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Why You Should Never Force Kids to Finish Their Plates

I don’t know about you, my father announced at the beginning of every meal, “Take all you want, but eat all you take.” It was his dinner time golden rule. My mother on the other hand, “Please take a spoonful of everything and if you don’t want any more say no thank you to more.” It was not an arguement at the dinner table and yet they were clearly giving us different directions. I favored Mom’s option.

She essentially had us eat all we took intially. We only put one bite of every option on our plate. Now if there was something that was a favorite item the boys often just loaded up on one item and it was never vegetables.

Eating should never become a battleground. Teach them young to try a bit of everything and give them healthy options. Have plenty of good food available. From the time they begin eating baby food options help them experience different flavors and textures. Keep reintroducing items as they become accustom to changes.

If a child leaves the table with food on the plate gather is up and save it on a smaller plate so that if the child is hungry later, they are given those same options and not junk food or dessert. They shouldn’t be hungry or “stuffed”. Common scence is what the goal should be.

  • Question of

    Do you believe parents create picky eaters?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Did you have to empty your plate?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Question of

    Do you believe you have healthy eating habits?

    • Yes
    • No

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Written by Ghostwriter

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