A child psychiatrist has named a phrase that parents should not say to girls: it creates problems

Child psychotherapist Helen Egger has named a potentially dangerous phrase that parents of teenage girls are not recommended to say to their daughters. This phrase can shape a child's unhealthy attitude toward her body and problems with understanding external beauty.

The phrase "I felt so good today" in the context of what you ate when used frequently, models a teenage girl's negative attitude towards her body and links her self-esteem to the amount of food she ate. The psychotherapist spoke about this in a conversation with PureWow.

For example, a mother tells her daughter that she feels good today because she refused a high-calorie sweet dessert, or, conversely, tells her how bad she feels because she ate too many chips.

Because of this, the child begins to form an incorrect idea of "good" and "bad". He or she will think that eating a sweet cake at a friend's birthday party is wrong, but refusing it is the right thing to do.

"Refusing to eat certain foods does not make you a good person. All food is fuel, so don't play along with the idea that your self-esteem depends on your dietary choices... Healthy food, physical activity, and celebrating the fact that you are a complete person who is much more than just your appearance help model a more neutral attitude toward your body," Dr. Egger explained.

Instead, the therapist recommends emphasizing the benefits of food and what its true positive purpose is. For example: "I would never have run such a long distance if I hadn't eaten a hearty breakfast in the morning" or "I allowed myself a chocolate bar today and my brain started working better."

However, if you often feel "naughty" or "bad" about food, this may be a sign of self-doubt or deep sadness. To get rid of these feelings, you should seek professional help.

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