Should You Reward Kids with Food?
How many times have we heard a parent say, “If you’re good, you’ll get some candy.” “If you are good, you will get a dessert.” Or how many parents withhold food as a punishment? "Food Bribes Backfire" writes Jennifer Motl, a registered dietitian. Why? She notes that rewarding kids good behavior with sweets and other food can lead to weight problems and overeating. She cites examples of parents rewarding kids with ice cream if they eat their broccoli. Or reward them with French fries if they behave. Some reasons a parent should not use food as a reward: 1. Fullness vs Hunger: A child may not be hungry for that candy bar or ice cream but when offered as a reward they may eat it anyway because they have been “good”. But overeating can lead to becoming overweight. And too many kids in the U.S. are overweight and obese. But withholding food as a p...