Love is the best ingredient of any recipe. This is what seems to be scientifically implied now, when food psychologists say that a mother’s personality has immense effect on the food habits of their kids. If you are mom with poor self confidence and oodles of negative feelings in you, you might be actually developing unhealthy food habits in your child! The wise teachings of many religions have always emphasized the connection between healthy food and food habits and the mental disposition of the chef, by saying that food cooked with anger and negative feelings should never be accepted. You and I might have poohed the entire argument, but now scientifically, the connection seems to be gaining ground.

The Mother and Child Cohort studies conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the University of Oslo, show that mothers who are mentally unstable, of nervous disposition, irritable and with an overall negative personality makeup tended to give their eighteen month olds, more sweet and fatty food, than the mentally sound and well disposed mothers. I think the reason behind this can be the insecure feelings of the mother. This seems to be because of the poor control that they have over children. Their negative affectivity seems to make them give in to the tantrums of their kids for having tasty food over healthy food, due to which the children develop the habit. But, a sound maternal personality did not ensure healthy dietary habits for the child. 

Also, personally, I feel another reason can be that sweets tend to have a soothing effect on a disturbed mind and hence the mother, who herself might be an addict of such food, might be developing the habit in the child. Psychologically, she might feel that sweets can compensate for the affection that she is not able to shower on her baby. Moreover, only a mother with a sound personality will have the patience and resources to put up with the resistance of the child for healthy food which might not be all that tasty(for example, milk, cereals and vegetables)and take the pains to develop healthy eating habits in the child.

Though the study found an interesting correlation between the negative affectivity of the mother and the food trends developed by the child, the study is not confirmatory in the sense that more detailed observations have to be made in terms of the way the food is served to the child and the all dimensions of the mother’s personality. However, this study seems to be throwing light on the mother’s personality and child eating patterns equation which is helpful for health professionals to give nutritional advice.

Anyways, don’t be a mad mom. Your child is your most cherished treasure. Forget all your worries and negativity and serve your child healthy.

Want more info? Click on these sources:

1. Maternal Personality Affects Child's Eating Habits
2. Pessimist mums give kids unhealthy food

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