A leading dietitian with nearly two decades of professional experience has shared the five food-related rules she strictly enforces with her own children, offering practical advice for parents aiming to foster healthy and safe eating habits.
Portion Control and Choking Hazards Top the List
Kristen Lorenz, a registered dietitian with over 18 years in the field, laid out her parental 'no-nos' in a recent TikTok video viewed by her 57,000 followers. She believes her approach, born from extensive professional and personal experience, can be genuinely helpful for other families.
The first rule focuses on mindful snacking. Lorenz never allows her children to eat snacks like crisps or pretzels directly from a large bag. "If it's a single serving, fine, but if it's a big bag... you gotta put it into a container," she explained. This practice, while not explicitly called 'portion control', helps children visually register what constitutes a snack.
The second rule addresses a serious safety concern. Lorenz does not permit her kids to eat whole grapes or cherry tomatoes unless she is present or has cut them in half. Her previous role as a transplant coordinator exposed her to numerous tragic accidents, making her acutely aware of choking risks. She joked that this vigilance would likely continue "before they go to college."
Respect for Allergies and Personal Tastes
Drawing on her long history in the food service industry, Lorenz's third rule is a firm request: children should never claim to have a food allergy simply because they dislike a particular item. "Let's leave the actual allergy claiming for people who have the actual allergies," she stated, emphasising it's perfectly acceptable to just say you don't like something.
On a similar note, her fourth rule promotes respectful eating habits. In her house, the family doesn't "yuck other people's yums." It's fine not to prefer a food, but Lorenz discourages her children from loudly declaring it disgusting, encouraging them to let others enjoy their own preferences.
Establishing Healthy Drink Norms
The final rule, which Lorenz believes is common in many households, concerns sugary drinks. She does not give her children unlimited access to fizzy drinks or juices. "Obviously pop is not nutritional, and so my kids drink water, they drink milk," she said, noting they enjoy whole fruit for its natural sweetness.
However, she avoids creating a forbidden fruit complex. Her children are allowed juice and soda on occasion, but these drinks are not part of their normal, everyday consumption. This balanced approach aims to prevent obsession while establishing healthy defaults.
The video sparked widespread agreement in the comments. One user praised the rules, particularly the stance on calling food "disgusting." Another, now 27, confirmed their mother still warns about grape choking hazards. A parent of a seven-year-old adopted the snack portion rule to curb overeating and bored snacking, calling the advice "great." Lorenz concluded by inviting her audience to share their own household food practices.
