Clean plates

megpie · #1 July 10th, 2012, 06:38 PM

Do you encourage "clean" plates when eating?

Did you grow up with parents wanting you to eat until your plate was clean?

What Forcing Kids to Eat Looks Like 20 Years Later

Heaven · #2 July 10th, 2012, 06:48 PM

I haven't reinforced it too much with Jenna... Her portions are not always exact and her meals are hit and miss...some days she'll wipe her plate clean and other days (even if its her fav meal) she'll only have a few bites.

My parents always encouraged "clean plate" but I always struggle with the "last bite"...always had to leave one bite behind lol..no idea why

ThaiSpice · #3 July 10th, 2012, 06:56 PM

No and no.

Aynber · #4 July 10th, 2012, 07:18 PM

No, at this point, I always give him too much food.

Yes, growing up, it was a constant battle with me and certain vegetables. Green beans were the biggest issue. My parents tried "saving it for later/breakfast" which they usually forgot about, or weren't there/awake when I had breakfast (Mom worked nights, Dad went into work early). Forcing me to stay at the table meant that I would sit there until 10pm, then go to bed... or entice the dog into the kitchen. Only once did I actually eat my green beans, and that was because my parents were fighting in the next room. :/ Even today, I rarely eat green beans, unless it's green bean casserole.

~April04~ · #5 July 10th, 2012, 07:44 PM

No - I let her decide when she's done.

No.

Nicole1110 · #6 July 10th, 2012, 07:46 PM

No and no. Me and my brothers were good vegetable eaters as kids and my Mom didn't make foods that we wouldn't eat... so there was never a fight. I would never make Major clean his plate. That's such an old school (literally, like depression era) mentality.

megpie · #7 July 10th, 2012, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aynber

No, at this point, I always give him too much food.

Yes, growing up, it was a constant battle with me and certain vegetables. Green beans were the biggest issue. My parents tried "saving it for later/breakfast" which they usually forgot about, or weren't there/awake when I had breakfast (Mom worked nights, Dad went into work early). Forcing me to stay at the table meant that I would sit there until 10pm, then go to bed... or entice the dog into the kitchen. Only once did I actually eat my green beans, and that was because my parents were fighting in the next room. :/ Even today, I rarely eat green beans, unless it's green bean casserole.

Ugh! So that article holds true for you.

My parents only did it to me ONCE. I still remember it (even though I can't even remember what the food was). I recall gagging and couldn't get it down.

I don't make my kids clean their plates. Lucas is my most difficult eater and I have asked him to TRY foods---potatoes, mac and cheese, veggies, meats---all things he hates. It's such a struggle and he's dropped to 38% on his weight (went to his wellness check up today).

My inlaws def encourage the clean plate. It drives me nuts, but it's not worth bringing it up to them. THey tell my kids to make a "happy plate."

taterm · #8 July 10th, 2012, 09:23 PM

No and no. But my aunt and uncle used to do it and I hated going over there to eat when I was little!

RachaelDMommaTo3 · #9 July 10th, 2012, 11:15 PM

No, and no. Rylan grazes pretty much all day long.. he'll ask for random foods throughout the day and might eat half of it or just a few bites. I'm just happy he eats anything, because he's pretty picky. We do have a bit of a battle with Jacob and I do make him TRY foods even if he doesn't want to.. that's different though, most of the time it's something I know he would like but he's just being stubborn.

RobinJS · #10 July 10th, 2012, 11:33 PM

I would never force my kids to clean their plates. I was forced as a child and I remember sitting at the dinner table for what seemed like hours and then eventually having to plug my nose to get the food down. I think it's a horrible thing to do to a kid. I figure that if it makes a kid gag (if they're normally pretty accepting of textures) then it can't be good for them.

Moontan · #11 July 11th, 2012, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megpie

Ugh! So that article holds true for you.

My parents only did it to me ONCE. I still remember it (even though I can't even remember what the food was). I recall gagging and couldn't get it down.

i was going to say this exact thing. Only once. I cant remember what it was, but i do remember gagging as i was trying to swallow it. I think my mom must have been in a bad mood that night or something.

