Redwood Wellbeing

← Redwood Wellbeing21 nov 2025 · 19 min

Why We Shouldn't Give Food Rewards to Kids

Why We Shouldn't Give Food Rewards to Kids21 nov 202519 min

Hello and Welcome to the Redwood Wellbeing Podcast, where each week I am dedicated to supporting parents on the journey of nurturing their child's healthy relationship with food and their body image.

Through practical, everyday strategies and tips, I help you to become empowered to make a lasting difference in your child's wellbeing journey.

In this mini episode I discuss;

Food rewards being unhelpful because they;

-Encourage extrinsic motivation

-Are a form of Operant Conditioning

-Create a food hierachy instead of neutrality

-Build an emotional link to eating

-Create mixed messages

-Can decrease interest in reward-free activities

-Can undermine internal appetite cues

-Set up patterns that increase cravings