1. ROUTINE
Routine is important and whilst our lives are ridiculously busy, we aim to eat breakfast together as a family daily. It’ll be oatbran porridge, my version of pancakes, toast and peanut butter.
I make sure that their food is presented with speed but also a great dollop of fun. To get my four-year-old to eat porridge, I used sugar-free popping candy and sprinkles and then I weaned her off – but you’ll see on my Instagram page @figuremagician that every brekkie is fun and beautiful as kids eat with their eyes.
2. BALANCE
I’ve taught my children that nothing is off limits and that everything in balance, is healthy. We always have popcorn, ice cream and chocolate in the house – and not the organically virtuous alternatives. We eat the real deal, when it’s worth it.
So just like mine, the diet they eat (and we never use the word ‘diet’ at home) is a balance of meals based on my method, with extra healthy carbs for them.
Around 30 per cent of the time they’ll eat burgers and all the things that their friends eat. I’m very passionate about this but I deliver it in a relaxed way so they just naturally eat in balance. Our birthdays mean we snuggle up in bed with tea and Toblerone opening presents.
3. EDUCATE
Louise Parker has her own weight loss programme: The Louise Parker Method
More recently, as I think it’s important to educate, so I talk about what’s in the food and why something’s good for them.
We’d almost become too precious about talking about it. So very recently when I felt the time was appropriate or if they asked me why someone was extremely overweight, I’d explain, gently and without judgment, that some people maybe don’t understand what foods are healthy or they aren’t able to exercise and move. I tell them that if you make unhealthy choices all the time, your body gets unfit and unhealthy and that’s not good for your heart and health.
But I don’t judge. Weight issues are complex. So they know that Kit Kats are fine but just not for every day.
Saying that, they probably have a little treat daily – but I never call it a treat. I don’t want them to associate food with reward.
4. BODY CONFIDENCE
I speak confidently about my body, even on days that I really don’t feel my best. Being girls, we all love clothes, so they’ll either comment ‘You look so pretty, Mummy’ or ‘Wow you look just like Granny!’ (and then I do a quick change, sorry mum).
My point is that you should always receive the compliment and say thank you and sometimes I’ll slip in that I really like how I look today. I don’t want to breed narcissists either – but it’s a balance.
I tell them I like my body and when I’m exercising at home they know I do it to stay strong and never ‘lean’. That word just doesn’t come up – despite it being emblazed all over my books.
We never talk about weight loss or weight gain, despite the company we run – it’s all in the wording. My husband and I are careful about the words we use.
We don’t comment on someone’s size or appearance beyond Granny having pretty shoes. The ‘D word’ just doesn’t come up and I can only really hope that by setting a healthy example, they’ll follow suit.
We don’t own scales at home and I’d strongly recommend not weighing yourself in front of children and never speak negatively about yourself. Lie if you have to and it may even help you feel better too.