Supporting Intuitive Eating in Childcare: Understanding How Parents Approach Food at Home

As a childcare provider, you play an essential role in shaping children’s relationship with food. Many parents today are adopting an intuitive eating approach at home, aiming to foster a positive and stress-free attitude towards food and mealtimes.

What is Intuitive Eating?

Intuitive eating is a philosophy that encourages children to listen to their own hunger and fullness cues rather than adhering to rigid food rules or pressure to eat. It prioritises trust in the child’s ability to regulate their own food intake, fostering a lifelong healthy relationship with food.

How Parents Approach Mealtimes at Home

Parents raising intuitive eaters often follow these key principles:

1. Division of Responsibility – A concept developed by dietitian Ellyn Satter, this approach assigns different roles to parents and children at mealtimes:
   • Parents decide what, when, and where food is served.
   • Children decide if and how much they eat.
2. No Pressure to Eat – Parents avoid bribing, coaxing, or pressuring children to eat certain foods. Instead, they provide a variety of nutritious options and allow the child to choose.
3. All Foods Are Neutral – Rather than labelling foods as “good” or “bad,” parents encourage a balanced approach where treats and nutritious foods are all seen as part of a normal diet.
4. Trusting Hunger and Fullness Signals – Parents encourage children to listen to their bodies, allowing them to eat when hungry and stop when full, without external interference.
5. Modelling Positive Eating Behaviours – Children learn best by example, so parents aim to demonstrate healthy eating behaviours rather than dictating strict food rules.

Supporting Intuitive Eating in the childcare environment try to:

• Offer a variety of balanced foods without forcing children to eat certain amounts.
• Avoid using food as a reward or punishment.
• Allow children to decide how much they want to eat at snack and mealtimes.
• Use neutral language about food (e.g., instead of saying “You must eat your vegetables before dessert,” say “We have vegetables and dessert as part of our meal”).
• Encourage children to listen to their hunger and fullness cues.

By supporting intuitive eating principles in childcare settings, you help nurture a positive, lifelong relationship with food.

You will find some reading recommendations here or you might like this podcast episode.