Parents, do you make your children "clean their plate" or do you just make them try the foods.?

Answer 1

I used to when my kids were smaller. Because they seem to hardly eat anything at all. But now if I know they don't like a certain food I put just a small amount on their plate and they have to try the foods. I think as kids get older they acquire more tastes for foods they wouldn't eat as toddlers.

Answer 2

I have to say, that I think 'cleaning your plate' just causes the mindset that you have to eat everything on your plate. And what is most peoples problem losing weight? Eating too much.
I have my son try the foods. But not just once... he has to try them over and over again.

Answer 3

My parents (more specifically my dad) did it so the family didn't waste food. But later in life it contributed to an overeatting problem for me, since I was hardwired to eat *everything* on my plate, no matter now much was there and whether I was full half way. I've almost kicked the habit though!

Answer 4

mine were never made to clean their plates. I fixed their plates and I just don't feel it's fair to them for me to "guess" how hungry they are and force them to eat when maybe they weren't as hungry as I thought... They had to take 1 full bite of everything on their plate. Then they were allowed to eat whatever they liked best on their plate.. over time they "aquired" a taste for things like spinach, peas, greens, beans, and all the other junk kids don't usually like..
now they are grown, and they will eat anything...
i have friends who always made their children clean their plates and as adults, they wont eat anything thats good for them... they say its because they were "forced" to eat stuff they didnt like...
i agree with their theory.. though they will eat some things that my kids (and me too) would not touch, like beets.... but they don't like anything green, and one of them wont even eat any form of potato....

Answer 5

Well, my mom makes sure we like the food we put on our plate, and if we don't know, we try it first. We put whatever we want on our plate, and however much, and the stuff we don't eat, we put in our own Glad plasticware box and put it in the fridge, so we can eat it later or the next day. She makes sure we eat it then. But, if it's like cereal or something we can't save, she usually makes us eat it.

Answer 6

no i don't force my six year old to eat everything off his plate, he fortunatley does just about all the time. most of the time he eats more than me. he also has a very high metobolism. i got very lucky with him. he eats just about any thing you give him, even beets and lima beans which i myself detest. he is also a very good eater and does not eat alot of junk foods like potatoe chips.

Answer 7

My kids have to at least try their foods. They don't have to eat it if they don't like it. But, they won't get anything else to replace the foods they don't like either.