Food as a Reward or Punishment and Its Impact on Infant Nutrition

At the developmental level, this type of approach can send mixed messages, because foods conceived as "bad" are usually offered at celebrations (sweets, cakes, ice cream, pizza, among others). Similarly, the use of certain foods as a reward or restricting them as punishment can promote overconsumption and obesity in childhood or even lead to eating disorders, with a high impact on health in the short, medium, and long term.

Therefore, it is recommended that from an early age, food is conceived as a source of health and necessary for proper growth and development, some in greater quantities than others.

Some ways to put the above into practice consist of:

• Offer a variety of healthy foods (fruits, fresh vegetables, legumes, high-fiber cereals, fish, lean meats, etc.) at home.
• Have preparations known and frequently consumed at home, for celebrations and special occasions.
• Educate about the responsible consumption of sweets, ice cream, soft drinks and other foods of little nutritional value, as well as their role in health if they are consumed in excess.
• After one year of age, if you want to reward the child for a desired behaviour, use praise, games or special activities, instead of food.
• Ensure that "forbidden" or "bad" foods are not conceived as special. For example, by avoiding treats during visits to the paediatrician.

Correcting these habits from childhood can bring significant benefits throughout childhood, and it is believed that until adult life, since unhealthy associations with respect to food would be avoided.