And Other Tips on How to Not Sabotage Your Daughter’s Body Image
by Batsheva Herzka, RDN
1. Don’t compliment other people’s figures.
You to an acquaintance: “Wow, you got so slim! You look incredible!” Daughter thinks:
“Being slim is very important to looking great. I hope my mother thinks I am beautiful
even though I’m not as skinny as that person she complimented.”
2. Don’t kvetch about your own body.
You getting ready in the morning: “I look so fat! None of my clothing look normal on
me!” Daughter thinks: “If I’m not thin, clothing won’t look cute on!”
3. Don’t weigh your food.
You at dinner: “I’m allowed 2 carbs and 6 oz of protein. I’ll have 11 almonds as an
evening snack.” Daughter thinks: “there is a way to control the size of my body by
counting what I eat. It’s so normal, even my mom does it!”
4. Don’t link your food choices to weight.
You at a restaurant: “I’ll order the salad with dressing on the side because it’s really
much healthier and better on the hips.” Daughter thinks: “It must be super unhealthy
and fattening to eat pizza. I won’t order pizza even though I’m really in the mood for it.”
5. Don’t attach your fitness routines to weight and body shape.
You in your gym gear: “I must run out to my spin class. It helps keep my belly flat and my
thighs trim.” Daughter thinks: “My belly sticks out when I wear t-shirts. I really should
start going to the gym to get rid of the extra fat.”
6. Don’t connect food choices and morals.
You after a Chanuka party: “Ugh, I shouldn’t have eaten that donut. I was so bad on my
diet today.” Daughter thinks: “Good=salads. Bad= donuts.”
7. Oh, and of course, don’t buy your daughter a scale as a gift.
Just don’t. If you want to buy your daughter something special, she'll probably have plenty of other ideas for you. :)