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The Risks Of Food RewardsALISON TONSMEIRE / January 18, 2018 Have you ever been frustrated and wondered how to convince your preschooler to behave? A
sweet or dessert may seem like a powerful motivator in the As a long-term reward Preschool children have not developed the sense of time we have as adults (any surprises there?). If you are rewarding a child for a whole day of As a short-term reward. Food incentives might seem like a good idea because they can work short term, are inexpensive and easy, but from a health perspective, using food as a Setting the stage for a healthy relationship with food. Another risk of using food as a reward is that it can lead the child to associate food with love. As the child grows up and is sad or wants to reward him This is not to say that children should never be allowed candy or sweets, rather it is the emphasis that is placed on these foods and the association between Looking for ways to reward without food? Check out 51 Reward Ideas to Motivate Your Child. Article by Laura Fuller, BSC MSC ANUTR With the endless amounts of rules and recommendations around parental feeding practices, it can be difficult to know when innocent behaviours may negatively impact a child’s relationship with food. The use of food as a reward:The use of food as a reward occurs when good behaviour has been performed and a child is rewarded with an item of food, which more often than not has little to no nutritional value, for instance, sweets and chocolate. Once a child is rewarded for their good behaviour, they then associate the action with the reward, and this motivates them to do it more often, which is also known as positive reinforcement [1]. Although this behaviour is fairly common, the long-term implications that it may have on a child’s relationship with food are yet to be fully understood [2]. Literature has, however, suggested that it may negatively impact a child’s learning, physical health, and subsequent eating behaviours [2, 3]. Which foods are commonly used as a reward?The foods that are commonly given as rewards are treats, which are high in added sugar, trans and saturated fats, such as crisps, sweets, chocolate, and fizzy drinks. These types of foods are often referred to as ‘bad’ or ‘unhealthy’ foods, as they lack nutritional value, and are associated with an increased risk of heart disease [4]. Why should we avoid using food as a reward?Parental feeding practices play a critical role in establishing a child’s food preferences, eating patterns, and nutrition, in early life [2,5]. Consistently rewarding a child with certain foods for good behaviour, can lead to them overeating foods with little to no nutritional value, and increase their risk of weight gain and its associated diseases (e.g., type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cardiovascular disease) [4]. Along with the negative health effects that are associated with over-consuming these foods, there several other reasons why we should avoid this behaviour. For instance, when certain foods are seen as off-limits and are only given as a reward, they can become more appealing and a child or adult may begin to prefer these ‘off-limit’ or ‘bad’ foods, to healthier ‘good’ foods with more nutritional value. Food as a reward can also disrupt a a person's ability to understand their internal hunger cues and regulate their eating, which can lead to weight gain. Along with this, this behaviour may have long-term implications, for example offering a child a treat to calm their emotions, may lead to them developing an unhealthy dependency on food as a fix in adulthood [3]. What is meant by ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods?•‘Good’ Foods Healthy foods are often referred to as ‘good’ foods, and these are whole foods that are packed with nutrients, such as fruit, vegetables, beans, and lean meats. They have a wide range of health benefits, such as reducing the risk of certain diseases and supporting our digestive and immune systems. Due to the positive health benefits that are associated with consuming these foods, they should make up the majority of our diet. Despite their number of health benefits, these foods are rarely given as a reward for good behaviour, and more commonly used as a punishment instead, for example: if a child doesn’t finish all of their vegetables they will not get a dessert [2]. • ‘Bad’ Foods Alternatively, unhealthy foods are often labelled as ‘bad’ foods, and these are foods that are highly processed and also, high in sugar and fat. Often 'bad' foods are used as a reward to encourage a child to perform the desired behaviour. Due to the negative health effects that are associated with consuming these foods in excessive amounts, it is recommended that they should be enjoyed mindfully and in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet [4]. Why should we avoid labelling foods as good or bad?Labelling foods as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ can