Clara De Maria
MOM, DON’T PUT ME ON A DIET! Educating Children and Adolescents About a Healthy Relationship with Food
Una guida pratica per genitori e educatori per aiutare bambini e ragazzi a sviluppare un sano rapporto con il cibo e con il proprio corpo
1st edition July 2026
Series
PROGETTO FAMIGLIA
Size 14 x 21 cm
Number of pages 160
CDU
19F 364
ISBN/EAN
9788892250949
Clara De Maria
MOM, DON’T PUT ME ON A DIET! Educating Children and Adolescents About a Healthy Relationship with Food
Prohibiting certain foods because they’re considered “bad” is an ineffective diet practice. Today, the policy of rigid control is countered by balanced dietary regulation: there are no good or bad foods, only unhealthy and sustainable lifestyles. This topic requires greater sensitivity when it comes to children’s nutrition. This manual begins with an analysis of family habits and then delves into the nutritional needs of young children, adopting a mindful eating approach for children. Without restrictions and reprimands, it’s possible to build a harmonious relationship with a growing body: only in this way will men and women who love their bodies grow. The book shifts the focus from restrictions to daily habits: peaceful family meals, exercise seen as pleasure rather than punishment, listening to the body’s needs, and introducing mindful eating, even for the youngest children. The result is a practical, timely, and surprisingly reassuring guide. A book that doesn’t shout out rules but rather encourages reflection. And perhaps it reminds us of a fundamental thing: raising healthy children doesn’t mean teaching them to fear food, but helping them experience it with balance, freedom, and trust. Because the relationship with what we eat begins long before a diet. And it often begins right at the table.
Clara De Maria (Albenga, 1985) is a dietitian with a degree in Sciences of Technical Care Professions from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Genoa. Passionate about sports, in 2018 she earned the title of Expert in Nutrition and Sports Integration and in 2024 became a Paediatric Nutritionist and a Family Nutritionist. She has completed training internships and collaborated with some of Liguria’s leading hospitals; she has also participated in numerous courses and conferences in schools and leading sports clubs focused on nutrition education. In recent years, she has adopted an Intuitive Eating approach in her clinical practice, aiming to educate children about mindful eating habits without restrictive eating habits.
Selling Points
- A helpful guide that proposes a non-prescriptive diet for children.
- Reflection on healthy lifestyles to prevent a conflictual relationship with food and related discomfort.
- Respectful and mindful approach, capable of educating without creating anxiety or guilt.
Mindful Eating: the connection between children, nutrition, and body image.