Mindful eating: conscious feeding for children

Mindful eating is the name given to the diet that is not diet , since it consists of eating with total control of the situation, consciously, and responding in a moderate way to the signals of the body, knowing how to stop when they have satiated. For adults it is easy to understand, not to apply, t

Mindful eating is the name given to the diet that is not diet, since it consists of eating with total control of the situation, consciously, and responding in a moderate way to the signals of the body, knowing how to stop when they have satiated.

For adults it is easy to understand, not to apply, the concept of nourishing with conscience, but for children it may not be so, especially if with the beginning of complementary feeding we stop respecting their signals.

Benefits of mindful eating or conscious feeding for children

The benefits of this lifestyle, this way of educating food habits are many, and above all, if it is established from early childhood, are benefits that can take root and last until and during adulthood.

- They learn to pay attention to food a, to understand that they are eating and to appreciate it. And above this, they learn and observe how food influences their body, how it satisfies their appetite and what sensations they provide.- They learn to detect the signals of their body

, the signal of hunger and the one of satiety. As we try to remove the diaper, at which time the child has to become aware of the signals that his body offers before it is too late, offering this food education seeks the same effect, whether the child himself who decides when and how much to eat. Understanding and accepting the physical signals of the body also helps to detect other signs, to be more attentive to changes and can help identify emotional changes, to name emotions.- They learn to be attentive and

they learn to observe , to enjoy every bite.-

They learn to differentiate food , to detect flavors and textures. And they learn to differentiate the way that each meal affects them. They observe that meals give them energy and which ones make them feel good, besides being useful to detect intolerances since they are more attentive to any change in their body.- Children are not social eaters - at least not by nature - so if we do not convert them to it, they will not be, being much more likely to

avoid obesity and all the damages that are linked to it. They will only eat what they need and when they need it. How to establish conscious feeding or mindful eating in children

Obviously, if we try to establish this method in a child who is already used to eating differently, we will not observe immediate changes, but rather

it will take a learning process , but The simple act of making them participants and of teaching them to decide for themselves is already a great achievement, which little by little will become the first of many.If we respect the demand of the baby, and if we continue to do so when it becomes one more at our table, we are, although we do not know it, practicing mindful eating.