be confusing for children, especially if they are being rewarded something described as ‘bad’ for performing good behaviour. Once certain foods are categorised as ‘bad’, a child may develop a fear of them, and when this food is eaten not as a reward, feelings of guilt, shame, or embarrassment may arise, which can also result in long-term complications, such as disordered eating in adulthood [3]. Along with this, if these foods feel off-limits, it may lead a child to desire or crave them even more, and over-indulge when they do have them. Ultimately, placing foods into these two categories should be avoided as, if a child is given a treat for eating a vegetable, this can reinforce the idea that ‘good’ foods aren’t as appealing as ‘bad’ foods. Tips of what we can do instead:Rather than labelling foods as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, we can consider speaking about them for how nourishing they are. We eat nourishing foods because they are packed with nutrients and because of the positive health benefits that are associated with this. For all food though aim to eat mindfully and in moderation, because we enjoy them, rather than purely as a reward. Many other things can be used as a reward for good behaviour, and literature has suggested positive outcomes when parents use non-food-based incentives (e.g., a trip to the beach or playing a game with the family) [5]. These rewards still offer praise and encouragement for good behaviour; however, they can also support a child’s learning and encourage physical activity too. 5 non-food-based incentives for good behaviour:1. Reading a book together 2. Playing their favourite game 3. Building a den outside in the garden 4. New craft supplies i.e. painting or colouring books 5. A trip outside to the beach, woods, park, or another favourite outing Take home message:Non-food-based incentives can be just as, if not more, rewarding than certain foods, and they can also encourage learning, bonding as a family, and physical activity too. Giving and withdrawing food for certain behaviour can be confusing for anyone and especially for a children, as if certain foods are only given for good behaviour and are off-limits the rest of the time, they may become more appealing and increase a child’s risk of further implications, such as weight gain. Along with reducing the use of food as a reward, we should also avoid demonising certain foods, and rather than labelling them as either 'good' or 'bad', instead think of them as nourishing or not-as-nourishing, and enjoy a variety of these as part of a healthy and balanced diet. This blog post was written by Laura Fuller who studied BSc (Hons) Psychology, and MSc Human Nutrition. Laura recently gained her title as a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) from the AfN. Currently, she is working in Child Weight Management and through a non-diet nutrition approach, supporting families and young people to sustain a happy and healthy lifestyle. In the future, she is interested in specialising in eating disorders. You can find Laura on Instagram at @nutrition.lf References: 1. Meule A, Kübler A. Food cravings in food addiction: The distinct role of positive reinforcement. Eating Behaviors. 2012;13(3):252-255. 2. Roberts L, Marx J, Musher-Eizenman D. Using food as a reward: An examination of parental reward practices. Appetite. 2018;120(1):318-326. 3. Fedewa A, Davis M. How Food as a Reward Is Detrimental to Children's Health, Learning, and Behavior. Journal of School Health. 2015;85(9):648-658. 4. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/different-fats-nutrition/ 5. Gerards S, Kremers S. The Role of Food Parenting Skills and the Home Food Environment in Children’s Weight Gain and Obesity. Current Obesity Reports. 2015;4(1):30-36. When food is used in a learning experience the end product should be quizlet?When food is used in a learning experience, the end product should be: edible and eaten by the children when the lesson is finished.
Why is it important to include a few finger foods in toddlers and preschoolers meals?Finger foods are a great way to support your little one's hand eye coordination, development of their pincer grip, chewing skills, increase the variety of tastes and textures they will eat and also encourage self-feeding. All of this can help reduce the likelihood of food faddy-ness.
Do cookies or granola bars qualify as a reimbursable snack item?Cookies or granola bars do not qualify as a reimbursable snack item? 46.
Why you shouldn't force your kids to eat?Forcing children to eat reinforces poor eating habits such as eating when they aren't hungry or cleaning the plate when they're already full. Rewarding your child for eating, punishing your child for not eating, or forcing your child to eat can reinforce poor behavior.
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Is it acceptable to use food as a reward for good behavior as long as it is not associated with meal times?
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