What to Know
As a parent, you want your children to eat healthy foods, touch grass every once in a while, and grow up to be well-rounded and mentally well adults. So when a mom posted a video of her 9-year-old daughter explaining the grilled chicken salad she chose from a restaurant and someone shared it on TikTok, there were some serious questions from other users about the girl’s parents.
Mainly, people think they are setting up the young girl for anxiety and even a potential eating disorder at some point in her life. Other parents commented on the shared video to say just that. And on the original video that is still up on TikTok, users wrote messages to the mom, condemning her for seemingly promoting a strict diet for her elementary school-age daughter.
People think the 9-year-old looks unhappy in the video.
@j_cappola_fitcoach ♬ Beethoven Moonlight Sonata-High Sound Quality – Amemiya
In the video, the little girl explains that it can be difficult to eat out at restaurants (said no other child ever, but OK). She then says that she ordered a salad with grilled chicken and that even though the restaurant doesn’t have seed oils, she was able to order dressing with her salad. This is clearly a thing for the little girl and her family and ordering food like this and being mindful of it is nothing new. Which is totally OK. But according to some of the adults in the comment section, she doesn’t look particularly happy as she explains her meal of choice.
“As a kid, when you realize your parents would rather have a skinny kid than a happy kid, it takes a long time to heal,” one of them commented.
Someone else wrote, “She looks very unhappy.” Another added, in reference to the little girl’s frilly princess dress, “The outfit, taken with the whole monologue, is chilling.”
Again, there is nothing wrong with and wanting to be aware of the gold she puts into her body. But this level is just too much for some adults out there. In the video, the 9-year-old also talks about inflammation and how “most” chicken is “sprayed with chemicals and preservatives.” According to a dietician in the comments, a child shouldn’t even be aware of this, let alone be eating with this information in mind.
They commented, “As a dietitian, fighting this misinformation is so difficult! Thank you for speaking out on being truly healthy in mind, body and spirit!”
Adults with eating disorders shared their concerns.
Other TikTok users commented to share their concerns that the girl’s reinforced eating habits could lead to an eating disorder at some point in her life. That might be a stretch for some. But these ideas instilled in her at such a young age are cause for concern among some of the other TikTok users who commented on the video.
“My mom was an almond mom and now I have flared ribs and am 89 pounds,” one adult commented.
Another wrote, “We all remember that one kid who wasn’t allowed to get pizza with the team, have sugar, or join in on the little treats at school or birthday parties. Whether people admit it or not, those kids were often singled out or teased. It’s not even about the food, it’s about the experience and feeling included. I don’t know, it just makes me feel for her.”
Some think the mom is “soft launching anxiety” for her little girl.
@thehealthywife What my 9 year old eats for dinner — average/normal – leftover night. Show to your kids and share with a loved one 👩🍳💘 #healthykids ♬ original sound – Gretchy
Under the original TikGok that is still up on a users page under the name of TheHealthyWife, people called out the little girl’s mom yet again, but more clearly this time. One commented that the mom is “soft launching anxiety” for her 9-year-old daughter. Others commented to share their annoyance at the mom’s choices overall.
“Soft launching anxiety at 9 is wild but okayyy,” someone commented.
“Everything should be in balance, children shouldn’t have to worry about ‘seed oils’ and processed foods,” another person wrote.
Another user commended the mom for giving her daughter all of the information she needs for eating healthy. However, they added, “too much information” at this young age could lead to issues that the mom might not even realize.
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