It’s exciting and scary knowing that I’m in charge of raising this precious little girl in this crazy world with so many uncertainties! Am I right, mamas?!

Having struggled myself with a high school eating disorder that morphed for years into other eating disorders and body image issues… I don’t want that for my daughters or any other little girls.

I hope to raise them to be confident in their own skin, not worry about weight, not to worry what society thinks or what others think. I want them to be healthy and happy.

I want them to eat well because they know they feel better that way, and to be active because they feel strong, powerful and motivated to do so!

I beleive that this starts at home and by living by example! I know my girls are young still, and we have yet to deal with the bullies of others and the pressures of social media, but there are things us moms can do to help raise healthy daughters and start young!

If you are a mother, aunt, babysitter, grandma, cousin, friend, etc..

Here are some things that we as women can do to raise healthy girls:

• Don’t talk about dieting around your kids, your current diet, or the diet other people are doing.
• Do not talk negatively about your body around your kids- your children often view themseves through YOUR eyes, so how you see yourself is a reflection of what they see!
• Do not criticize pictures of yourself! Don’t like the picture you see, just accept it and move on!
• Do not talk or gossip about other women, celebrities, or their bodies.
• Take a compliment and own it instead of dismissing it! For example, when someone says “You look great!” Say, “thank you!” Instead of dismissing it or trying to deny it!
• Eat healthy foods and eat your veggies all the time, be a positive role model!
• Make sure dad also eats his veggies and the healthy foods in front of him.
• Do not use food as a reward (you got a good grade, let’s get ice cream) or punishment (no dessert if you do ____).
• Do not use food to soothe or comfort you emotionally. If your daugher sees you digging into a bag of chips or tub of ice cream while upset, she’ll mimick you. Take control of your emotional eating or get help for the issues you are stuggling with.
• Make exercising and being active as part of the norm around your house. Make it fun and not seem like a chore!
• Get her involved in the cooking and in the kichen! Give her the skills she needs to make her own healthy foods as she gets older, and help her get comfortable in the kitchen! If you don’t know how to cook, now is the time to learn!
• Don’t give power to food, don’t let food be the solution to solving problems. Don’t set that tone with them, even if you do it yourself.