Bad eating habits? Break the cycle

Our relationship with food has been shaped by the behavioural eating habits we witnessed growing up, particularly by our mums.

Kathleen Alleaume, author of What’s Eating You?, helps us identify four disordered eating styles. Do you recognise your mum or yourself?

Bad habits mum
Whether she ate junk food on the go, stocked the pantry with chips and lollies or insisted you ate everything on your plate, your mum’s bad habits could still be influencing you in your adult years.

Breaking the cycle
‘It’s about re-learning things. It’s OK to leave food on your plate,’ Kathleen says. ‘Have healthy food like cut-up fruit ready to go and avoid things like eating out of a packet.’

Comfort food mum
She cooked comfort food when you had the blues and feasts for celebration. Growing up with this mum means you associate food with comfort and reward, and may be prone to emotional eating.

Breaking the cycle
‘Try not to use food as a reward,’ Kathleen says. ‘Look at non-food rewards, doing something you enjoy. Remember, only eat until you’re satisfied.’

Diet mad mum
Constantly counting calories or following fad diets, this mum instilled the message in her daughter that food is about body image, not nourishment.

Breaking the cycle
‘Ditch the diet mentality,’ Kathleen advises. ‘Allow yourself a bit of everything and if you slip up, don’t let it end your attempt to eat healthily and lead to a binge.’

Health nut mum
A super-healthy mum who reads every label and never allows treats can result in a daughter who ‘felt deprived of all the fun stuff,’ Kathleen says. ‘There may be a tendency to rebel or eat in secret.’

Breaking the cycle
‘No food should ever be banned – enjoy it in moderation. We need to undo the mentality of good food/bad food. The more you deprive yourself, the more you want it.’