A mother was left furious when she discovered the strange rule her daughter’s preschool is trying to enforce at lunchtime.
Caroline became distressed when her three-year-old son came home and claimed that he was not allowed to eat any of his “bad” foods (a cookie) before finishing his “good” foods (a sandwich and cucumbers).
“I felt a little frustrated by the teacher’s outdated instructions, but I told my daughter, ‘Well, that’s nonsense. There are no good or bad foods. “Food is just food,” she shared on TikTok.
The mother of four shared that she tries her best to teach her children healthy narratives about food and that, unfortunately, she grew up with a different perspective.
So the next day he left a note in his daughter’s lunchbox.
The note said: ‘Hello! Evelyn has our permission to eat lunch in any order she chooses. None of her foods are “good” or “bad”, they are just food! Thank you!’
A mother left her daughter’s teacher a firm note in her lunchbox.
‘Feeling grateful for those who have given me the knowledge and confidence to write this note to my three-year-old son’s preschool teacher. “Food is food,” Caroline said.
‘I will say that this was not my internal dialogue growing up, but thanks to the information I have from so many mothers and experts in the field of childhood and nutrition, I have better answers, knowledge and practices for my children.
‘When he was three years old someone told him that foods are good or bad. “I’m very proud that she sensed something was wrong, knowing that it wasn’t right enough to tell me.”
A 2019 Mission Australia study revealed that more than 30 per cent of young people are overly concerned about their body image and food intake.
Eating disorders and other eating problems can begin in children and continue into adulthood.
Sometimes parents and teachers who try to force “healthy” eating end up doing the opposite.
‘Almond Mom’ is a term used to describe mothers who impose restrictive eating and fitness habits on their children.
The viral quote was inspired by Yolanda Hadid, who advised her then-teenage daughter, supermodel Gigi Hadid, to “eat a couple of almonds and chew them really well” to quell her hunger in a resurfaced clip from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills .
“We talk about (food) all the time at home: If you only eat carrots or broccoli, your body won’t have the protein it needs to build strong muscles,” Caroline said.
‘If you only eat chicken, your body won’t have enough energy to do things like run and play. We need a little bit of everything to make sure we can learn, play and grow throughout the day.’
The mother revealed that the point of view has “changed (her) family for the better.”
Many other parents and educators praised Caroline’s parenting approach and her firmness in her principles.
‘Teachers do not have to comment on how children choose to eat. Telling children that some foods are more important than others is harmful,” said one child.
‘As a teacher, your answer is 100 percent correct. The narrative of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods can actually encourage the development of unhealthy eating habits,” said another.
Another shared: “A kindergarten teacher made us eat EVERYTHING on the plate, and the first one to finish was rewarded by choosing the movie to watch, and the last one was punished and had to take a nap.” I’ve had a bad relationship with food ever since.’
But some thought the mother was being melodramatic.
“I’m sure the teacher wasn’t trying to be cruel,” one woman wrote. ‘Maybe you could have talked to her instead of a passive-aggressive note in your three-year-old lunch?’
Another echoed: “He is very passive-aggressive and face-to-face or phone conversations are a better way to address issues with your child’s teacher.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please contact the Butterfly Foundation at 1800 33 4673. Talk to someone now.