Is that a bad thing though? Isn't sitting down having a cuppa with a mate or sharing dinner with family or friends part of the good things in life?

Using ZFs example, she comforted her DD with a hug and then gave her some sprinkles to play with, probably whilst chatting to her as she was getting dinner ready. I think this is ok. It stops her injuring herself, she is being entertained and stimulated. If she just through a donut at her and said go sit down and feel better, i could see it was setting her up to seek comfort only in food but if it is combined with attendance and attention it seems ok to me.

I think if you see it only as a fuel, then you could be setting your bub up for future issues because they don't get the attention at the same time as the food, so they might 'converse' with the food instead and then take comfort from the food itself.... and then use it later to eat alone to try to get that attention ITMS

THere is emotional issues around eating in my family (like most families i suspect) and I'm trying to work out how not to give my DD hang-ups about food but not pushing her to seek comfort in it either.