterns in development, patterns in eating behavior, and general principles of growth, personality, and socialization. But here we will focus on the physical and physiological uniqueness of kids. … Read More