My mom often made foods that we (kids) just didnt like. And i can remember distinctly what those foods were: Cabbage, au gratin potatoes, corn beef hash, & liver (not all on the same night, of course)...she never forced us to eat, but she wouldnt offer anything else. so we would cover things in ketchup, trying to make them more edible.

No. i dont make Trey finish his food, and i wouldnt ever do that. I do, however, ask that he finish certain things before i give him more of another. For example, if i give him mac & cheese and fruit, and he asks for more fruit, i suggest that he finish his mac & cheese first, before i give him more fruit. (or whatever it is he's eating that night) i just would rather he get a variety, instead of making a meal of ONE item. But if he refuses, i dont fight him.

~Daniell~ · #12 July 11th, 2012, 11:05 AM

No!

Yes and No. My mom never enforced it but my dad always tried. He always made and still makes our plates with too much food. We just wait until he leaves (always does) to hide it in the trash lol.

Some of my friends have to clean their plates because thats how they were raised and they enforce it with their kids. It drives them crazy when I leave food and don't ask for a takeout box lol. I don't care for leftovers unless its my food

Heaven · #13 July 11th, 2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobinJS

I would never force my kids to clean their plates. I was forced as a child and I remember sitting at the dinner table for what seemed like hours and then eventually having to plug my nose to get the food down. I think it's a horrible thing to do to a kid. I figure that if it makes a kid gag (if they're normally pretty accepting of textures) then it can't be good for them.

that's brutal. we were NEVER forced to eat something that we couldn't get ourselves to eat. But our parents used to encourage "clean plates" just because they didn't want us to waste food when others were starving. We were all pretty good eaters so it wasnt a matter of eating our veggies, etc...

I would never force J to finish her plate but i do get stressed if she doesn't eat a good portion cause then i worry that she's not getting enough. DH always reassures me that she won't let herself starve and that eventually she will ask for food (which she does) so i should just lay back and give her time and she'll come back to eat later.

gina! · #14 July 11th, 2012, 12:33 PM

We are way more relaxed at meal times now than we were when nathan and brady were yonger. I used to get so mad when the older two wouldn't eat. We've really mellowed out. We do not encourage cleaning their plates, but the older ones have to try a few bites of what we make (unless I know they really don't like it, Nathan has a serious aversion to rice & red sauce). I frequently 'congratulate' them when they say 'I'm full'. We talk about it being important to realize when we are full.

DH was forced to clean his plate and it was frequently things he hated. My mom fed me whatever I wanted to pacify me. My dad/his mom made me feel bad for not eating what was served to me. Even if I was full. I should finish otherwise I was being rude. I am still getting over all that.............

KatieLove · #15 July 11th, 2012, 02:29 PM

Do you encourage "clean" plates when eating?
No, not a clean plate, but I try to encourage her to eat enough and she has to try everything before she tells me she does not like it. She eats like a mouse and will only eat a normal amount if I mash it. I really want her to eat more, but I have no idea how to do so. Lately it is getting a bit better. She will eat 5 pieces of macaroni instead of 3............. (not kidding). She does not want to eat any meat and does not really like veggies. So usually I give her her veggies before we have dinner, or she will just eat nothing at all.

Did you grow up with parents wanting you to eat until your plate was clean? Not clean, but I had to eat as much as I could. I remember sitting at the table with my sprouts and I fell asleep. My mom woke me up to have me eat more and I hated sprouts for years! I like them now, but felt horrible about them years ago.

doodoosmom · #16 July 11th, 2012, 04:36 PM

I don't make them clean their plates..I think it encourages poor eating habits and teaches them to eat when they are full..just my opinion. We ask that they try everything on their plates, and encourage them to take a few bites of everything but if they won't we don't force it.

My parents didn't make me clean my plate but if they cooked something and I didn't like it..thats all I got and I had to sit therewith the family and eat it. One time my mom made pot pie and I hattttted it and she made me sit there and eat (not all of it but enough of it to where I wouldn't be hungry later) and I remember gagging and being totally discusted. I still won't eat pot pie.