The holiday season is full of joy, celebration, and… sweets! As we gather around festive tables, it’s a wonderful time to teach our children about food as nourishment.
Matthew 6:25 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body.” This verse calls us to focus on glorifying God in all we do—including how we approach food. Teaching our children to enjoy food as a gift from God, rather than something to obsess over, helps them develop a healthy relationship with eating.
This Christmas, consider these ways to encourage healthy habits with your little ones:
Teach Gratitude: Before meals, pause to thank God for His provision. This cultivates a spirit of gratitude in your family and reframes food as a blessing to be enjoyed. Rotate who says the prayer, allowing your children to take turns thanking the Lord for the food at the table.
Model Balance and Importance: Show your kids how to savor sweet treats while also choosing nourishing foods. Before sweet treats are set out, discuss how we seek to honor our bodies by making sure we moderate our sweets.
Instead of framing sugar as bad, present it as less important than other nourishing foods. Prioritizing fats and proteins first helps our brains determine what the body still needs, while consuming sugars first can confuse this process. Emphasize fats and proteins as the first priority.
Prompt your children to think of desserts they love, and talk about how eating too much could cause an upset stomach or a toothache. Remind them that taking care of our bodies means eating mindfully. We can enjoy a sweet treat while being thoughtful about not overindulging.
Make Cooking Fun: Involve your kids in preparing meals. Discuss how God designed fruits, vegetables, grains, etc to fuel our bodies so we can serve Him with energy and joy! Cooking together gives your children insight into how food is prepared, fostering respect for where food comes from and for the cook who prepares it.
Pro tip: Did you know that we wrote a book on this topic? The Candy Calamity follows Bongo as he realizes how much his candy cravings affect him. Meanwhile, Rebel is so focused on fitness she forgets to eat, leaving both of them unable to defend the camel caravan from pirates. Grab your book and read it together as you follow Team BRAVE as they learn that health is all about moderation and self-control.
As you gather for Christmas feasts, let food be a reflection of God’s goodness, not a source of stress. By living and eating to glorify Him, you’re equipping your children with lessons that will last a lifetime.
Wishing you and your family a blessed and joyful Christmas!