Topic for Jun. 20. ( Thur )

[Alex !]

Almond Mom

WHAT DOES ALMOND MOM MEAN?

An almond mom is a parent who follows incredibly strict or dangerously unhealthy eating habits and attempts to force them on their children.

The term almond mom is most often applied to mothers or female caregivers, but the term could apply to any person with a very strict or dangerous diet that they want to force onto their children.

An almond mom’s diet is typically strict to the point of extreme, such as only allowing for small portions of foods low in calories. An almond mom may also approve of eating disorders or unsafe eating habits that are dangerous to a person’s health in the pursuit of maintaining a low weight.

A common trait of the almond mom is that they will aggressively force these unsafe eating habits onto their children, which may even include shaming their children for being what they consider fat, no matter how much their children weigh.

Almond mom is almost always used as a negative term to criticize a person as endangering themselves and their families with poor nutrition and insufficient diets. The term is often used jokingly and hyperbolically to refer to parents obsessed with healthy nutrition.

There are three similar terms that describe parenting styles:

• crunchy mom: a mother who prefers natural solutions and shuns modern technology and medicine
• silky mom: a mother who practices a lenient parenting style that embraces modern technology, science, and convenience
• scrunchy mom: a mother who sometimes prefers modern technology and sometimes prefers natural options

“It’s really harmful,” says Dr. Lester. “This phenomenon of ‘almond moms’ is a spectrum; it’s been going on for a long time, rooted in diet culture, internalized bias, fat phobia, projection of fear, pursuit of thin privilege, and not health."

Dr. Lester explains it can be an extension of a parent’s own eating disorder and a belief that a child will be better if they are thinner.

Here's the issue: Parents play a big role in shaping their child’s views on their body image. Promoting diet culture can cause children to have negative relationships with food and their bodies. And research shows body shame can lead to poorer well-being and mental health, such as eating disorders and depression.2 Body dissatisfaction can also lead to poor self-esteem too.

Keep in mind, it's not just verbal comments that play a role; parental modeling of disordered eating can also impact children.4 Another mom on TikTok, Charlene Johnson, says she was relieved when she heard Yolanda's comments because she never made comments about her own children's weight. But then, she self-reflected and realized she may have been a different kind of "almond mom."

"I think there are definitely two types of almond moms," Johnson says in a video. She explains there are the ones who focus on their child’s body and food habits and ones who unconsciously are promoting diet culture with their own habits. 

How To Instill Healthy Eating Habits in Kids 

Experts share that healthy eating starts in the home during childhood and involve so much more than what's on a nutrition label. To promote these habits, experts suggest parents and caregivers:

• Steer clear of food shaming. Labeling certain foods like vegetables "good" and cookies "bad" may make children feel like their eating habits define them as "good" or "bad." Instead of saying, "eat your carrots," try, "orange foods build immune strength." Does your child want a cookie? Try, "Sugar gives you energy, but cookies aren't on the menu tonight. We can have those tomorrow. Which type would you like?"
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• De-emphasize the scale. Body mass tools are particularly problematic because they are a "poor proxy for general health and health behaviors" and don't take racial factors into account, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).5 And, generally, focusing on the number on the scale may trigger disordered eating. Instead of weight, try to help your child focus on how movement and eating fish and veggies gives them more energy and releases endorphins, which can improve mood and lower stress.
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• Get kids involved in meal prep. Kids who help with cooking and baking often become less picky and more adventurous eaters.6 It helps them learn more about ingredients and empowers them to try new foods, including fruits and vegetables.
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• Teach by example. Experts suggest role modeling moderation, such as eating produce and protein—and a treat here or there, too—can also help a child build truly healthy and sustainable eating habits.