“The Role of Positive Self-Talk in Healthy Eating Habits”

Maya used to be really hard on herself whenever she ate something that wasn’t healthy. “I messed up,” she’d say, “I can never stick to healthy eating.” But then, one day, her mom sat down with her and said, “Maya, what if you talked to yourself like you would talk to a friend?” Maya looked puzzled. “What do you mean?” Her mom smiled and said, “Instead of saying ‘I messed up,’ try saying, ‘I made a choice, and that’s okay. I’ll make a better one next time.’” Maya tried it the next time she ate a sugary snack. Instead of feeling upset, she said, “It’s okay. I’ll eat better tomorrow.” Over time, Maya noticed something magical happening. When she used kind words to talk to herself, she felt better about her choices. Positive self-talk helped her make healthier decisions without feeling like she was failing. Maya realized that being kind to herself made it easier to stay on track and feel good about the food choices she made. It wasn’t about being perfect—it was about being gentle with herself, learning, and moving forward with a smile.