If you’re having trouble balancing your nutrition goals while ensuring a healthy food environment for your children, you’re not alone. Tracking macros in front of your kids is a somewhat controversial topic—can you do it without creating an unnecessary focus on food for your kids? What should your conversations sound like if your kids ask about your food scale? 

tracking macros in front of your kids

We asked WAG Director of Coaching, Registered Dietitian, and mom of three girls, Brittany, for her thoughts on tracking macros in front of your kids.

Question: How do you balance your own nutritional needs and the practice of macro tracking while also ensuring a positive relationship with food and body image for your young daughters?

Brittany: This is a great question and one that’s complicated to answer because it has changed as my girls have gotten older. I also know that what works in my family might not work in all families. First, I’m open and honebst with my girls (12, 11, and 8); they know I’m a Registered Dietitian, and their mom working for WAG is all they’ve known. I do my best to align nutrition with feeling good. We eat well to feel well. We care for our bodies and pay attention to what we put into our bodies so we can feel our best! I avoid all rhetoric of restrictive eating and eating to look a specific way. 

 

Question: Can you share any specific strategies you employ to promote a healthy attitude towards food and body image in your household?

Brittany: The world is a really cruel place, and with two of my girls in middle school, I’m acutely aware of this. My girls pay attention to the world around them, including me and my work. WAG’s mission is to empower our clients to develop a sustainable and healthy relationship with food that fuels their bodies and supports overall well-being. I truly aim to do that at home as well. Of course, it’s much more nuanced and subtle, but the message is the same. I’m teaching them to eat a balanced diet that helps them feel their best throughout the school day and their sports practices while providing all the macro and micronutrients they need to grow and thrive. 

 

Question: How do you handle discussions about macro tracking with your daughters? Do you involve them in any way or keep it separate from their awareness?

Brittany: I don’t hide or keep anything separate from them when it comes to nutrition. When I’m preparing dinner, and they see me put my serving on a food scale, it’s an opportunity to have a discussion and educate them on serving sizes. We talk about how my nutritional needs are different from theirs, and sometimes, I use a scale to make sure I’m getting everything I need to feel my best. 

 

Question: Have you noticed any positive or negative effects on your daughters' perceptions of food or body image due to your macro-tracking habits?

Brittany: I have noticed that my girls understand (and put into practice) the importance of fueling for their sporting events and seem to (age appropriately) better understand food's role in our bodies compared to their peers. We don’t limit food in our house or have strict food rules. However, we talk about how food works quite a bit. My girls know why protein is important and why they need carbs (or my 8-year-old might just say I need fruit!) before their game. 

 

Question: What steps do you take to ensure your daughters understand the importance of balanced nutrition beyond just tracking macros?

Brittany: Thankfully, all three of my girls generally like to be involved in meal planning. This opens the doors to talking about what protein we have for dinner, what vegetables we will have this week, etc… At this stage, and for most children, general nutrition education is essential to helping them build a foundation for healthy habits into adulthood. 

 

Question: How do you navigate conversations about body positivity and self-acceptance with your daughters in a society that often emphasizes appearance and diet culture?

Brittany: Regarding body image and diet, I keep those separate as much as possible. We have always kept food and nutrition centered around how you feel. To me, that’s the biggest piece missing in nutrition and wellness. Taking control of your nutrition is about so much more than how you look! I never want someone to think of nutrition and equate it to being skinny or fitting into a specific pair of pants. I want you to think about nutrition and immediately feel empowered. Quality nutrition and understanding what your body needs to thrive opens a door for people of all ages to feel their best! 

 

Question: Can you share any challenges you've faced in maintaining a healthy balance between tracking macros for yourself and promoting a healthy eating mindset for your daughters?

Brittany: Sure, like most things with parenting, it’s not always easy, and it certainly doesn’t always go to plan. There have been a fair share of times when I’ve had to throw hitting my exact macro goals out the window because their needs came first or the plan changed. However, that allowed me to find balance in life and lead by example. 

 

Question: Have you encountered any criticism or concerns from others regarding your approach to nutrition and its potential impact on your daughters? If so, how do you address these concerns? 

Brittany: I haven’t, or at least there aren’t any that come to mind! 

 

Question: Do you incorporate any specific educational activities or resources to teach your daughters about nutrition and its importance without instilling a focus on numbers or restrictive eating habits?

Brittany: We eat together whenever possible. As silly as this might sound, it’s important to us. Schedules are busy, and we can’t always make it happen but sharing our meal together and talking about what we’re eating has always been a positive. Getting kids involved in the meal planning process is also critical. Let them have some ownership of the meals; they can choose the sides or the veggies, whatever works for your family. 

 

Question: How do you model positive behaviors related to food and body image for your daughters beyond just tracking macros?

Brittany: As my girls have gotten older, I have become very aware of how I talk about my own body. I have three girls who all look like me. If they overhear me making negative comments about my body, what sort of message does that send to them about their body? 

 

Question: How do you handle situations where your daughters may express curiosity or interest in tracking macros? 

Brittany: I’ve had this conversation with my girls before! They’ve asked why I don’t log their food since I’m logging mine. At this stage, I’m telling them that they are growing kids who burn a lot of energy each day. There’s no reason to track their food, as they’re eating to feel their best right now. We have conversations about meal structure and how each meal should have specific components, like protein, carbohydrates, and fats; however, we never discuss calories, restrictions, or macros! 

 

Question: Any final thoughts or things you want people to know?

Brittany: Get your kids involved! For so long in our society, nutrition and “diet” has been a shameful subject, almost better left behind closed doors. Our children deserve a future where nutrition means more than starving to look a specific way. Each family will have their own way of communicating this, but empowering kids to make quality food choices from a young age is such a powerful gift. 

 

If you have any other questions for Brittany, drop them below! You can learn more about Brittany (and request to work with her) here!