If we shouldn’t call foods ‘good’ and ‘bad’, how should we teach young children about healthy eating?
For many of us, labelling foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ feels like common sense. We want children to make ‘healthy’ choices that support optimal growth and development, so we guide them towards eating more of the ‘good’ foods and limiting the ‘bad’ ones. But when it comes to supporting children’s long-term wellbeing — and especially […]
Collaborative advocacy in action: Updating nutrition policy in the early learning sector
Over the years, nutrition guidance in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings may have unintentionally contributed to practices or advice that feel restrictive or confusing for many children, families and educators. To combat this, Better Health Network, Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA), paediatric dietitian Dr Kyla Smith, The Embrace Collective’s Dr Zali Yager, state […]
How should teachers talk about bodies, food and weight with students?
“Look at all the junk in Laura’s lunchbox, she’s going to get so fat!” “I hate my arms. I need to start having protein powder so I don’t look like twiggy Tom!” “He’s a big boy for his age, but don’t worry, he’ll lose the puppy fat.” Have you overheard comments like these from […]
Start Living: Why you need to stop putting your life on hold
Many of us are living life on pause. Not because we want to, but because somewhere along the way, we learned that our bodies supposedly needed fixing before we were allowed to fully participate. We learned to wait until later — to delay joy, connection and experiences until we felt ‘good enough.’ But life […]
Imagine a classroom where students feel confident in their bodies
Like many students, Jack walked into his classroom each day carrying more than just his backpack. At 12 years old, Jack loved science and soccer, but lately he’d started to dread school. In the classroom, on the oval and at the canteen, comments about bodies could be overheard — who was “too skinny”, who was […]
5 things to say to yourself to stop the spiral when parenting gets overwhelming
You know the moment. The lunchbox is still on the bench. Someone’s screaming “Muuuuum!” or “Daddddddd” from their bedroom instead of walking 10 metres to talk reasonably to your face. You’ve said the same thing 47 times and somehow you’re the unreasonable one. The empty toilet roll is left on the floor, the lid is […]
5 ways to Embrace your body this Christmas
Imagine a Christmas where nobody’s body is a topic of conversation. A Christmas where relatives greet each other without the usual comments like “You’ve lost weight!” or “She’s looking bigger than last year,” and instead just say, “It’s so good to see you.” A celebration where nobody’s plate is up for public discussion, and the […]
Australia’s social media ban: a young person’s perspective on online safety and wellbeing
The following blog post is written by Rachael, a member of the Embrace Kids Youth Crew. It reflects her personal experiences and perspectives and does not necessarily represent the views of The Embrace Collective. For better or for worse, the digital world is now an extension of the one we know. No longer a […]
A nutrition student’s vision for the future of nutrition education in schools
The following blog post was written by Abigail, a member of the Embrace Kids Youth Crew and a student of a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Nutrition) at the University of Queensland. It reflects her personal experiences and perspectives and does not necessarily represent the views of The Embrace Collective. Content warning: This blog post discusses […]
If we want sporting success, we have to stop body shaming in sport
This article was originally published on LinkedIn. Picture this: A 13-year-old steps onto the field. Their body feels like it’s grown and changed since last week. They’re still not 100% sure of the rules, and not confident in their skills. They are expected to perform wearing a uniform that they don’t feel comfortable in […]
