”The almond mom phenomenon is rooted in fat phobia and internalized bias,” Dr. Karla Lester, a pediatrician and childhood obesity expert told TODAY.
“I am over the age of 50. I do not remember a time that I wasn’t aware of the value of different foods when it came to calories,” a TikTok user, who goes by Kim from NC, began. “As a kid, I would say, ‘Hey, what’s for dessert?’ And my mom would say, ‘There’s fruit in the fridge.’ And she would say things like, ‘Are you sure you want to eat that?’”
At the same time, Kim said she is determined to"break the cycle" with her son. She keeps treats in the house and no food is off limits because"when we know better, we do better."“So many wonderful parents struggle to help their kids live in healthy bodies, without poisoning their minds against food,” Gilboa told TODAY. “This is a balance beam many find themselves on.”Gilboa said the first step is to stop placing moral values on foods by labeling them as “good” or “bad.