‘It’s not deprivation’: Model Rachael Finch hits back over daughter’s diet

The former Miss Universe Australia has hit back after receiving an unexpected message about her daughter – and she’s not happy.

Rachael Finch has hit back after receiving an unexpected Instagram private message that accused her of depriving her daughter of food.

Rachael, a former Miss Universe Australia turned TV presenter and wellness influencer, frequently shares her family life on Instagram.

Last week the model shared photos of daughter Violet’s packed lunch as the six-year-old returned to school.

RELATED: What Rachael Finch does during her holiday that most of us don’t do

Rachael came under fire for her daughter Violet’s school lunch box. Picture: Instagram/Rachael Finch

But Rachael received some unexpected negative feedback from an unnamed person who, instead of sending her Instagram story to a friend, responded to the 31-year-old by mistake.

“I don’t follow her anymore I really don’t think she feeds Violet enough food,” the message read.

Rachael screenshotted the message to her Instagram stories and also responded: “That went to me lovely. Violet eats just fine.”

RELATED: Rachael Finch: from tomboy to model to mother

She shared the negative message on Instagram.

Rachael also revealed a positive message she received about the same post.

She also shared another much more positive message she received about Violet’s lunch, which read: “I work in Prep Rachael … I wish all our kids lunches looked as healthy and delicious as this yummy lunch box.”

Rachael addressed the criticism in an Instagram post, sharing a photo of son Dominic and Violet.

The model then hit back in a separate Instagram post.

She wrote in the caption that it was her “absolute responsibility” to give them “the best possible childhood” that “includes what I choose to serve on their plates every day”.

“I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read comments or articles about how “strict” my kids food is or how I “deprive” them of a normal childhood,” Rachael wrote.

“I’ll never have to justify my decisions or actions as a mum to anyone, but when other mums start messaging me asking what they should do to avoid the criticism they are also receiving. that is frustrating.”

RELATED: Truth behind Rachael Finch’s skinny photos

Rachael Finch and her husband Michael Miziner. Picture: Instagram/Rachael Finch.

The Channel 7 presenter said it wasn’t “deprivation or a screwed up childhood” if a mum decided to feed their child “cherry tomatoes over cheezels”.

“It’s because she cares, and perhaps she has learnt from experience,” Rachael wrote. “Everything a child is given, even during pregnancy, has a direct result on their physical and mental programming … So why would I not choose to feed my baby girl smoothies and send her to school with salad and sushi?”

Rachael explained that she didn’t stop Violet from having treats, as she ate cake and lollies from “time to time” at birthday parties or catch-ups with friends.

“But she knows that it’s a treat and she knows why 80% of the time we eat the way we do. I do my best to explain to her why her plate looks the way it does – mostly vegetables, good quality protein, complex carbohydrates & fats,” she wrote.

‘I COP IT DAILY’

Rachael’s post hit a nerve with other mums, who said they too had been shamed for serving their children healthy food.

“SO appreciate this Rach!!!” one mum commented. “I cop it DAILY from friends & family because I don’t feed my kids sugar or processed food as a daily part of their diet.

“It is exhausting having people say I’m limiting my kids ‘fun’ when honestly all I want is to nourish & provide them with the best possible start at life.”

“I love this so much, I often get bagged out that I have never give my kids a pop top juice or bags of lollies etc … I even had someone call me mean because I wouldn’t let my kids have a can of coke at a birthday,” another mum wrote.

Rachael has her own home exercise and health program Body By Finch.

Other comments praised Rachael and pointed out she was a “fantastic mum”, telling her not to “buy into the trolls”.

“Your kids eat amazing, nutritious food and no one can tell that you deprive them,” one person wrote.

“The kids who are deprived are the ones whose parents don’t care – they chuck packets of chips, cheezels, surgary fruit bars, etc. I could only hope that more parents would give their children delicious, nutritious and hearty food for school lunches.”

‘SHE UNDERSTANDS IT’S A TREAT’

Since winning Miss Universe Australia in 2009 Rachael has gone on to launch her own home fitness program Body By Finch and activewear line Bod By Rachael Finch.

She married former Dancing With The Stars partner Michael Miziner in 2013, and the couple have two children together.

Since becoming a mum Rachael has often spoken about the importance of giving her children healthy food.

In 2017 she told Stellar that Violet didn’t have sugar for the first few years of her life and understood it was a treat only.

“For the first 2½ years of her life Violet didn’t know what sugar tasted like, and she still hasn’t had lollies,” she said.

“Sometimes at birthday parties, parents don’t have sandwiches or sushi or fruit, so before she goes I make sure she’s full of healthy food.

“I’m with her and while I don’t say no to everything, she understands it’s a treat when she has a tiny slice of birthday cake.”