Eating, feeding . . . and life  

by Ellyn Satter 

Eating. . . 

is more than deciding
what and when to eat.

Feeding. . .

is more than choosing food
and getting it into a child.

Eating and feeding . . . 

reflect people’s histories,
their relationships with themselves
and with others.

Feeding a child . . .

is about the connection
between parent and child,
about trusting or controlling,
about providing or neglecting,
about accepting or rejecting.

Eating . . .

is about the connection
with our bodies
and with life itself.

Eating can be joyful . . .

full of zest and vitality.

Or it can be fearful . . . 

bound by control and avoidance.

Our mission . . .

is to improve people’s lives 
through joyful and capable
eating.