How to Talk to Children About Food (Paperback) - Dr Anna Colton

Clinical psychologist Dr Anna Colton shows us how we form our relationship with food and how our children can have a more positive relationship with eating.

Were you ever told 'you can't have dessert until you eat all your vegetables?' Or to 'be grateful for your meal'? Or perhaps you yourself have said 'Mummy's on a diet so she can't eat that' or 'Daddy is fat, you don't want to be like him'. We may not realise, but we are constantly communicating our thoughts on food to our children.

As we continue to navigate complex mealtimes, picky eating, emotions and tantrums as well as puberty, diet culture, body image and eating disorders - now more than ever, we need to change the way we communicate about food to our children and ourselves.

So how do we help children develop and nurture a healthy relationship with food?

Clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist Dr Anna Colton guides you through a judgement- and shame-free journey from pregnancy to a child's adolescence with accessible scientific and psychological understandings. She shows you how you've formed your relationship with food and gives you the practical, evidence-based tools to instil a positive relationship with eating in your children.

How to Talk to Children About Food will help you to:


* Understand how you developed your relationship with food
* Recognise how your eating behaviours and beliefs get passed on to children
* Learn the developmental stages of eating and gain the tools to support them through the ages
* Navigate and manage complex food feelings without anxiety, anger or distress
* Identify eating disorder behaviours and know when to intervene
* Break negative eating cycles and patterns
* Build a positive relationship between food and your child/teen's body
* Have calm, happy and fuss-free mealtimes for everyone.

About the Author

Dr Anna Colton is a clinical psychologist, specialising in both adolescence and eating disorders, with over 20 years of experience. Dr Anna worked in the NHS at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Vincent Square eating disorders clinic, The Tavistock Clinic and the Priory Roehampton. She now works exclusively in private practice.


Alongside her clinical practice, Dr Anna can be seen on TV as a mental health expert, and behind the camera, advising TV companies, working on reality TV shows and documentaries, supporting contributors and advising production on mental health. She has also worked with BBC Bitesize on their parents' toolkit, on their Mind Set's GCSE campaign, and their body image and social media campaigns. Additionally, Dr Anna works with several West End stage shows, such as Matilda, to help children and adults who are struggling with a range of issues that are affecting their performance including stage fright and anxiety.